Dear all, I have been very stressed lately regarding financial issues and would like some of you views, advice, and experiences.

A bit of background; I have lived here most of my life, but went back to Egypt where my family are originally from in 2008. After a brief stint teaching English, I started working at the British Embassy where I met my wife. Early this year, the FCO / UKBA decided to decrease staff in Cairo and move the work to Abu Dhabi. This resulted in my voluntary redundancy (as it would have been forced soon after anyway). After briefly looking for work in Egypt, I decided that there wasn't much there for me given the current instability and took the decision to move back to the UK with my wife and baby boy.

I came back alone in April and took me till mid July to find a job, during which time I was not eligible to any support and was burning through my redundancy pay.

Now is the part where I'm seeking your views. I started a job with the NHS in Surrey as a middle manager earning £25k. Due to the need to have my family with me (i couldn't get them over till end sept) and the high cost of accommodation in the area where I work, I have had to rent a flat a good distance away from work. Given the cost of the commute, all I could afford was a one bedroom flat at £700. Definitely not ideal for a couple with a child, but we're coping.

Now you may be thinking great! With celebrations due, however when I started work I was on a temp contract with a higher rate and some overtime taking me to 45 hours per week, and we we're just about ok with a tiny bit of breathing space. Now I have been given a permanent substantive contract i will be going to 37.5 hours with a lower rate and propably none if limited overtime.

With student loan and pension payments, that would leave me with less than £1500 per month. With rent and all it bills, living expenses for the 3 of us, and the commuting, i would be in the red to the tune of at least £200 each month.
<br />
In order to not affect my wife's immigration case, I shouldn't seek any support, not that I would be entitled to any, nor do I want any. Its depressing being a middle manager and asking foe help. They only thing that I can get is child tax credits, but I'm waiting for my son's British passport to arrive so that I can apply (paid for it in April, still not had it).<br />
<br />
What do you guys do, and how do you make ends meet when money is tight? I was much better off when I was in Egypt on just over half the money. I hadn't realised that life in the UK had become soo expensive <br />
<br />
Should I pack up and go back, or should I seek work somewhere where living is more affordable. I am quite fortunate th have got the job that I have now.<br/>

tricky one. Im in a similar boat with a long commute and a potential 'promotion' which could leave me worse off!
Whether to return or not is really your call. Hard numbers is what you need to look at if you remain in the UK.
You simply need to make the figures work with where you are or you really cant stay.
Is car sharing an option?
How long is your commute?
If needs be you can live very cheaply on food costs. Takes planning and budgeting. Not the most fun but you can feed three for surprisingly little.

That's the state of the housing market in the UK unfortunately. Over populated, not enough housing which is driving up the price of rent. People who do own their own home are using them as "pension" pots and are demanding far more than what they're worth.

MP's are reluctant to bring in any REAL legislative agenda to tackle the problem because they realize that entire generation are dependent on high property prices to fund their retirements. This is in essence "robbing" the next generations to fund their current standard of living.

All I can suggest is that you keep looking for work somewhere less expensive. Increase your skills and employ-ability and be willing to move away. People (especially southerners) mock the North East of England but with average salaries of circa £22,000 and the fact you can rent a moderate 2 bedroom house in a decent area for £450-£525 a month makes it much more affordable than your 1 bedroom flat for £700!!

have you looked to see if you qualify for keyworker accommodation?

https://www.paragonchg.co.uk/residents/homes-key-workers

http://www.tvha.co.uk/rent/keyworker-housing/surrey-accom/

Last year I was looking at potentially moving down to West Sussex and was gobsmacked at the cost of living. Granted, the average wage was higher - but nowhere near enough to offset the high cost of living.

Chris pretty much got it in a nutshell - whilst the wage may lower "oop norf", the cost of living is considerably lower.

If you're looking at a variety of industries, it might be worth looking around the Humber region. The renewable energy industry is expanding into the area in a big way - lots of wind farms in the North Sea with excellent port facilities in the Humber (Grimsby & Hull primarily).

I'm not sure what jobs are likely to be available, I only know what the local rag has printed and chatting to friends locally.

Best of luck in whatever you decide!!