Moving to England

[cyclonelifer]

I'm planning on moving across the pond, sometime late summer or early fall.

I've been looking at somethings that I need to be focusing in on. The first thing is an international mover. I'm not taking much books, clothes, probably my PC's and somethings I just want to hold onto. I won't be taking an furniture or anything large.

The thing that has me a little more concerned is how to get everything lined up with bank accounts, 401K, Credit Cards... mostly all my finances.

Most everything I have read suggests keeping these things in America. To do so, I'd need an American address. I don't have any family member I'd trust enough to use their address. I did see that some expats use mail services that give you a physical address and you can view your mail on-line.

Wondering if anyone has used these services, or have any experiences to share with moving out of the country...

Thanks

 

[jsb]

Sorry, no advice, but that sounds like a ton of fun. I'd love to move to Ireland for a year or two.

If you are transferring within a company, I'm sure HR could help you.

 

[CarlHungus]

All you need to know is that cigarettes are called ****.

Also, I'm an avid Clark Howard fan and he travels frequently and usually has answers for this kind of thing. He has a free advice line you can call with questions and an operator will be able to help you out. You can find more info here http://www.clarkhoward.com/s/cac/

 

[ianoconnor]

Agree with jsb -- living in the UK for a few years sounds awesome. Good luck w/ your mail issue!

 

[Skyh13]

I'm planning on moving across the pond, sometime late summer or early fall.

I've been looking at somethings that I need to be focusing in on. The first thing is an international mover. I'm not taking much books, clothes, probably my PC's and somethings I just want to hold onto. I won't be taking an furniture or anything large.

The thing that has me a little more concerned is how to get everything lined up with bank accounts, 401K, Credit Cards... mostly all my finances.

Most everything I have read suggests keeping these things in America. To do so, I'd need an American address. I don't have any family member I'd trust enough to use their address. I did see that some expats use mail services that give you a physical address and you can view your mail on-line.

Wondering if anyone has used these services, or have any experiences to share with moving out of the country...

Thanks

Disclaimer: I haven't researched this at all, so this might not work or could be a dumb suggestion, but..

Have you looked into getting a P.O. Box? That might satisfy any address requirements you need without having to rely on someone else.

 

[Skyh13]

Sorry, no advice, but that sounds like a ton of fun. I'd love to move to Ireland for a year or two.

If you are transferring within a company, I'm sure HR could help you.

Same here. My wife and I spent our honeymoon there and I absolutely loved it.

 

[cowgirl836]

No idea on the financial side but I'm jelly. Where in England?

 

[CascadeClone]

One note of caution - there is now a huge problem with banking issues, due to some of the money-laundering and tax-avoiding and turrurist-funding laws. Banks and such are basically dumping expats since the compliance and liability risks are so huge. I envy you the time in the UK, but not this mess. If it were me I would have my folks be my address in the US. If you don't have family, maybe a lawyer or close friend? Good luck!

 

[CNECloneFan]

Get a boat load of dental work done before you go...

 

[dmclone]

What type of job takes you there?

 

[NobodyBeatsCy]

I could help you out - I've been helping all the folks from Nigeria that email me with their international financial needs.

 

[Clonehomer]

Same here. My wife and I spent our honeymoon there and I absolutely loved it.

You loved England or the honeymoon?

 

[LutherBlue]

Good luck with the language barrier!!

 

[1100011CS]

Good luck with the language barrier!!

Agreed, I'm not sure the OP has a good grasp on the language of England yet. He/she might want to take a few more classes.

 

[Wesley]

Think fish and chips and pubs and real football. Order your necessities through amazon prime.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Not quite the same, but when I moved to Hawaii, I boxed up all of my things, took inventory of what was in each box, then numbered the boxes and kept them at a family member's house. When I needed something, I'd just take out my list, call them and ask them to mail me such and such out of box number whatever. Works wonders and shipping through mail is significantly cheaper than shipping with a mover.

Edit: I also send them a check for whatever cost of mailing is.

 

[Wesley]

Not quite the same, but when I moved to Hawaii, I boxed up all of my things, took inventory of what was in each box, then numbered the boxes and kept them at a family member's house. When I needed something, I'd just take out my list, call them and ask them to mail me such and such out of box number whatever. Works wonders and shipping through mail is significantly cheaper than shipping with a mover.

Edit: I also send them a check for whatever cost of mailing is.

Good point. If your company has a mail account with UPS or FedEx and the company lets you use their account to ship boxes, it may actually be much less expensive. Shipped 25 boxes cross country for $100 through legal company account. Suspect you could do the same to England if you are connected to a company.

 

[cyclonelifer]

September of 2014, I started to have some medical nightmares. First was open heart surgery, to repair three things with my heart... two weeks later I had a second surgery, then three weeks after that a third surgery. That last surgery I thought I was never walking out of a hospital.

It changed my perspective on life. I'm 57 and just wore out. I plan on moving and getting back to a simple life. I have it figured out that in the UK (up by Manchester) living is not that expensive. I can live on a part-time job.

I've been in the baking business (R&D) for nearly 20 years and actually I'd be very happy stocking shelves in a grocery store. For me, it's just time to start smelling the roses.

Being an American, many countries won't give you a bank account because of all the laws associated with it. That is why I want to leave the accounts in America open. Even though I have excellent credit in America, it means nothing in England, another reason to keep things active in America.

Having a PO Box doesn't satisfy many banks or government agencies, which is why a physical address is needed. I'm not close to my family at all. In fact, one brother I haven't seen in over 30 years. And really don't have any close friends that I would trust with my mail.

I plan on moving to England with the goal of staying there and maybe visit the States once in awhile. All I have to do is be comfortable for five years then start drawing Social Security at 62. Medical costs are very cheap compared to here, so that isn't a concern.

Not sure about UPS or FedEx. I send things occasionally to my girl friend and it is quite expensive. That's how come I was looking at movers. I know someone who is a retired musician, who traveled the world and he said to get a mover, that it is the cheapest way. This coming from a guy who had all his band equipment and home furnishings shipped every six months or so for many years.

Why England? I have a girl friend there and have been to the country every year for a couple of months for the last six years. I love the people, the atmosphere, and yes the language...

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Why England? I have a girl friend there and have been to the country every year for a couple of months for the last six years. I love the people, the atmosphere, and yes the language...

How do you woo a girl from the UK? What's the secret? There is this girl from Wales in one of my classes... :spinny:

 

[Farnsworth]

Having a PO Box doesn't satisfy many banks or government agencies, which is why a physical address is needed. I'm not close to my family at all. In fact, one brother I haven't seen in over 30 years. And really don't have any close friends that I would trust with my mail.

I thought a lot of places like Mailboxes etc. give you actual physical 'street' address now, even though it's basically the same setup as a PO Box.