Moving to the UK can be a fairly expensive experience, particularly if you’re moving to a major city such as London or Manchester.
However, there are several ways to keep the costs down, and whether you’re moving over to the UK from America, Europe or another part of the world, these money-saving tips are sure to keep your wallet happy and make the transition that much smoother.
Book flights as far in advance as possible
As your moving day creeps closer, airlines will begin to hike the price of your plane ticket – meaning you could end up paying a considerable amount more than is necessary. Avoid paying through the nose for plane tickets by booking as far in advance as possible or using a price comparison website to get the best deal available. If flying directly into the UK from your home country proves to be expensive, try flying to Paris and taking advantage of the Channel Tunnel.
Take public transport
One of the greatest things about the UK is its accessible public transportation system. London’s famous tube lines transport millions of people from A to B every day and are a much cheaper and less stressful option than driving when it comes to commuting around the capital. In general, public transport infrastructure throughout the UK is well-developed, so in most cities, it should be entirely possible to get around on public transport alone.
Consider your housing options
Brits tend to spend much more of their income on housing than their European counterparts, averaging at 40%, compared to 28%, meaning there’s little room remaining for other bills, let alone socialising. If you’re renting, you might want to consider flat sharing or borrowing money to help you move house if you’re keen to find your own space and settle into life in the UK as soon as possible. It’s well worth exploring your housing options long before you fly into the UK, as once you know what your rent or mortgage costs will look like, you can plan for all other outgoings accordingly.
Find deals on food
Unlike their American counterparts, British supermarkets hate throwing away waste food. They will often devote sections of the store to produce that is just about to go out of date at massively reduced prices. This tends to happen later at night, so if you time your shopping trips just right, you could save a huge amount of money on groceries – and some supermarkets will even offer you money back on your shop. Similarly, UK restaurants often use apps and websites that fill their empty tables by offering half-price meals or 2-for-1 deals on drinks – so it’s worth keeping a lookout for these.
Save on utility bills with comparison sites
While you’re in England, you’ll probably be bombarded with ads from sites that promise to save you hundreds of pounds a year on your bills. While it’s smart to question the ads, it’s also definitely worth having a look around and comparing your suppliers to their competition. New customers tend to get the best deals from utility companies because once you choose your supplier, you’re unlikely to want to switch too often, so shop around for offers!
