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I Have Lived In The UK For 6 Years | All I Do Is Work... I Have Nothing

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News and Commentary

Summary of Key Points (Story + Commentary About Life in the UK)

Migration Doesn’t Match the “UK Dream”

The guest (Divine Freedom Africa/Felix) says that after arriving in the UK, his reality quickly diverged from expectations—especially the belief that hard work would reliably lead to comfortable living and meaningful savings.

Poor Financial Projections and Rising Cost of Living

  • Before coming (~6 years ago): He consulted UK-based classmates in healthcare and estimated he could save around £1,000/month after rent and bills.
  • After living in the UK for years: He claims saving is now far harder; even one job isn’t enough for basic survival.
  • Earnings vs. costs (example figures):
    • He says the average Ghanaian immigrant earns roughly £2,000/month.
    • However, costs—especially rent—consume most income:
      • London: one-bedroom rent around £1,500
      • Birmingham: around £900–£1,000
  • His own situation: After bills, he can save less than £500, and for some people (especially in shared accommodation and tight budgets) savings can be close to zero.

Debt and Financial Pressure Affect Everyone

He argues that serious debt can happen to many people, not just those with low earnings:

  • Whether working in the gig economy (care/warehouse/security/construction) or in higher-paying roles (including corporate jobs or NHS work), people may still fall into debt from:
    • Mortgages
    • Car loans
    • Utilities
    • Ongoing day-to-day spending
  • Remittances are also a major drain:
    • Many immigrants feel obligated to send money home monthly.
    • Social pressure and expectations make it difficult to “pause” support.

“Don’t Treat the UK as Permanent”

He cautions against assuming that indefinite immigration status (e.g., ILR) automatically means you are “fully British” or that the UK is home forever.

His recommended approach:

  • Enter the UK with a time-bound plan
  • Build capital within 5–10 years
  • Return to Africa to establish a business or rebuild life

UK Pension: “Not Realistic” for Many Immigrants

He says one common “lie” told to immigrants is that contributing to a UK pension guarantees comfort later.

  • To receive the full state pension, he cites ~£241/week as the figure and explains it typically requires 35 qualifying years of National Insurance.
  • He argues many immigrants won’t reach this because they often arrive at around age 30–40+.
  • Therefore, relying on UK pension alone would be, in his view, a financial disaster for most.

Emotional and Social Cost (Not Just Money)

He describes an emotional breaking point after roughly 18 months, including:

  • exhausting routines (long shifts, early mornings, little true downtime)

Beyond fatigue, he says the UK lacks the social life he had in Ghana:

  • In Ghana, he recalls Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays being dedicated to socializing.
  • He contrasts that with the UK, which he describes as more isolating.
    • He even recounts feeling socially uncomfortable on public transport—for example, people avoiding sitting near him.

Criticism of Misinformation From Social Media

He claims TikTok/Instagram/YouTube creators promote false narratives about how easy UK life is, encouraging people back home to:

  • sell family land, and
  • come with unrealistic expectations.

He argues many creators do not truly understand immigration and real living costs, misleading viewers.

Advice on Visas (Student Visa Warning)

When asked whether he would encourage a younger sibling/cousin to come, he says he would first ask what type of visa.

Key points he emphasizes:

  • Avoid student visas if they’re being used as a migration route rather than genuine study with available funds.
  • Students face work-hour restrictions (about 20 hours/week), which he says makes it practically impossible to cover tuition and living costs.
  • He also claims recent UK immigration changes reduce students’ ability to bring dependents (given as an example of tightening rules).

Presenters / Contributors

  • Eric K (host/channel presenter)
  • Enrique (host/channel presenter)
  • Divine Freedom Africa (guest; also referred to as Felix)
  • Dele Tem (mentioned in sign-off)

Original video