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Thread: FAO Melonie & Katrine

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    Veteran Member StuartL's Avatar
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    Default FAO Melonie & Katrine

    I can speak with authority now - Jersey is very nice.

    It was windy like the end of the world whilst I was there. It rained pretty hard too. But the island is clearly very beautiful. Small and not massively populated. Everyone is very friendly too I noticed.

    I got the impression that through the summer months, almost everyone finishes work and heads straight to the beach for a stroll along the sand. Sounds idyllic really.

    St Helier is tiny. Lots of history there and an odd mix of ye olde buildings and brand new flats and offices. As I can tell, finance is the biggest employer by far on the island now. Tourism seems to be falling away now that Brits can get to Spain more easily and cheaply. So it seems that most people work in finance or in a position that supports finance or the rest of the island.

    The one thing I will say, is that property is shockingly expensive. There are not many places that maake central London look almost affordable, but this appears to be one of them. The only saving grace is that a new Jersey resident must wait 12/13 years before they are allowed to purchase - which makes prices for a transient population something of a non-issue.

    Apparently, a first time buyer type of property is in the ballpark of £400,000. In the St Helier harbour area, the new appartments (2 or 3 bed) are nearing £1 million. Shocking. The view would be nice in summer though ;-)

    As for the interview, it went pretty well. They are looking for a very specific skill set - which I largely have and can prove - which makes me think that I have an excellent chance of getting the job since not many others can claim the same. I am unique if nothing else. They grilled me though, for 3 hours, on technical stuff!!! Blimey. Tough going by the end.

    Best,

    Stuart

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Sounds great Stuart. Of course the real estate market doesn't sound so great, but hey if you land a salary offer commeasurate with your unique talents and get super-low 'pirate cove' income tax rates as part of the deal too, that can certainly offset higher rent payments.

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    Veteran Member StuartL's Avatar
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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Alas, I shant be earning that much ... there seem to be a surprising number of multi-million type residents there. I wonder why...

    They have a flat rate 20% income tax. It sounds good, but if you are coming from the UK, where there is c.£5,000 at nil rate, then £1,500 at 10% and then up to c.£35,000 ish at 22% - the 20% flat can be a poor deal! Of course, if you are earning above £40,000 in Jersey then it's ok. Then you have to worry about rent and property.

    At the moment, I don't know if I'll get it, or what the salary band is - but it seems as though it would be in the 'poor deal' section of the above equation.

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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Sounds great. I don't mind renting, owning a home is overrated.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    It turns out that even renting is hard! They have different categories of property available for different categories of people. I don't really understand it yet - and the guy that interviewed me clearly didn't get it either.

    Anyway, depending upon the type of job you have you can or cannot rent a place.

    It is called Category J status - when you are an economic migrant who is invaluable to the skills of the island. The housing minister has to appoint each one individually!

    It means that there is a thriving market for spare bedrooms and the like. It seems as though many natural Jersey types just live off the fact that they own property from years ago and it is now in exceptionally short supply.

    Very odd...

    Another very odd thing. I was on an internal UK flight (from the dreaded Heathrow) and so there was no ID check. However, Jersey is not in the EU, so there was duty free. How weird. I mean intellectually, I knew this already, but it is a little strange to see it.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    ^^^ The Isle of Jersey and a few other small British islands aren't actually part of the UK ... which is the reason for zero duties, low tax rates etc.

    ... or as one of my favorite analysts Elaine Supkis refers to them - 'Queen Elizabeth's Pirate Coves'.

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    Veteran Member StuartL's Avatar
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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    I think they call it a Crown Dependency. It just struck me as very odd. But I can see the 'Pirate Coves' description. I had a bit of a tour around the island and there are certainly some places like that.

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    Veteran Member StuartL's Avatar
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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Sorry ladies ... no holiday home in Jersey is forthcoming. Apparently I lack 'big company' experience - not a surprise since I'm self employed. Still, it seems like a long way for me to go to be told something that I told them...

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Stuart, s#!t happens to 'good people' for a reason ! Perhaps a better opportunity is waiting for you on Malta, Ibiza or Grand Cayman !

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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    Stuart, s#!t happens to 'good people' for a reason ! Perhaps a better opportunity is waiting for you on Malta, Ibiza or Grand Cayman !
    And when that occurs, I'll be happy to come visit you! Of course, I've been to Ibiza and Grand Caymen. And I used to fuck a guy from Malta. So, Malta it is FTW!

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Ahhh bless you both.

    Well, Malta and Ibiza are still the dreams... Sigh...

    Just writing that makes me miss Ibiza.

    I've been working my tail off recently on my sites - who needs a boss anyway? I just need the income part.

    The key is to get to Ibiza before I am too old to enjoy it!! I know, too late...

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    ^^^ I hear you there. But at least you won't get frozen out of permanent residency if and when you can afford to move to Ibiza the way that us lowly Americans would !

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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Quote Originally Posted by Katrine View Post
    So, Malta it is FTW!
    Forgive my ignorance, but what does FTW stand for???

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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    ^^^ literally, "For The Win !" In other words, positive enthusiasm

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    Default Re: FAO Melonie & Katrine

    Ok. Thats good then I guess. Good!

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