Flu Vaccines

Yesterday the question was raised in one of the Facebook groups if someone should get both the US and UK flu vaccines. It is a valid question if you do not know anything about flu vaccines. I worked in the Swine Flu Incident room in 2009 in the East of England Strategic Health Authority which is part of the NHS. I am no expert but this has given me a bit of an insight to how things work in response to emergencies.

First off the vaccines are the same. The World Health Organization predicts which three strains of flu will be prevalent during the flu season in the North Hemisphere and the manufacturers make them. So getting a flu shot on base and off base is not going to provide you with more protection and dangerous double dosing on vaccines. Also if you think about in this way, service members get the flu shot annually but they do not get another one when they reach their deployment base because they are covered. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/how-flu-vaccine-works.aspx

There are different approaches between the US and Europe on to how to distribute the flu vaccine. In America and Canada, anyone over six months old can get a flu shot. In Europe, nursing home residents, people with chronic medical conditions like asthma, the elderly, pregnant women, health care workers, and children from ages 6 months to 2 years,  because they are more susceptible to the symptoms of the flu get the vaccine. America gives to everyone because if they look at the group that is suggested in Europe then about 75% of the population would meet the criteria and the patient pays for the vaccine. http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/17/health/flu-vaccine-policy/

This varies for many reasons such as the lack of sick time in the US, whereas in Europe they have it. In Europe only doctors can give it out. I think that they often give it out in schools in the UK but this has to do with the NHS and the schools being part of the government's responsibility and saves the parents a trip!

Well if you ever thought about this, I hope I cleared it up!

Fitting into your village

As you may now, I have just moved into a local village just outside of Cambridge. Now village life is different from city life even in the UK.

The chances are you are going to be bumping into the same people over and over again so you have tailor your approach to getting to know people.

One thing that I suggest is keeping an eye out for local events. For instance, my village has a local fun fare on the village green this week. Next week is a bake off and there are other ones that come up over the year. Go to them, people are often very friendly at these things- even the British! I can only say that because I am married to one. For some reason, in these circumstances they feel more free to chat to people they don't know so it might be okay to talk to people in lines here but not at the line at the bank. Not sure what but that is the way it is.

The second thing is to use your local shops. Save yourself time, gas and sometimes money by shopping in your local shops. It is good to support the local communities as it gives a good impression of the American presence in the area and it helps to keep the things open that you love. Also in my own opinion, I think that the vegetables and meat are way better than anything you get on base at the commissionary. I am a "cook from scratch" kind of girl but the British call it just cooking so no readymade meals or Hamburger Helper for me, you can make your own. Also it gets you a bit more engrained in the local area instead of hugging to the Little America.

The third thing you can do is volunteer. A few weeks ago I heard that one of the Rainbow (Girl Guides = Girl Scouts) packs were going to have to close if they did not get leaders to take over. I am already a Brownie leader in the village over from mine. I would hate to see it close so I have told them that I would fit it in. You might be able to help your village out with something like this. Then you get to know a few people. One of the girls lives on my road and her dad works with my husband.

I have a dog and for whatever reason people will talk to you more if you have a dog than if you don't. I am not sure why but even when walking in Cambridge strangers would stop me all of the time but I guess that is the life of a golden retriever owner! I walk Dusty in the morning and in the afternoon and we are always talking to people. So I suggest walking your dog regularly and meet people.

Give it a chance. I know it takes a long time to fit in. I belonged to my sailing club for 3 years before I felt like one of the gang so I am going to assume that this will be the same. The good thing about being an American is that we are naturally warm and friendly and that can work to your advantage. The British will go at their own pace to getting to know you, but once they do, you will not be able to get rid of them!

Put your face out there :)

Kimx

American to Britain

Theatre

If you like to go to the theatre like I do, it can get expensive so here are some tips that I use:

• Sit in restricted seating. At the Cambridge Arts Theatre, there are 3 seats on each side of the upper circle that are cheaper , I always get these seats and move if it is not crowded that night.
• If you can buy a pass, go for it. At the Shakespeare Festival in Cambridge, they allow you to buy a 3 or 6 play pass. This means you can go without booking a day, so if it is raining, then you can go another day since they are outside. Works out cheaper per play!
• I got a good deal to go see Wicked in London from Get into London Theatre in February.
• In London you can get half-price last minute tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square from 10 am on the day you want tickets. The earlier you get there the better the seats!
• I work fulltime so I can't do this but you can go to the earlier shows and the tickets are often less.
• If you go to London by the train, you can get 2 for 1 tickets.
• Go to the theatre on the day and see if they have any going for a discounted rate.
• You should use smaller theatres. Often there are traveling groups so you can see the same play at the Theatre Royale in Bury St Edmunds for less than at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. It doesn't make sense for me all of the time because I cycle into town but if you are driving it might be worth it!
• If you just like going to the theatre, there are some amateur dramatic groups you can go see locally:
• ADC in Cambridge
• Mumford Theatre in Cambridge
• Newmarket Kings Theatre
• The Maltings in Ely

I hope you find these ideas help you go to a show!

Ascot Racecourse

I was able to score some free tickets to the Discover Ascot day at the Ascot Racecourse. Ascot is famous for the Royal Ascot which brings out people by the droves dressed to the nines. At other times in the year the dress code is a bit more relaxed but if you do not dress appropriately you risk not being allowed in. Different enclosures have different rules so do check the website for the rules.

Ascot is two hours drive from Cambridge. Its best to go A14->A11->M11->M25->M4. It does not seem like it would be faster but the M25 gets really busy. Use Transport Direct info.  Also leave yourself additional time in case there is an accident. Do not park in the places where they charge you, if you keep going around, you will see free parking.

It is also down the road from Windsor Castle so while the racing will take up a whole day, you could try to book a room and stay in the area and hit that up as well.

The website also tells you how to place a bet and all other useful information so I would definitely read everything before you go. If you have been to the Newmarket races then you might know how racecourses operate.

I had a really good time with my friends, Laura and Jane. We brought a picnic which we ate before we went in. You are able to bring one in with you but there are only certain areas you can lay this out and you cannot bring seats.

We got really lucky with the weather as it didn't look like it was going to be very nice. We also won a bit of money, which covered our losses. We saw Frank Dettori make a great comeback and Princess Anne! Not a bad day out!

I would love to come for the Royal Ascot and dress up!

Chocolat Chocolat

If you didn't know already, which I am surprised because I talk about it all the time, it is a daily function for me, I am allergic to cow's milk. I found out in 2007 and it has impacted my life ever since. Think about what you ate just today. Cafe latte? Biscuit with your tea? Milk in your cereal or butter on your toast? Cheese in your sandwich? Starting to get the picture? Oh, did anything have whey in it? This is a common filler for the food manufactures and also is a product of milk. I also am unlucky because I am allergic to soya too.

Anyways, I got a message on Twitter from a lovely shop in Cambridge, Chocolat Chocolat (a shop I would instantly avoid, I mean, chocolate and milk go hand in hand, right?), asking  me "what were the weirdest combination of chocolate I had ever had?" I wrote back and said that I was allergic to milk.They informed me that they do a chocolate for people like me! I was so excited because no one ever caters to 'us'. Do you know how many times I have had fruit salad because there wasn't anything else for dessert? I am soooo over fruit salad.

Jon and I were in town for a play and stopped by to see what Chocolat Chocolat had to offer. It is such cute little shop with beautiful chocolates decorating the shelves. It was busy because it was a Saturday but the staff were very helpful, pointing out which ones that I could have. The other thing that also impressed me is that they knew the difference between the allergy and the intolerance.

I got some chocolates and maybe its because I have haven't had chocolate in a long time, they were fabulous. I think this might be my guilty pleasure when I am in town.

Well done Chocolat Chocolat!

Why The EPC Rating Matters More Than Anything Else.

A lot of people are looking for the perfect house with the look that they are after. If you have been reading my blog for some time, you will know that while this can make a difference, I suggest that you get a house that suits your needs as you are only here temporarily. Many people like to look at houses with a view as if they are buying a house but this can be a very costly mistake.

Outside of the house that will suit your needs (but may not be what you have dreamt you will be living in since you heard you were going to be living the UK), you MUST look at the Energy Performance Certification (EPC) rating. This is going to tell you how much running the house will cost you, this is how you can save money on energy because  it costs 3 times as much as in the US.

Any house that is sold or rented out must have an EPC. Most advertisements will have the rating of the house in them. The ratings go from A to G. A is the most efficient and G is the worst. The average one is D/E and if you are in the military, your utility allowance should cover a home with this rating. Here is an example of what an EPC looks like. If it does not have it in the advertisement, I would be weary of the property and ask to get a copy of it before viewing.

One thing to look for in a house, always go for double glazing. I have been living in a house for the last 3 years that does not have it in the bedrooms (its my MIL's house) and they have been just been installed, you can feel the difference now in the spring but just imagine the difference it will make in the winter- we were sleeping under 4 blankets! Please see the video below to see the impact that this can have.

Another thing to think about is other heating elements. Fireplaces are another way to heat your home. Just be sure to only use coal in a coal one and wood in a wood one. Wood burners are more energy efficient than coal burning ones. If you do get other heating elements like space heaters, make sure that they have timers on them and do not leave them running when you are not home. Do not heat rooms you do not use.

You can also look in the report to see the suggestions made to increase the EPC rating, therefore saving you money on your utilities. Things like replacing regular lightbulbs with energy saving lightbulbs you can do yourself. Although they are more expensive than regular ones definitely save you money in the long run. Other things like increasing the loft insulation or having the hot water cylinder insulated could be a good negotiating point especially if you are paying above the asking price.

As Americans, we like to have our homes very warm but this can cost an arm and a leg over here. So dress warmly in the cold times and put a blanket over you when watching TV. This is why I think that you should choose a home with a better EPC rating almost anything else. You will feel the difference in your bones (the humidity makes the chill way different here) and you will feel it in your wallet.

How To Make Bunting!

I made some bunting for the Cam Sailing Club's Summer Party and also because I always wanted bunting but wanted to make it myself.

I got the template from the Big Lunch website. A couple of weeks before I got some squares from Cally Co store in the centre of Cambridge. I was a bit unsure with what I had picked out and almost went with the set that they had already bundled together but the lady said mine looked great together.

From my last escapade doing curtains and pillow covers for the caravan, I was really not looking forward to working with my sewing machine. I did not know what was wrong with it and because it was American, I wasn't sure if I could take it anywhere to be fixed. It was gathering on the bottom which is a symptom of the tension not being correct. In my case, it was because the bobbin case was broken. So I ordered a new one and now it works!

So I cut out my triangles. You can use shears and make them one sided, but I cut out two so mine would be double sided. I drew a triangle with my pencil and pinned them as I went along..

Then I cut them out and then sewed them along to the long sides and turned them right side out.

Then I lined up the flags along the bias tape. You need to leave enough on both ends so that you can tie them up. I pinned the entire line. Then I sewed from one end to the other. I ended up having enough flags to make two sets of bunting.













Et Voila! C'est fini!

Taxes

As I get ready to file my American taxes (yes I still have to) I realized that many of you might not know how different it is here in the UK.

First off, if you are an American abroad, you must file your taxes every year as if you were in the US but you get a two month extension on the filing but if you owe money, you need pay by the April 15. I am not going to pretend that I am an expert at filing because I am not. I just cross my fingers and toes and everything else hoping it goes smoothly. I will not pay someone to do it because I owe nothing. If you earn below the allowed threshold, you do not have to pay anything as long as you are paying taxes in the country that you are living in. BTW the United States is one of the only countries that require this of their expats. It has become even more increasingly difficult because of recent form that you need to fill in if you have money stored overseas.

Here is a good list of FAQs, remember that the foreign earned income filing usually only applies to expats not military stationed overseas.

So how is it done in the UK?

Well, the average Joe that works for a company does not file their taxes. There are tax codes that say how much the threshold you have before you have to pay taxes. Only the self-employed and higher tax earners have to file every year by the end of the tax year (30 January). This to me makes sense only because it reduces the amount of paperwork that is dealt with.

The threshold has just been raise to £10,000 before you have to pay taxes and then the basic rate of tax after that its 20% for the rest. There are no deductions like in the US for donating to charity and going to school. Instead some items that are bought like books for school are tax-free.

Also because we pay council tax monthly, that replaces the state tax that Americans would pay.

So really if you work for someone else, tax wise you have it much easier except if you are an American. Now I know Americans that have become British citizens and renounced their American citizenship because of dealing with taxes. Most of these people probably own their own companies and have to pay taxes to both places. It has not come to that for me yet but I thought I would share.

Book Review: Future Homemakers of America by Laura Graham

The Future Homemakers of America should be read by all women stationed or wives of personnel stationed in the UK. The reason for this is that it gives the background information of what the women who were here in 1953 experienced. It follows four women who were living in Norfolk and their lives both on and off base. I feel that those associated with the military will really identify with the women and their families.

I also think that it makes the ones here today appreciate how far England has come in this time as well. It also compares the way the people lived in the base housing provided to them with how the locals were living at the time. It is often still hard today to understand the change that England went through after WWII because America was not affected in the same way.

I think it is a book that you will enjoy and a must read!

US Taxes

You must think, one great thing about living over here would be not having to file your taxes right? You would be wrong. Even if you are an ex-pat living overseas, the US requires you to file your taxes on an annual basis even if you do not earn enough to pay taxes. You also get a 2 month extension on turning it.

I find the forms a bit confusing because it always comes out that they should pay me a refund even though I haven't paid in and because the taxes are so high. Here is a link the London IRS and has other useful information should you choose to stay here.

So hoping you get your taxes in on time and good luck!

How can I live like a local?

It is so common for people to say that they want to get the full experience here and live like a local. It is admirable and I appreciate your enthusiasm, but it is unlikely. You cannot expect to change your whole life just because you move to England. There are habits that we as Americans have that prevent that. Having said that, here are my tips to helps you integrate as much as possible if that is what you are after.

First off, the reason why I say that you will never be able to live like a local because you cannot fully understand how people live in the circumstances you are under. I am not saying this to be mean, but there are several things that prohibit you from really experiencing living like a local. I only really know this from my transition from being out of the Air Force to really living like a local.

The things prohibiting you from living like a local:

1. You do not have to pay council tax. This is a huge cost that people have to have. It is paid 10 times a year and is based on the value of your house. I live in Cambridge and my house is in band E. I pay £1883.25 towards the things that council provides such as schools, rubbish collection, libraries and other things.
2. You get money for your rent. This is a good thing for you but why this is keeping you from living like a local is that it makes you be able to afford homes that people of your same age and situation would only dream of occupying.
3. We pay $10 per gallon, and on base you get it around $3.
4. Some people struggle to see that things are done differently around the world. I hate to say it, they often look down at the differences. I think you should embrace it, you might learn something.
5. You have a safety net with the military that is not reproduced in the civilian world both here and in the US.

But this does not mean you should not try! You need to step out of your comfort zone.

How you can live like a local.

1. Shop offbase at the local grocery stores. The food is a bit different but it is better. It is fresher and they do not allow as many chemicals as in their food, you can see which ones are banned in Europe. Also it is a way to give back to the local community for being over here. If you really think you will go to the market everyday, give up your pursuit for an American style house, instead have a house that you can afford. 
2. Don't always tie experiencing England with spending money. On the weekends, a lot of locals go for walks with their friends or family. You get to see so much in a different view. Also many museums are free and take advantaged of local events.
3. Eat like a local. Do not pick your chips (fries) up with your fingers, instead use your fork. Here are how you should hold them and use them. 
4. Replace your coffee with tea. In one day 165 million cups of tea are consumed in the UK.
5. Recycle more. I have actually spoken to a lot of people about this and America is viewed to be wasteful. The British and Europeans have been told that they must recycle what they can to save the world but feel its useless if the Americans don't reduce the engine sizes in their vehicles and recycle more. Here are some recycling tips.
6. Volunteer offbase. I did this with the Brownies. I learn new games and songs and other things. Plus you give back to the nation that is hosting you.
7. Do you have a hobby or passion? Well, find a group offbase. You learn more than that area, you learn customs and culture.
8. Listen to the radio, get to learn the issues plaguing the UK. Their concerned with different issues and their government runs differently. You may think it is wrong but perhaps you can see why it works. Also you will get to know about local bands and other things that you might be able to use in conversation.
9. Watch British telly. They love their soaps which on at night instead of during the day. I watch them all Coronation Street, Eastenders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
10. Eat the local food. Many people ask, "is there a good place to eat around ___?", locals don't do this, they just go out to eat (I know, I tried this once with my friend that works in London, he laughed at me!). Also people do not eat out as much as Americans do because of the other expenses that they have that you don't. So when they go out it is a special time. That is also why you really won't see a lot of children out at restaurants and if you do they go when it first opens for dinner.
11. Have a kebab. I remember the first time I had one over here when I was deployed. Yummy!
12. Use your local takeaway. We have Saturday nights as takeaway night. I think it is quite common over here. 
13. If you have a dog, walk it regularly. Also people talk to you if you have a dog, especially if he is a bouncy golden retriever like mine :)
14. Dress like them. Here are rules for men and women. You are spotted 10 yards away.
15. Drive an European car. Many people say that they don't have problems driving their cars around here but it is really best if you get a car here. The American engine sizes are way bigger than required and you stick out like a sore thumb.Also many families only have one car because it is so expensive to keep them I downsized when I moved to Cambridge where I can cycle.
16. If can, get a job offbase. You spend a lot of time with the locals then and will pick things up quickly.
17. If your children are in elementary school you should enroll them in a British school for the experience and because they are ahead. I do not suggest this for middle school and high school children as the curriculum is too different. Then you can be involved in the school events.

I hope that this will give you the confidence to make the most of your time here.

Kimx
American to Britain

Twitter: @Americn2Britain

Facebook: American to Britain

Blog: American to Britain

Website: American to Britain

How do my visitors get here from the airport?

This is a common question that is asked over and over again. You have several choices.

1. Take the tube to the train and then pick them up at the train station. I do not recommend this. The reason being is that there are stairs leading up from the tube and from my experience, Americans do not pack light. I tried to tell my friend this when they came here but took advice from someone else (A European who packs way lighter than they did!). When they finally got to my house, they asked me to do number 2 as I suggested.
2. Take the National Express coach. I highly recommend this. I have done this several times. It does take longer but, you get on and only have to get off at your stop. You get help loading your bags. It makes having guests easier. You can pick them up at a variety of places.
3. Drive to pick them up. This is okay but if you have a small car and they have 4 bags, this is not ideal. I had my mom, aunt and cousin come here for my wedding and they each had two suitcases. Luckily my father-in-law came in his car because they would have had to wear the same clothes for the two weeks!
1. There are two ways to get to Heathrow from this area. M11 to the M25. This is okay but you might get caught up in traffic if there is an accident.
2. The other one is to go A14->A11->M11->M25->M4. It does not seem like it would be faster but it is and all of the people that drive for a living go this way. Use Transport Direct info.

Hope this helps!

Kimx

American to Britain

Twitter: @Americn2Britain

Facebook: American to Britain

Blog: American to Britain

Website: American to Britain

Money Saving tips for London

I know its expensive here and London is even more expensive so here are some ideas on making the most:

1. Buy your train ticket for off-peak times and save more with a rail card.
2. Use the Oyster Card for traveling on the tube and buses. It will NEVER cost you more than a travel card but can cost you less!!!!
3. Walk- sometimes you miss the be sights being under ground. Here is a favourite walk of mine. You see the most important sights.
4. Don't take black cabs, but if you have to for the experience, take a short trip.
5. Have a picnic, you don't have to carry the food with all day just pop in a grocery store and head to a park. I love to do this on a sunny day.
6. Use your your Tescos Club Card  and Nectar points to get into places or eat out.
7. Bring a water bottle.
8. You can go to a show half price if you go to the ticket booth in Leicester Square. 
9. Or buy tickets here or buy standing tickets at the Shakespeare's Globe.
10. Get into London sells tickets for Jan to Feb at a good price.
11. Go to a free concert at Royal Opera House, National Gallery and National Theatre.
12. Attend a talk at the British Academy.
13. Go to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.
14. Go see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
15. Free talks and courses on mediation here.

Hope this is enough!

Kimx

American to Britain

Saving Money on Mobile Phones

Well, our phone contracts were coming up for renewal this year and Jon and I started looking into what we really needed out of a phone and what we did on our phone. Luckily for me, the last few weeks, my phone was on the fritz and I had not been able to make many emails, texts or calls so had to hold out until I could renew my contract. The reason why I say luckily is because it got me to take a look at how not having a phone affected me. It was nice actually.

Anyways, here are some things you should consider when getting a phone:

1. What will you use it for? I decided, I did not need that much data usage because I can link to my home WiFi and work WiFi (which is where I am usually). Otherwise, coffee shops and other places have free WiFi if I really need it. So I turn my mobile data off completely unless I need it. I do however needed to use it to tether my iPad when I am doing homework and not able to get that onto WiFi.
2. I usually text more than anything else and now with apps like Whatsapp and Viber, you can text people back home too. I thought unlimited texts would be good because that is what I do the most.
3. I did not need the top of the line phone, I just needed a good phone. So I have a Macbook, iPod, iPad and so my husband thought after my Blackberry packed up, surely I would go for the iPhone. I could have gotten a Xperia Z1 for £37 per month for 2 years (costing me a total of £888). But instead I bought the Xperia SP for £40 and pay £22 per month for 2 years (costing me a total of £568). My husband's contract came due the month following mine and he got the same phone for free and at £17 per month (£408 for the 2 years). It does all I need it to do and is saving me loads since we are buying a house soon.
4. Shop around. I was able to get a good deal by calling my existing carrier and telling them the offers I have found available to me and they were able to match it.
5. A free phone is never free. Calculate how much it is going to cost you in the long run. Sometimes buying it upfront can be cheaper and then you can be on a SIM only contract.
6. Recycle your old phone. Jon did this and it covered the cost of a couple of months contract for us.
7. My friend Jane is the one in her house that uses internet, calls and texting so she put her husband on a pay as you go phone because he only really texts and receives calls. So not having a contract for one of them saves them money.
8. When I first got here, pay as you go was not as good as a deal as it is today. In fact it can save you money and you are not stuck in a contract.
9. Compare your usage with Bill Monitor to see if you are getting the most out of your contract or can you get something better suited to you.

I hope that you will find these tips helpful.

Kimx

American to Britain

Saving money on days out

I love to get out and about but it can get expensive. Here are ways that I save money on my outings:

1. Become a member. If you are going to going to sights become a member. I recommend doing English Heritage one year and National Trust another. They have different types of sights so they are worth it. Also you get free parking at their locations. Another one that is worthwhile it the Historic Royal Palace Membership. You get into Tower of London ,Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace.
2. Take advantage of Heritage Open Days. These are every September and sometimes you get to see things that are not open all of the time. They are also free!
3. In Cambridge, there is a Bridge The Gap walk. This is a great way to view the colleges as you get into over 10 for a round £15!
4. Also if you live within 12 miles of the St Mary's Church, you can get into Kings College for £10 for 3 years! You just have to get a resident's card.
5. Go to local events. I love to go when there is a local festival. You don't have to buy anything but I just like to have a wander.
6. Bring a picnic. I usually pack something to eat while I am out and about. Also bring a water bottle, there is always somewhere to fill up. You can even bring food in to the cinema as long as it is not hot.
7. Remember when I said collect your Tescos Club Card  and Nectar points and not use them on food? You get a better value if you use them for days out. I always try to see where we can go on a voucher. 
8. Many museums are free and really good ideas for rainy days!
9. Go for walks, there are so many footpaths, look one up and get out there!

Hope this gets you started on planning your next day out!

Kimx

American to Britain

Saving money on clothes

You may already know that I used to work at Sweaty Betty and I think I may have been one of my best customers while I worked there. After I left that job I took a year off from buying any clothes. It has really bought some things to light for me. When I got out of the Air Force, I felt like I did not know how to dress myself because I spent 10 years knowing what I was going to where for work. Here are some tips that I have:

1. Take a look at your current inventory. If you have a lot of clothes, you need to do a clearing out to see what you have and if you can wear it multiple ways. Sort your clothes by pile- keep, donate or trash. I once helped a girl organize her closet. She has 25 pairs of jeans! You can only wear one pair at a time!
2. Make sure that you can wear things with other things. There is no reason to get a super cute pair of shoes if you can only wear them one thing. The more versatile your wardrobe is, the happier you will be and it will also be easier to pack for travel too. I love Gok Wan and his tips! http://scrapbook.channel4.com/experts/gokwan
3. Know your style. I think I learned this late in the game. Once I knew how I liked to portray myself, then it was easier to buy the key items that I needed. I dare not to think about all the clothes I bought on my credit card because I don't have any of it now. I don't think I was as bad as this lady though! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2546427/How-adding-cost-clothes-curing-shopping-addiction.html
4. Have a one in, one out system. I hardly ever buy clothes now. Maybe it was my year break, it made me realize that I didn't need anything. I will replace items that I cannot fix but I am not buying for buying sake. In fact, I  have conversations with myself on whether I should buy something and 9 times out of 10 I will decide that I don't need it. I still like to pop into Sweaty Betty and see the girls but I can't justify buying new things because I have drawers full of SB clothes.
5. Make do and mend- This is so easy to do. Get that sewing needle out and fix the seams instead of throwing it away. If you don't know what you are doing look it up on You Tube, there is so much out there.
6. If you can't mend it, take it to the professionals. I have had numerous pairs of shoes repaired (my bike pedals are lethal to the soles of some of my shoes) at Timpsons. It costs a fraction of what a new pair would cost me to replace them. 
7. Shop in the sales. There are generally sales in January and August. So shop ahead for what you need.
8. Instead of buying new shirts and what not, sometimes all you need is a scarf to finish off that look.
9. Wear your style, not 'the' style. The fashion industry is just that its an industry. They change back and forth between wedges and stilettos, slightly change the colors that are in fashion and its planned years in advance. Find the items you will wear when its not in fashion and keep that in mind.
10. Children grow out of their clothes so quickly so you can get gently worn clothes either from the FB groups I always mention or charity shops.
11. Here are some tips to make the ones you have last longer.

All the Best

Kimx

American to Britain

Saving money on your house

I just wanted to write a few ideas down on how you can keep your housing costs down:

1. Live outside of the centre of town. The closer you are to the middle the smaller house and more money you will have to pay.
2. Only get a home the size that you need. If you have reduced the amount of stuff you have, the more flexibility you will have in where you can live.
3. Do not go to your OHA cap. One thing I was thinking is lets say you are able to downsize your house you can save on the exchange rate. The more money that you are converting over to £s the more you have to pay to convert it. It may little amounts but over 4 years, it can add up.
4. Get a house with EPC rating D or better. I will go into utilities in another post but this is key. It means how efficient your house is with its energy.
5. DO NOT LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT HAS SINGLE PANE WINDOWS. If you ignore everything else I have written don't ignore this. I live in a house that is single pane and you can tell the difference. This will also contribute to the cost it will take to heat it.
6. Do not live in built up areas. Around the base, there are certain places that the houses were built particularly for the American military in mind. Instead like amongst the locals and a bit further away.

All the best

Kimx

American to Britain

Moving house

It is quite cool that I decided to start this trail of posts at this time because many of you are moving house. Not only moving house but moving to England. I am also moving house but I am buying my first house here and getting ready for that but using things that I have learned over the last eight years I have lived here. Can you believe it? I have lived here eight years but really reflecting on the differences and where I can save. I am writing a post about buying a home here as it is very different, so look for that to post sometime this year hopefully! My estate agent thinks so!

Okay back on track. So we are moving home. Here are the things I looked for in a house and am prepping for the move so I thought they may be things you should consider:

1. Location, location, location: I currently live and work in Cambridge. I like the fact that I cycle to work. I know that as Americans we are bred to commute to work but believe you me, it is not the same. In America, if a fender bender occurs, the rest of the traffic proceeds as usual. Here, it comes to a stand still. I used to live in Newmarket and commuted in but it all adds up. I suggest you think about your everyday trip. Its nice to think you might go to Oxford once a month, which is a two hours drive but if you are finding a house that will make this trip an hours drive shorter but your hubby has to drive an hour everyday to suit this (times five!) that doesn't make financial or time management sense. BUT thats just me. The house we bought means I have to cycle 10 minutes more each way (but that is 10 minutes less I have to workout :P)
2. Amenities: Everyone says that they are only going to shop off base in the markets and yada, yada, yada (that's for the Seinfeld fans). Truth is everyone likes comfort and people find comfort in food. The only place to get the mac and cheese how you remember it is the Commissionary. I will be writing a post about how I save money shopping at the grocery store since I no longer have access to the base, but a lot of people still are devoted to the Commissionary. I have told you many times that I have an allergy to milk and soya which means I cannot have processed foods or many of the American favorites like mac and cheese :( Don't worry, it keeps me thin! The point of this point is that you need to think about what you need. For me, I do a big shop either online or once a month in my car at a huge supermarket like Tescos or Sainsbury. The other days I go to the local Co-op or butchers, to get the bits to tie me over. I obviously bank with the local bank and use the local post office (I do not recommend you using one if you have access to an APO box- it costs a fortune to ship to the US!).] You need to think about what you are really going to do. If you like to have a coffee at 11 a.m. and have done so  for 10 years, moving to England is not going to change that. Habits are hard to change and they do not change with the time zones. You know what you do and what you would like to and in the middle is the probably where you can move to. Rome was not built in a day and you cannot change everything you know in a day, I know I have tried! You need to have an idea of what you need today and go off that not what you would like to be. Sorry for the rant but I see this all the time. BTW my new house, Co-op, 5 pubs, bank and post office so good to go!
3. Take this chance to get rid of your junk! I have been selling my stuff on Gumtree, Varagesales, FB groups and giving whatever else on Freecycle. In fact, Saturday I am doing a carboot sale. I don't have a huge sentiment with my crap. There are some stuff that I refuse to give up. Living over here has made me become accustomed to the lack of storage the houses have. Have a jumble sale, donate to charity shops and feel how free it is to let go of things (and put the money aside to buy the things you do need in the new location). In fact, as I am writing this I am waiting on someone to buy my Freeview box.
4. If you get rid of the stuff you do not need, you don't need to get a house big enough to store it in. Okay so we currently live in a 2.5 bedroom, 2 bath, dinging room, living room and conservatory which we could have bought but we choose to move to a 3 bedroom, dining room, living room and one bath. We only need so much space. This allows us to grow and allows me to get rid of unneeded items that I was holding onto fill this house. It cost 3 times as much to run a house here (I will write a post on how to keep you costs down).
5. Go for double glazed always. Look at the EPC ratings this is important. This directly reflects what you pay to run the house. The bases tell you to get something D or above and your utilities will be covered by your allowance. For non-military related, A-D means it is affordable otherwise you could be paying too much to heat your home. The current house we are living in is freezing cold and you can never go wrong with being warm.
6. Do not take a bigger phone contract than you need. I recently went through this. I had a Blackberry and a pay as you go contract. Since we are buying a house I am trying to keep my costs down. So after sadly returning my Xperia Z1 before the cooling off period, I decided I would prefer a phone and contract that was 15 pounds cheaper ($  ). I figured that I would have access to Wifi at home and work and if I needed it its everywhere, Starbucks and more. So why did I need to pay so much? Also the time I have had away from being attached to my phone, has shown me that I don't need it as much as I thought- thank goodness my new phone, Xperia SP, and contract 22 pounds (300 mins, unlimited texts and 500 MB) is on its way!
7. This gets on my nerve a lot- crime. The areas around the bases are very safe when compared to the crime rates in America. However you can look up and see what is going on where here. One make sure you are insured- helped me when my bike was stolen. Although the affluent area we live in has been hit up lately but apparently Dusty (my dog) is a deterrent.
8. Schools- I used to be one of those children that had to ride the school bus for an hour to school and back and no this is not the same story you hear from your grandfather that he had to walk to school 3 miles uphill both ways. My stop was the first and last on the route. I cannot personally agree with parents doing that to their children when it not only takes time away from their homework and other activities. I suggest you live in an area 30 minutes or less BY BUS if you choose to send your children on base. Others will often find that they will be able to walk their children to school. I suggest that children 9 and below go to school off base. It is a  great learning experience, they are ahead (1.5 years) and they will catch your children up. After this point American and European schools four on different skills and different teaching styles. If you think you would like to enroll your children in schools after 9, you need to meet with the head at the school to make a decision. In some cases your children may need to be held back to catch up as they have to meet the requirements for their age range.

At the moment, this is all I can come up with so that you can make a good decision on a house for you and your family.

Kimx

American to Britain

How to make the most of living here

I decided this year I would give you tips on living here frugally since the major complaint that Americans have is how expensive it is to live here. This is kind of inspired by The Budget Loving Military Wife. She does great analysis to help you save money on shopping.

It took me a long time to get a grip on my spending. I paid off all my debts, car loan and credit cards two years before I got out. I have moved several times since living in the UK and I have parted with a lot of stuff that I didn't need. I even took a year off from buying clothes after having worked at Sweaty Betty. I have started to think more actively about my spending and think that others should too. It is expensive to live here but I try to make the most of it and am always looking for a bargain. I will provide you with ways I save!

Few tips before you move over here whether it is with the USAF or otherwise.

1. Have a clear out. Let go of the things that you do not need. This will allow you to be able to get a smaller house (which has great implications- less time cleaning, less utilities and more choice for location).
2. Sign up for Martin's Money Saving Expert newsletter.
3. Cook from scratch.
4. Get rid of the big US vehicles. Although some people say that they have no problems with their big trucks, they have larger engine sizes, are less fuel efficient and you have to pay more for road tax. Nothing makes you stand out as an American than a F-150.
5. Look at your debts before you move. If you have large debts, it will be a struggle but hopefully I can give you some pointers.

I hope that you find my future posts helpful.

Kimx

Best Time to Visit London

Jane and I went to London during the Christmas break between 24 December and 2 January and could not believe how easy it was to get around. This is because England shuts down more or less between these dates. Offices, if open, will be minimally managed. Don't expect many services to be open except grocer stores, petrol stations and the main tourist attractions but I would suggest check ahead. The English use this time to wind down and spend time at home with their families and it appeared to us only tourists were out at this time. So if you are put off by going to London because of the crowds, this is time to get out and about!