British life, compare to USA life

[vanity08 66]

Is been three months since my move to the USA. So far I have my 10 years card, and Ss. In the process of obtaining my driving licence.

Am finding it hard to adjust to life hear, is very difficult compared to London. Hard to get a job, my 2 year can not start nursery or school until he is 5. In London he was attending nursery for the 2 year old, part time.

Am at home 7 days a week. Thing are very expensive compare to London.

How are you guys coping, how did you make the USA your home.

Please help am sooooo stress up, difficult to find jobs.

[NicolaRobert 7]

You're finding things expensive? I'm not in the US yet - but I've spent long periods of time here on holiday over the last 2 years and I've always found it to be cheaper than the UK for most things. Although I guess it depends on where you're living just like the UK. I've certainly found most food to be cheaper.

Being at home all the time isn't going to help your stress levels. Have you tried finding any local mother and toddler groups in your area? It would help you get out and meet people.

As I say, I've not made the move to the US yet, but I have lived overseas most of my adult life, and it takes a while to adjust to a new country. But the important thing is to get out there. Even if you can't find paid work, volunteering somewhere would help get you out of the house and socialising. Plus it would help to get you involved with the local community.

Look into nursery for your little one. It's not free, but there are pre-school places for the under fives (my American sister-in-law has just enrolled her 3 year old in one for the autumn). Maybe you could afford one or two days a week?

Have you ever moved countries before? I know it's pretty tough the first time you make a move like this.

[JFH 12,189]

I'm also surprised you are finding good more expensive. The USA is so vast with so many climates and terrains they can grow almost anything and hardly import anything. A lot of fruit in the UK us imported, for obvious reasons. My husband almost fell off his chair when he heard what we pay for avocados, olives and oranges here. He was born in southern California where those things grow in your back garden with minimal effort. Seattle is quite expensive but cities are always more expensive.

But try not to convert prices. Think of how much money you have in dollars and think of things as a percentage of what you have to spend. That's how I did it when I lived in other countries.

A lot of things are cheaper. Petrol being the main one, but you'll probably use more of it than you did at home because distances are greater. So it all balances out, I suppose.

Edited July 15, 2016 by JFH

[Unlockable 7,306]

Sorry to here you having a hard time adjusting. Your child absolutely can join a school at the age of 2. You may have to do some more searching but there should be plenty of preschool or early develop schools in your area. Be advised that these are private schools and not publicly funded. If you want public schools then, yes, you will need to wait until the age of 5.

And I have always heard that the UK is more expensive than the US. I see you are in Chicago. Beautiful city. Try to get out the house more. Being in the house for such long duration can get you down.

[vanity08 66]

Thanks everyone for all the moral support. Am in Ohio Columbus. I have moved around before, but in Europe, I gusset because of the euros, it was not that expensive for me.(Amsterdam) mostly is the food am finding expensive, let take something like muffin, which u can get in tesco, asda,etc for £0.85 cent is selling for $4 dolls in walmart.

I will look and see if I can enrolled him in part time, maybe that will be a little cheaper. Last time I asked full time was going to cost $200 a week.

Thanks everyone and enjoy ur new life's

[Wooderz 314]

One muffin is $4 at Walmart? I, too, am surprised that Ohio is more expensive than London.

I don't have any kids, but from my friends who do, that seems very reasonable for preschool, which is always going to be expensive.

[vanity08 66]

Am more shock. I hard NY is much cheaper compare to Ohio. Anyway will try for a year and if we are not adjusting we can always move back to London.

[NicolaRobert 7]

You need to give it more than a year. This is just honest advice from someone who has lived in a new country practically every four years of my life (though some of those moves were back to the UK). But they say it takes time to adjust to a new place. The first year you are just finding your feet. Sussing things out. It only in the second year that you start to really either settle in, or hate the place and that's when you can start making serious decisons.

Right now you're probably just feeling homesick, even if you're not consciously thinking 'I miss home', the comparison is there and when you are feeling homesick the comparison will always be unfavourable.

Get out, explore your area, get to know people. All of that will help so much. And see if you can't afford to get your little one into pre-school. That way you'll meet other Mums and that will help too. They might be like 'oh, don't go to Walmart, there's this cheap place on such and such street...' etc.

Good luck. Keep your chin up.

[vanity08 66]

You need to give it more than a year. This is just honest advice from someone who has lived in a new country practically every four years of my life (though some of those moves were back to the UK). But they say it takes time to adjust to a new place. The first year you are just finding your feet. Sussing things out. It only in the second year that you start to really either settle in, or hate the place and that's when you can start making serious decisons.

Right now you're probably just feeling homesick, even if you're not consciously thinking 'I miss home', the comparison is there and when you are feeling homesick the comparison will always be unfavourable.

Get out, explore your area, get to know people. All of that will help so much. And see if you can't afford to get your little one into pre-school. That way you'll meet other Mums and that will help too. They might be like 'oh, don't go to Walmart, there's this cheap place on such and such street...' etc.

Good luck. Keep your chin up.

Thanks for your encouraging world, really means a lot. Am sure it is homesick. Am going to keep myself busy, and try different supermarket and compare prices. Thanks

[NicolaRobert 7]

Do you have an Aldi near you? There is one near us in Michigan, and I find it WAY cheaper for a lot of stuff when I am over visiting Hubby. Even dollar stores can be pretty good for dried goods or canned goods. Like, pasta is pasta, right? And if you save money there, then you can afford the more expensive luxury stuff! Or at least that's how I look at it.

Have you spoken to your other half about how you're feeling? Sometimes talking about it can help a lot!

[vanity08 66]

Yes we do, like 10min drive. I have been there few times, but because hubby works night and want to sleep during the day, he prefers to just go to Walmart which is just 3min walk from the house.

Yes I have spoken to him, he said we should give it time and when I start driving I will like it, but if we don't we can always go. I applied for him before I left, so he has a 2 years stay in the UK.

Edited July 16, 2016 by vanity08

[AMZJ 61]

I've been here a week. I miss the public transport. The only places I can realistically take our kids is the park, dentist and down to the small shopping area which has McDonalds, dollar general, dollar tree and a Chinese restaurant. I can walk down town but there is just restaurants and the legal stuff there like the county clerk etc. I could walk to Kroger or the walmart but not with the kids. I can't get out to the gym because my husband works 12-8 and the girls aren't at school right now. So I can't even go out for a run really. When they are in school it'll be easier for me.

I can't drive either. I've never driven before. I took the girls to the park today, I try to keep busy and not sit on the pc too much. I'm trying to get to know the area I live in. I'm generally happy, although admittedly I can see myself getting bored in the next few weeks. Some parts of Chicago have really good public transport links, you should take advantage of that

[cyclone27 710]

4 pack of muffin

http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Bakery-At-Walmart-Chocolate-Chip-Muffins-14-oz/19758065

[vanity08 66]

I've been here a week. I miss the public transport. The only places I can realistically take our kids is the park, dentist and down to the small shopping area which has McDonalds, dollar general, dollar tree and a Chinese restaurant. I can walk down town but there is just restaurants and the legal stuff there like the county clerk etc. I could walk to Kroger or the walmart but not with the kids. I can't get out to the gym because my husband works 12-8 and the girls aren't at school right now. So I can't even go out for a run really. When they are in school it'll be easier for me.

I can't drive either. I've never driven before. I took the girls to the park today, I try to keep busy and not sit on the pc too much. I'm trying to get to know the area I live in. I'm generally happy, although admittedly I can see myself getting bored in the next few weeks. Some parts of Chicago have really good public transport links, you should take advantage of that

Same with me, London is very busy compare to Ohio where I live, there is lots you can without depending on car or bus to take you there. Am learning to drive to, I have my exam coming up in 2 weeks time. Hope you enjoy your stay. And u are not finding things hard like I'm.

4 pack of muffin

http://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Bakery-At-Walmart-Chocolate-Chip-Muffins-14-oz/19758065

What is the difference between $3.98 and $4. Are they not the same apart from the pine you will be getting back.

[Unlockable 7,306]

A pack of 4 muffins is roughly 0.85 pounds (1.12 US dollars) in the UK? I though you meant 1 muffin is 0.85 pounds