Posted by Hi friends, long time!
Last 2 weeks living in UK before we officially moving back to Belgium, I thought I’d write some interesting things about things that I learned, and hope I knew before I moved to UK 🙂 Hope this can help anyone who is planning or just moved to UK.
1. Cash back apps – Top Cash back, or Quidc
When I first moved to the UK, I didn’t realise how much cashback could offset the cost of settling in. From buying furniture to paying for transport, every pound spent could have earned me something back. You can find lots of good deals and save a bounch! I really regret that I discovered TopCashBack App a bit late.
There are some great deals you can find on the app, for instance, if you want to enjoy a traditional British meal, such as Harvestor, Toby Cavery etc, you can get up to 10% cash back instantly!
Also for daily groceries, you can also get cashback from all brands, you might think it is small, but consider it is a daily spending, it can accumulate up to hundreds per year!
It has more than 6000 shops and brands that you can beneit from and amazing referral programme, don’t forget to sign up using my affiliated link to earn 20 pounds sign up bonus!
2. PCN – Penalty Charge Notice
Moving into my first rental in Sutton, I thought parking outside my house on a Friday was harmless. Instead, I got what felt like a welcome letter from the council — a shiny £110 Penalty Charge Notice. In Belgium, the same mistake would cost me just €30… so yes, I was shocked.
Within months, these little yellow envelopes started stacking up like subscription bills. The UK’s parking rules are sneaky: car parks look open and free, but unless you spot the tiny signs hidden around, you’ll get a fine in the post two weeks later. It’s like playing hide-and-seek with your wallet.
And then there are the tolls. Dartford Crossing, Blackwall Tunnel — no toll booths, no barriers, just a subtle road sign whispering “pay online by midnight.” Miss it, and boom, another £90 fine. Honestly, it feels like a rite of passage for newcomers and tourists alike. Even locals admit they get caught — which makes me think the system is less about traffic management and more about topping up government coffers.
In the UK, parking and tolls aren’t just rules — they’re traps dressed up as everyday life. My advice? Read every sign twice, pay online before midnight, and treat your first PCN as your unofficial “Welcome to Britain” certificate.
3. Best way to pay for your transportation is Tap in Tap out
There are different ways for people to get around with the metro (underground they call here), bus and inter city trains, such. as buying a ticket online beforehand, buying from the machine, or simply use your bank card to tap in and tap out from the gate.
It took me a while to discover that the spontaneous and convenient tap in tap out way is actually the cheapest, sometimes it can be half of the price comparing to official ticket online, this is super strange!
4. Charity is a big thing in UK
Arriving in the UK, one of the first things you notice is how charity is everywhere. It’s not hidden in big institutions — it’s on the high street, in supermarkets, and even in workplaces. Charity shops selling second‑hand clothes and books are a staple of British towns, and they’re often the first encounter newcomers have with the sector.
In Belgium, the supermarket entrance is all about promotions: “Buy one, get one free!” In the UK, it’s more like: “Hello, would you like to donate to charity today?” Forget discounts — you’re greeted by donation stands before you even grab a trolley.
By the time you reach the checkout, the screen politely nudges you again: “Fancy adding £1 for a good cause?” It’s so common that I sometimes wonder — if we’re all donating at every turn, is this filling a gap the government should be covering? Honestly, it feels a bit like an invisible tax with a smiley face.
Still, it’s uniquely British: instead of saving money at the supermarket, you end up saving society one pound at a time.
For a newcomer, charity in the UK can feel both heartwarming and intimidating. On one hand, it’s inspiring to see communities rally around causes. On the other, the sheer number of charities and the expectation to participate — whether through donations, volunteering, or workplace giving — can feel overwhelming at first.
But the charity did unlock a few oppourtunities for me, our workplace provides 2 volunteering days where we can participate in any authorised charity work and still get paid, I got the oppourtunity to go to the Wimbledon Championship and experienced a great crowd.
There are many more to write but let’s wrap it up here today, when I come back to Belgium, I will try to summarise more interesting insights living in UK.
To be honest time flies so fast I really wish I could stay a bit longer, but due to family obligations and other reasons, I cannot extend longer, I hope to come back to UK soon in the future and meet the friends again!