not sure where this would actually go

so move as u wish. lol
i just found this rather funny.. and messed up. stupid girl

http://www.gristledrip.com/webcamcheating.asp

so anywho...i've got a plan figured out here, soon as i'm done paying my car off (april 07) every penny i would normally use for that car payment (and hopefully more than just that) is going into a savings account. 
The 1st 100.00 is going toward my passport. Then the next 1,900.00 or so is going to plane tickets, and "pre-paying" my cellphone, that way i don't have to shut it off early (which costs more $$ and looks bad! lol) And i still get use of my cellphone. hopefully... 1000.00 isn't going to be used up in 6 months!  I'm going over to stay him for 6months.  Unfortunately i'll have to quit my current job.. which i actually LOVE going to.. but it only pays a measly 8.75 an hour. ((booo)) But i love the lady i work with, she is the best older lady EVER!!!! Anywho... also want to save up a whole bunch more money, that way Andy doesn't have to support me fully, i still have some money.  also, going to use this program to quit smoking... **yes again long story** because i really really don't want him to pay for that.. totally not!!!
??would a digital camera get messed up at the airport?? Cause i have one... (not 100% clear, but it works!!) I honestly can't wait to get over there. I'm to excited, but can't be to excited yet.. its still sooooooo far away.
Its only goin to take me about 12 weeks to save up that 1,900.00 with only using the car payments.  and I can drop my car down to the lowest insurance needed in PA the difference will go into a savings account.  Thinking about opening up an account w/ my mum so in case i run over w/ my cell (highly doubtfull) she can take the money out and pay for it for me.  *sigh* er maybe i should save up a little more than that for the cell.. considering my cell is about 100.00 a month now, with just texting andy all the time... and 167*2 is 1002....oh man, going to have to re-evaluate things.
HELP what should i do, what should i have saved up and how much should i bring!?

Hi,
I just moved to England with my boyfriend for 6 months to see if we could live together...I like you am from Pa...It took me a year to decide to move and then a year to actually do it...here are some questions for you:
You say you are moving over there for 6 months and are taking $1900.00 is this all you are taking? Are you going to try to get a work permit to work over there when you are living there? You need to have a work permit in order to get a paying job while living there..if you can't get a work permit you can't work. Do you have somewhere to live already? if so will you be paying rent? I am not sure the exact exchange rate currently but if you bring $1900.00 it will equal about 1000 pounds. You have to take into account that you need to pay rent and bills and buy food...your thousand pounds won't last very long...I am just asking these questions to try to help you out. I am currently paying rent and I couldn't get a work permit. So I am living off my savings...luckily I have enough for this...because I have been planning on it for a few years...Where in England will you be living...some areas are more expensive to live in then others...If you have any questions let me know...I will help answer any questions you have about moving and what it entails...Good luck and I hope everything works out for you...About your cell phone you have to find out from your carrier if it will work in England...I was unable to take mine because it wouldn't work over there...I just ended up getting a cell phone in the UK that I pay as I go....

Hi JEP,
  Thanks for your reply and input. Answers to your questions: 
1) $1,900.00 - i'm saving that up for stuff i need to have payed here for those 6 months... I'll be saving up even more for the 6 months there.
2) I won't be getting a work permit, because i'm not getting a visa to live there.  You can visit for 6 out of 12 months on just your passport.
3) I will not be paying Rent, my boyfriend owns his house. He told me i don't have to pay rent, actually he told me i don't have to pay for anything, BUT i'm not going to let him do that, so i'm saving up.
4) We will be living in Hartlepool.
5) My Cell phone company will work over there, I just have to get it turned on "world wide" coverage and actually get a "handset" that works overseas. My current phone will not work there, But my carrier does have the coverage, so i'm not worried about it. lol  IT'll be a little expensive, but i won't be using it for anything unless its real important.  I will be getting one of those Pay as I go phones for the UK.  Because I can't cancel my plan without the service charges.. By the time I pay off my car one year will be gone from my contract with my cell phone. (2 year contract) then i have to save up another few monhts, if not another whole year from april.  (if i save up for another year from april, i'll have at LEAST 4,000.00 for the 6 monhts, i know thats not enough either, its only like 2,000 pounds. But of course thats only with the car payment money.  Not incudling the extra 30.00 a week i'm saving from not smoking, (yes i've made it a week!!! so far) and any money from the car insurance. Anyway, I've got it figured out. Thanks for the help!


-Vivi

P.s. Hows it going over there? you guys getting on well?

Hi Vivi,
Things with me and my man are great...I love being with him.....I am really getting accustomed to life there and love it. I have even joined a theatre group and we are doing a play in Septemeber...so I am starting to make my own friends as well which is really good... I am currently home visiting my family until next week...

1.) I am glad that you are saving up more for those 6 months...I just wanted to make sure you would have enough

2.) You can get a work permit for your passport without getting a Visa. It is a stamp in your passport that allows you to work for the 6 months that you are there...there are 3 different ones I believe. One for students...One if you work for a company that has a location in England which I believe then you would be sponsored by your employer...and One for that you can get if you have enough qualification points...you can find out more on one of the websites by looking up work permit....

3.) Your bf sounds like a good guy..that will be a big cost saver to you not having to pay rent...and having someone there to support you if you need it.

4.) Where is Hartlepool may I ask? I am just learning where everything is in England..I am living in Brixham, Devon it is in the Southwest

5.) That is great that your phone has worldwide coverage...and a pay as you go cell phone when you get over here will be good. Because it is fairly inexpensive..I have found for calling back to the states that setting up a First Telecom account on a landline is the most inexpensive way to call home..it is only 2 1/2 pence per minute..and you can set it up to be able to access it from any phone. It is great.

6.) Sounds like you are really saving up your money and thinking this thru...you should be fine with the money that you are bringing over. And if you try to get a work permit you would be able to work and have money coming in.

Congratulations on quitting smoking I am sure you will be able to do it...if you have anymore questions or just want to chat let me know and I will give you my email address...

By the way where in Pa are you...I am right outside of Philly....

Good Luck,
Josy

2.) You can get a work permit for your passport without getting a Visa. It is a stamp in your passport that allows you to work for the 6 months that you are there...there are 3 different ones I believe. One for students...One if you work for a company that has a location in England which I believe then you would be sponsored by your employer...and One for that you can get if you have enough qualification points...you can find out more on one of the websites by looking up work permit....

3

It's not that easy!  See the immigration threads here...though I think Vicki has already checked all this out.

Vicky

just found this site for even cheaper calls http://www.jajah.com

Good luck with your move. Maybe have the money as a backup (and proof) that they should let you in for the 6mts - it's not guaranteed and others have been turned away if they don't have proof of funds, so the money should be good.

Just a thought though - my british guy said he would support me too while I was over here, I saved enough to pay my bills back home while I was here and then he would cover the rest. Let's put it this way - he has done more than he had to and I am willing to bet a lot that your man will too. I would save up for your peace of mind, but also realize it's a great opportunity for you to learn how to be with your guy and figure out your finances together as a couple. We're now getting married and have all but my name on his account, we manage our finances together and consider it all "our money" mostly b/c he had to support me while I was a student.

Good luck and I admire you quitting smoking and being committed to saving money - neither is easy, but when it comes to love I think we are all willing to do things we wouldn't normally.

Thank you Vicky for bringing up the Visa thread...I didn't mean to imply by my email that it is that easy to get a work permit...I must have just misunderstood Vivy when she was saying she couldn't get a work permit because she had her passport...I was just letting her know what types of work permits there are...there are so many visas and permits out there it makes your head spin 

hey everyone!
Guess what.

Tomorrow... will be TWO WEEKS since i have had a cigarette!! WOW! I can't belive it myself. Its been a almost 2 weeks since i actually had one. i feel great, but a little crazy at times. considering at any given moment during the 40 hrs i'm at work there are about 1,000 packs of cigarettes at my fingertips, but i still don't go for them.  i've got enough will-power where i won't buy them   I CAN DO THIS!!!

JEP I am in Easton.  Right outside of Allentown.  about 45 minutes from phily. Going to Kentucky tomorrow!

pitpanther: how much should i save up for a 6 month trip? Including proof from my boyfriend that he's going to take care of things?


Thanks for all the info everyone.
keep in touch.

congrats Vicky!!! 2 weeks without smoking that is wonderful keep up the good work...have fun in Kentucky...I live in Phoenixville in Montgomery County...we are practically neighbors hehe..I am going up to Quakertown this weekend dancing before I leave to go back to England....