₦airaland Forum

SocialJustice:
Shuuu, na im you dey threaten me. Your wife no dey work dey share bill with you, what you are paying is too much.

Them no dey do man of the house for UK, before you know your wife go build house here and you have nothing. Your kids are almost no expense too, school is free and government pays you stipend for each child abi no be so?

Calm down again.. Once u got kids one cant work full time only one can

SocialJustice:
Op is either a terrible liar or mugu in the UK. Good shared apartment with all bills inclusive is £450 monthly. No way a single person can spend £700 monthly on bills including feeding.

Better get sense before you dey mumu yourself for UK.

Paying your school fees is the biggest burden.

Calm down... Am a family man with 2 kids

Shawarmagirl:
I earn 2k plus monthly and my partner earn 1.8k monthly. We leave in just 2 rooms with seating room. Baby is on its way already.

Nigerians, do not allow anyone deceived you. In 3 to 5yr you'll recover the 30m and supers it.

Yes i mentioned it there that once u dont have a baby u are better off. Once ur baby comes u move to a bigger house. Your wife can't work full time. U do all the working or u take turns as u can't leave the baby and face work.


If i dont have a baby i should be working 45hrs and earning 1800 after tax and my wife also the same

martineverest:
but your 700 pound house comes with all bills inclusive right?

We all know London is expensive

If u live in Manchester,u can get cheaper accomodations in greater Manchester cities like Bolton,Oldham etc

Na na unless u are in a student accommodation. Once u are in a family house that's it house rent, heater, water u take care of it. If anyone claims otherwise let them bring their bills online and proves

martineverest:
even with minimum wage,such expenses is exaggerated

Even with receipts i showed oya suggest your owb bill
Even my house rent of 700 is the cheapest as its a tiny space.

A friend in London pays 1800 for same type of 2 bedroom. We do same type of job.. Only he works more hours

martineverest:
the wife will also be working too

yes but not full time i said she works 2 times per week

martineverest:
A lot of apartments are shared in uk so as to cut costs......

Yeah but family man can't share apartments. With 2 kids and wife haba

Atk1nson:
If you need data, get a broadband.

The month of a virgin broadband plus 2 lebara sim is less than £40 a month.

Also, you dont need to pay for a TV license except you are buying a TV to watch live TV shows. You can but a smart TV and stick to streaming platforms.

Manager of leberal has spoken. Come n give me me 2 leberal sim for 45 pounds per month i will buy. My current sim is leberal they gave me free of charge. Lebera is 25 pounds per month for unlimited
I should get a broadband and if am off to work i will browse with what or of am on transit and want to locate somewhere with map or i want to browse? My WhatsApp will be on freeze until i get home to connect to broadband

This ur economic sense no follow

AfahaAbia:
Im shocked you earn just 1700 to 1800 pounds when I know people in Nigeria who work for remote companies earning from 2400 to 2600 pounds a month. Hmm you people in UK are really trying.

You have an indeed app. Switch it to UK. You see all salary structure
Nothing is hidden.

If u earn 2400 u will be taxed 378 pounds and have 2000 take home. And if u earn 2600 you should have 2165 as take home

Most full time worker can only work up to 40 or 48 max per week if u exceed 48 hours then tax got to be high as high as 40%

Atk1nson:
When you created the thread below, I recall predicting your learning experience may be less steep than it could possibly be, your new thread confirms the accuracy of my prediction. You need to build your network and be open to learning.

https://www.nairaland.com/7889678/experience-uk-since-japa-warning

On a side note, except you are paying for a phone contract, £54 a month is ridiculous even for 2 people.

Lebera would give you a payg contract of £6 a month with data bundle of about 10gig. Virgin will give you highspeed broadband for the house for £23 a month with £50 credit opt-in credit.

Who uses 10gig of data? I was with levebra i had to switch.. I should be managing 10gig of data is that the better life i left Nigeria to enjoy in abroad? In Nigeria i mske use of nothing less than 40 gig per month

Treadway:
how na

99% sold off everything and got on that plane, some as students, but all with no intention of returning. If na you sef, after selling everything to relocate and start over in Youkay, shey you go com relocate back to Nigeria to start all over yet again? No way!

Most just defer to 'better quality of life' and 'my children's future are secured' as consolation. Only problem is that is factually nonsense, cos quality of life is subjective and children that will be yamayama from poor upbringing will still be yamayama regardless of location, or worse still, more likely to happen sef due to location, both ways...case in point gangs and knife wielding maniacs in peckham, mostly of African/Nigerian descent or the yahhoboiz/cultists/oloshos in naija

.

That better quality of life is lame bro. I had a better quality of life while in Nigeria. Here u have to stress standing long hours working with ur feet wanting to pull off.

No party, its work home sleep work home sleep no outdoor cos of the massive cold we aren't used to

Although the children goes to good schools that's a compensation as they quickly learn their ascent

Gerrard59:
So they rather do care jobs than apply to similar roles in Nigeria they were in before they left?

Similar roles like someon working in a bank then goes over and start working in a bank? It's possible but its with time

Gerrard59:
Why would a former rector of a polytechnic japa in the first place only to end up in a factory?

Sometimes, I take these posts to be comical.

Those "bankers" were contract staff. Any previous permanent staff who works in a care agency must be very mad!

When u land with high hopes but after many unfortunate mails and bill knocking u got to look for ways.

A guy in quality control unit only got his dream job after a year n 6 months. So care is the job saving lives since 1930

id4sho:
Interesting, I can remember your thread about schooling and finishing 😀.
Am working towards Australia , am a Surveyor.

God will do it for u.

Look also Austria skill visa. Theirs if u can prove industrial experience in Nigeria u are few step away from getting their PR. Research about it

MindHacker9009:
These are also on the UK skills shortage list:
5313 Bricklayers
Bricklayer
Block setter
Chimney builder
Floor stone Layer
Kiln repairer
5316 Carpenters and joiners
Carpenters
Carpenter and joiner
Joiner
Kitchen fitter
Shop fitter
5322 Wall Tilers and Floorers
5422 Printers

Yes high in demand with little competition. Just have years of experience in Nigeria

OkanlawonB:
Austria and Germany.

Waiting period for Germany is not here unless u going for PhD. And u need POF of 12k euro which is over 20m locked and release to u on monthly basis

Was expecting u to list Portugal, spain and Italy

79733139:
I actually mean skills like, bookkeeping (with knowledge of construction accounting), data analytics, business intelligence analytics, web development, quantity surveying/construction estimating etc.

Those i highlighted i know people with MSC degree still job hunting for two years on that.

id4sho:
Good analysis but this is for minimum wage worker and likely you are still a student 🤷. No car expenses?

How about skilled worker?
I want to Japa, am in top gear but am going through PR skilled worker/express entry. What's your take bro?

Honestly, I will still Japa even I have 30M

No am not a student. Like i mentioned i worked morr than 20hrs per week this showed am not a student. A full time worker.

Secondly how much do you think a full time worker should earn? 20 pounds per hour? Well most job pays you based on several factors but but be you a student or a full tile worker u shouldn't earn less than the minimum wage.

Most qualified nurses earn little above this minimum wage. Those in construction, building plumbing, carpentry, woodwork earn way higher because of their skills. Dentist and doctors will earn higher those are high in demand job.

But we that are in care sector, security, warehouses, kitchen porter even qualified nurse etc earn little above minimum wage and the difference is not that much.

I was once working in a place they paid 14.5 per hour but i can't stand 12hrs straight with 30 minutes break in between that's not the quality of life i came here for. I dont want to age quick
.


The car aspect am yet to pass their taste. You should have a valid licence to drive and passing a taste here is not a joke. U have to wait for 5 months for a practical test which most times have 60% failure rate. And if u faim u wait for another 5 months or so
Which country are u looking to get into.

79733139:
UK is not the only destination when people japa, there are other countries and people have different skill sets and can also learn new skills.

Yes skills like bricklaying, carpentry n wood work, plumbing, painting, welding with years of experience in Nigeria

OkanlawonB:
What makes UK japa costly is the exorbitant school fees when going through the school routes.

There are a number of countries on mainland Europe where you spend like 8M naira that will cover all costs including one way flight ticket, accommodation for about 4 months, School Fees ( highly subsidized) and miscellaneous expenses. Within 4 months you will surely have settled in, this still makes economic sense.

Insightful. Can u list a few of those countries

Treadway:
fullclub!

I remember you very well..I remember engaging with your earlier thread, and wishing you the best through your ordeal at the time.

But I can't understand why you are yet again creating a thread like this one, that achieves nothing, ultimately.

I'm sure if we could turn back time, to go back to where you were mentally when you began your journey to Japa, 10001 of these kain threads would not have deterred you. So I just wonder what you hope to achieve with it now. Even Dele Momodu wey dey cap, prolly spends more than half of the year overseas.

These kain decisions should be left to each person to make and deal with. No need for convincing or explaining. It is pointless! I don taya to dey read this kain threads for here aswear


Those that think it best to stay in Naija should be left alone, as they have the conviction that they know what they are doing. Those that think is best to Japa should be left alone, as they also have the conviction that they know what they are doing...

All this shalaye is not necessary

Thanks but all the same i like sharing my experience as i navigate and travel. Its part of experience and its nothing bad sharing what you have encountered be it positive or negative as it will be of help . But all the same happy Sunday and thanks for stopping by

tensazangetsu20:
Skill issue bros. This one is only peculiar to you o😂😂

What does it mean bro

Note: for those attacking me. Please this post is not meant for everyone

Pictures.

Note that primary n secondary schools owned by government are free u only pay for private schools.
Health is not free as a migrant as we pay 1030 pounds per annum.

The second picture is water bill
The third is health insurance. Its a must as a migrant
The last is council tax different from income tax

The debate around relocating abroad (“Japa”) has intensified after media personality Dele Momodu claimed that anyone who spends ₦30 million to leave Nigeria is a fool. His statement sparked mixed reactions online, with some agreeing while others says that that 30 million is nothing compared to the financial reward that comes with japa

Having lived in the UK for some time now, I’ll share an honest perspective on the financial reality of life here, especially for those considering selling anything just for relocation.

Breaking Down Earnings in the UK

For context, I work an average of 36 hours per week (9 hours daily for 4 days), meaning in a month, I clock 144 hours of work.

Minimum wage in the UK is £11.44 per hour, and most employers are required to pay this, except in cases like apprenticeships.
144 hours × £11.44 = £1,647.36 per month
After tax deductions, which depend on factors like number of jobs and tax codes, my take-home pay is around £1,479.55.


Monthly Expenses in the UK
Here’s a breakdown of my fixed monthly costs:

House rent – £700
Gas & electricity – £120
Council tax – £110
Water bill – £43.46
Food – £200
Transport – £140
Phone bill – £52 (for two people

Total expenses: £1,365.46
Remaining balance: £114.09
Although i could have chosen to work up to 5 days which would have given me total income of 2059 and 1775 after tax but to give my partner a chance while i take turn to look after the kids

Note: food is extremely cheap and affordable unlike in Nigeria. That's why most that relocated after few months they look revived and fresh

Now, factor in additional responsibilities. We send £150 monthly to family back home in Nigeria. My wife, who works part-time (two days per week because of our baby as leaving the children will risk losing them to the governmen), earns about £732 per month, which we try to save, though unforeseen expenses (baby food, transport, etc.) often reduce our savings to around £500 per month.
Aside this we spent over 4000 pounds this year alone for health insurance. Yes its a must you pay it and funny enough i have not visited the hospital once since i arrived.

More worrisome is the endless billing from home , the billing from friends and extended family is out of this world, from your pastor who want tithe in pounds and thinks it's because of his or her prayer u went out, to your siblings, to your inlaws, to secondary schools friends, university's friends to even your street guys to Facebook friends. Those who will quickly open Opay account for their 3 years old child and forward you school fees or birthday bill. What about those who forwarded us their house rent bill to help clear their rent of over 500k abeg na

A lot of Nigeria said if they are offered 50 million and japa, they will prefer japa as they will earn more over when i read this comment on Facebook i just laugh hard as this is not the case as a research said that over 39% of UK residents have a minimum of 1000 pounds as savings this means that Despite earning in pounds, many struggle with high living costs, taxes, and bills but on the other hand In Nigeria, ₦50M can fund investments that generate steady income.
In the UK, unless you’re in a high-paying field, you will mostly live paycheck to paycheck


Comparing Life as a Single vs. Married Individual Abroad


Single individuals have a higher chance of saving since they have fewer responsibilities.

Married couples without kids can maximize their earnings by both working full-time while covering expenses from one salary and saving entirely the other salary.

Families with children face higher expenses, including childcare, health insurance, visa fees.

This is why adequate preparation is crucial before relocating, especially for families


Is Dele Momodu Right? Should You Japa with ₦30M?
We should understand that Dele Momodu is an elder and vastly traveled and he knows what is obtainable in Europe and America.
His point is valid if you look at finances alone because at the ene of the day almost all you make goes back to the system. But If insecurity concerns and food inflation in Nigeria didn’t exist, staying back with ₦30M would be a better financial decision as you could expand your business.

Another thought is the issue of owning a house. An average 3 bedroom house cost over 300k pounds and i have worked with colleagues who are in their late 50s struggling to work and pay off their mortgage so as to be free while me in my 30s own over 3 house back in Nigeria . Some pays mortgage for over 35 to 40 years but shockingly most they end up selling it at old age hand over this money to care homes to take care of them till death. Note children dont have any responsibility of taking care of their age parents they leave their lives while the parents uses proceed from their house to offset this bill

Final Thoughts: Should You Japa?

Japa is not a one-size-fits-all decision. If you have ₦30M and solid income streams in Nigeria, it might be wiser to invest and build wealth at home. But if safety and quality of life matter more, than wealth accumulation then relocating might still be the best option but must be done tactically especially when coming on student visa as one academic error could throw u off.

Bottom line: Japa is not a magic solution—it requires careful planning, a realistic mindset, and financial discipline.

Picture below is my phone bill

There other bills i chose to ignore like the tv bill. I didn't buy tv because i know that one will end in another billing

RodgersAkpafu:
Care COS is a destroyer of lives and destinies
After doing masters person go come dey find care COS? lol

Well life is about choices

Then after post study jejely come back to naija that is after searching for cos in different sectors.

Or u think people do it with joy? Soo many reasons. Some does it till they get leave to remain indefinitely.

I don't think its kidnapping rather i think its connected to the killing or cult war in delta state recently

noobody:
My boss,

He has actually edited the topic and removed many things,he called out Redmi for scamming customers,and jumped into hasty conclusions,but he has edited it.

Not like I jumped In

I actually wanted to help him before he started throwing tribal slurs and making police intimadations.

One love boss

You don't have to throw insult. Rather Talk and show compassion.

Kelechi009:
Me, I did that years ago. I still use Upwork now to earn & I have a Transfer Wise dollar account so my money can be moved any where without taxes killing it.

Ok... What are you doing on upwork. Like which area of specialisation

pussyAvenger:
how much is your tuition..in naira?

Around 34/35m

Tinubu owning salaries

Media war by opposition who held the state for ages

intruder15:
I am curious to know why you didn't have your school fees complete before leaving Nigeria.

I got my admission in January 2023 exchange rate was 540 per pounds. Funded form A February ending, it didn't clear until June when tinubu unify rate and it climbed up to almost 1k soon afterwards by the time i landed in uk it was almost 1500.


Hope that answers ur questions?

Probably u budget 10m but in 3 months it has gone up to 30m