British life, compare to USA life

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

What is the difference between $3.98 and $4. Are they not the same apart from the pine you will be getting back.

I think you said one muffin costs $4. But you get four muffins for $4. So they cost $1.00 each. That's like £ .76 per muffin.

[yuna628 9,676]

With the exchange rate, I'd say 76p per muffin is a steal. On par with the price of a muffin at Greggs (local NE UK bakery shop). You can find a 4pk of muffins at Waitrose for about £1.50/$2.00 but these won't be fancy bakery quality.

Some food items in America are cheaper than it will be in the UK based on a variety of factors. Wheat production, seasonal, weather affecting crops, the need to not import food in. Items in the cities with no real farmlands are going to cost more by the way of veggies because these need to be trucked in farther.

Food is not the sort of thing you'd walk into a Walmart and expect it to be cheaper in the same respect you could perhaps walk into an ASDA and find it reasonable. Discount goods there are going to be things they can obtain for cheap and often imported such as clothing, electronics, toys etc. While they have a 'bakery' it won't be on par with a lot of more expensive chains with large bakery departments like Safeway (though Costco has a decent bakery). Discount Warehouse grocers and local family owned chain stores will often offer better prices.

TBH, I found food prices kind of outrageous in the UK. But that's just me.

[vanity08 66]

I think you said one muffin costs $4. But you get four muffins for $4. So they cost $1.00 each. That's like £ .76 per muffin.

LOL. Am sure people are reading this all wrong. Muffin in asda come in a pack of 4. That is how I no muffin comes in. Unless u are buying from a coffee shop that u can buy them individually

[cyclone27 710]

Most supermarkets have bakery(s) where you can buy singles.

Try the wholesale clubs like Sam's. BJ's and Costco.

[crazyworld 54]

My wife is from Swindon and she is keeping very busy volunteering as a dog walker at local shelters.

She also found a forum called: britishexpats.com that might help you.

She is not a fan of Walmart, she calls their stuff #######! She likes to cook so I am gaining weight lol

We live just south of Cleveland, Ohio so you guys are not that far from us.

[vanity08 66]

My wife is from Swindon and she is keeping very busy volunteering as a dog walker at local shelters.

She also found a forum called: britishexpats.com that might help you.

She is not a fan of Walmart, she calls their stuff #######! She likes to cook so I am gaining weight lol

We live just south of Cleveland, Ohio so you guys are not that far from us.

It agree 100% with her. One thing I have noticed with Americans food is that if is Salt is Salt and if is Sugar is Sugar, lots and lost of it, which is very bad for you health, but European countries are not like that. Producing food with lots of sugar or salt.

Is nice to hear from someone who is in Ohio.

Thanks for the link will have a look.

[Kat&Jon 85]

Just thought I would share a fun fact.... ASDA is owned by Walmart.... think of the little yellow asterisk or star or whatever you want to call that thing. They both have it!

I am originally from Ohio! If you haven't had it yet you MUST try Graeter's Ice Cream and the ice cream you can get from a UDF (United Dairy Farmer gas station)!!! So goooooooooood! I miss being able to get it easily!

[vanity08 66]

Just thought I would share a fun fact.... ASDA is owned by Walmart.... think of the little yellow asterisk or star or whatever you want to call that thing. They both have it!

I am originally from Ohio! If you haven't had it yet you MUST try Graeter's Ice Cream and the ice cream you can get from a UDF (United Dairy Farmer gas station)!!! So goooooooooood! I miss being able to get it easily!

Is funny u just recommended that, this afternoon I was out and about and I got shake from stake and shake. Ooo my, it supposed to be banana shake, all I got was banana mash at the bottom and shake on top,lol. I will definitely have a go in the weekend, am going to look it and see which one will be closed to me.

[lost_at_sea 995]

I moved to SF from London and I think London feels more expensive still.

I was miserable for the first couple months - having to find a new house and all sorts of #######, missing friends and my old job - but what worked best for me was just getting out. Once I got out I met people and meeting people led me to a job (although I'm freelance now).

We made plans at the weekend, most weekends, and drove out into the countryside and visited all sorts of different places in CA. I also spent a lot of time just out and about walking around, getting to know the neighbourhoods and coffee shops and places to buy tasty snacks. I also kind of made everything a bit like a David Attenborough documentary - sending lots of photos and texts home to people back in the UK to point out all the daft stuff that Americans do. Before I was working, I also took on the "home making" role for a while and enjoyed picking out decor and new furniture and arranging all the deliveries and such for that. Stuff that just kept me busy.

Since you've got a little kid, you've got a really good excuse to go visit the museums and science-y silly things or hang out in parks without looking like weirdo, or make friends through a mum-and-baby club or something. Making new friends you can see during the day would probably make a really big difference if you can't work for a while.

I've JUST learned to drive (I'm in my 30s) - I have my test in a couple of weeks. Was adamant that I was never going to learn, but driving an automatic is so bloomin' easy.

Oh, and on the topic of muffins. We are all talking about the same type, right?

I had an American friend once ask me "What do British people call English Muffins?"

Me: "Uh. English muffins."

Edited July 22, 2016 by lost_at_sea

[vanity08 66]

I moved to SF from London and I think London feels more expensive still.

I was miserable for the first couple months - having to find a new house and all sorts of #######, missing friends and my old job - but what worked best for me was just getting out. Once I got out I met people and meeting people led me to a job (although I'm freelance now).

We made plans at the weekend, most weekends, and drove out into the countryside and visited all sorts of different places in CA. I also spent a lot of time just out and about walking around, getting to know the neighbourhoods and coffee shops and places to buy tasty snacks. I also kind of made everything a bit like a David Attenborough documentary - sending lots of photos and texts home to people back in the UK to point out all the daft stuff that Americans do. Before I was working, I also took on the "home making" role for a while and enjoyed picking out decor and new furniture and arranging all the deliveries and such for that. Stuff that just kept me busy.

Since you've got a little kid, you've got a really good excuse to go visit the museums and science-y silly things or hang out in parks without looking like weirdo, or make friends through a mum-and-baby club or something. Making new friends you can see during the day would probably make a really big difference if you can't work for a while.

I've JUST learned to drive (I'm in my 30s) - I have my test in a couple of weeks. Was adamant that I was never going to learn, but driving an automatic is so bloomin' easy.

Oh, and on the topic of muffins. We are all talking about the same type, right?

I had an American friend once ask me "What do British people call English Muffins?"

Me: "Uh. English muffins."

Hahaha maybe he/she was expecting a different name, but who are the English people, is British of cause.

That is a nice, am 100% sure you will pass the test. Their theory test is very easy, only took that test my second week in the USA. The difficult part of the driving in Ohio test is going through the corns and revising back. Have been practicing for a month now, I have my on the 08/03.

I have try to take UK from my head and move on, I think is because of the fact that I can't get job and I miss my old job, I was working for TFL as customer service. I have made lots lots and lots of applications, but nothing.

People keep telling me to go into nursing, I don't like blood, nursing is FREE in UK, I never did, why pay all this money for something I don't like. Am still applying, fingers crossed, something comes up.

For now in the afternoon after my driving lessons, I go for a walk with the little one around the block.

Now I can watach all the soups in UK.

Edited July 22, 2016 by vanity08