Let's say I was living in London for 2-3 months, starting in a couple weeks

[Dauphin]

You don't need to pay income tax or national insurance to be covered by the NHS (if a UK national), and as far as I'm aware eligibility for free state healthcare for foreign nationals is based on recipricol agreements between relevant countries and not their working status in the UK.

You'd need health insurance either way I would think.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Asher
I've got several UK PolyPosters that I would like to "meet".

[SpencerH]

Dont worry about the money (although you'll probably make more money there with your allowances). Think of it as a great opportunity to live in one of the worlds greatest cities for 3 months. You may never go back to the ****hole known as TO.

[Asher]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Dont worry about the money (although you'll probably make more money there with your allowances). Think of it as a great opportunity to live in one of the worlds greatest cities for 3 months. You may never go back to the ****hole known as TO.

The plan is to leave TO by April 09 anyway.

[Provost Harrison]

Oh sh*t!

[Starchild]

Originally posted by Asher

The plan is to leave TO by April 09 anyway.

Toronto is a provincial town compared to London. Calgary might as well be a village. Especially considering nearly twice the population of Alberta lives within the limits of Great London.

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Asher

The salaries are insane because the cost of living is insane.

I know lots of investment bank developers in London and New York because I've worked with them both over the past several years. The tax rates in the UK are very high compared to the US and Canada, the cost of living is extremely high compared to Canada. All of the analysis I've seen and all of the people in London/NY I've talked to indicate that the overall income is actually lower in those cities for most people.

I know good software developers get paid extremely well in the financial services industry, the problem is this is true everywhere -- and London's costs are just very high.

Look, I live here, I know what I'm talking about. I'm not here to argue with you. I maintain what I said. If you have little expenses, and have a big salary, then there's nothing like having a big salary in one of the cities with the highest salaries, with the highest currency.
Don't forget that these high salaries have to pay for an expensive property and your children's education, gadgets and several-times-a-year vacations. You don't have any of this crap to support Asher, you'd be here just cashing in.
If you still didn't get it, I'm hoping that you get it once you come over here.

[Provost Harrison]

Godammit man, don't encourage him!

Make him think of the knife crime epidemic, how we're being governed by a wild-blonde-haired buffoon and that's he's going to get cavity searched as soon as he enters the country.

Actually scrap the last point

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
how we're being governed by a wild-blonde-haired buffoon

I find that comment offensive.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Starchild


Toronto is a provincial town compared to London. Calgary might as well be a village. Especially considering nearly twice the population of Alberta lives within the limits of Great London.

I'm not sure why you consider overcrowding a plus.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Zealot


Look, I live here, I know what I'm talking about. I'm not here to argue with you. I maintain what I said. If you have little expenses, and have a big salary, then there's nothing like having a big salary in one of the cities with the highest salaries, with the highest currency.
Don't forget that these high salaries have to pay for an expensive property and your children's education, gadgets and several-times-a-year vacations. You don't have any of this crap to support Asher, you'd be here just cashing in.
If you still didn't get it, I'm hoping that you get it once you come over here.

It doesn't make any sense to me for many reasons. Not the least of which is my sanity -- I hate British accents.

More importantly, my SO is a chemical engineer and is not at all interested in London.

Additionally, I find the price of electronics and everything else under the sun to be massively overpriced in London. I don't really like the pervasive culture (let's get drunk, no ice hockey). And honestly, if I wanted to go somewhere just to get the highest salary possible it'd be pretty easy to get a job with a major investment bank on Wall St which is still above Canary Wharf when it comes to inflated salary. I'm more interested in real take-home cash, so if I can work for a Wall St bank from the comfort of Toronto, I'd be okay.

I know how much my colleagues make in NY and I know how much rent is there -- trust me, it's not a better situation. Their salaries are higher, but they make less.

[Provost Harrison]

I never buy electronics in London, I do it all over the internet, like a lot of things.

Look Asher, I was always afraid of the move to London before I did it, I considered the place to be overpriced and full of wankers. In hindsight? One of the best decisions I ever made. The good thing for you is, it is a trial period. Hey, if you hate it, you hate it, some people do. But I don't think this would be the case for you - there is something for everyone!

[Asher]

There's simply not enough hockey in London.

[Dauphin]

There's plenty of hookey though.

C'est magnifique, Hookey Street.

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
I never buy electronics in London, I do it all over the internet, like a lot of things.

Look Asher, I was always afraid of the move to London before I did it, I considered the place to be overpriced and full of wankers. In hindsight? One of the best decisions I ever made. The good thing for you is, it is a trial period. Hey, if you hate it, you hate it, some people do. But I don't think this would be the case for you - there is something for everyone!

'Nuff said.