What to buy in the US before I move?

In September I'll be getting married to a wonderful British man and moving to the Reading area. I lived in London for a few years in my early 20s but left in 2013. At the time I was renting so wasn't really thinking about furnishing a home.

My future husband is in the RAF so we'll be given a house to live in and thankfully won't have to pay the ridiculous housing prices in the London area. My fiance currently lives in the barracks so doesn't have any home furnishings other than his bed. I will probably be selling my furniture and appliances (other than the KitchenAid - I'll take the risk with a voltage converter).

We're getting married in the US and the American guests are already asking me to set up a registry. All the plates/glassware/flatware/appliances we will register for in the UK but I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions on good items that are not too breakable that the American guests can buy and I can ship over with the rest of my things? Are there certain things that you wish you could find in the UK that I should purchase now?

And does anyone have any suggestions for homeware other than John Lewis/Debenhams? The stuff is okay, but it's no Macy's. They seem to have one of everything you're looking for, but everything looks the same no matter what brand it is. There's not much variety. I'm especially struggling with tableware. It's like there's no middle ground between stoneware/Emma Bridgewater/shabby chic stuff and Wedgwood.

I hear you on the plates. I really miss mine and my parents old Corel dishes/bowls/plates. They were so light and often could take a drop without breaking. I really dislike heavy plates.

I haven't been able to find what I would prefer here, but to be honest, I haven't looked too hard as my husband doesn't see the point in getting new when what we have works. haha.

And no, bedding seems to be really boring here without a lot of option. It really bums me out that you can't bring it over from the US as the beds are different sizes! I did find more variety on Amazon, but I'm not sure the quality we're used to in the US is there.

You can create a wedding registry on Amazon that you can put things from other websites on. It's AWESOME. Just as an FYI.

Personally, I love my heavy Denby plates, but I agree that bedding here is dreadful. It's almost impossible to find anything that's 100% cotton that doesn't cost a small fortune. I get my bedding from Target. They ship to the UK now, but I normally just buy it when I visit the US or ask my family to bring some when they visit. We have a UK king size bed, and US queen size sheets fit perfectly well.

bedsheets!!!!  They are terrible quality here for way too much money. The standard is something awful and scratchy like 250 thread count and it will cost you £40.

Just keep in mind that double beds in the UK can fit US full size sheets just fine, while UK King = US queen.

I even had my mom bring some over for me last time they were here, and I'm sure I'll be buying more when I'm there in July.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Personally, I love my heavy Denby plates, but I agree that bedding here is dreadful. It's almost impossible to find anything that's 100% cotton that doesn't cost a small fortune. I get my bedding from Target. They ship to the UK now, but I normally just buy it when I visit the US or ask my family to bring some when they visit. We have a UK king size bed, and US queen size sheets fit perfectly well.

Ours come from target too!

Ours come from target too!

I miss Target so much...

I'm not sure how your shipping and what room you have, but I registered on a site that allows you to link outside website called my marriage gift list. I used wilkos and Amazon. My sister got us lovely sheets from a company called soak and sleep. 

My mom buys me things from Amazon for our place all the time, so as long as your guests would be willing to pay the conversion difference it's a good place! My mom also found some plates online that I fell in love with in the US. They were by Gordon Ramsey, but she found them on a UK site so they could be shipped here, so maybe search for things you want but on a UK site. I would really suggest family buy off uk sites, I just got hit with a heavy VAT tax from a package someone Sent from the states.

Things that aren't breakable that I've missed/had to buy: good Tupperware, holiday decorations, things like couch pillows (husband doesn't see the point so I don't get them...for now ), throw rugs, blankets/bedding, baking utensils, wall decorations, cake pans/baking pans, hangers(I like those velvet ones but can only find small packs here)  .. Curtains I can't find any I've liked.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I miss Target so much...

I miss target too. I tried using the international site because we had gift cards. But, I can never get the site to work properly. I still haven't found a store I like as much.

I moved my kitchen stuff.  Dishes, glasses, silver, pots, pans, utensils, junk drawer, etc.  SO GLAD I DID.  I also brought all my linens.  Sheets, towels, blankets, down duvets, etc.  It would have cost a fortune to replace and I wouldn't have been able to get the same variety and quality here.  I would also buy new clothes, especially jeans.

We received exactly two gifts when we got married (money from my husband's aunt and money from my parents), so I'm no help on the gift ideas. 

Hi,

In addition to the above, keep in mind that after you move here, it's still possible to get products from the USA later as and when. Some US stores do ship to the UK which helps, but if you want items the shops/sellers don't offer a international or UK shipping service to, you can use one of the package forwarders solutions. This means local delivery is done in the USA to a US address and that happens to be the service providers address. They then forward your package onto you for a fee.

The great thing here is that anything used or second hand could also be sent over.

Here's one I have in my favourites list
http://www.bundlebox.com/

I've not used them so far though!

The other way to do things is to import items over yourself. If for example your family or friends buy you something and it's at their address - something picked up on Sale etc, then you can instruct a courier shipping service to collect and deliver to you in the UK. You'll do all the paperwork and pay the UK import duty/VAT/handling fees manually. This is way I currently do all my importation and exporting as well.

Here's some links for you

http://www.transglobalexpress.co.uk/
https://www.parcel2go.com/
https://www.parcelmonkey.co.uk/
http://www.p4d.co.uk/

The trick is to put the same details into each of those and compare pricing, it can and does vary ! don't forget to add insurance !

As for what to bring over, that's down to you! some of the replies above to make out that the UK doesn't have high quality products here, but it definitely does! I agree, that pricing is higher and often substantially, but it's all available. Choice might be somewhat less in terms of brands and the 'exact' same item, but I'd say in 85+% of cases, the exact same brand or item is available here.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Seriously, what is it with British bedding? Everything yall have said is true. I also brought over some quilts because a) my mother-in-law made them and they're lovely and b) I haaaaaate duvet covers. The duvet always ends up bunched down at the end and it drives me nuts.

Also, this might go without saying, but bring little things that remind you of home. I brought a little jewelry dish but I wish I had brought more things like it since they really helped make our house feel homey and me less homesick.

Just be aware that if the declared value of anything shipped from a vendor in the US is £15 or greater, you will have VAT to pay. If the item is sent via US mail, and onto Royal Mail, then you incur an additional £8 fee from Royal Mail for their time & trouble to collect the VAT on behalf of HMRC.

You can potentially avoid this by having a relative ship something and declare it as a 'gift' and a low value, but even this can be problematic.

And BTW - I definitely concur with the 'buy sheets in the US' opinion. IMHO far better quality, and scads cheaper.

Hi Vadio

Everything that is imported into the UK is subject to import taxes and VAT. The rates depends on what the product is and a full list of product catagories is on the HMRC website.

Different couriers and handlers have different ways of processing. Some pay the required amounts once landed and then inform the recipient to pay them back prior to the goods being released, others will deliver and then send a bill afterwards for the amount.

Trying to reduce the duty and VAT by falsely declaring a lower value is in fact illegal. I know many people do it and get away with it if it's a personal item sent family/friend to another family/friend. Businesses who do this risk getting a visit from the authorities and being shut down!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi Vadio

Everything that is imported into the UK is subject to import taxes and VAT. The rates depends on what the product is and a full list of product catagories is on the HMRC website.

Different couriers and handlers have different ways of processing. Some pay the required amounts once landed and then inform the recipient to pay them back prior to the goods being released, others will deliver and then send a bill afterwards for the amount.

Trying to reduce the duty and VAT by falsely declaring a lower value is in fact illegal. I know many people do it and get away with it if it's a personal item sent family/friend to another family/friend. Businesses who do this risk getting a visit from the authorities and being shut down!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

I'm quite aware of this - which is why I said "potentially" and "can be problematic".

I plan to stay in my current job for several months after my in order to allow my visa to process, spend the holidays with my family, and tie up any loose ends. I read somewhere that customs and VAT aren't charged on household goods if you've owned them for 6 months or more prior to moving to the UK. Is this true? Do you need to provide receipts to customs in order to prove this?