The British pound

I think the problem here is that people are looking at this from a personal level, what has worked better for me as an individual, whereas Dennis tends to look at things from an overall reported societal level. 

Hiya all!

Points and responses taken on board

Thanks bookgrl - it is notoriously difficult to separate 'individual' perspectives as often quoted and portrayed by posters on this forum. I know very well indeed from personal people I know who find the UK a 'better' place than in the USA for various 'individual' reasons/perspectives.

However, as this posting is about the higher level US and UK currencies which in 'turn' affect individual perspectives and by looking at the various financial data etc I'm simply pointing out what many reports and articles portray. The economies of both countries are very changeable as this article points out

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article3137506.ece

It's a reputable source - and discusses how the UK has hit parity and also in early 2008 'beats' the USA. Looking at the articles points, it also concedes it's based on those few months the pound hit $2 per £1. Now that the currency exchange rate has come down again, no doubt this isn't quite true anymore, and the UK will as it says have'gone back down the ladder'

Ocbrit - Just like to point out these are not my own personal views, but rather what I and many others read of in the media, I'm sure these articles are written by people with access to better statistics than I'm currently capable of. they are also from reputable sources such as Forbes and FT.com and the better newspapers etc. For that, I think these articles are a good source of information and advice for those considering a move to the UK - the more information and knowledge you have the better.

lastly, I'm here simply to discuss, analyse and portray - with a dose of humour from time to time!

cheers all! DtM! West London & Slough UK!
Cheers all!

Ocbrit - Just like to point out these are not my own personal views, but rather what I and many others read of in the media, I'm sure these articles are written by people with access to better statistics than I'm currently capable of. they are also from reputable sources such as Forbes and FT.com and the better newspapers etc. For that, I think these articles are a good source of information and advice for those considering a move to the UK - the more information and knowledge you have the better.

But the points that I (and I assume others) found objectionable - points 2 and 3 - about the standard of living and quality of life, are nothing (directly) to do with economics or currencies.  You'll find as many sources suggesting "quality of life" is higher in the UK than US (and no, I'm not going to find sources). It depends how you define it and what you measure it by.  If you define by say by healthcare and education, "arguably" the standard of living is higher in the UK than the US (though lets not have that debate here)...

But the points that I (and I assume others) found objectionable - points 2 and 3 - about the standard of living and quality of life, are nothing (directly) to do with economics or currencies.  You'll find as many sources suggesting "quality of life" is higher in the UK than US (and no, I'm not going to find sources). It depends how you define it and what you measure it by.  If you define by say by healthcare and education, "arguably" the standard of living is higher in the UK than the US (though lets not have that debate here)...

Regarding your last point, it's probably too late to avoid starting that debate as the can of worms is now open!! 

without further opening the can of worms...  based on this link:
http://www.il-ireland.com/il/qofl2008/
In such dire economic times we live in...  I would give less importance to some columns and look at the first one called 'cost of living', as that may be my personal main concern at least at first.  I dont get it why the UK gets a pretty low number of 5.  Looks almost like a scary typo!
    

Hiya all,

Just an article I've come across regarding currencies..   makes for a bit of grim reading, but thats nothing new nowadays...


http://money.uk.msn.com/investing/articles/john-stepek/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13478884

Looks like it's Gold time!

DtM! West London & Slough UK!

From my perspective I think we should look at this economic slow down as being a good thing.
The pound is lower. Everything is  so much cheaper us who use the dollar.
Also, I just came back from a fast trip to LA. My expense for the trip was a fraction of the previous trips. Example. The hotel owners have had fun in recent years jacking up the cost of hotel rooms. "Oh, you wont get a room for anything less than a $100 a night these days" Wrong! I went through Priceline and got my bid for $60 excepted. This was for a 3 star. Free good breakfast, Free hifi, free parking, free social hour (supper/tea). So at this rate I say "bring it on". Gasoline was so much cheaper.
The auto industry. Maybe they will make cars in a price range were people can afford them. On that matter, maybe they should quit making cars. There are too many in the world.
All ready mentioned on another posting, it has solved a immigration issue if people are returning to their home country.
I hope Dennis your rental in the US is doing OK.

an economic slowdown may be good for a few, but not an economic meltdown 

From my perspective I think we should look at this economic slow down as being a good thing.

Willl you pay my rent for me then?

 

Vicky

Willl you pay my rent for me then?

 

Vicky

 When "then" gets here, if it does, I will be in no position to help unfortunately.

Then please don't tell me this economic slow down is good.  I know you don't mean to upset people, but this kind of thing really does get to me.  One good friend has been made redundant in the past two months, and two more are about to be.  Everyone I know is struggling, and nothing is good about that, regardless of the 'bigger picture'.

Vicky

Then please don't tell me this economic slow down is good.  I know you don't mean to upset people, but this kind of thing really does get to me.  One good friend has been made redundant in the past two months, and two more are about to be.  Everyone I know is struggling, and nothing is good about that, regardless of the 'bigger picture'.

Vicky

"When one door closes another opens up"

"When one door closes another opens up"

Seriously, Jim, you have no idea.


Vicky

yup, the door to your house as it gets repossesed closes and the door to the job centre opens. 

Seriously, Jim, you have no idea.


Vicky

I've been there and I don't want to go back.
I landed in the land of opportunity in December and walked and walked to try and find a job. It was very demoralizing. Cold, hungry and in a strange country and even back then they didn't like foreigners (me) coming in and trying to take their jobs.