Homeward Bound

[Slab]

After a bunch of years living on this little tropical island its time for us to head home, so I thought I’d start a thread where I can ask stupid questions and get advice/opinions on the myriad of things we’ll have to deal with when we ‘get off the boat’
We’ve had relatively few trips back to UK since we’ve been here and essentially missing all the birthdays, anniversaries and Christmases year after year and even losing close family members when were so far away and unable to give support, has us sure we’re making the right decision

Got about 7-8 weeks left so the countdown is well and truly underway, and language/culture aside there’s a tremendous difference in how things work in each country so don’t laugh when I ask what seems like obvious mundane questions to you guys
(i.e on one trip to UK I had a young McD’s staff member call his supervisor to see if they took the weird coin I gave him… it was a £1 coin, just one no longer in circulation that he hadn't seen before! And on a more recent trip I see that McD’s don’t even take cash or have a serving counter) Ok I know there will be more pressing issues than ordering a sausage and egg muffin but it kind illustrates what we’re up against

Q’s to follow as they come up… but looking forward to getting to a meet or two for some golf (UK style)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'll answer some questions that you may not think of, or may do but heck, you started this.

You rarely need to take cash anywhere. Contactless is taken pretty much everywhere except Chinese takeaways, hairdresses or nail bars! (separate thread for why this is the case). I have not carrier cash since covid, not had an issue.

Car parking is now done almost exclusively via apps. Find the ones for near you, download them, set them up for before you get to them. That saves you 10 minutes trying to sort them when you are in the car park itself. There is talkof a universal one, not happened yet across the country. I have RingGo, MiPermit, PaybyPhone. It may be different for where you are.

 

[Neilds]

I'll answer some questions that you may not think of, or may do but heck, you started this.

You rarely need to take cash anywhere. Contactless is taken pretty much everywhere except Chinese takeaways, hairdresses or nail bars! (separate thread for why this is the case). I have not carrier cash since covid, not had an issue.

Car parking is now done almost exclusively via apps. Find the ones for near you, download them, set them up for before you get to them. That saves you 10 minutes trying to sort them when you are in the car park itself. There is talkof a universal one, not happened yet across the country. I have RingGo, MiPermit, PaybyPhone. It may be different for where you are.

On this, don't trust QR codes on parking machines (or other places) as scammers can put their own codes on top and direct you to places your bank details should not be input.

Woolworths and Wilkinson's have now shut so you will need to find somewhere else to buy those everyday essentials - B&M and The Range are alternatives.

Don't bother using the self checkouts at supermarkets unless you want to call the assistant every 3rd item.

Petrol stations no longer have an attendant to fill your care for you. You have to do it yourself - and can also pay at the pump.

Dress codes are no longer what you might remember - although your beach wear might fit right in.

 

[Slab]

I'll answer some questions that you may not think of, or may do but heck, you started this.

You rarely need to take cash anywhere. Contactless is taken pretty much everywhere except Chinese takeaways, hairdresses or nail bars! (separate thread for why this is the case). I have not carrier cash since covid, not had an issue.

Car parking is now done almost exclusively via apps. Find the ones for near you, download them, set them up for before you get to them. That saves you 10 minutes trying to sort them when you are in the car park itself. There is talkof a universal one, not happened yet across the country. I have RingGo, MiPermit, PaybyPhone. It may be different for where you are.

Good call on parking apps, still very 'analogue' here with coins
I routinely have cash usually about 50-60 pounds worth for petrol/light shop stuff etc. I do touch and pay with my debit/credit cards but never paid anything via touching phone (which I've seen ppl do)

edit ; when you say find the ones near you? is there an online ref or is it physically being in one to initially find out who runs it?

 

[Slab]

On this, don't trust QR codes on parking machines (or other places) as scammers can put their own codes on top and direct you to places your bank details should not be input.

Woolworths and Wilkinson's have now shut so you will need to find somewhere else to buy those everyday essentials - B&M and The Range are alternatives.

Don't bother using the self checkouts at supermarkets unless you want to call the assistant every 3rd item.

Petrol stations no longer have an attendant to fill your care for you. You have to do it yourself - and can also pay at the pump.

Dress codes are no longer what you might remember - although your beach wear might fit right in.

Very useful tip

The petrol thing will be a shock, not put fuel in a car for a long long time

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Basically everything can now be done on a smart phone

And you need multiple media subscriptions to watch most of the decent sport and tv etc

and just a lot more coffee shops around

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Good call on parking apps, still very 'analogue' here with coins
I routinely have cash usually about 50-60 pounds worth for petrol/light shop stuff etc. I do touch and pay with my debit/credit cards but never paid anything via touching phone (which I've seen ppl do)

edit ; when you say find the ones near you? is there an online ref or is it physically being in one to initially find out who runs it?

Put your cards on your phone, I use Google wallet. I rarely take actual cards out with me anymore, the phone covers it. Google wallet is actually safer than your card on it's own, don't be frightened by it.

In terms of parking, I'm not sure. Once you know where you are moving to, you can google the local car parks and they should tell you then. Maybe talk to neighbours and ask which ones they have. Sorry, not a great answer but as there is not yet a universal option it is a bit messy. If you were moving to Northumberland I could help you more . At this point, it is making you aware of how it is done, how it is different to before.

Once you know the area you are moving to, post it on here and hopefully others will be able to help answer this. Incidentally, you can do it when you get to the car park, it is just a faff and the coverage may not be great.

 

[irip]

If you need a haircut or your nails done you are in luck.
McDonald’s and fish and chips are no longer cheap meals.
If you drive or smoke then prepare to pay a lot for fuel or fags.
If you intend going to London then consider the congestion charge and possibly ULEZ if driving.

Get yourself registered for a doctors and dentist asap

 

[Slab]

Put your cards on your phone, I use Google wallet. I rarely take actual cards out with me anymore, the phone covers it. Google wallet is actually safer than your card on it's own, don't be frightened by it.

In terms of parking, I'm not sure. Once you know where you are moving to, you can google the local car parks and they should tell you then. Maybe talk to neighbours and ask which ones they have. Sorry, not a great answer but as there is not yet a universal option it is a bit messy. If you were moving to Northumberland I could help you more . At this point, it is making you aware of how it is done, how it is different to before.

Once you know the area you are moving to, post it on here and hopefully others will be able to help answer this. Incidentally, you can do it when you get to the car park, it is just a faff and the coverage may not be great.

That does sound like something I'd need to fight against my instincts to do.
Not just that in my head i'm thinking i'm more likely to have phone lost/stolen than a card, but even just dropping my phone! Drop the card, pick it up and carry on with your day, drop phone and...?

 

[Slab]

As for area, we'll be moving to Fife (Scotland) it is home after all. With regular trips down near Hastings/Kent

 

[Lord Tyrion]

As for area, we'll be moving to Fife (Scotland) it is home after all. With regular trips down near Hastings/Kent

I looked on my parking apps for parking in and around St Andrews. RingGo is the only one in use there. If they are in St Andrews they are likely to be in other locations in Fife. They are a good starting point for adding to your phone. There could well be others, I just don't know who.

 

[GreiginFife]

As for area, we'll be moving to Fife (Scotland) it is home after all. With regular trips down near Hastings/Kent

Wouldn’t worry too much. It’s Fife, we’re still insulated form the march of time…

 

[Hobbit]

Dump your shorts, buy a big puffa jacket. Hope that helps.

On a serious note, that’s a huge change. Hope it works out well for you.

 

[Voyager EMH]

I sometimes forget that we have a King now.

Banks really don't want you on their premises - ever. Maybe to open an account, but that's it.
Gas and Electricity to your home is a very complicated maze of brokers - some have very silly names.
Supermarkets are huge places with massive car parks. You can treat it like a day-out sometimes.
River water can be dangerous stuff.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

When you need to get an energy provider, insurance etc, Martin Lewis is possibly the only man in the country to be trusted. He is programmed to only tell the truth . His comparison site is Money Saving Expert (he no longer owns it but he is still involved)

There are others, Compare the Market being another big one. Use them, you get great advice on them as well as good comparisons.

Oh, and vote Martin if he ever stands for election at anything.

 

[Slab]

When you need to get an energy provider, insurance etc, Martin Lewis is possibly the only man in the country to be trusted. He is programmed to only tell the truth . His comparison site is Money Saving Expert (he no longer owns it but he is still involved)

There are others, Compare the Market being another big one. Use them, you get great advice on them as well as good comparisons.

Oh, and vote Martin if he ever stands for election at anything.

Yeah when I saw @Voyager EMH post re energy then yours i realised I've no idea how to seek out and appoint an energy supplier
(Here we have a choice of one)

 

[irip]

Yeah when I saw @Voyager EMH post re energy then yours i realised I've no idea how to seek out and appoint an energy supplier
(Here we have a choice of one)

You have lots of choices here not just for energy but pretty much everything.
Trying to work out the best one for you is the difficult bit.

 

[Taz]

Take out private health care if you can afford it.

Id at the very least work out how you access the NHS etc.

 

[Neilds]

When you need to get an energy provider, insurance etc, Martin Lewis is possibly the only man in the country to be trusted. He is programmed to only tell the truth . His comparison site is Money Saving Expert (he no longer owns it but he is still involved)

There are others, Compare the Market being another big one. Use them, you get great advice on them as well as good comparisons.

Oh, and vote Martin if he ever stands for election at anything.

Obviously didn't listen to R2 this lunchtime where they were discussing a case where a couple in their 70s were scammed out of their life savings by people using Martin Lewis photos as a front for their scheme. Apparently this is very common

 

[Doon frae Troon]

You might get a shock to see who is now the top Scottish football team