http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/home
Skype is a free program you can download to your computer to make free international calls. You can chat, video-chat or just do voice calls. Group calls are also possible.
It the best and cheapest way I have found to stay in contact with family overseas! We love it.
The downside is that if your computer is an older model, you might have to do some searching to find a version that is compatible with your computer. I have a 5-year-old mac and had to search for Skype Version 2.8.0.866
Also it does have its hairy moments when things just do not work. It is good to have a backup plan if this happens. My parents have MagicJack and can call us with that if something breaks down. Some phone deals give you free international calls - this is only an option if you have BT to date.
2. Make use of helpful technology wherever possible.
For example: If you are constantly calling back and forth across the sea and time differences as noted above (and even if you do not now, then you probably will if you get pregnant or tragedy strikes on one side or another): make use of internet or computer based widgets which will provide clocks side by side of your time and your family's. So on those blurry, pregnancy/tragedy-wracked days you don't have to try to remember if it's forward or backwards or 5 hours or 6 hours, it's all there with one click. Or two. No more than two clicks or it would be faster to count on your fingers.
For apple users: add a second clock widget on your dashboard. Or two or three depending on how many time zones your family members reside in.
3. Print out a few handy sheets for baking conversions. I have attached my own sheets, which are probably a bit too comprehensive but I need them - I use them about once a week. But that's because Baking Day is once a week in our house so you might use them more than I (or less?). I have noticed that things like seasoning mixes and cake boxes cost more here. So instead of buying seasoning mixes and cake boxes, you tend to make your own seasoning blends and cakes UNLESS YOU CHEAT LIKE ME AND LINE YOUR SUITCASES WITH TACO SEASONING PACKETS. See note on "what to buy in the States" below.
4. Freecycle and freegle
Freecycle: http://www.freecycle.org/group/UK/Scotland
Freegle: http://www.ilovefreegle.org/
I LOVE freecycle. When people ask me, Isn't it terribly expensive having a baby? I try not to laugh. I got everything I needed on freecycle - or would have if I had wanted. We were gifted one or two things and my husband picked out a nicer highchair than you can generally find on freecycle to match our sitting room's decor. But generally you can find lots of things on freecyle for FREE, such as:
craft supplies, old curtains, packaging materials, cardboard boxes, roller blades, canned goods, high chairs, baby seats, strollers/pushchairs, cycle helmets, bikes, freezers, fridges, doors, tables, and even once I saw about 5 liters of Hershey's chocolate syrup!
What you do is email the person who is offering an item and ask if you may be considered the one to pick it up, and if so where and when to pick it up. You usually exchange cell numbers. It is important to be wise as serpents here and not stick your head into an eagle's claw but otherwise you'll be fine.
Freegle works the same as far as I can tell though it has a less sophisticated email riggamorole. Freecycle gives the option to send you one email a day with the Offers, Takens, and Receiveds in list format, whereas Freegle just dumps every email in your inbox. This could be as many as 30 a day. So if you like a nice tidy email inbox, do not sign up for freegle.
5. amozon.com
Or should I say amazon.co.uk? We use both! Instead of hauling presents halfway around the world every Christmas, we have an amazon.com account from which we order things from the States to the States. Likewise I have a wishlist on amazon.co.uk and my family can do the same for me! My husband and I were just married and setting up house and found that amazon.com had most things faster and cheaper (the exceptions were bulky and heavy things, which we bought from charity shops and T.K. Max. A few things were cheaper on ebay as well).
6. ebay.co.uk
'Nough said.
7. Be sensible about groceries
In this country a lot of people including me do not have cars. When you shop here,
a) do not try to carry too much
b) if you do want to carry too much and do not have enough slaves to do this for you, invest in a rolling grocery bag. They are sold at Poundstretchers and other general items for cheap shops.
c) if you find this too stressful, don't worry, you can order your groceries online and have them delivered for a few pounds. We started doing this when I was pregnant and I was happily surprised. It was faster, easier, and turned out to be actually cheaper for us because I did not end up buying things that weren't on the list but just looked good or accidentally picking up the expensive version! Stores like to manipulate you. Online shopping puts the power in your hands. Needless to say I am NOT pregnant anymore but still using this.
8. Talk to locals. Here are a few years' of good tips I got from locals:
a) If you laundry line is sagging and dipping the cloths into the grass like ours, use a laundry line prop!
b) when someone has you over for dinner, call the next day to thank them. I used to write thank you emails but this really seems to be the cultural expectation and it's faster.
c) Do not ask for salt+pepper. This doesn't apply to every family but the ones where the granny attended Irish boarding school, the correct way to obtain salt and pepper (or a top-up for a drink, etc) is to turn to someone nearby and say: "Would you care for salt and pepper?" Even if they are eating icecream and wouldn't dream of adding salt and pepper, this is what you do to attain the salt and pepper if you really want it. Because they usually say, "No, but do YOU care for the salt and pepper?"
9. Size and weight conversions. Otherwise shopping can be very difficult!
http://www.usatourist.com/english/traveltips/shopping/shopping-womens-sizes.html
10. What to buy in the states
Know what is strategic to buy and bring back in the States, especially if you are only visiting home once in a blue moon (or once during your entire stay in the UK). Some things people have told me they like to buy in the States or have relatives bring for them:
Hershey's chocolate syrup (which you can coincidentally find on amazon or in specialty shops)
canned pumpkin (try Harvey Nichols or certain other specialty shops or Asian markets OCCASIONALLY have it for about £3.50)
taco seasoning packets
green chillies
containers of vanilla extract larger than half your pinkie
chocolate chips (the ones here are a bit melty - e.g. messy for toddlers - and don't taste quite the same as American ones)
shoes
clothes
contact lens liquid
the deodorant you liked at home
technology
boardgames
Christian homeschool curricula
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