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AIBU?

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Original poster

To leave UK due to weather and cost of living

331 replies

Blossompink · 02/05/2024 20:04

We are absolutely fed up of this constant cold, wet and dreary weather and are seriously thinking it's time to leave the UK. It's not just the weather which is making us miserable but also the cost of living is just ridiculous simply trying to keep the house warm and do simple tasks like drying clothes outside.

We are late 50's, no mortgage, have some savings, but would probably need to have an holiday let type set up to bring some money in or a small business.

AIBU to have had enough of life in the UK and want to move elsewhere?

OP posts:
SlothsNeverGetIll · 03/05/2024 12:43

I posted earlier that DH and I often threaten to leave, but can't figure out a way to make it work.

I just wanted to share that my sibling lives in Germany and has said that an average family home in the small town where they live costs 1 million Euros.
This shocked me - I was imagining socialist housing policies and affordable property. My point being, so many of the problems we're experiencing are also being experienced by the entire Western world.

BluebirdBoogie · 03/05/2024 12:36

I feel much the same, but our plan is a motorhome. Planning to do 2-3 months in different parts of the UK, then 3 months in Europe over the winter.

StridTheKiller · 03/05/2024 12:29

How abouts Rowanda?

EasternStandard · 03/05/2024 12:28

Brexile · 03/05/2024 12:17

@betsisherman Once you're over that 'tourist' euphoria and the power trip you get from the bravery of your decision, reality hits. Then comes home sickness and maybe even regret.

This is very, very true and most eloquently put. I've certainly been there. BUT I would add that when you are priced out of the UK and thus have absolutely no Plan B, you simply have to make it work. The early years are the worst in terms of finding your feet financially and professionally, and getting over bureaucratic hurdles. The only way is up, as we used to say in '97.

Yes if you sell up it may mean you can’t keep up with property prices in the U.K., so be wary

Grazka · 03/05/2024 12:26

Have you got an EU passport? If not then you can't just move, unfortunately, Brexit.
I suppose you could stay in Europe 90 days out of 180 then go back to the sunny UK and then go to Europe again but that seems like a pain

Brexile · 03/05/2024 12:17

@betsisherman Once you're over that 'tourist' euphoria and the power trip you get from the bravery of your decision, reality hits. Then comes home sickness and maybe even regret.

This is very, very true and most eloquently put. I've certainly been there. BUT I would add that when you are priced out of the UK and thus have absolutely no Plan B, you simply have to make it work. The early years are the worst in terms of finding your feet financially and professionally, and getting over bureaucratic hurdles. The only way is up, as we used to say in '97.

Brexile · 03/05/2024 12:05

SpaSpa · 03/05/2024 07:50

OP your plan sounds a bit drastic, a lot of countries have a crazier cost of living crisis than us. How about getting a tumble dryer/heated clothes airer and see how you get on?

Yeah,.just lie down under the heated clothes airer and pretend you're on a beach in Hawaii! 😎

(Point taken though, I'll probably get one myself next winter.)

CookStrait · 03/05/2024 12:04

Just take regular holidays, it’s so much more exciting than committing to one place.

stargirl1701 · 03/05/2024 11:59

Colombia?

https://visaguide.world/retirement-visa/colombia/

Brexile · 03/05/2024 11:58

Bumblebeeinatree · 02/05/2024 20:26

The grass is greener. You need a real plan.

It would take a lot of rain for the grass to be greener than in the UK, so that's probably not what the OP is after. 😂

stargirl1701 · 03/05/2024 11:58

Uruguay?

https://visaguide.world/retirement-visa/uruguay/

stargirl1701 · 03/05/2024 11:49

Mexico?

https://visaguide.world/retirement-visa/mexico/

CantHaveTooMuchChocolate · 03/05/2024 11:45

Unicornhunter2 · 03/05/2024 07:23

My inlaws have a place in Spain and a home in the UK, they are semi retired. Works perfectly for them. Place in Spain is in a small gated community, very safe. They tend to do 6 weeks there, 6 weeks UK, avoiding the summer becasue its too hot. I definitely would explore it. Life is short. The UK is not what it used to be. I left 5 years ago, i miss my friends and family but i visit often. My quality of life is so much better where i am, less tax, better healthcare, good weather and everything works.

Hi @Unicornhunter2 did you move to Spain, or somewhere else? Am contemplating the same, and researching ideas. Do you speak the language, if not English (assuming English is your first language!). Thanks!

Waitingfordoggo · 03/05/2024 11:40

Mauritius looks like a lovely place but I’d be concerned that the effects of climate change will be felt much sooner (and more dramatically) there than in Northern Europe.

Papyrophile · 03/05/2024 11:29

Portugal has withdrawn the property purchase golden visa and Spain is about to follow suit. Greece has increased the minimum spend to 400k. The Portgueses D7 visa is for retired people, but you need an independent income above 35,000 euros per couple. Over 28K pp or 35k pa for a couple is fairly standard in most of the EU.

The Times suggested Mauritius this morning; the property buy-in is $400k (I am presuming US$).

Waitingfordoggo · 03/05/2024 11:15

abracadabra1980 · 02/05/2024 22:16

Just throwing a spanner in the works OP, but would nipping back and forwards in a Motorhome be an option?
I don't blame you for feeling this way, the weather has been abysmal for about a year where I am. Apart from June 2023, it's rained at some point nearly every day where I am. I know this as I'm out in it twice a day, every day with the dog.
I often fantasise about moving a repair bit in reality I probably never will. I can't speak a foreign language and the summer fires in Europe would bother me. Also I'd miss my kids too much although we don't live in each others pockets. Good luck, whatever you decide.

The motorhome idea is very much what my DH and I are hoping to do when we retire. Though we’re unlikely to retire much before 70 so who knows whether the idea will still be appealing when we’re that bit older!

LynneTheseAreSexPeople · 03/05/2024 11:13

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 03/05/2024 10:38

I did this. I was sick of the weather and moved to Western Australia,it was the best thing I ever did. I was in my 40s too. So ignore the naysayers, do your research, and see what is possible. You might find it's not feasible, but you might find a way. You only get one life, why spend it in the pissing rain if you don't have to!

Absolutely right you only get one life, but I'd hate to be so far away on the other side of the world. Plus the spiders yikes! Give me a few months of winter frosts, few months of spring rain and a few months of English summer and I'm a happy bunny.

BulldogSpirit · 03/05/2024 11:08

If you need year round sunshine I'd say go for it, but beware of Spain as they have lots of issues at the moment with droughts, locals uprising, low wages and very high youth unemployment. Whether that will affect you, I don't know but Spain would be bottom of my list.

Banana1979 · 03/05/2024 11:02

U could Rent out your place at the moment and go on long holiday let’s abroad for weeks at a time
im from Cyprus plenty ex pats there who are happy but most moved before brexit and cost of living is quite high there now I’m hearing

LoadOfToad · 03/05/2024 10:58

We moved to the south of France and it was the best decision we ever made. Life is absolutely wonderful here, just a slower pace of life generally. We go to markets, potter round vide greniers and enjoy the smaller things much more. Integration was reasonably simple and the weather is fantastic almost all year round. It gets a bit too hot for a few weeks in the summer, so we go out mostly in the evenings and run the AC during the day.

I consider a few weeks of being too hot to be infinitely better than 10+ months of cold, grey weather every year!!

Although we did move before Brexit so we didn't need visas or anything like that.

elizabethdraper · 03/05/2024 10:51

Rules for Brits living in Spain after Brexit (2023) (housinganywhere.com)
Retiring in Spain as a British citizen's still possible after Brexit. But sadly at a higher cost.
“

Until Brexit, British citizens needed to prove they had at least €5,538 per year to become a resident in Spain. After Brexit, they need to show at least €27,792.96 per year.

”To start the process of retiring in Spain as a British citizen, you need to apply for a non-lucrative visa. Since you cannot work on this visa – not even remote work– you’ll need to show proof of sufficient financial means for your duration of stay.

Rules for Brits living in Spain after Brexit (2023)

What are the rules for living in Spain after Brexit? Find out how Brexit will impact entry to Spain, driving, healthcare, taxes, pension, and more.

https://housinganywhere.com/Spain/living-in-spain-after-brexit

redboxer321 · 03/05/2024 10:47

Borntrippy · 03/05/2024 10:42

You are quite young so I’d recommend teaching England abroad. Rent out your UK property with an agency for less hassle and do a TEFL course together somewhere you’d like to live and find teaching work. TEFL teaching is far less demanding than other types of teaching and in some countries such as Vietnam or China can be very lucrative. There are also VISA programs for language teaching assistants in some EU countries that I’d look into.

When did late 50s become "quite young"?
And TEFL teaching in Vietnam "lucrative"?

I don't blame the OP for wanting to leave at all but I doubt she wants to teach EFL. It's one of the most boring jobs in the world and rarely well paid.

Hyperion100 · 03/05/2024 10:44

I think the min income level for you to move to Spain is now €27k.

If you can cover that and afford your health insurance, you should be ok.

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