Upping sticks and living abroad? Where would you go?
Discussion
Late thirties, two young kids. Wife and me in decent careers.
They way things are in this country and also with IR35 and increased taxes, poor quality of life, general f
kery of the Government etc etc.
I don't think it's going to be worthwhile for the kids to live here. No offence to any die hard brits here but this is a personal decision of mine.
I've been thinking about Canada lately. Where would you go?
They way things are in this country and also with IR35 and increased taxes, poor quality of life, general f
kery of the Government etc etc.I don't think it's going to be worthwhile for the kids to live here. No offence to any die hard brits here but this is a personal decision of mine.
I've been thinking about Canada lately. Where would you go?
If I thought I could learn the language I'd move to Japan. The people are super polite, everything is really clean and organised, and all the public transport just works. The roads I have driven there are just amazing, I've driven this road but not in a McLaren: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i93N7f_z4zo
If I was able to pay cash for a decent sized property I'd move to New Zealand. I'd want something like this: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/overseas-property/prope... Wages aren't as good in New Zealand as the UK but property is getting on for central London prices in some areas (and food can be much more expensive), being able to pay for the house upfront would mean no drop in life style.
Otherwise I'd pick Canada.
If I was able to pay cash for a decent sized property I'd move to New Zealand. I'd want something like this: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/overseas-property/prope... Wages aren't as good in New Zealand as the UK but property is getting on for central London prices in some areas (and food can be much more expensive), being able to pay for the house upfront would mean no drop in life style.
Otherwise I'd pick Canada.
Here we go Mr G
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5306375/Va...
You could get involved with sheep and ponies and stuff.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5306375/Va...
You could get involved with sheep and ponies and stuff.
I’m in the same boat, fed up with the government helping themselves to £1100 a month From my pay packet and then not being able to afford a house. The rain. The constant tax and charge you every step of the way life style.
I just want a simple life and some sun, so I’ve been thinking Spain or Greece, but I don’t even know how to go about looking to emergrate?!
Australia strikes me as much the same as here but better weather
I started a thread a few weeks back and got some great replies.
I just want a simple life and some sun, so I’ve been thinking Spain or Greece, but I don’t even know how to go about looking to emergrate?!
Australia strikes me as much the same as here but better weather
I started a thread a few weeks back and got some great replies.
The Valleé d'Aulps in France. An hour or so to Geneva, handy for several good mountain resorts, and property is good value compared to other Alpine areas.
I'd especially be considering Le Biot
If I didn't have various familial and professional commitments here, I'd be considering it far more seriously.
I'd especially be considering Le Biot
If I didn't have various familial and professional commitments here, I'd be considering it far more seriously.
Canada - without a doubt!
That said, pick your area very carefully! Anywhere within spitting distance of the big cities are ludicrously expensive- we went to Vancouver and fell in love with it, but to buy a house of a similar size in a similar type of location (for schools, work etc) would be around 4 X what we could sell ours here for! It’s by no means a massive house, but we’re in quite an expensive area of the country so it’s not a cheap one, but still... 4 X the price!!!
That said, pick your area very carefully! Anywhere within spitting distance of the big cities are ludicrously expensive- we went to Vancouver and fell in love with it, but to buy a house of a similar size in a similar type of location (for schools, work etc) would be around 4 X what we could sell ours here for! It’s by no means a massive house, but we’re in quite an expensive area of the country so it’s not a cheap one, but still... 4 X the price!!!
You know you can commute to London (assuming that's were you work) from Spain daily ? There is a certain part of Spain where you have a choice of 2 airports within 30 minutes and over 10 flights a day into 2 London airports. Plus it's near the beach, and the weather is nice all year round (generally)
I'll off at Easter to look at houses with exactly this in mind
I'll off at Easter to look at houses with exactly this in mind
It's something that's been on my mind for the last couple of years.
I've reached the conclusion that you have to be happy where you are before you can consider a move. Moving because of how you feel about your current situation and think that a move will magically cure everything is the worst reason to move.
In other words no matter where you move you have to take yourself with you. If you're unhappy in the UK then moving somewhere else will just mean you're unhappy, but with a different view.
Having said that, if I was going to move (and I still might), then it would probably be to New Zealand. Although I'd have to get a better understanding as to why I want to move before I start looking at work visas....
I've reached the conclusion that you have to be happy where you are before you can consider a move. Moving because of how you feel about your current situation and think that a move will magically cure everything is the worst reason to move.
In other words no matter where you move you have to take yourself with you. If you're unhappy in the UK then moving somewhere else will just mean you're unhappy, but with a different view.
Having said that, if I was going to move (and I still might), then it would probably be to New Zealand. Although I'd have to get a better understanding as to why I want to move before I start looking at work visas....
I've always thought Australia (I've visiting a couple of times now), but the reality is different to most people's perception. So long working hours, everything is really expensive, winter is still cold (relatively speaking) and summer can be too hot. The BiL lives in Sydney, has a well paid job but even so, in order to live in a nice area has a 2 hour commute each way. If he wanted to live closer to the centre he'd have to sacrifice space or the neighbourhood.
Of course that's not how everyone feels, but there are a lot of Brits who move out there and return after a few years.
So other than that, for me it would have to be an English(ish) speaking country. NZ looks like much the same as the UK, I could probably do the US but would want to avoid the gun nuts and religious wacko's (and I'm probably a bit too grumpy and antisocial to fit in
), so Canada would be at the top of my list.
But saying all that, is the UK really that bad? Pick any country and you'll find people living there dissatisfied with life and wanting to leave, everywhere has it's plus and minus points. At least here we have freedom to do pretty much what we want, taxes aren't massively high, free healthcare, cheap clean drinking water, access to an unlimited variety/amounts of food, a stable political system, low crime, no extreme weather....
Of course that's not how everyone feels, but there are a lot of Brits who move out there and return after a few years.
So other than that, for me it would have to be an English(ish) speaking country. NZ looks like much the same as the UK, I could probably do the US but would want to avoid the gun nuts and religious wacko's (and I'm probably a bit too grumpy and antisocial to fit in
), so Canada would be at the top of my list.But saying all that, is the UK really that bad? Pick any country and you'll find people living there dissatisfied with life and wanting to leave, everywhere has it's plus and minus points. At least here we have freedom to do pretty much what we want, taxes aren't massively high, free healthcare, cheap clean drinking water, access to an unlimited variety/amounts of food, a stable political system, low crime, no extreme weather....
arfur said:
You know you can commute to London (assuming that's were you work) from Spain daily ? There is a certain part of Spain where you have a choice of 2 airports within 30 minutes and over 10 flights a day into 2 London airports. Plus it's near the beach, and the weather is nice all year round (generally)
I'll off at Easter to look at houses with exactly this in mind
Surely that's going to be a 15 hour day at least isn't it just for work? If I had a family and children I don't think I could commit to that realistically I would never see them. If you worked say 9-5 say plus the time required to airport/work either end each day (say 2 hours) plus 3 hours flight time (x2) plus the 2 hours waiting in airport for the two flights and would imagine the cost would be a touch higher than jumping the train? Would be interested to see how this would work though!I'll off at Easter to look at houses with exactly this in mind
I liked the idea up above, I lived in Japan for a time with my wife, we didn't have kids though. From the friends we made there that did have children they seemed really happy with the international schools. And to second the observations, its a stunning country, so rich in culture, weather is very predictable with crisp snowy winters and lovely warm summers and everything just works no worries about the public transport breaking down everyday, it just doesnt happen.
Edited by coldel on Thursday 8th February 09:53
Jonboy_t said:
Canada - without a doubt!
That said, pick your area very carefully! Anywhere within spitting distance of the big cities are ludicrously expensive- we went to Vancouver and fell in love with it, but to buy a house of a similar size in a similar type of location (for schools, work etc) would be around 4 X what we could sell ours here for! It’s by no means a massive house, but we’re in quite an expensive area of the country so it’s not a cheap one, but still... 4 X the price!!!
Also Canada for me, possibly New Zealand, I have lived in Auckland and though that the place and the people were perfect.That said, pick your area very carefully! Anywhere within spitting distance of the big cities are ludicrously expensive- we went to Vancouver and fell in love with it, but to buy a house of a similar size in a similar type of location (for schools, work etc) would be around 4 X what we could sell ours here for! It’s by no means a massive house, but we’re in quite an expensive area of the country so it’s not a cheap one, but still... 4 X the price!!!
All countries have their issues and you are kidding yourself if you think what ever you are running away from in the UK won't either follow you or send something else after you that's just as bad.
There no extremes of weather here, the communication links to the rest of the world are excellent, our legal system is pretty good, for all it's faults, our government is generally stable, though our tax is fairly high our health care is pretty much free at the point of use, good education, free speech. People from all over the world will literally walk to live here risking everything, so it's can't be that bad.
There no extremes of weather here, the communication links to the rest of the world are excellent, our legal system is pretty good, for all it's faults, our government is generally stable, though our tax is fairly high our health care is pretty much free at the point of use, good education, free speech. People from all over the world will literally walk to live here risking everything, so it's can't be that bad.
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