27th March 2007, 05:13 PM
The cost of living difference between N. America and the UK is critical on this issue. It is very difficult to describe to those who have only lived in the UK just how bloody expensive it is here. When I got archaeology work here fresh off the boat from N. America I thought I was rich beyond my dreams (Yes, really, on an archaeology wage no less)because I calculated that my wage converted to dollars was about 50% higher than before. What I was foolishly neglecting was that everything costs pretty much double what it does in N. America. The exchange rate is a very poor indicator of relative monetary value.