What is it like to live in the UK?

Question

Is it easy to get a job? Buy a house? Save money? Are you happy there?

I'm from Mexico, but I live in Canada, I have the right to live in the UK, but also in Canada

Answer 1

I would stay in Canada if i was you,we have just moved from the uk to live in Canada,uk is a rip off and house prices are scandalous,jobs are not easy to get,savings,what are they!!! no we where not happy there that is why we are here.though scotland is a lovely place and wales very nice places,yeah there are lovely places to see and lots of history,but still if you try it good luck to you I suppose it is up to the individual,if you don't like it i suppose you can always come back to Canada.

Answer 2

It is easier to get a job than other western european countries. The unemployment rate is quite low. There are minimum wage jobs available as bar-staff or waiters/waitresses, especially in London. Also, farm jobs picking vegatables or fruit in the east of england.

There are fairly low paid jobs available for trained medical people, such as nurses, in the National Health Service.

If you are well qualified, there are jobs in the computer and finance sectors.

Housing is expensive. Not enough houses are being built due to strict planning laws, interest rates are low, so by the law of supply and demand, the prices have gone up a lot. In most of the country, a 3 bedroom house is at least £200,000. Houses are very expensive in London and the rest of south-east england. Houses are small by north-american standards.

Most people like to buy their houses rather than rent. Nowadays, a married couple need a joint income of about £40,000 to make this possible. You can get mortgages with a group of friends. Mortgage companies and banks normally only lend 3 times your income, but recently one or two will lend up to 5 times income. You need a 10% deposit to buy a house and borrow the rest.

Its not easy to save money, after paying for the mortgage, council-tax (local government), electricity, gas, water, drainage, phone, holidays/vacations, etc, especially if you have children.

I'm reasonably happy though. There are plenty of nice pubs in the countryside to go for a beer and a meal in, some good restaurants, etc.

Young people are pretty fun-loving and outgoing (but heavy drinking at weekends), but older people are quite reserved until you get to know them. Less outgoing and neighbourly than Americans, or spanish/italians/dutch etc.

Its a pretty tolerent place with most white, black, asian and east-europeans getting along okay. Mixed race relationships/ marriages and gay relationships/ civil-partnerships (almost a marriage) are fine with most people.

The roads are quite crowded. The trains don't run on time, because the British are too reserved to complain. Its a good base to explore europe. There are cheap flights to other european countries for £30 or so.

Most people have internet access at home and there is free access in public libraries.

For UK citizens, there's no requirement to do military service. The only obligation is to do jury service. There is a very small state pension of about £4500. Most police are unarmed, but there are specialised armed response units.

Popular hobbies are football, rugby, cricket, fishing, drinking, more drinking, night-clubs.

The British are a nation of pet-lovers, especially dogs and cats.

The countryside is nice. England is quite flat with picturesque old villages. Wales and Scotland are more rugged and mountainous.

You have to pay taxes like anywhere, but then health-care and school education are free. At university level the government pays for some of it, but there are tuition fees and student loans.

The minumum wage is £5.50 or so an hour.

Answer 3

We found that living in Scotland (from Massachusetts) to be similar weather-wise. There were restrictions for Americans to get jobs. Housing prices were reasonable, staple foods (bread butter eggs) was much less expensive than their US counterparts.

You don't say where you are coming from so, I offer my comparisons :>) My husband and I absolutely loved living there (even if it was only for 10 months).

Answer 4

holy sh!t.. thats one question i would like to find out about.. its weird that im inlove with the Uk but i dont know anything of it.. and in a few more years i would love to live there

Answer 5

It's a great place with many beautiful places.
visit this website.
http//www.pamelajonespaintings.co.uk