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I am a 30 year old mother of two who lives in Cheshire in the UK. I work for a huge pharma company who have positions available in the US a few are in Orange County. I am currently debating making the move to US, I love the US I travelled a lot of it before I had my children and as a child we lived in Florida all summer and I love the way of life. But I'm not sure where I would be more better off. I currently live in a 3 bedroom semi detached house, 3 beds 1 bath in a good neighbourhood, I earn £40,000 a year. My children are 5 and 10 and both go to a good public school. My children want for nothing, we go on holiday (vacation) 3 times a year. If I took the job in the US I would earn in the region of $80,000, and I would have a company car. Would I be able to afford to have all the things I have in the UK if I move to OC? I know OC is one of the most expensive places to live but Britain is really expensive too so I just need a comparison.Just an example of how expensive it is to live in the UK I was filling up my car today and it was £1.31 for a litre of diesel how much is a litre in the states at the moment?Plus my weekly shopping for the 3 of us has rose to £100 a week (that doesn't include alcohol or fresh meat.
I think your standard of living would be about the same. You could definitely rent a 3 bedroom home in a good area with that salary. Buying could be more difficult depending on your down payment and what happens to the market here. OC is one of the most expensive places to live in the US but it also has the best weather in the US and excellent access to all the things that make California wonderful.
By my calculations you are currently paying $9.55/gallon. 3.78 liters/gal * 1.31 pounds/liter = 4.95 pounds/gal. 4.95 pounds/gallon * 1.98 dollars/pound = $9.55/gallon. Gasoline in Orange county is currently around $3.35 - $3.75/gallon. It may touch $4/gallon for self serve regular sometime this summer, and we will whine incessantly about it.
Hard to say about food costs because I don't know what is in your grocery cart, but the US has always had lower food costs than Europe. My guess is that these costs would be about 20-25% less.
Other than housing, I think your costs should be lower. However, one wild card will be your medical costs. Be sure to ask how much it will cost to add your children to your employer provided health insurance.
Also, if you do make the move, find a way to transfer your existing driving history from your current insurance carrier to your US carrier. Otherwise they may view you as an inexperienced driver with no known history and charge you the highest rates. Someone making the move from Italy to the US, had his Italian insurance company write a letter to his US company.
As Califantastic said, the biggest issue may be finding a way to purchase housing in Orange County.
From what you said, along with the excellent posts, it sounds like you would enjoy it out here. My ex girlfriend was from Watford England, and the family loves living here and how it is much cheaper to live (and drive) here. The only difficulty they have is that it is now much harder to visit and import items from the Commonwealth because of the exchange rate. Do you have any investments or checking accounts with online banking there? I would say you should keep them open there is you can to minimize the amount you need to exchange. That way you still have your reserves that have interest as well as emergency money that isn't falling at the rate the dollar is. I'm not an expert banker, but keeping some of your money in pounds there sounds like a wise emergency fund, backed by a much stronger currency. A couple quid saved could be worth even more if the dollar slides further. Just a thought
Thank you for all your posts. I think I would probably rent in the US for a while and once I was ready sell my house in the UK and use that money for a deposit or a downpayment as its said in the US. My company offer an excellent relocation package with healthcare insurance but I will have to look into it a little more.I will keep some money in my UK account but the UK economy is a smokescreen the pound seems strong at the moment but rate changes are necessary and it will soon become apparant that we are in trouble.
I think it will be a great move for my children as the way of life is so much better in the US. The only thing that worries me is I will be doing this on my own as a single mum with 2 kids and it can be a little scary.
I am a 30 year old mother of two who lives in Cheshire in the UK. I work for a huge pharma company who have positions available in the US a few are in Orange County. I am currently debating making the move to US, I love the US I travelled a lot of it before I had my children and as a child we lived in Florida all summer and I love the way of life. But I'm not sure where I would be more better off. I currently live in a 3 bedroom semi detached house, 3 beds 1 bath in a good neighbourhood, I earn £40,000 a year. My children are 5 and 10 and both go to a good public school. My children want for nothing, we go on holiday (vacation) 3 times a year. If I took the job in the US I would earn in the region of $80,000, and I would have a company car. Would I be able to afford to have all the things I have in the UK if I move to OC? I know OC is one of the most expensive places to live but Britain is really expensive too so I just need a comparison.Just an example of how expensive it is to live in the UK I was filling up my car today and it was £1.31 for a litre of diesel how much is a litre in the states at the moment?Plus my weekly shopping for the 3 of us has rose to £100 a week (that doesn't include alcohol or fresh meat.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Have a lovely easter.
Changing to a whole new country is a big step, a big change to make.
Would I live just anywhere in the U.S.? Unlike the common assumption with the americans that every person in the world would die to live anywhere in their country, I can say: absolutely not. In my opinion the only place good to live in if I would replace Europe with the U.S. would be some parts of California. I would slit my wrists if I would end up living in some of the places in the U.S...
Here's the facts on american society that I think European would find valuable to know [warning; its a bit brutal and to the point. Dont read if you get easily offended]:
1. Costs: It will be much cheaper for you in general, as far as housing costs, shopping, food, etc. The economy is pretty bad now, meaning things are getting even cheaper. If you'd be able to maintain your UK salary in the U.S. you should be fairly OK to live comfortably.
California is very keen to be 'international' and 'cultural' meaning, they have imported goods from all over the world and you will always find something you are looking for, somewhere.
2. Socializing: It will be very easy for you to make connection with people, but very difficult to make real, genuine friends. In the end, you mean nothing to them. Harsh but true. So, if you move, try to find other Europeans to be with so you don't end up being emotionally lonely and isolated.
They will casually say things like "lets get together" and so on, but its simply a phrase to be polite and often, it has no real meaning. So don't take all statements too serious. Break the ice by inviting them over for barbecues or pot-lucks on Sundays. They often enjoy that, and americans don't really have very close connection with their family members/parents/relatives the way we do in Europe, so they tend to have time available on weekends.
3. Friendship: Americans are extremely shallow. They are wonderfully polite and open to converse with, casually. But....there is no culture to speak of, and they are culturally handicapped and insensitive to other cultures and countries.
As a European it can become exceedingly boring to only hear shallowness from morning to evening (the TV gets unbearable if you're used to UK TV which is far more diverse), or backstabbing (a favorite subject in the american workplace) but the subject level of discussions are often very superficial and intellectually poor. After moving back to Europe I noticed how careful people are to speak bad about each other; I seldom hear a truly bad word spoken about anyone else in Europe, especially if they exist in your circle of people. Not so in the U.S. They have so many emotional hang-ups (emotionally imature) you sometimes wonder how it feels living in the head and body of someone so split and filled with conflicts. Its really quite exhausting. As a teen when I arrived, the first thing that shocked me stunned was how they would share intimiate details about their sex life, hemorroids, the 'bad' about their partner, and what not, on first contact which a European would only discuss with a closest friend or relative. If at all. They love to badmouth their partner to other people while they seldom share their inner feelings with their partners, which is an odd quality for Europeans to get used to.
I mean, look at them; they have to get on the Dr Phil show to discuss things they have never told each other even living together for years, for the whole world to hear! Its really quite funny.
You will seldom find friends to the same emotional level as in Europe; its all about how you look, what you drive and your status and not what you are as a human being. In 20 years I never saw a drop dead goregous man with a plain or ugly woman in CA, but I've seen this many times in Europe. It shows how shallow they are. This is the biggest downside with living in the U.S. and why most Europeans return back to Europe after 2-4 years. European eventually feel emotionally lonely and isolated and miss to feel connected to another human being. I returned to Europe and while I miss many things with California, I also don't want to live there anymore. I visit 3 months of the year. I made more friends in Europe in two years than 20 years in California... And I love the different cultures in Europe, our traditions and quirks although I could honesty live perfectly well without the bureaucracy.
4. Culture: They have tunnel vision and imagine they are 'the best' of everything in the world. They really have no clue that 85% of all material aspects they love so much and have around them and adapted to their own country, are either imported from abroad, imitated or adopted from different regions of Europe.... They think its all american. But its all been brought together from elsewhere into one melting pot, especially in California, which makes it a great place to live for Europeans. Everything from food, to clothes, to cars, and designs of houses - all are imitation originating from somewhere else. For example, California cities like Laguna Beach, Newport, etc. was designed to imitate the French and Italian Riviera; the boating docs around the whole coastline, the outdoor cafes, the Tuscan homes (with the sand and brick red colors), etc. About ten years ago you could not find many outdoor cafes in California. We've had them in Europe before there even was anyone living in California! (lol!). Since americans have an odd attraction to Italy of all places, a lot of the colors and building designs in California can be recognized having a Tuscan flair.
The only truly american things you notice right away are all the "lazy electronics" as I call them; electric tooth brushes, electric blankets, electric nose hair cutters, drive through fast food, and so on and on. Anything where human effort is avoided and there must be an "instant" pill to solve all problems is typically american and a creation of their culture.
5. Relationships: If you are single, flat chested, above 25 and not a model, and not a porn star, forget about dating a California male, even if he is potbellied (but few are; they try to keep in shape), old, balding and not at all on par with what he wants. American men are often handsome, but boring and empty partners to share life with. I found them fascinating when I first arrived, but it quickly died out. All European women I speak with who ended up marrying an american male, have regretted themselves. They complain that the men are culturally 'dead' (no depth of feeling) which has made it boring for them to experience the world with them, to travel, and to expand life and emotions. And the men lack emotional passion the way we Europeans have when we lose our head completely to love.
When americans date they will generally hop in bed and have sex after a single date within a few hours (its true! sober and all!). There is seldom any romantizised and old fashioned ideals such as 'learning to know each other'. They "learn to know" by sleeping on the first date. As a European I found this uncomfortable. In spite of our societies being more sexually open we don't generally sleep with a stranger on the dot unless we're dead drunk and embarrass ourselves or something.
When they date, they don't look at the person as a whole, as an individual with a soul. They will have a long list of "demands" of everything that person must do for them rather than what they can do for each other. Most of those demands are materially directed. The U.S. is the only western nation where "finances" (money) is the first and main reason for divorce. Its not because they are so poor in relationships, but because the material aspect is more valued than the human aspect.
Another odd thing I found when moving to CA was that men have zero respect for women, and you begin to notice that they are looking to exploit. Unlike in Europe, you can't be friends with an american male because they are not interested to know women as a person, and don't connect. And if they don't get to bed you, they simply lose interest in dealing with you at all. This to me was a huge loss, as my long list of male friends in Europe was important to me and emotionally fulfilling; they filled a brotherly role which never happened with american men. It really is a total male-cheuvanistic society and not at all gender equal like Europe. American women are much, much more aggressive and abraisive and masculine compared to European women, and this may be why. They are very, very demanding and less accepting but I think this is more a trait of Californians.
6. California: the weather is awesome, it is beautiful and roads and housing are very spacious and comfortable compared to Europe. Forget about the drab European weather!!! Here the weather is paradise, its perfect!
Don't forget: no topless on beaches... its considered a bit crude to the americans.
7. Schools: I love the educational opportunities here, because its not so strict as in Europe. I think your children will love it and will easily adapt. And I think the other kids will find the accents charming; many americans really get swooned by the english accent! Its quite funny!
I don't find the education as good as the European one on one level, while on another level I find it better and much more diverse, more selections with a chance to develop into something you want (where else can you get a valid college or university degree in ex. astrology?...!). General knowledge feels somewhat poor here when you converse with people, so obviously education is limited or perhaps focused in a different direction than in Europe.
This response may have been brutally honest, beause I know how much goes into uprooting and moving to a completely different country. Better to be honest and just let you think about it and know the facts from the start. It will take you about 2-3 years getting used to the american 'ways' and you will often find it offensive, exhausting, abbrasive and incredible until you adjust to this culture. Don't forget that even Posh and Becks, with all that money, still long to get away from California and spend more than half the time traveling back to the U.K...
In spite of these facts, I love the americans because I was young when I adapted into their culture so half of me have these qualities too.
The most wonderful and unique quality of americans, of which they are respected and admired for in the whole world, is their tremendous optimism! Its infectuous. To exaggerate statements with overwhelming optimism is unique for americans, while we Europeans tend to be broody and have long faces unless we know someone well. They rule the world with their attention to service, which is second to none of any country. Their incredible openness to new prospects and business, make them fun to deal with if you do business or keep in contact with clients, etc. For americans everything is possible which is the most charming part of their personality.
They love to be positive (even if on the inside they are not). They don't know how to handle real honesty because its very difficult for them to stay genuinely connected to their emotions, they are emotionally immature, and they prefer to stay in denial. So, as long as you stay shallow, and 'have a nice day' to everything - you will do marvelous and they will feel more comfortable with you.
And DO NOT get drunk here on weekends, or at all! They are never seen drunk in public while we Europeans make a fool of ourselves in so many places we visit.
I'd like to add that my "generalizations" in my response to BritUSA (because I know someone will immediately take it as a sweeping remark and get defensive) are aspects of common observations that make a strong impression on someone moving to the U.S. from another country. I am not the only one that have noticed these things, so excuse me if they offend.
It does not mean that every single person is exactly like that. There are wonderful people in every country. It just means that these things are a large portion of the cultural traits, as all countries carry a certain degree of cultural traits. We Europeans also have odd traits which must be overbearing for americans, but since BritUSA was asking how the U.S. is to live in, I brought up these observations that Europeans often mention when they try to understand americans.
But we Europeans love you guys anyways! We love you for what you are, with all your perfections and faults and hang-ups, and the unique little personality traits that are prevalent here! Even if they get time to get used to.
By my calculations you are currently paying $9.55/gallon. 3.78 liters/gal * 1.31 pounds/liter = 4.95 pounds/gal. 4.95 pounds/gallon * 1.98 dollars/pound = $9.55/gallon. Gasoline in Orange county is currently around $3.35 - $3.75/gallon. It may touch $4/gallon for self serve regular sometime this summer, and we will whine incessantly about it.
Hmm...you're forgetting, though, that most of the time no one need to drive more than 10-30 minutes maximum in Europe to get where they want. So in the end that $9.55 a gallon is actually much less than the $3.75 per gallon in CA.
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