Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Well outside of London, the food is cheaper. A McDonald's breakfast bagel and OJ runs a more reasonable $8>> OK, that's only twice what it costs here.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo )))That is a good question, though. I would suspect that UK's spending patterns are a bit different from ours. What's a typical UK bill for cable, cell phone, internet, health care, taxes, transportation, utilities, Tivo, caller ID, ringtones, newspaper subscriptions, exercise club memberships, movie tickets, sodas, six-packs, sunscreen, and so on?((( Ok, I do think the UK spending patterns may be a little different. I don't know for sure, but I do have views. E.g. I think brits go to the movies, eat out and watch tv less, but play more sport, socialise and drink more. Cable is only really in urban areas with satellite proving more popular. There are a lot of free sat channels. Rates are betwenn $14 to 100 a month, but it is seen as a luxury. Cell Phone depends on pay as u go (as little as $10) or monthly. Average monthly tariff is $50 Net can be cheap, broadband is about $30 a month. Health care comes out of our salaries between 9 and 12% per month. Taxes vary. Ave is 22% income tax, 40% once you reach $90000 per annum. Sales tax is 17.5%, ave house tax is $200 per month. Utilities run about $120 per month. Caller ID is free. Transport varies. A bus ticket is abou $4 within a town, train to london from bedford (70 miles) is $200 a week (however, that's not as common - most people outside of london walk, cycle or drive everywhere) Tivo is not that popular. SKy plus (the sat version is $20 and a luxury) Personally I bought a Hard drive and dvd recorder for $500 instead, but a lot of people still use vhs for recording. Newspapers I don't know - a dollar a day? There are free ones in London and our neighbourhood. Gym memberships are between $20 and 60 a month, but some companies like mine give them as a perk or subsidize them. Cinema tickets are about $14. Sodas $3 for 500 ml. 6 packs are rare, beer is more often purchased in crates of 12 or 24. $20 - $30. Hope that helps visualise.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo However, childcare is heavily subsidized. Everyone gets medical. University tuition is about $10000 for a BA BS (AAs are free). We have a lot of tax credits and benefits for disabilities, having children etc. Also, perscriptions are free to the poor, elderly, disabled and children, and for those that pay, all prescription meds are $13. Kids have less vacation time ( a week or two for christmas and easter, 6 weeks summer, a week in October, Feb, and May. SO a lot of households have two incomes If you are min wage, there are other reliefs too.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo If we compare our California trip to the UK, we typically pay less for groceries especially fruit and veg. And people eat less. And each job type have differet perks (subsidised cafeterias, travel insurance etc.) Min wage is $12 per hour. Teachers are on about $60k, Police and Social workers $56k, middle management between $60-120k, accountants between 100 - 140k. Head of local government between 200 and 500k. Programmers 60-160k. Lawyers (ave) 100-240k. Doctors 160-300k
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Brits in my experience prefe r to spend money on travel than things (if anything, our houses are to small for too much stuff).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo One really cool thing I love in the UK, most major museums and galleries are free, and live professional theatre is cheaper here than the US.
