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Moving back home to UK from USA. Advice about shipping (and other stuff) needed.

RavenSan

Off-Site Inflammatory Member
Hey, so it turns out after selling my car and a shit ton of other stuff I have quite a chunk more money than expected.

How should I do this with wise? I cant properly use my HSBC acct. until I get there and present myself at a branch.

Do I create a UK bank acct. with wise?then just dump all my money in it. THEN get to UK. get my new debit card MFA chip thing and then transfer from the wise UK acct. to my HSBC acct?
Yup or keep it in Wise as USD until you're ready. Sometimes you get lucky and the exchange rate gets more favorable. That's what I did like a year and a half ago when the exchange rate favored USD more heavily (I think it was like .87 USD to to 1 GBP, instead of normally about .80 USD to 1 GBP) -- and I ended up saving close to like 400GBP cuz of it (But to be fair, that was all my wife's and I's savings, so it's very much a YMMV scenario here)
 

nush

Member
Sometimes you get lucky and the exchange rate gets more favorable.
Or let me tell you how I “lost” £2000 in an hour when I could not get to the bank quick enough due to the results of the Brexit vote. Anyway, at that point I just sat back and waited for the market to recover from the shock, so it was bad but actually not that bad. That’s the game though.
 

The Stig

Member
Or let me tell you how I “lost” £2000 in an hour when I could not get to the bank quick enough due to the results of the Brexit vote. Anyway, at that point I just sat back and waited for the market to recover from the shock, so it was bad but actually not that bad. That’s the game though.
fucking BREXIT.

I watched that debacle from afar. When I saw THAT FUCKING BUS I knew it was over.

Yup or keep it in Wise as USD until you're ready. Sometimes you get lucky and the exchange rate gets more favorable. That's what I did like a year and a half ago when the exchange rate favored USD more heavily (I think it was like .87 USD to to 1 GBP, instead of normally about .80 USD to 1 GBP) -- and I ended up saving close to like 400GBP cuz of it (But to be fair, that was all my wife's and I's savings, so it's very much a YMMV scenario here)
AWESOME. Thank you so much for the advice.
 

The Stig

Member
Yup or keep it in Wise as USD until you're ready. Sometimes you get lucky and the exchange rate gets more favorable. That's what I did like a year and a half ago when the exchange rate favored USD more heavily (I think it was like .87 USD to to 1 GBP, instead of normally about .80 USD to 1 GBP) -- and I ended up saving close to like 400GBP cuz of it (But to be fair, that was all my wife's and I's savings, so it's very much a YMMV scenario here)
reminds me.

when I left the UK in 2006, the GBP was worth $2. it was awesome literally doubling my money lol
 

The Stig

Member
Yup or keep it in Wise as USD until you're ready. Sometimes you get lucky and the exchange rate gets more favorable. That's what I did like a year and a half ago when the exchange rate favored USD more heavily (I think it was like .87 USD to to 1 GBP, instead of normally about .80 USD to 1 GBP) -- and I ended up saving close to like 400GBP cuz of it (But to be fair, that was all my wife's and I's savings, so it's very much a YMMV scenario here)
So it turns out I can send my HSBC account money with wise directly since I know all the details. While i cant fully access the acct. yet (ill get a new debit card and chip thing when I arrive at the bank) I was able to call up the phone banking number and YUP the money is there!

Basically I think I'll send it all over the day before I leave. Makes the most sense to me? I say this because wise ties to your phone number and mine isnt paid off so Ill be turning it in. although I will pay attention to the exchange rate.

shipping company seems reasonable but I just found out I need to fill in a transfer of residency form to save my stuff being taxed. Im working on one of my family members signing a council tax letter.

im close to booking the flight. also i found out i can get a direct flight from san francisco (im in North CA) to heathrow! No stopping in France like usual
 

The Stig

Member
Passport arriving this week. Ticket booked. Leaving on 12th July.

I've got a quote for shipping my stuff ready to go. Ive filled in a transfer of residency form so HM customs wont tax me for my stuff.

Does anyone have experience with wise? I'm going to have (maybe) about $15k to transfer. (Ill leave like 1k in my US account). Is it really as simple as transferring all that at once? My test transfer a week or so ago was perfect but it was just $20.

Also I was thinking of finally buying myself a laptop (ive always only ever got them from employers). This will entertain me during the gap of my PC being shipped and me getting to the UK. Also something to entertain me on the 10 HOUR FLIGHT.

Can anyone recommend a laptop I could buy? Not into touch screen, would rather prioritize performance. Not I'd rather not spend more than $1000
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
If I were you I wouldn’t move back in with my mum and dad, I’d buy a small sail boat for a couple of £k and would live in between the harbours that tolerate live-aboards. Work remotely, power your electricity needs via solar panels, unlimited data sim - watch your savings rocket.
 

The Stig

Member
Leaving Thursday. Just dropped off a TON of stuff at goodwill and DHL have picked up what I am shipping home.

I'll be honest, I'm really looking forward to the UK weather (I bet this must shock some of you).

Here in north CA it's been in the 110's and it doesn't matter if it's a dry heat, it's 110 degrees. It's HORRIBLE. After 9 years in ATL GA and another 9 here in north CA, I'm done with the heat.

I also love the rain in general (that makes me a pluviophile, btw) so it will be nice to go somewhere rainy from somewhere where it rains less than 10 times a year.

Anyway, nervous and excited.
 

AJUMP23

Parody of actual AJUMP23
The Stig The Stig Best of luck as you move somewhere you want to be. I need a place to stay so I can go to the British museum, can I use your place?
 

The Stig

Member
The Stig The Stig Best of luck as you move somewhere you want to be. I need a place to stay so I can go to the British museum, can I use your place?
Seeing as it's my parent's place I'll have to get back to you on that.

I think I might visit the museum myself when I get back. That and Duxford. Also the tank museum, I went there last in like 2010.
 

The Stig

Member
Back in the UK and DHL destroyed my PC.

Mobo ripped from all screws, every single thing that was connected with pins was ripped out and pins bent beyond repair. Heat sink it off kilter. GPU MIGHT be ok. Main connector pins stayed in the board and seem fine. The backplate is all bent but it might be salvaged.

I insured it for...... not enough lol

My drives (13, various SSDs, and m.2 and HDDs) appear OK.

Im going to need a new case, and mobo at minimum.

What is an equivalent to newegg in the UK?

I also need to get a bunch of replacement power cords, where should i go?
 
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The Stig

Member
Yeah, its not supposed to look like that
5.jpg


I think the GPU and CPU will be fine (but im filing them as dead anyway in the insurance claim, because FUCK YOU DHL!)

See how ALL 4 feet on the chassis were driven up in to the chassis
4.jpg


The back of a PC is NOT supposed to look like this.............

7.jpg


I'm all for progress but I think DHL should adopt a no-ape employment policy.
 
Your gonna have to find a mom and pop toy shop to unload the transformers and other toys in one haul.
Just put the car out front of where you live with a 4 sale sign on it but also put it on the green sheet/eBay.

Sorry about the depression, I have nothing for that, maybe smoke some weed?
Hope you feel better in due time..

Just realized this is from May, my bad
Hope your feeling better though
 
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The Stig

Member
Your gonna have to find a mom and pop toy shop to unload the transformers and other toys in one haul.
Just put the car out front of where you live with a 4 sale sign on it but also put it on the green sheet/eBay.

Sorry about the depression, I have nothing for that, maybe smoke some weed?
Hope you feel better in due time..

Just realized this is from May, my bad
Hope your feeling better though
I got nearly 3k for my transformers.

2.5k for all my old retro games and console.

14k for the car.

Not telling my parents cos they'll start charging rent lol
 

AJUMP23

Parody of actual AJUMP23
I got nearly 3k for my transformers.

2.5k for all my old retro games and console.

14k for the car.

Not telling my parents cos they'll start charging rent lol

What do you need for a good down payment in the UK? How many Pounds?
 
Leaving Thursday. Just dropped off a TON of stuff at goodwill and DHL have picked up what I am shipping home.

I'll be honest, I'm really looking forward to the UK weather (I bet this must shock some of you).

Here in north CA it's been in the 110's and it doesn't matter if it's a dry heat, it's 110 degrees. It's HORRIBLE. After 9 years in ATL GA and another 9 here in north CA, I'm done with the heat.

I also love the rain in general (that makes me a pluviophile, btw) so it will be nice to go somewhere rainy from somewhere where it rains less than 10 times a year.

Anyway, nervous and excited.
You will enjoy the incessent rain and the novelty of short winter days for a year or 2, then you'll gradually morph to the cliched brit who grumbles about the weather and lack of vitamin D. Then you'll start grumbling because of the lack of summer, or days when it gets into the 30s as you just won't be used to the heat anymore as you mooch about in your palid skin. It happens to all of us unfortunately.
 
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The Stig

Member
You will enjoy the incessent rain and the novelty of short winter days for a year or 2, then you'll gradually morph to the cliched brit who grumbles about the weather and lack of vitamin D. Then you'll start grumbling because of the lack of summer, or days when it gets into the 30s as you just won't be used to the heat anymore as you mooch about in your palid skin. It happens to all of us unfortunately.
Fair enough. But I think it'll take a little longer than that for me.

I lived in Atlanta GA for 9 years, oh god those humid Summers. I would step outside and immediately think "I should have put deodorant on my BALLS".
Then I lived in Northern CA for 9 years, well inland from the coast. The last 3 summers have been almost UNBEARABLE. In fact the last 3 weeks I was in USA the high was 43C almost every day. I'm sure it's nothing. Trump and Giuliani say that climate change is a Chinese conspiracy.
 
Fair enough. But I think it'll take a little longer than that for me.

I lived in Atlanta GA for 9 years, oh god those humid Summers. I would step outside and immediately think "I should have put deodorant on my BALLS".
Then I lived in Northern CA for 9 years, well inland from the coast. The last 3 summers have been almost UNBEARABLE. In fact the last 3 weeks I was in USA the high was 43C almost every day. I'm sure it's nothing. Trump and Giuliani say that climate change is a Chinese conspiracy.
Yeah that does suck. I mean I was in Melbourne for many years which does suffer from right ol’ stinkers, but they’re pretty intermittent to be fair (and its a blustery dry heat - thankfully not humid). We Brits just aren’t designed to accommodate 40+ heat on a regular basis, so come forth and enjoy the misery that we call winter (and so far this year – summer as well).
 
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RavenSan

Off-Site Inflammatory Member
I packed my PC myself and used 'sendmybag' -- but I packaged my PC ridiculously safely. Like several different layers of foam / bubble wrap, etc. I also took my GPU with me in my suitcase (the most expensive part).

Sorry for your murder
 

The Stig

Member
I packed my PC myself and used 'sendmybag' -- but I packaged my PC ridiculously safely. Like several different layers of foam / bubble wrap, etc. I also took my GPU with me in my suitcase (the most expensive part).

Sorry for your murder
thanks mate

2 layers of bubble wrap for me. but its clear this shit was DROPPED, I doubt a few more layers would have helped.

What absolutely mystifies me is how the heatsink went off kilter. they had to have gone in there and fucked with it. so many disconnected cables. CUNTS
 

The Stig

Member
chassis arrived early. CPU (ryzen 7 7800x3d) is good.

GPU is giving me green artifacts. :(

replacement ordered. will begin transplanting drives tomorrow. fuck DHL
 
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