Affording to live and flights home....

I do find it hard when we are the ones always traveling there and not vice versa.   I will say that my parents (now just my Mom as my Dad passed away 3 years ago) were wonderful about coming here as well. 

My brother and his family have never been over in the 7 years we've lived here.  I understand that for 4 tickets are expensive, but they are for the three of us as well. 

I've got a little travel fund going, but it will take a long time to save up for flights....

I do find it hard when we are the ones always traveling there and not vice versa.   

I can relate. 

Why not? People contribute to funds all the time. Think of it as a personal kickstarter.  Is it "tacky" to ask people for money? Not, I think, when they're the ones trying to dictate how you spend it.

Just my opinion, but yeah, I think it's 'tacky'.  I can't think of anyone I know... not even the tackiest people I know... who would do this!

I do find it hard when we are the ones always traveling there and not vice versa.   

I do wish that my dad would come visit me here, but I also realise that I'm the one who chose to move so I feel like it really should be (and always has been so far) me who does the traveling back and forth.

Just my opinion, but yeah, I think it's 'tacky'.  I can't think of anyone I know... not even the tackiest people I know... who would do this!

Well, now you know me. I would have no problem asking people to put their money where their mouths are.

Well, now you know me. I would have no problem asking people to put their money where their mouths are.

If someone kept hounding me to return to the US and made comments about how the money I spent on A, B or C could be spent on a ticket, I would probably tell them to pay for my ticket themselves, come visit me or shut it. Assuming I wasn't spending my money frivolous things. Do I really think other people should pay my way? No, but if they're not footing the bill, then they're just going to have to be patient until I come up with the funds to buy a ticket and if I'm not doing that as quickly as they would like, they don't get to make me feel guilty about that. So, I see what you're saying.

If my parents want me to come and spend the school break with them in August, unfortunately they have to pay for us to come. They travel here two or three times a year, and we meet them in Florida in February, so I see them a lot. My mother uses her frequent flyer miles for us to come over. We are travelling in July and its £1700 for me and my two kids to come over. I have no problem asking them to help us out, they can afford it and they would rather spend money on us now than giving it to us when they are dead. We are in a fortunate position.

I am going back at the end of this month for my nephew's wedding. Actually, it's just an excuse to justify spending money we don't really have. But I hinted around at getting help with the ticket cost and although i did come out and ask my sister to help, but all I got was the sound of crickets. Nothing, nada, zip, not even I can't help you out she didn't even bother to respond. I understand about being the only one to travel as I'm sure no one will ever bother to get a passport and come over.

I've been back twice in nine years and that's more than enough. I'd rather save my travel money to go to more exciting places and places I haven't been to before.

That's my feeling, too. Flights are so cheap from the UK to Asia, Africa and the rest of Europe, so I decided to let my parents come to visit me and I'd do a lot of travelling. My parents would also prefer to visit the UK than have me visit them. For £1500, my husband and I could fly to the US, but for £800, we could go to Asia, so we obviously chose the latter. I'm an only child and since my parents were visiting me, I really didn't have a reason to go back besides visiting friends.

I arrived in the UK in May 2008, and the first time I was back in the US was in April 2011, so I spent three years away and actually didn't miss it at all. I think it's different if you have a lot of family there, though.