Paging the current and ex USA ex-pats

Now adjust those for inflation to give the price increases in real
terms:

70s - 3.57%
80s - 4.65%
90s - -2% (yes, minus two)

I should note that Maggie didn't do much after 1990. That was John,
Norman, Ken, Tony and Gordon.

 

Little Moscow Down The Thames didn't do so bad. In fact it managed to not
do so bad so well that the Tories eventually used it's model for changing
the way council housing was handled both when sold and when held as stock.
Then again, as the BNP are pointing out right now, the Tories will steal
nutter polices from any bunch of lunatics if it will get them votes.

Remember folks, vote tory on May 5th and keep niggers out, even if they
are white and come from Bulgaria.

 

Who do we vote for to get you kicked out?

 

Ganja smokin long haired white nigga if ever I saw one

 

What Hog was alluding to (and I never mentioned) was the fact that we
have more than enough capital locked up in the matrimonial home to both
live comfortably if it was sold. I'd be able to rent somewhere big
enough to have the kids visit or stay and she'd be able to buy a similar
sized house outright elsewhere.

It's less to do with avoiding responsibility and more to do with
accepting the reality of marriage breakdown and separation.

 

On what sort of visa? That's a pretty important consideration, as your
wife won't be able to work if they get you an H1B. MIf it's your current
employer, make sure you get an L1.

Palo Alto is London-type expensive, there are some 'cheaper for the bay
area' towns close but it is one of most expensive places in the US to
live. Budget at least $2k/month for rent, if not more, for something
halfway decent or a loooooong commute. When I looked at rentals last
year while talking to a certain Internet search engine, I was looking at
places like Scotts Valley or Half Moon Bay for something halfway
affordable that wasn't so close to the neighbours' houses that you
couldn't push a bike through.

What *not* to look our for in a contract would be the better
question. If it's an internal transfer, I would try to keep my UK
employment contract or at least certain UK-style entitlements like
vacation days.

From hanging around a couple of expats forums, I would suggest you
ensure the following:

- If you get a local contract (or no contract, that pretty much amounts
to the same), make sure that your employer pays for the move back if
they "rightsize" you while you're still on the L* or H* visa,
otherwise you're up shit creek as you only have very little time to
get out of the country after you got canned. Obviously you'd expect
them to help with the move out, too...
- If they send you out on an L1, I would insist (and get it in writing)
that they'll (a) ensure your wife gets an L2 so she can work and (b)
that they'll sponsor you for a GC with a year or so of you
arriving. You can't apply for one yourself and your visa is tied to
your employment until you have that all-important card.
- Check on what sort of health coverage they offer, especially if one of
you has any sort of pre-existing condition. Health insurance over here
is brutally expensive if there are any pre-existing conditions if you
have to pay for it yourself
- Ask if they're willing to pay for accommodation and a rental car for a
month or so so you have some time to find a place to stay. If they can
refer you to an insewerants agent for car insurance who can arrange
cover while you haven't got your Cali license yet, make sure you take
them up on that offer as you'll have a whale of a time getting car
insurance otherwise, and it'll take a while for you to get your social
security number (at least two weeks) and then get the appointment for
the driving test.
- Make sure that you get non-resident tax status in the UK and an
accountant/CPA over here who is familiar with expat tax issues
- Carefully research the cost of living differences between where you
are now and the Bay Area and make sure that the salary gets adjusted
accordingly.
- If you haven't got one yet, get an Amex card - if you get transferred
and you've had that card for a while, Amex will give you a US card
under their global mobility program. That's pretty much the only way
to get a card that's not a secured CC with a pityful credit limit.

I'm sure there's more but I'm not *that* awake yet. Might be worth to
wander over to britishexpats.com and have a nosey around the USA
subforums.

 

I took exception to Hog's "Go on the dole and **** her in the eyes"
advice. Nothing I've written is to do with your personal
circumstances.

The bit above was specifically responding to Hog's comments on his
position.

 

On 14/04/2011 15:11, Timo Geusch wrote:

<snip tons of useful info>

Thanks Timo. Looks slightly less likely now than earlier in the week,
but still could be on the cards.

 

I'm pretty sure Hog was having a little bit of a wind up for my benefit,
felt obliged to give some background to temper the statement. He knows
perfectly well I'd never go on the dole intentionally and I'm pretty
much a pussy ready to roll over when it comes to fighting with my wife.

Here's a sharp knife after I get out of this net too ;-)

 

On 14/04/2011 16:33, DozynSleepy wrote:
snip

I'll just cut out the rogue apostrophe myself before the pedants get in.

 

Best comment "I suppose waiters do long hours"

 

5/10 which is about the same as I'd give most other fast food / packed
lunch type options.

I mostly eat because I'm hungry, not because it's a cultural
experience.

 

Altitude reduces the effectiveness of taste buds, combine that with
the fact you smoke and that might be why you can't taste much.

 

FFS, I managed to buy a house in 1995 when I was on half that, surely
the cost of living probably hasn't quite doubled in 10 years has it?

 

People on less than a median income.

 

Will a decent Beak not push the sale of the home with suitable division of
assets?

Otherwise you could always wait until the insurance runs out and they go on
holiday, then torch it ;o)

 

Yes obviously I was making light of the matter, but at the same time, if she
goes too far you have the nuclear option.

 

I expect it is significantly higher, don't know how much. You *may* be able
to but I was scoffing at the concept of the Ol' Champagne Socialist trying
it out.

In a bought and paid for house in a decent area I'm sure I could manage ok
on £25k if I had to. It would mean having to think about money though,
budget, which is quite stressful. Giving up Waitrose, nice cages, travelling
and eating out whenever, carefree retail therapy. The things that make
modern western life enjoyable.

Then there are women, sheesh a good one of those can absorb 25k net cash a
year without standing up ;o)

It's all quite funny to think about though considering I'll be popping my
clogs somewhere that spending $1000/month could be a challenge.

 

<applause>

Oh hold on, I think they want to live like Wayne Rooney. Mostly.

 

Oh, come now. On the way to Paris recently, we stopped at a McD's in
France[1] and had a peppery, cheesy burger thing and it was delicious.
No, honestly.


[1]With our passports, of course, to prove we were tourists.