Comments | brits_americans: Going to London... finally

applejammy in brits_americans

Going to London... finally

May 13, 2009 12:25

I posted a couple weeks ago asking about the job and rent situation in London and all that. Welp, I am about to make the move!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've got my Visa (a 2-year work permit) about 4000CAD saved up and this is equivalent to 2261GBP, roundtrip tickets, and travel insurance, so I'm pretty much set.

( Loads of questions on the way )

Comments 52

seekerofspace May 13 2009, 19:36:24 UTC

No comment for you, but I'm in Vancouver, too! I'm a British citizen, but raised here, but I want to relocate to the UK in the future!

Good luck with your move, London is FABULOUS! You won't regret it!!!!

applejammy May 13 2009, 20:48:35 UTC

Thanks so much for the kind words! I'm quite tired of Vancouver and am itching for a change. Most people are quite shocked when I tell them I'm going on my own, too. Some have even been quite derisive, saying things like "LONDON?? London is VEEERY different from Vancouver." or "LONDON? Why would you want to go there?"

It doesn't matter, I'm personally very excited. I know I'll love it.

seekerofspace May 13 2009, 20:52:16 UTC

very different from Vancouver? isn't that the entire point?!

and yes, power to you!

southernmyst May 14 2009, 13:01:50 UTC

This. I can't believe the lack of manners so many people have in our society these days, blegh.

applejammy, rock on, gal! Have a ball! And set up a blog to fill with goodies to make those nay-sayers all even more envious than they already are ;-)

wanttobeatree May 13 2009, 19:38:11 UTC

I can't answer any of the other questions, but I'd say that if you're planning on travelling at all the young persons railcard is a very good idea. Train prices are really high right now. I'm going to Birmingham in a couple of weeks (five/six hour train journey from where I am right now) and the return ticket I booked about a month ago was £80 with my railcard. Even if you choose to not go for NatWest, I'd recommend getting one (£25 for a year.)

ellonwye May 13 2009, 19:43:08 UTC

Urrghh tell me about it, my return tickets from Middlesbrough to north Wales regularly take a big chunk out of my cash. :(

boudiceaborn May 13 2009, 19:55:18 UTC

Durham to north Wales is making me sad too. With my YPRC. And once I arrive I still have to take an hour's car journey to get to my destination!

dancingxstar May 22 2009, 11:36:29 UTC

Durham to Cardiff isn't pretty, though I have learned to cut it down to half of what it initially tells me it will cost...still a pain to go through the trouble to do so!

Thread 6

ellonwye May 13 2009, 19:38:24 UTC

£200/mo base rent, or including utility bills? Finding a place at that price that includes utility bills seems nigh-on impossible to me, I live in a student house that is in a cheap area and it still costs me £45/w sharing with two other people, not including bills.

Cover letters and such depends on the job, if it's just a low-skilled job they're not particularly bothered about cover letters. Normally in the ad you'll see if they specifically request cover letters, and if they don't, then don't bother with one. They probably won't read it.
A CV is pretty much a given, every job I've applied for has requested at least a CV. Doesn't have to be a work of art, just has to show what experience you have and how long you've worked.

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rosathome May 14 2009, 11:20:05 UTC

VAT is now 15% in the UK.

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rosathome May 14 2009, 21:12:43 UTC

No, it used to be 17.5%. They did change it on a temporary basis, but that has been extended. I'd be surprised if it goes up again any time soon.

boudiceaborn May 13 2009, 20:05:41 UTC

I moved to the UK as a British citizen with no UK financial history, and getting a bank account is a complete bitch here ( ... )

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boudiceaborn May 13 2009, 20:18:40 UTC

Shops are usually ok, although they have changed over to the chip and pin method. My US debit also had a pin, but the difference is that the card itself has a metal chip of information (in the middle of the card) that needs to be slid into a card reader, rather than the US model of having a magnetic strip with the information. Some shops have card readers that do both, but some people just stare blankly when confronted by a US card.

I had my card rejected from several holes in the wall, but also found a couple that worked with my card type.

basilm May 14 2009, 14:07:31 UTC

I never have a problem using my US ATM card. In fact this was the ONLY way I ever transferred money from the US to the UK. I took out £200 per day and deposited the cash into my UK bank account. I recommend this if you have a US bank account that offers no transaction fee and a very low conversion fee (mine is $0 plus 1% for a local credit union, or $0 plus 0% for acapital one money market account.)