To be depressed about how expensive but shyt the UK is

Big cities in Australia and the USA are at least as expensive as the UK.

I'm normally a fairly positive person, but I do think that we have suffered as a result of Brexit. I'm not sure how the impact of spending in the pandemic affects the UK vs other countries, but obviously that has had an effect too.

I think everywhere has its negatives and there is a lot to be said for living here (as others have already said).

@TempestTost I'm surprised at your post about Canada, I had no idea.

Very interesting to see the opinions of those who have lived elsewhere or are immigrants.

@IthinkIamAnAlien you have absolutely no idea what circumstances the person you are replying to has come from. Perhaps try listening to another person's point of view, especially someone who has wider experience than you.

@grimupnorthnot I agree with what you say about Birmingham and the common wealth games, but that's more of a Birmingham issue than a UK one - similar problems not seen with the London Olympics. And TBF to Birmingham, everything around Covid would have impacted a lot more on their preparations for 2022.

Well I have also managed to access NHS treatment quickly when needed.

I have travelled abroad to various countries. Food is not more expensive in most places. If you pick a particular food item that is not common in another country, then it may cost a lot more. But in general food prices in the countries I have been in, are not higher than the UK.

So when are you moving there?

£250 each for tickets to go and see Macbeth in London! I was shocked at that - not even particularly good seats! Who has that kind of money?

I think the problem with these threads is that they’re rarely about genuine comparison. An OP will say “the U.K. is shit” and people will respond “compared to where?” And the OP will mention somewhere they went for their summer holiday and how it was so clean and well kept and the public transport was excellent and cheap and the food was great quality.

When you go on holiday to another country, you’re almost invariably going to a wealthy part of it, with lots of investment in local facilities and infrastructure and a service industry geared up for people with money to spend where high competition keeps quality consistent (and probably a region with the best weather.) You aren’t seeing that country’s impoverished towns, or the parts of its cities where its poor people live, wandering its public housing estates, trying to take the bus between two rural villages, or going out to eat at its equivalent of a greasy spoon.

I'm back visiting from Germany and quite a few things have shocked me. Yanbu, op

Your kids can go to school without worrying about being shot.You also have Galaxy chocolate.

It's not all bad.

I agree that the UK has never recovered from the 2008 economic crash. That is the root of our issues.

Everything except the rain . I appreciate I’m lucky because we have a comfortable standard of living but I have a great life here .

The UK isn’t shit. 3 out of my 6 immediate family have just had major NHS procedures and they were amazing. All of us have great GPs across different practices.

The NHS needs help, but it’s not shit.

This. We pay around £250 a year for 3 panto tickets.

A pint of lager is £9.50
Glass of Prosecco is £12
Bottle of water is £7
Orange Juice £5
Coke/lemonade £5

And the share bags of chocolates are £4.50 each

I don't mind the cost of the tickets as much but the refreshment prices are insane but I'm guessing this is where the majority of profit comes.from

My grandparents came here from Russia and I am grateful every day that they made the decision to emigrate to the UK. We have so much freedom and safety compared to much of the world, even if it is expensive here.

of course but when you look at how people live in other areas of the world, I think we aren't doing so badly even with Keir Starmer in power.

Tell me more about access to a free healthcare system.

We pay a lot through taxes, the money is then mismanaged and most of us struggle to get a GP appointment or face 15 hours waiting in A and E.

We went to france over the summer. It felt like we were haemorrhaging money in the supermarket.

Just out of interest, what do you love about it?

I do remember a few years ago feeling like we had go our heads above water and could relax about money they it feels like the goal posts shifted very rapidly and it’s a struggle again even though we are earning more than ever.

I know it’s affecting local businesses and other recreational things like the arts it’s very expensive now to even see a regional company show £200 for a family of 4 for example for a Christmas show this year. As a result many just don’t go and revenue falls not to mention the takings in cafes, bars and restaurants.

Do you understand why your post will come across as tone deaf to some?

I have relatives and friends in both France and the US. Their issues with CoL, healthcare provision etc are the same as ours.

I was in France visiting said friends recently, the CoL over there is eye watering!

Also - If you think the NHS is bad, for goodness sake, don't get sick in the US!

I think you need a reality check OP.

I go to france a lot and its barely cheaper! The trains there used to be in better condition about 20 years ago but are now as shabby as British ones. Train fares are cheap but they strike a lot.

Food is no cheaper, restaurants are just as pricey. I'd struggle to see whats cheaper apart from wine.

For all its faults I like living here. I have travelled a fair bit and I'd love to live in some places I've visited. However when I return to the UK I feel I'm home. I like how safe it is here - no weather extremes, no dangerous animals, for the most part safe communities.

The NHS has always been ok for me except for my brother struggling to get an NHS dentist and as someone with a high sight prescription cheaper eye tests and glasses would be good!

Things that need to tackled that currently affect me are - an overhaul of the education system. The one size fits all has to be addressed. More specialist provisions for those who don't learn easily in mainstream. A more education based education rather than schools trying to do a parents role in regards to caring for children. A harder approach to disruptive children so that those who want to learn can.

Help for youngsters who are trying to move out and start their lives. Perhaps build studieo flats for under 30's which are cheaper than standard rentals to allow for the fact they may have lower incomes as just starting out in smaller towns so that children can stay in their communities. Not everyone has help and working youngsters should feel that they are progressing not just stuck at their childhood home.

I'd also like to see better support for parents of under 5's to allow a parent to stay home if they wanted to. If each child was allocated childcare funding as cash to the parents then parents could use it to work fewer hours or use a nursery of their choice. Nurseries could then charge what they need to be sustainable and lose the complicated admin and 'consummables' pricing and parents could choose the ones they could afford.

Maybe we should aim a bit higher than just not being a war zone?

tell the people of the Ukraine or Gaza that the UK is shite