Happy to chat, but you should first talk to relocation experts. There's a lot to speak about and unless someone has just moved and had exactly your needs, you're probably not going to get exactly what you need.

Even if you don't use the relocation person, they should be able to provide you a general checklist of things that they'd work with you on in order to make your move as smooth as possible. Also, it may help you negotiate certain things to help you get settled (e.g., 6 weeks corporate housing to start, mobile phones for you and your husband, someone to help you set up your new place with utilities, council tax, etc.).

TV comes with a licence fee and then there are a myriad of options after that from BT, Virgin and Sky that depend upon where you are what they can provide (oh, and those are just the majors). Also, many people don't do "cable" anymore - there are free channels and then people use Hulu or Apple TV or LoveFilm or Netflix or the like over broadband.

Create an account on Tesco or Asda or the like and pop in a typical shop. Note that you'll also have your first big "load up" shop where you'll get all your first set of staples too. This will help you price your general food items.

London is massive. "Affordable" requires a number. And, you really need to look at Zoopla, Findaproperty, and others to find locations that fit your budget. Commute is important and commutefrom.com can help you figure out distances around the greater London area. London is a lot safer, overall, than most places in the world. What's desirable for one, however, may not be for another.

You should also start to figure out how much money you'll bring home each month. www.listentotaxman.com helps figuring out your PAYE income.

Keep in mind that you may wish to move back at some point and that the return costs will also need to be saved up in case you have to go on your own again. Also, there are hidden costs for tax filings in both the UK and the US, time and costs consumed for visas and others that just aren't hitting me off the top of my head right now.

Indeed, make certain that UKBA will be able to grant you a visa for this transfer and consider the implications about losing that job whilst you are in London and what that might mean for the status of your visa. For example, if your visa is tied to your job then the end of your job means that you'll probably have to move out of the UK fairly quickly. You should have something in your WRITTEN CONTRACT for employment in the UK that covers this possibility unless you're already an EEA or UK citizen.

It's a big life transition, Allison, that requires a lot of planning. From start to finish takes most people 6 months to plan and complete a move (unless you just got out of Uni and have nothing to do but wait for your Visa).

Philip

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Hi there - I'm an Aussie who lived in the UK for 5 years - nearly 3 in London. If you are moving there because of your husband's job then his employer may assist with re-location advice etc.
However, when I arrived in London with my daughter although I had a job lined up I had no house & very little spare cash. I went on loads of residents' forums beforehand and looked at websites (like upmystreet.com although I think this is now closed) to get an idea of the different neighbourhoods etc. But I ended up spending all my time in London renting in the SE although many people still seem afraid of this part of London - lol. Food for us was WAY cheaper than in Australia but rent & transport a lot more & this is what took up most of my budget. A house in an area with good & varied transport options will make your life much easier & happier. I did without a car the whole time & found it no problem - we just used home delivery for big grocery shops. A TV licence costs very little but is mandatory. Internet/phone packages vary so shop around for these - you could even start looking online before you re-locate. Energy providers also often a variety of packages so shop around for these too - I changed providers several times while I lived there. Good heating is a must for winter months but this will push up your energy bills. In the UK (unlike Australia) tenants must pay Council tax & all water bills - the former is priced according to where you live & can be quite high. A UK bank account is really handy but I'm sure your husband's workplace can organise this. I had a great time in London but don't expect people to be that helpful or friendly - it's a big city & Londoners are notoriously reserved & like to stay in their cliques. But you will meet people through work & if you tone down your manner a little (as I had to!) you'll find you won't scare them away too much - lol! That's all I can think of off the top of my head for now- feel free to PM or post more questions. Good luck!

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