Seven things you don't realise are cheap

Things are certainly tough in the UK at the moment, but take heart; the grass is not always greener elsewhere.

I used to think the cost of living in the UK was horrendously high compared to most of the world. But after living abroad for a while I have come to realise that there are a lot of things UK residents get for free, that citizens elsewhere must pay for. What's more, most of us take them completely for granted - so we don't even realise how cheap they are compared to other countries!

1. Free banking

Free banking is an unusual thing outside the UK In most countries it is usual to be charged a monthly fee, and then also to have to pay for chequebooks and other sundries, which can add up for a fair few quid a year!

Yes, banks in the UK may recoup some of this through steep overdraft charges and other fees, but generally speaking, stay in the black and you won’t need to pay a penny.

2. Free museums

Museums in the UK are fantastic – and being able to visit them for free is incredible. Head to the world famous Tate Modern, National History or British museum with the family and it won’t cost you a penny for a great day out.

But try that at the Guggenheim in New York and you’ll have to fork out $12, per person, the Louvre in Paris, €10, and the Uffizi in Florence, €6.50.

A family of 5 can easily end up spending nearly £45, just on entry fees. Yikes!

3. Free vaccinations

Hurrah for the NHS. We can usually be given life saving travel vaccinations such as diphtheria, tetanus, polio, Hepatitis A, Meningitis C and typhoid, at our local GP’s surgery, free of charge.

But in many other countries, such as the US where you have to pay for medical cover, vaccinations are not necessarily included (or you can be charged an administrative fee). And with vaccines costing anything between £10 and £100 it can all add up.

Indeed, despite having medical insurance, three routine vaccinations for my son here in Singapore recently cost us £125. Ouch!

4. Paid parental leave

Having a baby? Well, be thankful you live in Europe, which has some of the best policies regarding parental leave.

In the UK, mothers are entitled to take up to 52 weeks leave following the birth of a child. Statutory Maternity Pay or Allowance at £128.73 per week (or 90% of your average weekly earnings if less) is payable for 39 weeks – giving you up to nine months of paid leave with your little one.

Amazing when you consider new mums in most states in the US are entitled to no paid maternity leave at all!

What’s more, new fathers in the UK are typically entitled to up to two weeks of paid paternity leave at the same rate – which is unheard of in many countries, including again much of the US, Ireland, Japan and New Zealand.

But of course, even we fall short of the parental entitlement in Sweden, where new parents are entitled to up to 16 months of paid leave per child – which can be shared between the mother and father!

5. Free use of any ATM

When was the last time you were stuck without cash? As long as you have money in your account it is generally easy to withdraw it in the UK, as, thanks to the agreements between banks and building societies, most of us can use a huge number of Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) for free.

What’s more, you can also get cashback at many supermarkets.

In most other countries however you will be confined to your own bank’s ATMs – which can often mean planning special trips when you need money, or paying to use other machines.

As for cashback – well, what’s that?

6. Free playgroups

With three children under 6, I am a huge fan of playgroups! They’re nothing complicated, typically a weekly session run by a local church with lots of toys, puzzles, singing and storytelling to entertain pre-schoolers, while mums get to have some grown up conversation.

And as most are free (or ask for a small donation) they are an inexpensive, weekly activity for cash-strapped mums and their little ones.

Head overseas, however, and often such playgroups simply don’t exist.

Of course there are always organised music classes or softplay venues in which to meet other mums and tots, but with fees and charges per child these can be an expensive morning out.

7. Credit cards with no annual fee

Finally, unless you’re rich and use all the extra perks, you are unlikely to be paying an annual fee for your credit card. After all, with plenty of free credit cards available, why pay a fee if you don’t need to?

And if you pay off your bill in full, each month, chances are you don’t pay your credit card provider a penny in interest or charges – just the way we like it.

But this is quite unusual – head to other parts of Europe and the US and you’ll find annual fees are expected and most people simply pay up without a murmur.

So there you have it – a few services and rights that we are entitled to for free (or very little) in the UK, that citizens elsewhere have to pay for.

Of course, we can argue that we are paying for some indirectly through our taxes, but it’s still nice to feel, regardless of all the current doom and gloom that it’s not so bad in the UK!

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