People who have moved to the country from London

[CountessDracula]

What exactly is so much cheaper about living in the country to justify the massive salary cut you have to take when you move?

Food, clothes, schools etc the same price surely. Plus masses of petrol so that is more. If you are moving to an area where the house prices are not dissimilar to London, I can't see where you make the saving.

Oh and how much do you pay for cleaners, gardeners etc?

Are you still teetering CD? Not made the decision yet? You are mad!

are you considering the idea again cd?

NO

Dh is whittering on about it again

If it still Wincheste you are thinking of, no I agree with you: just as inflated prices and a much lower salary.

Am collating ammo for our discussion tonight

Well, if you move somewhere with rubbish restaurants, and bad shops, presumably you save money by not eating out, and not shopping?

oo eck, we'd better come up with some good no reasons then!

oh god

true

BUT WHERE IS THE FUN IN THAT??!!!!

Would you be commuting in? Or what?

I think some people seem to think you can't raise children in the city. DH used to say that sort of nonsense. But as a foreigner, I'm not allowed to move outside zone 2.

I do really want some yes reasons too, am genuinely interested to know how it is cheaper, you never know I may agree to it

CD where is he thinking of now? Still Hampshire?

No tha tis the point, he has 2 firms after him in the same area, both good jobs but has to take a 25% pay cut ffs

yep

How expensive is housing there? If it's the same as London, no, I don't see the appeal.

Maybe the state schools are better? Hospitals nicer? I don't remember which bit of London you're in.

Well Winchester and environs are not cheaper so that is the end of the argument IMO.

Other places, yes, housing is cheaper, petrol is cheaper, probably even groceries. Certainly little things like parking and cinemas.

TBH, so long since I lived in London, I don't know what you pay for thngs there. We could do a price comparison!

You don't want to know about the better lifestyle in the sticks, I take it?

I always find petrol much cheaper in London tbh

Also hardly drive in London so little parking or petrol costs, get public transport which is all covered for £90 a month in my oyster

yes I DO! Tell me about it please

In that scenario, I can't think of any big benefits cd.

I'd be wanting significantly more space for my money if I was leaving London and the salary drop sounds quite painful.

Hmmm hard to compare then. I couldn't calculate the cost of my car overall but petrol wise, I fill up the tank for about £50 once a month.

Does £90 cover the children too?

Schools considerably cheaper, CD. Much to my surprise. A friend of mine pays £4,500 to send her dd to reception at Garden House (SW3) for 4.5 days a week (they don't do school on Friday afternoons so they can all go to their country houses!), I pay £6000 to send my dd to Y3 and my ds to reception 5 days a week, including horse riding and piano lessons for dd and an hour of aftr school care for ds. That is a pretty colossal difference on a termly basis.
Food also considerably cheaper, particularly if you don't shop exclusively in sainsburys. Although even sainsburys charges more in central london than in wilts for the same things. But no comparison between eg Lidgates and excellent country butcher (50% cheaper) or even cullens and local shop.
Petrol obv used more, but taxis and public transport etc used much less, so I'd say it evens out unless you are commuting from the country then it is a huge extra expense.
Eating out much much much less - not just dinner out but sandwich lunches, starbucks twice a day etc. Save a fortune. Most entertainment is at other people's houses so your dinner party bills will go up but your eating out bills are negligible. And if you go to a good pub for lunch or supper it is much cheaper than the equiv in london.
CLothes- same price supposedly, but much smaller range of shops so overall you spend less. Also the clothes you need to wear v different and generally cheaper. (Not so many lovely suede kitten heeled pumps, lots of wellies!)
Staff costs less.
Fuel costs more (assuming you are moving to bigger house, and it is a good 3-4C colder in the country than london).
Main thing is that there is just much less haemorraging of cash in the country. No parking charges (god the meters in lon)on just eat cash), much easier to buy stuff in bulk and store it (eg dog food etc) which is cheaper, lots more specialist shops which charge so much less for everything (eg halogen lightbulbs I buy from our local little electrical store at ONE THIRD of what sainsbury's charge), it is just generally cheaper.

Sorry, that isn't what you wanted to hear!!!

children are free on public transport up to 16 in London!

things like car and house insurance are usually a lot cheaper,

Where I live roads are much better, its a much calmer way of living but of course if you like hustle and bustle that wouldn't be a plus.

In my experience people are more willing to say hello and more of a community feeling. I've only lived here since Jan 05 but I know my neighbours much more than my previous ones who I lived next to for 17 years.