Is there a US equivalent of sites like moneysupermarket.com etc?

Sofronija

I am planning to go to the US for an extended period. I wanted to know if there were US equivalents to sites like moneysupermarket.com, uswitch.com and the rest as I will need things like a pay-as-you-go SIM, US bank account and credit card, internet connection and so forth and I would like to be able to compare the best deals. Are there decent sites that do this (a general search on Google didn't turn anything up).

Thanks

neilbond007

As someone who moved over here 3 1/2 years ago the answer is - not really.

Americans seem to be very brand loyal and don't seem overly interested in saving money. Me, I'm as tight as a ducks a$$ and look at saving at every opportunity!

Here are some snippets to go on -
Pay-as-you-go - I have a works phone so can't really shed too much light on this. They do have reasonable packages at Wal-mart though.

US Bank Account - I went with "National City" who were then taken over by PNC. I'm very happy with them. Don't get charged anything for a current account (ALOT of banks do charge).

Internet - These are EXPENSIVE. We eventually went with Time Warner cable and pay about $55/month!!! Alot of companies do bundles (TV, phone and Internet) for about $90/month. I shied away from these as I don't use a land line and can't get cable at my house.

So forth - You'll need to expand on that one If you're after car insurance definitely shop around. Mine started HIGH (as you'll have no credit history). About $800 for 6 months (it seems all policies are 6 monthly). It dropped by $400 after I'd been here for about 12 / 18 months.

Sofronija

Thanks that's really useful. I can't believe how expensive internet is - don't they have the same kind of competition between companies as they do in the UK? I get cable TV, internet and landline for around £40 here! Thought America was supposed to be cheaper.

As for so forth, it's things like utilities - do they have a deregulated market like over here so there is some chance of getting a good deal?

Did you find it difficult opening a bank account as a foreigner straight off the boat, so to speak, or does that all depend on what kind of visa you have?

neilbond007

Sofronija wrote: »

Thanks that's really useful. I can't believe how expensive internet is - don't they have the same kind of competition between companies as they do in the UK? I get cable TV, internet and landline for around £40 here! Thought America was supposed to be cheaper.

There are packages available like that, and as you get cable you might be lucky, I aren't!

Sofronija wrote: »

As for so forth, it's things like utilities - do they have a deregulated market like over here so there is some chance of getting a good deal?

You don't get too much choice. I have a single supplier for both my electricity and gas. I get very dodgy looking letters from 1 or 2 companies saying they can supply me for cheaper. But I'm not too sure... I had to pay a $180 (i think) deposit to the gas company when i moved over too!

Sofronija wrote: »

Did you find it difficult opening a bank account as a foreigner straight off the boat, so to speak, or does that all depend on what kind of visa you have?

This part was easy. I have a L1 visa. Basically all you need is a social security number and you're good to go!

claire16c

neilbond007 wrote: »

Americans seem to be very brand loyal and don't seem overly interested in saving money. Me, I'm as tight as a ducks a$$ and look at saving at every opportunity!
.

It suprises me to hear you say that, because whenever I go on a certain tripadvisor forum for a US state, and the Americans on there are talking about car hire, they will often book cars for their holiday, and then they cancel every time they see the price drop by requesting another quote- even if its like $20 or something, and keep rebooking and cancelling over and over, spending a lot of time rechecking the price and then telling everyone on the forum!

A lot of them use Costo to buy stuff even on their holidays and are pretty obsessed with the place - as to be fair the deals are good.

I always remember one person even posted to ask could they take meat and fish in their suitcase to save a few $$ as the supermarket there would be more expensive! And lots of them bring dry food with them.

I know thats just for holidays but still! And they do love their coupons there - have you ever watched that extreme couponing show?:eek:

Mind you I have always found grocery shopping is expensive in the US so perhaps thats the area where they have the most concern!

neilbond007

claire16c wrote: »

It suprises me to hear you say that, because whenever I go on a certain tripadvisor forum for a US state, and the Americans on there are talking about car hire, they will often book cars for their holiday, and then they cancel every time they see the price drop by requesting another quote- even if its like $20 or something, and keep rebooking and cancelling over and over, spending a lot of time rechecking the price and then telling everyone on the forum!

A lot of them use Costo to buy stuff even on their holidays and are pretty obsessed with the place - as to be fair the deals are good.

I always remember one person even posted to ask could they take meat and fish in their suitcase to save a few $$ as the supermarket there would be more expensive! And lots of them bring dry food with them.

I know thats just for holidays but still! And they do love their coupons there - have you ever watched that extreme couponing show?:eek:

Mind you I have always found grocery shopping is expensive in the US so perhaps thats the area where they have the most concern!

You're talking about the more savvy American,. not your average Joe!

Utilities and insurance (car, house etc) they tend to stick to their own. Once they find someone they like, they stick with them. Most companies have agents. People like that... These must have died out in the UK 10+ years ago! I've never been to one, and am not interested either!

I'm a Costco disciple I'm an executive member ($100 a year, might have just gone up to $110) but shop for as much as I can there.
- Petrol is often 20 / 30c gallon cheaper than all other places.
- Their meat is superb. 4 big ribeyes for $25. A huge salmon fillet for $18.
- I'm changing my mortgage through them (saved $400 admin fee)
- I even bought my ladies engagement ring from there!
But you'd be surprised. Most people that I work with aren't members. They refuse to pay to shop somewhere! Er, you save a lot more than $100 a year! On formula and nappies alone I must save $1000+ a year. Not to mention the free credit card that I got $250 cash back last year!

My general rule of thumb is I either buy from Costco or Amazon. If neither of them have it. It aint worth buying

Coupons - The VAST majority of Americans don't use them.
restaurant.com - Half the people here have never heard of it!
I get 3 or 4 coupon magazines through the post each month. I refuse to get a haircut without a coupon ($5.99 rather than $13)!
And my lady sometimes insists on going out for a meal where a coupon isn't involved

I used to think Grocery items were expensive. But now I shop at Aldi (where most americans refuse to go - $1.99 / gallon milk), Costco ($4 for 2 huge loaves of bread) and as a last resort Kroger. Even with Kroger I have one of their cards. At the moment it's 4x fuel points for gift cards. Buy $250 worth of gift cards (amazon of course!) and get $1 off each gallon of gas. Saves me $20!

Sorry to go on...

I could just summarize and say -Just shop at Aldi, Costco and Amazon

claire16c

neilbond007 wrote: »

You're talking about the more savvy American,. not your average Joe!

Utilities and insurance (car, house etc) they tend to stick to their own. Once they find someone they like, they stick with them. Most companies have agents. People like that... These must have died out in the UK 10+ years ago! I've never been to one, and am not interested either!

I'm a Costco disciple I'm an executive member ($100 a year, might have just gone up to $110) but shop for as much as I can there.
- Petrol is often 20 / 30c gallon cheaper than all other places.
- Their meat is superb. 4 big ribeyes for $25. A huge salmon fillet for $18.
- I'm changing my mortgage through them (saved $400 admin fee)
- I even bought my ladies engagement ring from there!
But you'd be surprised. Most people that I work with aren't members. They refuse to pay to shop somewhere! Er, you save a lot more than $100 a year! On formula and nappies alone I must save $1000+ a year. Not to mention the free credit card that I got $250 cash back last year!

You're starting to sound like the Americans on the forum now :rotfl: they adore Costco. Perhaps its how they afford their holidays!? Because they often use to to book their holidays too! I love Costo too. PErhaps they are the savvy ones, because they love their frequent flyer/airmiles etc too. Have you ever been on flyer talk and see what some people will do for a free flight!?

My general rule of thumb is I either buy from Costco or Amazon. If neither of them have it. It aint worth buying

Coupons - The VAST majority of Americans don't use them.
restaurant.com - Half the people here have never heard of it!
I get 3 or 4 coupon magazines through the post each month. I refuse to get a haircut without a coupon ($5.99 rather than $13)!
And my lady sometimes insists on going out for a meal where a coupon isn't involved

I used to think Grocery items were expensive. But now I shop at Aldi (where most americans refuse to go - $1.99 / gallon milk), Costco ($4 for 2 huge loaves of bread) and as a last resort Kroger. Even with Kroger I have one of their cards. At the moment it's 4x fuel points for gift cards. Buy $250 worth of gift cards (amazon of course!) and get $1 off each gallon of gas. Saves me $20!

Well thats one thing thats definitely cheaper in the US - however much the Americans complain that its 'expensive'!

Sorry to go on...

I could just summarize and say -Just shop at Aldi, Costco and Amazon

Sounds similar to here then!