To leave UK due to weather and cost of living

Plenty of countries have changeable seasons - and better weather!

Plus I don't think you will be given a warm welcome in any of those countries

I find it crazy to contemplate moving country without even knowing the language. It's not always that easy to learn when you get there.

Where did you come from to consider it warmer and sunnier, the moon

😂

Melbourne is a temperate climate . What state do you live in ?

Yes, Australia is the size of Europe and the climates do vary a lot - even snow fields! Most of it is hot and dry though and of relevance to Spain or Portugal.

I have definitely noticed a big difference in our local weather where we are compared to 10 years ago when the summers were nice and outdoor activity friendly.

Brexit kind of scuppered those of moderate to low savings and investments being able to move to Spain etc. If you wanted to move elsewhere you're probably going to need more money. Plus give thought to healthcare should you need it. Reading horror stories of elderly people getting trapped overseas with no proper arrangements in place.

i watched a Portuguese news programme today with a segment showing vine growers using braziers to try to save the harvest that would otherwise be ruined due to cold, frost & rain.
My ex-husband was born in France, lived & worked there until he was 20. He & his wife left the UK to live there 2 years ago and have so many issues trying to sort out admin. They also had to be evacuated from their home near Bordeaux during the forest fires. The house survived but it took a long time to clear the ashes & smell. His wife still wants to move somewhere warmer…
as others have said, test the water before burning your bridges.

can you just move abroad since Brexit? family friends of ours who are millionaires wanted to live in Spain his parents already do haven’t been able to live there full time they are building a property but have had to keep their uk property as they can’t move to Spain permanently

I get the weather has been grim but col is affecting most countries could you go abroad for the winter months?

Me too! Where is this place with less sun than the UK? I mean, it's colder in Scandinavia but also sunnier, so that leaves ... Faroe Islands?

My aunt bought a house in France in the last year. I've gone to visit and literally no one speaks English. You need to make a sure you go to an area where English is spoken or you will need to learn the languages

Am guessing you own a home in the UK you would plan on keeping? And would then rent that out, thereby contributing to stock shortage and COL crisis in the UK, but would set up shop in eg Spain and not work but spend your time bitching about the Nasty Party back in UK and how housing there is a nightmare?
Go for it, a lot of people do

O would look at Alderney. No restriction on property, very quiet, laid back kind of life. BEAUTIFUL beaches, beautiful weather in the spring and summer months. A lovely community feel. 40 minute flight to get back to the UK.

Summers in Australia vary by state but I’m in Melbourne and our summers have not become intolerable. Actually we have had milder summers here the last 3 years or so and lots of perfectly beautiful days thrown in . We always get the super hot day of course but they never last that long .

I only read the entire thread to see where @Chypre came from and they never replied!
Iceland? Siberia?

@MsLuxLisbon agreed, the grass is greener isn't always true, but it often is.
I'm talking temperatures of 40 degrees with people being taken ill with heat stroke.
Rivers have dried up, olive and wine production is in crisis, and water restrictions are only going to worsen.
I agree that the amount of rain here this year has been intense, but I do see it in a different, more positive light after experiencing that climate.

Food in France is way more expensive than in the UK. As are many other products (toiletries, basic medicines like paracetamol - about 2.40 euros for 16 tabs of 500mg!).

I would seriously research cost of living before moving, in addition to all the admin stuff.

I have family who took early retirement (early/mid 50s) and moved abroad for the sunshine. They had a decent pension to live on. They came back to the UK when their health was declining and they wanted NHS care - possibly not such a bonus now but still easier than accessing health care in a foreign language (which you don't speak).

The grass isn’t always greener. Cost of living is bad is other countries too. I have friends in France who moan about the col, energy charges, hospital waiting lists.

Where do you think you could move to that the CoS is lower than the U.K.?

Remember in some areas this is the wettest 18 months we’ve had on record. This isn’t the norm! So I wouldn’t make any rash decisions. Also, everywhere is going to be affected by cost of living and global warming, we’re pretty lucky to have fairly mild weather here compared to places with extreme weather events, fires, floods etc…However renting a place in southern france or spain for the winter months isn’t a bad idea.

Not everyone reacts the same way to heat and cold. I am fine in high twenties or even mid thirties heat, I need heat. This rain that we've been having has had me practically suicidal, it is so wet and dispiriting and cold and draining. I get so tired of the phrase 'the grass is greener', it isn't always true.

Make your plan start with where you want to go . Say France start learning through audio .
Ive looked into a move but have ties here at the moment . You could do a TEFL course too then teach English in France or portugal is very popular .
Rent an house and live cheaper .

Rent your house out in the UK as a holiday let yes it’s a high income , but you really do need someone reliable and trustworthy or you will have the biggest sore head ever as there is nothing you could do to sort out any issues from abroad .
You only get one chance I’d go for it in
your shoes .

I spent an extended period of time in Spain last year. The heat was insane and made me feel physically sick. I spent most of the time indoors, and was far less active than I am here. The heat just drained me of my energy and larger parts of Southern Europe are becoming hotter for longer periods, even in winter. Drought is also a real problem with some places now no longer allowed to fill swimming pools. They would love some of our rain.
As a pp said the grass is not always greener.

🙌Love this