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Living overseas

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Original poster

Living in America 2014

505 replies

rootypig · 29/07/2014 11:54

Shiny new thread. After an epic visa fuck up we are starting out (again!) in LA in a few weeks. I am English, DH is American (from southern California), DD is 21mo. I am going back to work after several unintentional years out and terrified. No clue what I want to do, which doesn't help.

Come chat about all things American!

OP posts:
LikeABadSethRogenMovie · 17/12/2014 02:47

I presume the company are organising your visa?

Are you planning on staying and will your 14 year old want to go to college? If so, check out the FAFSA site to get an idea of how much you will have to pay in college fees in the future. This all needs to be put into account if you don't have much spare cash.

Ime, parenting in the USA gets REALLY expensive from 12 onwards. Some days it feels like they can't even breathe without me shelling out 10 bucks! Grin

Shenton · 17/12/2014 03:14

They are with regards to visas. Australia is the same to be honest, I just don't want to go back to the uk. That said maybe staying in Perth's not a bad idea ... I start getting tax credits next year of which they'll be none in the USA

Want2bSupermum · 17/12/2014 12:10

America is not necessarily cheaper

Shenton · 17/12/2014 13:05

Oh really ... Don't say that

Want2bSupermum · 17/12/2014 15:18

So on $70k you have a lot of expenses with 4 DC. Healthcare can cost up to $1000 a month and you have copays you need to budget for. It is very important to know what these costs are upfront.

Employers love to use something like the cost of housing as a benchmark when comparing living costs but you need to look at the whole picture. As an example NJ house prices are lower because property taxes are extremely high.

Another thing to consider if your pension arrangements. I think you need to put in 10 years of work before you are eligible for social security.

Don't worry about tax credits. You will be filing as head of household and will be able to claim exemptions for all 4 kids. You will be paying minimal federal taxes at least.

Here in NJ I would estimate your take home would be about $5000 a month with zero deductions for healthcare expenses, pension or childcare costs.

AlpacaMyBags · 17/12/2014 15:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wentshopping · 17/12/2014 15:38

Another Houstonian here. Shenton you'll need a car here and insurance is very expensive. Over $1000 for 6 months.
Spring branch ISD is a good school district but house prices reflect this, and are high; rents are also high because they include the landlord's property tax - (a % of house value). If you look at cheaper areas of town housing-wise, you might find that the schools are not so good, and you might find the area itself not so ahem desirable. Do you know where in Houston your job is based? Commuting can be a nightmare too. (At least gas prices have gone down !)

To the poster with a senior applying for college - be aware that there are many scholarships to apply for. DD1 is a freshman in an expensive college and she was awarded a part-scholarship. It's still horrendous to think of the cost though!

Want2bSupermum · 17/12/2014 16:49

Colleges here in NJ they have very good community colleges with strong links to local state and private colleges and universities. If we are still here and the kids don't want to go to Canada they will be doing 2 years at community college followed by 2 years at a private or state college. Cost savings are HUGE. Given DH's income we wont qualify for any help when the time comes. I think help stops when parental income is more than $200k a year.

The cost of college here is insane. DH's boss has three kids with two in college right now. They have had two kids in college for three years now and have spent $120k a year. They have one more year to go until they are 'only' spending $60k a year. Their kids don't qualify for help as parents are high income but unless you are worth more than $10 million or so that kind of spending is going to hurt. The boss will be done with paying for college before he turns 60. I have no idea how people having DC now in their 40s are going to be able to help their kids pay for college as their retirement will be around the corner.

Shenton · 18/12/2014 00:22

So if I had $70,000 usd. Plus $2300 per month living allowance. $1300 Australian child support ... Could that work ?
My career and salary have been going backwards every year since landing in Australia so I'm keen to make progress. Sending the kids back to the uk for university and their dad doesn't get any say believe me.

Shenton · 18/12/2014 00:23

Oh and there is a health care package for me which I have to top up to cover the kids.

AlpacaMyBags · 18/12/2014 00:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LikeABadSethRogenMovie · 18/12/2014 01:10

They would definitely have to pay international fees, unless DC1 goes back to live in the UK when they are 15. You have to have lived in the UK for the 3 years previous to starting your course to get domestic fees.

W2BS We suggested the community college route, but DC1 point blank wants to go away to college, just like their friends. This is the annoying bit of having children about to be adults...they have their own opinions!

Want2bSupermum · 18/12/2014 02:08

Rather than a living allowance of $2300 I would have them pay for your rent which will most likely be more than 2300 a month in an area with a decent school district. Here in NJ a five bedroom house in such an area would cost $3-5k, with decent homes costing about $4k a month.

College is an issue that you need to address now because your eldest is so close. One nice thing about education is that if the employer pays the school directly it isn't considered income to you so you won't be taxed on it. If they pay you or your DC first then it is considered income or a gift which is a PITA when you are looking at anything over $13k. If they pay the school directly it has no impact on your earnings or you DC's.

IMO I think colleges here are far superior on average than universities in the UK. I learned so much at community college and was blown away at the quality of the education I received. I took classes at the private college and all had no more than 30 students in them. It was heaven and I learned so much more than I did when sitting a room with 100+ at the red brick I attended in the UK with seminars held biweekly that had 40+ in them.

LikeABadSethRogenMovie · 18/12/2014 02:09

I'm off to watch the Survivor finale. Any other Survivor fans?!

Shenton · 18/12/2014 06:07

We'd be really happy with a 3 bed in a nice area ... I don't fancy cleaning some of the mansions I've seen online

Want2bSupermum · 01/01/2015 04:06

Happy new year everyone. Happy to welcome 2015.

Shenton · 08/01/2015 04:01

Happy new year !
Am still umming and arguing about Huston ... I'm convinced the education system is better there

5exybomb · 08/01/2015 19:13

Hi everyone I have read this post with interest as we are hoping to make a permanent move to LA later this year. If anyone is able to would you mind looking at my post on here titled "Moving to LA". I could really do with any advice and info offered.
Thank you so much

5exybomb · 08/01/2015 19:14

DOH! sorry my post is titled "Living in LA" not moving to!!!

Want2bSupermum · 09/01/2015 18:21

Shenton You have to be very careful of the education system here. It can be better but in other places it is terrible. For our family, the new town we live in has a better provision for us but there are plenty of families moving to that town because they value that school district.

I would get on the phone with the school districts and speak to them to find out if the school districts are a good fit for your children. Getting good test results doesn't mean much IMO. Our current school district is failing on paper yet our experience has been very positive with the school bending over backwards to help us and DD move ahead.

Shenton · 12/01/2015 10:05

Thank you ... When I hear things like that I'm not sure I can be arsed to move after all

Want2bSupermum · 12/01/2015 15:24

Shenton I think what we face here is the same as what parents face in the UK. What is nice here is that all children in the town go to the same schools. It isn't like the UK where you might have to take a 45min to 1hr bus ride to get to and from school where we are and there is no 11+ issues to worry about. I walk both DC to school but admit I am VERY lucky that daycare is a block from my house and school is 2 blocks away!

Beakyok · 24/01/2015 20:46

New to Mumsnet, although have read various threads lots so could be described as a lurker! Decided to join though after finding this thread and especially as it looks like there is another Brit based in OKC. My husband and I have been living here for 18 months now (with his work) and I would love to touch base with other Brits as some days home seems so far away.

Want2bSupermum · 28/01/2015 04:38

Hello! I think the other Brit in okc has returned to the UK but welcome! Not sure if there is a 2015 thread but I for one am a little too lazy to go start a new one.

Original poster
rootypig · 28/01/2015 05:17

I hadn't even clocked that the year has changed tbh Grin

Perhaps for clarity's sake I should start a new one? Confused

OP posts: