Hi Hydviv,
I am assuming you are working in IT sector and hence my answer is based on this assumption as I am also working in IT and know the UK market quite well.
First of all congrats for being the lucky one to catch the train to Tier1. I do not see that in future you will get this opportunity to catch this train again as the route is closed for ever...(Magic could happen ..no gaurantee as one shd see present!!)
Now coming to the point...with 20LK per annum package in India is it good to come here on 45K?
You have to ask yourself few questions which can help to identify your long term goal?
1) What life you want to give yourself and your family? Do you feel happy to see yourself struggling in traffic for 1 hours or fight for a space in first class compartment in mumbai train for daily travel to work in south mumbai and not alergic to dust?
2) Do you want to struggle for your kids quality education by running from pillar to pillar for best school (as u can afford) but still have to pay hefty donation?
3) Do you want to help your wife to pursue her career even when you do not have family support at home meaning even when nobody from urs or ur wife family side can support u to raise kid?
4) Do you want to enjoy a quality time with your wife and kid even when ur wife is working and u are working and kid is at crash?
5) Do you want to be close to india but still want to earn forex with good multipier?
6) Do you want to see many prospects and avenues being open to you...for upcoming opportunities?
and the list goes on...
If the answer to most of the question is yes then ...would say do an introspection ..as UK calling is ringing.
In UK all permanent jobs above 50K are quite difficult to get ..but once you in 50K bracket ..there is no way for you to turn down ..u will climb up and up ...what I have seen in the market is ..u will earn more as a contractor then u would earn as permanent employee but it depends on the stream which you working.
I guy with 7+ years of experience in Siebel, SAP working as developer or functional analyst as a contractor is earning 550 pounds a day ..this is the invoice which is paid to contractor ..(very authentic info) now ..out of 550 the agent wud take 7-10% cut and govt will take 30-35%cut as tax ..this will atleast make u earn atleast 6K and above per month INHAND
If you open up ur own company then u can save tax liability and being self-employed can have more share of what u earn as contractor into ur account.
You can see even for business analyst with 3-5 years of experience they can make minimum of 350pound a day (I am considering you to be atleast 10 years exp..so u will be on higher side)
The same is the remuneration for Project managers with 8-10 years of experience ..in case u r arthitect u can make 700-800 pound a day.
Now if the same 10 years of experience guy who is architect goes and hunts permanent job then he can go max upto 70K...
So my suggestion wud be don't baselined 45K as what u can get ...if ur skills are unique u can really dig the gold here ...and due to restriction now on tier1 such skills will already be in demand.
Point2:
Schooling is pretty straight forward ..say u r going to work in South hampton...then select few nearby sub-urbs and do a research on the school
Go to this site and do research on the best schools
http://www.upmystreet.com/local/schools ... mpton.html
Look at the grading of the schools and also see ofsted inspection report for the selected schools ..choose the best graded school being mentioned in ofsted and make sure they are public or funded by govt. Call the school directly to see if there is a place for ur child ..and then contact ur local council representative to get ur child place booked in that school...and based on the school make sure that u rent an apartment in nearby zipcode which are served by that school. (Choose school first and then rent an apartment based on the zipcode served by school)
Point3
Ur wife can work and still can manage home ..as here u will find flexible hours ..people come early at office 7AM and can leave for home by 3PM-4PM and u can choose to go late by 9AM after dropping ur kid and ur wife can pick the kid up while u can come late and leave office by 5PM (9-5PM). Note most of the schools here have crache ..and they charge additional 20 pound per day if crache is in school. In case crache is managed separetly by another organisation then u can assume it would go max upto 50 pounds a day.
Point4
I consider this to be the most important point ...to be true we have already spend half of life struggling ..i mean 30s already passed now i believe atleast give 10 years of best life to ur family ...quality life ...clean atmosphere, secure atmosphere...and add ons...
Point5
Conversion of 70+ really counts when it comes to savings in GBP ..if both of u r working and having quality time with ur kids then..its like jannat !!
Point 6
I see many opportunities in UK with respect to work..if u r proven and have good experience ..u can excel here ..initial hiccups are everywhere but once u gain momentum ...there will be no looking back. Don't baseline and assume that 45K is what u can get ...just take that as starting fuel ..once u reach here and get settled then start hunting again ..relocation is not a problem for u or kids as school can be transferred in middle of session...finding a good school and selection on area to live is big task.
If u need any additional inputs ..let me know i can pm u my mobile number. Between Me and my wife both are working ..with similar attributes as yours ...but I see uk as destination from long term perspective.
Cheers
Raj