Comments on: 10 Practical Items Every UK Expat Needs in America

By: Abraham

Abraham — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:27:00 +0000

very true, I have a “mobile” with thats a smartphone (android OS) for $45 a month. Don’t know how that compares to the UK, but it’s the best I can find here. You can find these at your local Walmart.

By: CulinaryBee

CulinaryBee — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 05:42:00 +0000

Hey! I’m an American who travels to the UK every Spring w/ an Anglophile group of friends! I have been amused by your comments! Do you think it’s any different for us visiting the UK??? Hairdryers: get one which has dual voltage which can be switched back and forth! A travel magazine like Magellan’s is great for stuff like that! Then you just need an adaptor. Come on now, aren’t our small plugs a little less clumsy than yours? Air Con: unless you are going to live in the more seedy areas of our cities, if you are in a city where it is hot all the time (IE anywhere in The South, it will already have air con. TV Cable: sorry we have to pay it too but they do give “bundle” rates sometimes so it’s worth checking. Measuring cups: right! I have a Culinary Degree so I DO weigh ingredients but $$ Stores do have lots of little measuring gizmos. Good Advice on Whole Foods but I would also suggest Trader Joe’s! So here is MY question! What the hell are you doing here when you could be in the UK, a place I love and would move to if it were financially viable! I love the US but find the UK more “liveable!”

By: Will Poundstone

Will Poundstone — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:15:00 +0000

those cell phone contracts do mean that cell phones cost much less in the US than they do in europe

By: Mark Smith

Mark Smith — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:55:13 +0000

My moment of bewilderment was realising just how much rarer anti-perspirant sprays are than deodorant sticks here

By: Mark Smith

Mark Smith — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:53:26 +0000

Expat Shield works lovely, and doesn’t cost a penny

By: Mark Smith

Mark Smith — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:52:33 +0000

The VA one was a total joke, thankfully

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:24:27 +0000

Buy a prepaid cell phone instead of a contract phone. Straight talk is a good one to start with.

By: J

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 23:43:32 +0000

I am surprised to find that bodywash is far more expensive with much fewer options here than in the UK. They tend to use soap? If you are loyal to some particular ones, better bring one or two if your luggage allows.

By: Claire Barrett

Claire Barrett — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:17:09 +0000

A great list! Keeping all your important papers easily to hand and getting a social security number ASAP proved helpful too. We were fortunate to have a UK bank with branches here which made transferring our credit score and getting a credit card much more straightforward. I’m writing a blog about our experiences as a way to keep friends, family and others who are interested up to date – Diary of a wimpy Brit

By: dw

dw — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 04:25:28 +0000

You may have to retake your driving test to get a US licence: the exact details of the test vary by state ,but it will probably be far easier than the one you took in the UK.