Things you should know before living in England

Well, after living here for a few months, I have decided to write a list of what you should know before you come, setting the example of Nottingham.

1. Accommodation: You can choose from a residence or rented house. This is clear. Before choosing a residence, you should know that you need a UK based guarantor in order to pay in instalments. If not, they make you pay it all at once. Although you can pay for the houses month by month, the prices are usually for a week, with or without bills included.
2. Transport: They make the first week a Freshers week at the University; in which here they offer a yearly bus pass which works out very affordable and worthwhile. The pass is your own student ID card. If they don't offer it during Freshers week, surely the price of the pass also works out much more worthwhile for those who have to take the bus to get to class.
3. Supermarkets: There are many but Tesco is the main one and the one with the most variety, with its own brands Tesco and Tesco Value which is even cheaper. I started shopping in Aldi but I moved on to Tesco because there is much more to choose from. Some of the good things about Tesco are that some of them shut at 11 and of course, open on Sundays.



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4. To open an account here, the process is quite long. I didn't open any and got by with the Caixanova card which is now Gaixa Galicia (I believe), which functions very well. It doesn't charge you commission to take out money the first three times in a month and after that, it is a euro if you take out money more times, regardless of the amount you take out. However if you decide to open up an account, be prepared for them to take a while to send you the card and everything necessary, separately.
5. Computer: Like everyone, I suppose you're bringing your computer. Be careful! Before coming, make copies of everything you may have: photos, archives... Security copies, start discs, etc. Don't ask me why but in this country the computers break down too easily. This was my own experience and I know many people who it has happened to. You have the risk of finding a technician that would like to con you, like in PC world.
6. Mobile phone: The mobile phone tariffs are one of the things I like the most about England. You can buy a PAY&GO card for 10 pounds without having to give your name. I got one of the 10 pound ones to make calls and they give you 500MB and 300SMS. I had an unlocked phone so I can use whatsapp. There are other PAY&GO tariffs and cheap mobile phones if you don't want to or can't free up your own.
7. Television: You should buy a television license which costs 145. 50 pounds to be able to watch television legally. The license isn't included in some of the residences and you could receive a warning letter saying that they are going check if you watch television and you can get a fine of up to 1, 000 pounds. Last week we decided to be legal. For the houses, it's the same. It doesn't come included in the price. However there are usually offers of television and internet with their respective licenses (to watch television on the internet too)

I believe that this is what is the most important. If anything occurs to me, I will edit this or if you want to know anything, ask!

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