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[u]

how much are we talking here Euro in UK?

[science expat]

I think you're very fortunate to get such a large salary increases. We haven't moved to the common pay spine at my institution yet but I have no such expectations (bottom of SL scale).

[sidey]

Those expecting large salary increases from the expected extra funding that will flow into universities from the raising of fees are, I fully expect, bound to be disappointed.  The next couple of years are going to be punctuated by a series of vicious labour disputes when the AUT discover that this extra money is simply going to go down the blackhole of university funding shortfalls, and that there will be little left over to increase salaries at most institutions.

[Alison]

You can live within £27,000 with a family - here are some ideas.
1) Don't eat out. I've worked as a waitress enough to know that some of the standards of hygene are bad in the kitchen.
2) Shop at markets.
3) Don't run a washing machine. Visit the laudromatte and decide to enjoy it.
4) Don't have a holiday in far off expensive places. Parts of Scotland and Wales are just so beautiful and you can stay there very cheaply if you join the Youth Hostel Association. You can take the family away for about £150 a week, if you don't mind living off home made sandwiches during the day and cooking for yourselves at night.
5) Careful with the heating bills - get used to wearing a fleece all the time in the house.
6) Don't buy a house, since the prices are at a peak and may fall. Rent or house-sit via an agency. Check out the magazine THE LADY for classified ads...you could even put one in, "Clean tidy Academic and family require house for a year - happy to house sit and look after your pets."  
7) Another cheap way of putting a roof over your head is to check out the National Trust properties. They need wardens and they are in beautiful locations - alot of scruffy writing types get those jobs - you just have to be OK with ghosts.
8) Nottingham has so much going for it. I hope you have a great time - and if  you can't get back to shop for clothes, go to Paris on the Eurostar. Cheaper clothes better clothes all good.

[Zara]

I would be surprised if 23k was enough to live on as a family of 3, but it's possible. 27k might be better. But bear in mind that on the average of that, say around 25k, you would take home around 1,500 pounds per month. Renting a 2 bed flat/house might cost you between 800 and 1,200 per month, depending on the area and with bills and council tax. It would be hard, but would probably be just about possible. You would also need to factor in transport costs, which are high in the UK. For basic rent prices (net of bills and council tax) have a look at www.rightmove.co.uk for a guide to what the rental costs are in your propsective area.

You would not be able to buy a house in the UK on 23-27K. Average house prices for entry-level properties are up around 160-200 plus in the south of the UK now, and most mortgage lenders will only lend 3.5 times single salary, which would in most cases leave you about 100k short. Most young lecturers in the UK now cannot buy unless they a) live in the North or b) have a wealthy partner or parents to help them out with a substantial deposit.

Z x