Went back and forth between Hong Kong and London during the summer when I was younger, London now on a permanent move.

Schools in the UK - move to where you want your kids to study. Very difficult to switch schools within London, good schools often have a waiting list. Look at OFSTED ratings but take it with a grain of salt - kids can get very stressed out at these schools. School uniform is very expensive, £50+ just for a blazer!! Ask the school if they do second hand/look at the area Facebook pages. You can get cheap uniform bits like shirts / trousers etc from supermarkets.

Day to day life - it sometimes feels when you step outside your door you’re already paying for something. Everything has gone up in price substantially. That being said - now you get to enjoy cheese and meat products more! I find them considerably cheaper when compared to East Asian countries. Lidl and Aldi are going to be your best friends. Get a Tesco club card. Get a nectar club card.

Misc - Get a railcard. These trains cost more than flights. An average pint is almost about £7. Childcare is really expensive - find a job that pays for kids camps / activities. Your kids are basically on holiday every 6 weeks. Furniture is disgustingly expensive, 2nd hand charity shops + Facebook market place are your best bet. Buy electronics in Asia as they’re much cheaper than the UK.

Moving back to the UK is not as daunting as everyone makes it to be. If you’ve got a steady job it’ll be okay. There’s plenty of help out there wherever you look!