Originally Posted by gadgets
Thank you all!!! Now I have to start getting my flat ready for the wife:
- get rid of the dead plants
- buy more bed sheets
- get rid of the clutter
- DEEP CLEAN everything
- rent a carpet cleaner
- and the list has just started
has there been any threads discussing ways of setting the wife's expectations with life in the UK? I have started telling her about hanging laundry in the hallway, have not told her yet on how small the fridge/freezer, I think she is already aware that there's more walking over here.
I want to make sure her transition is as smooth and painless as possible. one possitive thing is that the weather has started to turn slightly for the better, at least she is not arriving here in winter
Can't think of a list but thinsg to bear in mind is checking you have the cheapest way of calling home.
When i was calling my wife on the landline it was all ways the evening or weekend. we used a local number to call a cheap internatiol calls service. Of course the Wife rang during the day and suddenly the phone bill shot up. Quickly changed bt package to free calls all day though problem over. Apart from the wife sometimes might call for just over an hour suddenly the call cost as calls were free up to an hour.
Also the wife once pressed the wrong button combination and dial phill on a mobile at full priceluckily we had a special international saver package set up on it to reduce slighty.
But worth just making sure that the Wife is aware of all these little things.
another is ensuring she is aware about pin code security at atms ie covering up when entering pin with hand to stop any cameras taking the number down.
Simple things we all picked up one at a time but a real headache when your confront with all of them at once.
Understanding to say no thanks when offered store cards in shops.
Being offered free money and discounts is common in shops (we blokes probably look to grumpy to even try and convince but a fillpina new to the country not wanting to sound rude could possibly be easy prey. Not understanding all about credit and implications.
Again when opening a bank account make sure yourself or a person au fait with the british banking system goes along. My wife was offered overdrafts and credit cards although we accept the smallest for both to set up a credit history for her. We declined some of the other offers made they even offered her a loan
Also worth ensuring she knows the local area nearby, and where is safe and not safe at various times of the day.
