I am thinking of relocationg to Aberdeen

[debbierose28]

Hi I am a single mum with 2 boys aged 8 and 6, I am thinking of moving to Aberdeen for a really good job opportunity in education. However I have never been there and will be going up to see what it’s like does anyone have any advice on what it’s like for families? Or what you think? Unfortunately in this day and age you have to fallow the jobs.

It has. John Lewis!

I like Aberdeen but it's a scary expensive place to live. The oil industry drives the prices up, so if you aren't in oil getting an above average wage it can be difficult. When I was a student a few years back we were living in a basic 2 bed flat and it was £800pm. Houses on the outskirts are expensive as well so a lot of my friends have had to move 45 minute drive outside Aberdeen just to afford to live/rent. Traffic is awful. There is one way each end that everyone gets in and out so it gets hectic. My journey takes 25 minutes on a good day and 1 hour 15 on a bad. Postage is more as we are often lumped in with Highlands and Islands. Union square the shopping centre has improved the outlook on the city centre as it was a bit dull and lacking before. I don't find the people any worse/better than other places though.

LowCarbHeaven, Thanks for you help. what would you call a decent wage up there??

Also please message me if you need any advice on areas to live etc. There are some places online that look good for the money but are not great areas. Also Aberdeen estate agents often are very optimistic about how long commuting in and out takes from certain areas.

Cross posted there! I really wouldn't be able to say what a decent living wage is up here because it would depend on what people class as 'living'. The oil industry is dominant here though and as they tend to have higher wages than average it makes rental/house prices higher. One of my friends told me she read an article once about how Aberdeen was second in running to London for house prices . It's certainly not a bad place to live though. Union square is nice, plenty buses and places outside Aberdeen to go for walks etc. If you live Stonehaven side it's not too far to pop down to Glasgow for the day or Edinburgh. I would just consider it very carefully about how much your wage will be compared to inflated house prices.

We moved to Aberdeenshire in sept last year, my husband works in Dyce and we moved to a rural village about 40 mins commute, it's nigh impossible to find a reasonably cost rental any nearer, and even now we're paying way over the market. I have to agree with sillybones (sorry to the nice ones) I've found the village mentality unbearable! I don't work, I look after my children but people are obsessed with where u live, what ur husband does, why I don't work??? I am a northern lass originally and would consider myself very friendly, I'll chat to anyone about anything but here people barely make eye contact with you. I've met some really lovely girls but people here don't easily accept things are changing and developing at it's like I'm personally responsible for moving here! Agree the countryside is beautiful and amazing history all around if u like that. I can't wait to leave!! Go to far out and u definitely need a car, this village has a train link but the timings aren't the best and weather dependant. Good luck

Utilities and bills are the same as everywhere OP - depends what you use!

I've noticed that people often avoid eye contact around where I live and at the Uni where I work. Once you get chatting they are lovely but it's as if they are really shy. Same at lots of the baby classes I went to with ds. It does seem to be hard to 'break in' and get to know people. But I suppose that people move in and out of Aberdeen a lot so many people make friends only to lose them to career moves outside of Aberdeen. Houses here do tend to be well insulated but nevertheless we find our heating bills to be high. The local schools seem to be good where I live in the north of the city.

We moved here in 2006. It's a good place for us. It isn't a big city. I didn't work in oil and found that the vast majority of people in my industry studied on the same couple of courses at Robert Gordon University. That did make me feel like I had less of a foothold than others. There is a bit of small town everyone knows each other feeling, however this can also be a good thing.

Rental prices are very high. We pay the same on a mortgage for our house as we did in rent on a one bed flat when we moved up.

Commuting can be a pain as mentioned. The lack of bridges in the north causes bottlenecks every day. But, I live on the northern edge of the city and pre-ds could cycle to the city centre in 25mins when driving might take 40. Plotting where you will work in relation to where you live is important as crossing town isn't easy especially by public transport. However, just 5 miles from the city centre you're in countryside.

I'm from the Deen, well technically grew up in Westhill desperately want to come home but settled in England with DH and now DS.

The house prices are prohibitive and it lacks employment opportunities outside of the oil industry, travelling is a nightmare and yes flying up there regularly is costing me a fortune. The city itself has great facilities, shire lovely places to go, fantastic coastal areas which I really miss. If We could afford a comparable standard of living up there would go in a shot but we can't.

People slagging it off are probably from Dundee

Houses are very expensive - on a par with some parts of England.

It's a good size of place with excellent shopping centres, schools and a nice little airport.

Baby mummy - did you mean to be so condescending?? House prices are on a par with some parts of England, eh?? I think house prices in Aberdeen are more expensive than in most of England excluding London and the Home Counties! As they are in Edinburgh too...

Op - I was born in Aberdeen and lived there till I went to uni. My family are still there. Lovely town with fab people. Great countryside, beaches, location, castles, parks, lots to do. Go for it!

Lived here for 11 years, downside the price of housing and cost of living, not the best roads and transport links ( takes an age to get anywhere), grey, grey, grey!
Upside, great job opportunities, beautiful scenery, coast and countryside.

What on earth is "condescending" about saying that house prices are on a par with some parts of England?

I am trying to figure out what is condescending about saying house prices are on par to England as well?

OP do you have any further thoughts on the move? Do you have a while to decide?

Bizarre post cocktail queen. Prices are on a par with some parts of England including London and the home counties. You might be excluding those, but babymummy wasn't

Baby mummy - sorry if I read your post wrong. It just seemed a condescending thing to say, and not especially helpful: house prices in poor old Scotland are on a par with those in some parts of England - considering that house prices in England range from extremely cheap to millions of pounds in parts of London.

CocktailQueen - you certainly interpreted by words in a very strange way and I obviously wasn't the only person who thought so.

debbierose ,how strange I am also a single parent strongly considering relocating to Aberdeenshire for a job in education !!! I am finding money is pretty good, but rents are high. I am lucky my brother and his family live there so have a base. I am looking to more rural parts of Aberdeenshire, its pretty and cheaper. Let me know how you get on

Dears

I read all of your message and thank you for saying all advantages and disadvantages of living in Aberdeen.

I there any update here?

I'll relocate to Aberdeen in next 2 month and now by reading these ideas, I'm in a dilemma!
I awarded a scholarship to study at University of Aberdeen, I'm a mum and my son is 9 years old.
I don't want to place my son in a racism society and I'm really worry about it!
I'm overseas but I have the experience of living in Oxford. There was lovely.
Can any one compare the Aberdeen with Oxford? The weather, communication and people manner?

My study and work place would be around Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Hospital, but the school level for my son in my priority for living area.

Would you please suggest me a good place to live?

Also I can't find Ofsted report for schools in Aberdeen, how can I compare school's level without Ofsted report? Is it different in Scotland?

Many Thanks.