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Some Tips About Living In Uk - Travel (11) - Nairaland

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Sad Truths About Living Abroad / Living In The Uk/life As A UK Immigrant / Living In Australia/life As An Australian Immigrant (2) (3) (4)

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Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by phemmyfour: 10:28pm On Mar 25, 2023
hikiki:

So you mean nothing like savings for UK,u dey yarn say as I dey hustle UK dey collect am. Be real bruh
you can't save that much earning minimum wage. Unless you get a job with higher working hour rate
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by nams77: 10:52pm On Mar 25, 2023
Threesha:
SOME TIPS ABOUT LIVING IN UK

I’ll like to prepare your mind as a married man that when you get to UK,there’s higher chance for you to baby sit, ook, dishes, change pampers, get the kids set for school, etc. It’s better to get yourself acquainted with this ahead.

This is not to ridicule your personality, they are things you might need to do to keep the family running. And as the wife, have it in mind that you might not get to live that luxury life of “my husband is responsible for family upkeep”nah. Living in UK, you are meant to complement each other in every aspect.

Accommodation in UK isn’t a joke, if you are single, I advice you to look for single room en-suite or studio, furnished, all bills inclusive. Renting two bed apartment if it’s just you isn’t advisable. Check Spareroom,on the market, zoopla, Rightmove or Facebook market for rooms to let.

Pending the time you’ll be able to buy your desired item(s),check out Facebook market for cheap or free preloved/new items such as;furnitures,mattresses, beddings, kitchen utensils and the likes (I got my microwave on Facebook market for £10 and it’s as good as new).

However, be careful so as not to be scammed,I advice you do pay on delivery/pickup. Register with Olio aswell for free items(both new and preloved) including foodstuffs within and outside your area.

You might not be able to open standard bank until few months later, you can register with online bank like Monzo or Revolut to carry out your transactions, it’s easy & safe to use. Also, register with Lemonade if you want to change £ to #, easy to use as well with no charges apply.

Coming across different people with different cultural backgrounds, it’s advisable to ask individual what and how they would like to be addressed. Don’t make assumptions, people get offended if they are addressed wrongly.

Be time conscious, if you are to resume work by 19:00 to relief others, ensure you arrive few minutes earlier. The person you are to relief at work also has childminder or husband at home to relief for work as well.

Don’t try to force or change your accent while communicating. The more you change or force British accent the more you make communication difficult for everyone. Speak gently and clearly, believe me, they will hear you more than faking British accent. And if you can’t hear them, in a polite way ask them to speak slowly and gently so you can understand & they would be glad to do so.

Job wise, don’t be selective at first, get yourself something legit doing, all jobs here are stressful, at least you’ll be able to update your CV for future sake. I hope you get what I mean.

Let the words “PLEASE AND THANK YOU” be your favourite quotes daily, it goes a long way and they might pave way for you.

Don’t engage in gossips, they don’t keep secret here, whatever you say will be used against you later on.

If you have BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION store around you, they sell nice stuffs as low as £1, pop in there and minimise your spending.

Stay tuned for next post.
Moyisola
Beautiful tips. Very practical too
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by japhethGold: 12:16am On Mar 26, 2023
hikiki:
Abeg oo,for those wen dey UK. As me and madam dey reason come that end. Madam Sha dey come for masters degree,me dey come into dependant. And I hear say Dem dey pay 10 pounds per hour. Make una no vex oo,with all this tax bills etc..Shea I fit still save up to #400k month? Pls I need mature ansaa. Me na full time hustle I dey come do. Pls I need honest ansas. Tanks in advance

Yes, if you don’t have young kids to look after. But no if you have children.
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by japhethGold: 12:20am On Mar 26, 2023
Love800:
Can one set up a cooking business in the uk? Am a cook
24 years dues is not moi moi ooooh

1 Like

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by japhethGold: 12:27am On Mar 26, 2023
Zahra29:
his analysis was not realistic. UK could be tough for married couples with kids who come to study except you have funds coming from Nigeria.

But is a bold good step.

Lol, this is gross earnings. The non-student's earnings will be subject to income and NI tax at source. For 40 hours a week and £10 an hour, tax deductions will be approx £200 a month and these deductions will increase the more they work/earn

Council tax depending on location might be anything from £100 - £200 a month. Inflation is currently hammering food prices, so unlikely that 2 grown adults will spend only £200 a month on food.

You've also left out other bills which add up - phone bills, water bill (fixed rate or meter greatly affects how much you pay), TV license and if you drive -car insurance, MOT and road tax

If young children are involved - child care costs/ after school club activities , school lunches etc can easily add up to hundreds a month

What about saving to renew their visas? A straight forward visa renewal (ie no solicitor involved) can cost over £2k per person.
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Pointnoire(m): 1:41am On Mar 26, 2023
There’s Kidnapping in every society, in Nigeria it is a free for all affair so you get it right

udeh3:


The only difference is security. In UK, you have good security, especially, when you're broke. Nobody knows s broke person, talkless of kidnapping them. So,get it right, in UK, they kidnap too, you just don't know because, you don't have money. Even the footballers over there aren't finding it funny
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by DanjaNinja(m): 5:03am On Mar 26, 2023
Mindlog:


Yes o but only food.

You go see bread of £1.30 selling for 15p, ready to eat coleslaw, salad, fruits from over £1 that would be sold at 20p, one litre of milk for 20p etc

During my school days I dey time going to Morrisons at 7.30p.m as it was about 8 mins walk from my residence, £10 tinz dey full trolley though then I was part of a research project that wanted to know how far £10 could go for food for an individual in a week. With that clearance buying I was hitting 4-5 days and I got the opportunity to taste ready to eat meals from other European countries and Asia as I was buying them next to nothing.😆😆😆

I live in America, let me tell you, American retailers would rather die than sell 'About to expire' groceries at a discount. 'About to Expire' items are discarded in large numbers instead of being sold at a discount. I follow an account on instagram that documents food and retail waste at American stores. It is a sad story. And yet, a good number of Americans are starving.

It gives me joy to know that the Brits sell at a discount. It reduces waste and helps feed the poor - Two things American capitalism don't care about.

5 Likes

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Tvoice: 5:08am On Mar 26, 2023
QuinModah:
True one of my commander went there and was complaining bitterly how things have changed in UK


I have been there twice, that place is no longer what it is.

1 Like

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by sunbreaker: 6:53am On Mar 26, 2023
EmeeNaka:
UK is somehow now
pls more explanation on this? I had one sister relocated to UK with her family last year, just made another relocation to Canada this year complaining of UK as 'dried land'

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by justwise(m): 6:59am On Mar 26, 2023
DanjaNinja:


I live in America, let me tell you, American retailers would rather die than sell 'About to expire' groceries at a discount. 'About to Expire' items are discarded in large numbers instead of being sold at a discount. I follow an account on instagram that documents food and retail waste at American stores. It is a sad story. And yet, a good number of Americans are starving.

It gives me joy to know that the Brits sell at a discount. It reduces waste and helps feed the poor - Two things American capitalism don't care about.


British supermarkets also waste food, if the discounted food is not sold it ends up in the waste bin but homeless people go there every single night for bin-diving.

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Cmeo(m): 7:26am On Mar 26, 2023
crows2ravens:

All those quoting me saying it's a lie.
Of course, care and support is unskilled work.

I will use an example, a single guy living outside of London. Assuming you work in the same city where you work. These figures are as close to actual as possible. If you live in UK and and I'm wrong, bring us actual figures!

Let's say you earn £1,800 monthly:
Tax + NI - £400
Rent (studio flat + bills) - £600
One month bus ticket - £55
Food and groceries - £100
Car finance, e.g. Audi A1 - £227 (down payment is around £2k plus)
Total monthly expenses - £1,382
You still have £418 for other expenses and savings. But anything else you spend on will be wants not needs.

Council tax £80 if it's not included in your rent.
The UK guys don't want us to come and flood the place for them.




Now I know, the assumption of the poster is deceiving him/her. Most time assumptions are not real situations.

1 Like

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by emmaodet: 7:48am On Mar 26, 2023
luminouz:
I don't get these UK people. They are the ones to create YouTube channels, blogs and what have you after leaving Nigeria. It's like UK is synonymous with ofofo or tatafo

I have my WhatsApp status blowing up everytime from so many of them with funky ass titles, like 'How to get to UK without POF' , "How to pay your school fees with 20hrs of work', How to...."smack their faces"... Just zip it.


I'm tired of UK people. Shuuuuu

grin grin grin @ smack their faces
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by emmaodet: 7:52am On Mar 26, 2023
Ishilove:

All these with minimum wage??

grin grin
My sista aaaaa
Hmmmmm
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by EmeeNaka: 7:52am On Mar 26, 2023
sunbreaker:
pls more explanation on this? I had one sister relocated to UK with her family last year, just made another relocation to Canada this year complaining of UK as 'dried land'
UK is tough. There are not much good paying jobs here, and their taxes will leave nothing in your pocket at the end of the month.
I will advise you to come to UK if that's the only option for now, because it is still better than Nigeria when it comes to salary jobs. It also takes longer to settle here, you probably will need a company to sponsor your visa for 5years before you settle and most common company that sponsors are in health and social care, so you will most likely be a carer for 5years before you can settle.

4 Likes

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by justwise(m): 8:22am On Mar 26, 2023
EmeeNaka:
UK is tough. There are not much good paying jobs here and their taxes will leave nothing in your pocket at the end of the month
I will advise you to come to UK if that's the only option for now, because it is still better than Nigeria when it comes to salary jobs. It also takes longer to settle here, you probably will need a company to sponsor your visa for 5years before you settle and most common company that sponsors are in health and social care, so you will most likely be a carer for 5years before you can settle.

Do you think that the UK has higher tax rate compared to other developed and underdeveloped countries?
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by EmeeNaka: 9:03am On Mar 26, 2023
justwise:


Do you think that the UK has higher tax rate compared to other developed and underdeveloped countries?
I have not compared really. I do know I pay PAYE+National insurance and the Council tax.
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by justwise(m): 9:16am On Mar 26, 2023
EmeeNaka:
I have not compared really. I do know I pay PAYE+National insurance and the Council tax.

Yes you pay that but how do you think roads, street lights , police , bin collection and free health care are funded?

The UK is not even in the top 10 of highest tax rate in the world

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by EmeeNaka: 9:41am On Mar 26, 2023
justwise:


Yes you pay that but how do you think roads, street lights , police , bin collection and free health care are funded?

The UK is not even in the top 10 of highest tax rate in the world
I have never told you that paying tax is wrong. What are you talking about? I said that the jobs do not pay enough, and as such, after taxes are taken, not much will be left in the pocket. The statement there is to let him know that there are not much high salary jobs in the UK.
I do not have anything against tax. I only have something against pay, which I am not the only one talking about it in the UK. Majority of UK residents are not happy with their salary and the UK minimum wage is poor.

1 Like

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by noahnaira: 11:19am On Mar 26, 2023
Good post. Please some one should do for Canada abeg
Threesha:
SOME TIPS ABOUT LIVING IN UK

I’ll like to prepare your mind as a married man that when you get to UK,there’s higher chance for you to baby sit, ook, dishes, change pampers, get the kids set for school, etc. It’s better to get yourself acquainted with this ahead.

This is not to ridicule your personality, they are things you might need to do to keep the family running. And as the wife, have it in mind that you might not get to live that luxury life of “my husband is responsible for family upkeep”nah. Living in UK, you are meant to complement each other in every aspect.

Accommodation in UK isn’t a joke, if you are single, I advice you to look for single room en-suite or studio, furnished, all bills inclusive. Renting two bed apartment if it’s just you isn’t advisable. Check Spareroom,on the market, zoopla, Rightmove or Facebook market for rooms to let.

Pending the time you’ll be able to buy your desired item(s),check out Facebook market for cheap or free preloved/new items such as;furnitures,mattresses, beddings, kitchen utensils and the likes (I got my microwave on Facebook market for £10 and it’s as good as new).

However, be careful so as not to be scammed,I advice you do pay on delivery/pickup. Register with Olio aswell for free items(both new and preloved) including foodstuffs within and outside your area.

You might not be able to open standard bank until few months later, you can register with online bank like Monzo or Revolut to carry out your transactions, it’s easy & safe to use. Also, register with Lemonade if you want to change £ to #, easy to use as well with no charges apply.

Coming across different people with different cultural backgrounds, it’s advisable to ask individual what and how they would like to be addressed. Don’t make assumptions, people get offended if they are addressed wrongly.

Be time conscious, if you are to resume work by 19:00 to relief others, ensure you arrive few minutes earlier. The person you are to relief at work also has childminder or husband at home to relief for work as well.

Don’t try to force or change your accent while communicating. The more you change or force British accent the more you make communication difficult for everyone. Speak gently and clearly, believe me, they will hear you more than faking British accent. And if you can’t hear them, in a polite way ask them to speak slowly and gently so you can understand & they would be glad to do so.

Job wise, don’t be selective at first, get yourself something legit doing, all jobs here are stressful, at least you’ll be able to update your CV for future sake. I hope you get what I mean.

Let the words “PLEASE AND THANK YOU” be your favourite quotes daily, it goes a long way and they might pave way for you.

Don’t engage in gossips, they don’t keep secret here, whatever you say will be used against you later on.

If you have BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION store around you, they sell nice stuffs as low as £1, pop in there and minimise your spending.

Stay tuned for next post.
Moyisola
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by vikaosi: 1:05pm On Mar 26, 2023
hikiki:
Abeg oo,for those wen dey UK. As me and madam dey reason come that end. Madam Sha dey come for masters degree,me dey come into dependant. And I hear say Dem dey pay 10 pounds per hour. Make una no vex oo,with all this tax bills etc..Shea I fit still save up to #400k month? Pls I need mature ansaa. Me na full time hustle I dey come do. Pls I need honest ansas. Tanks in advance

With kids, one of you may choose to work night, while the other can do a day job. Honestly I am shocked when I hear that people can't save anything in the UK. As far as both of you are working and you live within your means, you will save more than that.

I will say to you: everything depends on how you live and how much you can work. Even with 500k in Lagos, many will struggle.

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by QuinModah(f): 1:45pm On Mar 26, 2023
Tvoice:



I have been there twice, that place is no longer what it is.
#fact
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Backpedal: 1:47pm On Mar 26, 2023
IbeOkehie:


Thank you very much!!!! I don't understand all the craze about relocation. UK where you will be 4th class citizen if you ever become citizen sef, always living in fear of deportation.

Nigeria is where the money is. Open any business in Nigeria, the population size and sheer need guarantees mega success within a year. Everything is cheaper in Nigeria too, the freedom to live life on your own terms is without bounds. I put it down to FEAR, that's what drives full grown men to leave their country to become servants in another man's land.

If this was the case

NIGERIA would not have so many poverty stricken people

3 Likes

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Zeel007: 1:50pm On Mar 26, 2023
crows2ravens:

Do you know that in the UK, with your minimum wage (which is everyone gets at least) you can afford decent accommodation, good food, some good clothes and nice shoes, a small latest model car (like 2023 model), and travel to other countries once a year or two?
Life is a lot better in UK! See how below:



In case you're trying to make informed decision...

What if am earning around 7,000 sir per month in Uk will it be enough to live properly, following the break down you listed
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by QuinModah(f): 1:53pm On Mar 26, 2023
sunbreaker:
pls more explanation on this? I had one sister relocated to UK with her family last year, just made another relocation to Canada this year complaining of UK as 'dried land'
it's a fact
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by QuinModah(f): 1:55pm On Mar 26, 2023
EmeeNaka:
I have never told you that paying tax is wrong. What are you talking about? I said that the jobs do not pay enough, and as such, after taxes are taken, not much will be left in the pocket. The statement there is to let him know that there are not much high salary jobs in the UK.
I do not have anything against tax. I only have something against pay, which I am not the only one talking about it in the UK. Majority of UK residents are not happy with their salary and the UK minimum wage is poor
True

1 Like

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Backpedal: 2:00pm On Mar 26, 2023
crows2ravens:
cool

Thank you very much! This too have proven my point that life is much better in the UK.

Can 300k salary in Nigeria give one a life as good? You have security, light n generator, fuel, police harassment problems, unreliable internet, etc, and your 2010 model car "check engine light" is probably on forever!

Facts
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by justwise(m): 2:27pm On Mar 26, 2023
EmeeNaka:
I have never told you that paying tax is wrong. What are you talking about? I said that the jobs do not pay enough, and as such, after taxes are taken, not much will be left in the pocket. The statement there is to let him know that there are not much high salary jobs in the UK.
I do not have anything against tax. I only have something against pay, which I am not the only one talking about it in the UK. Majority of UK residents are not happy with their salary and the UK minimum wage is poor.

Yes everyone complain about minimum wage and want a pay raise but look closely at countries that pay high wages and see the cost of living in that country. My point is..the tax we pay are used to pay for stuff we use or that keep the country working.

Have a look at tax-free Nigeria and tell me how good things are.

1 Like

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Nobody: 2:49pm On Mar 26, 2023
Zeel007:


What if am earning around 7,000 sir per month in Uk will it be enough to live properly, following the break down you listed

Most people earn between 1,600-2,500 monthly and do fine. £7k monthly, you must have lots of experience in one of those sought after professions! It's a lot of money to have at your disposal. But yes, medical and IT professionals get that much and drive BMWs (and even Porsche) around.
7k after PAYE tax and NI will give you 4k7 net income. If you don't spend anyhow, you will save 3k every month! Banks will be offering you loans, you can quickly buy a house, rent out part of it to augment loan repayment. Or if you plan to invest back in naija. Either way, you're a big man.

1 Like

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Zeel007: 3:02pm On Mar 26, 2023
crows2ravens:


Most people earn between 1,600-2,500 monthly and do fine. £7k monthly, you must have lots of experience in one of those sought after professions! It's a lot of money to have at your disposal. But yes, medical and IT professionals get that much and drive BMWs (and even Porsche) around.
7k after PAYE tax and NI will give you 4k7 net income. If you don't spend anyhow, you will save 3k every month! Banks will be offering you loans, you can quickly buy a house, rent out part of it to augment loan repayment. Or if you plan to invest back in naija. Either way, you're a big man.

Wow, thanks boss. But what if I earn that 7000euro in Nigeria will do very fine an just asking bro
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by SIRTee15: 3:02pm On Mar 26, 2023
wildikeman:
WHY ARE YOU GUYS IN THE UK SO LOUD...PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY, SCANDINAVIA AND SOME OTHER WESTERN NATIONS AREN'T THIS LOUD O.. NOW PEOPLE IN CANADA HAS JOINED IN ALL THESE . MAKE UNA CALM DOWN ABEG NA STILL EARTH UNA DEY AND NOT PARADISE

Nigerians Americans are the most successful of all migrants yet u won't see them constituting nuisance on social media.
Pls naija migrants to UK and Canada, if those places no pay u return to naija. Don't be disturbing our ears, we've heard enough.
They will be the first to star complaining about UK as if the embassy use visa beg them to relocate.

5 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by Raalsalghul: 3:05pm On Mar 26, 2023
wildikeman:
WHY ARE YOU GUYS IN THE UK SO LOUD...PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY, SCANDINAVIA AND SOME OTHER WESTERN NATIONS AREN'T THIS LOUD O.. NOW PEOPLE IN CANADA HAS JOINED IN ALL THESE . MAKE UNA CALM DOWN ABEG NA STILL EARTH UNA DEY AND NOT PARADISE

Lol! grin
Re: Some Tips About Living In Uk by SIRTee15: 3:09pm On Mar 26, 2023
hikiki:
Abeg oo,for those wen dey UK. As me and madam dey reason come that end. Madam Sha dey come for masters degree,me dey come into dependant. And I hear say Dem dey pay 10 pounds per hour. Make una no vex oo,with all this tax bills etc..Shea I fit still save up to #400k month? Pls I need mature ansaa. Me na full time hustle I dey come do. Pls I need honest ansas. Tanks in advance

If your plan of relocating to UK is to build a mansion in lekki or maitama u better stay back in naija.
Except u are a professional and u coming straight out of the plane to work as a professional, saving 400k per month with a family to feed is a mirage.
It will take u at least 4 to 5 good years of hard work, acquiring new skills, determination and little dose of luck to be able to save 1000 pounds monthly. UK at the moment is not a joke. U need to have a good job to enjoy the place.
So if u have a good job in Nigeria I wouldn't advise you to come.

2 Likes 1 Share

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