So you've given up your flat, your car, your job, all in the name of living in the "mother country" where you don't know anyone and you're not sure where your next paycheck is coming from.

Great! But how do you get started? It can all get a bit daunting, so here's a few ideas to contemplate before you head to the UK and once you get there...

- Set up your UK bank account before you go - the UK banking system isn't exactly known for its efficiency, so organizing it from NZ is a better option. Most banks can set them up before you go, and all you need to do is visit a London branch to sign and activate your account.

- Where to live? London is such a big city, and every suburb has its good streets and bad streets. I would recommend staying in a place that is reasonably accessible by train or bus and/or is relatively near a supermarket. Other than that, select a place that meets your budget.

- Watch your money initially - London itself can be a big money burner as soon as you land at Heathrow airport. If you don't have a job set up right away, it might pay to lay off doing everything at once. If you get bored, there are lots of free museums in London that can keep you occupied for cheap, or just wandering around London itself is a great way to explore the city.

- If you've got mates - use them! I lived on my friend's living room floor for six weeks before I found a job and a flat of my own. I paid a small daily fee and helped out with the domestic chores for the privilege, which was nothing compared to paying for a hostel room in London. But don’t overstay your welcome!

- Take your first job offer - don't be too fussy about what you get offered. Once you get some UK job experience under your belt, you become instantly more marketable to UK employers, and your hourly rate increases as well! The first job I took was in Middlesex, an hour and a half journey each way.

- Try somewhere different - yes, London is seen as the central hub of all things UK, but places like Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin are becoming more popular, and they have great access to European destinations. The money might not be as good but the locals also tend not to view you as "another Kiwi on their OE..."

Do you have any tips on surviving your OE? Or any ideas on where to go/what do to when you get there?


Find out about England.

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