Is anyone else planning to leave the UK?

Thank you. I sometimes feel like it’s an alternative universe with some of the stuff I read on here 😂

As others have pointed out, it’s not that easy to just move to another country. You usually have to have some type of skills etc to qualify, if you’re not already a citizen of another country. At 18 and 21 your children will not be considered dependents and would need to qualify on their own even if they were on board with the idea. However it might actually be easier for them - there are various options for them to go on working holidays which could potentially turn into something permanent.

But as others have also said, there are similar problems everywhere.

No you are not wrong. Most people can't relocate.
And it's hatd work to do. We moved to UK under EU rules +20 years ago and settling is expensive in a foreign country.

I live in Sweden where the taxes are high, the difference is that we can see where the taxes go and it really benefits all of us. We have very generous parental leave, heavily subsidised childcare, heavily subsidised elderly care, affordable healthcare, good work/life balance with more holiday days than the UK, schools are free (including food and transport), public transport is free for children and retired people, pensions are higher than the UK. Yes, there are issues in Sweden too, but taxes aren't one of them. I earned more when I lived in the UK and paid less tax, but I am much better off in Sweden.

Yes, we are going as soon as we can. Definitely as soon as our kids at at uni, preferably beforehand though if we are able .

I have genuinely no interest in moving abroad/away. I have family who live across Europe and personally I dont see their lifestyles as any better than my own. Everyone pays taxes, no country is a perfect utopia for peace and harmony. You couldn't pay me to live in America or Australia for example for different reasons. Thankfully we live in a democracy where we can vote parties In and out of power so nothing is ever set in stone.

We plan to relocate to Scandinavian over Christmas. We leave our son to do his Junior doctor years. Our oldest has left UK.
We have a flat in one of the capitals of Scandinavian. We have given notice to the renters and the flat is being redecorated now. We have a school (private) for our youngst. We have jobs from 1.2.
We hold double citizenship so Brexit isn't an issue.

Tax are btw highter than in UK.

We have worked, paid our taxes and been happy in UK for +20 years but tbh not happy anymore so yes we plan to leave.

Yes - after retirement and the kids leave home. I have another passport for a country with very minimal inheritance tax. We’ll be moving most assets and be a tax resident elsewhere.

Currently income taxes don’t bother me so much. Anywhere else that we would go to will give us similar levels of disposable income after tax and basic CoL. Inheritance tax (and how it might be going up and up) however hits differently.

I think you’ve nailed it and it’s the same across the board in many industries. Energy’s more expensive, as is food, travel, even getting cover for your pets! I read yesterday that 80% of vets are owned by large corporations, so can charge what they like as there’s not much competition. Again the rich getting richer for doing sweet FA physically! Money makes money and all….

Pleased to see such balanced responses here. I feel like MN is a parallel universe with all the doom and gloom about the UK. Every day I feel grateful for living here.

If you’re concerned about tax rates, it might be worth exploring the tax rates of your chosen destination first. I hear lots of people waxing lyrical about Northern Europe and its standard of living, but no one seems to want to pay the tax that makes it that nice.

I agree that it feels as if we are getting less for what we pay than previously, but that’s completely explicable given the state of the world and the pressures most countries are currently under.

Thank you, that’s exactly what I thought.

I like it here. I’m in Scotland. I don’t think we pay a lot of tax compared to other northern European countries. Public services leave something to be desired, but every country is facing economic hardship right now.

I am concerned about the prospect of a Reform government in Westminster, but again, almost everywhere is experiencing a shift to the right.

I am an EU citizen so I do have options.

No, I won’t be going anywhere. It’s my home, where my family is (particularly my elderly parents). I take your point on tax but being taxed isn’t the issue - the issue is how the money is spent and not really feeling like we receive value for money or good services for what we pay.

Contrary to popular belief, there are no utopias out there. Everywhere has its issues, it’s good points and it’s bad points. I have a nice life and anyway, I’m not sure upping sticks is really as easy as people make it out to be.

The right wing are emboldened everywhere, not just here.

With the exception of Ireland, there are no other English-speaking countries that are likely to have me or which wouldn’t expect me to jump through many, many hoops to get in, or totally change career. I wouldn’t move to a non-English speaking country because aside from my high school French, I don’t speak another language.

I actually feel lucky to live in a relatively wealthy, relatively liberal, functioning democracy.

None, thanks to brexit your options are extremely limited if not none existent.

No but very glad to have the option. Just watching public sentiment on various things made me sort it out.

Yes.

We’re moving to Israel where DH is from. Life has become pretty intolerable for Jews in the UK. Several incidents recently, involving our young children. Were sick of feeling unwelcome.

It's the same everywhere.

The super rich have brought up all the worlds resources and are now selling them back to us for 50 times what they paid for them.

There's no escaping it in first world countries. Maybe the Africa continent will be better. Or Asia. What about Albania? You could try there.

Not me, it’s my home, and anyway I wouldn’t have anywhere to go. At the moment I think things are very slowly on the up in a lot of areas, but with intensely difficult bumps along the way and a very tricky international picture. I will feel extremely disaffected if Reform get in but I’m still staying because it’s still my home and I can do things to contribute (like pay my taxes).

Sorry you want to leave if it means you’re unhappy but I hope you see your children wanting to stay here as positive.

Not now as I think most countries have different issues.

I have lived in France, the USA and the UK and nowhere is perfect.

However if Reform wins I might consideri leaving England for Scotland or Ireland. It would be a sad state of affairs though because I really love the small seaside town I live in.

We thought about going to Portugal on a D7 visa, or to France, at least partly for the weather, but DH has a new drug that makes his skin acutely sensitive to UV light with very severe consequences. So no, not a scooby!

What countries can you just up-sticks and move to just like that for the average family?

I can’t imagine there are many countries where as a British Citizen you can move to without any qualifications or some kind of expertise that the country needs or significant amounts of cash or will be a business owner etc… My point being, that’s not the average person.

Where do the average people go? The ones with average jobs or unskilled type jobs? It’s a genuine question, because I see this often on here and I was think that doesn’t apply to most people even if they wanted to move.

Again, correct me if I’m wrong but the types of countries that people would like to go to, such as Canada, Australia, USA that’s not an option. I can image the countries where they let anyone move there, probably aren’t desirable places to go for the average Brit so wouldn’t go even if they could.

I assume you can’t just move to anywhere in Europe these days as a family without having significant financial backing? Again correct me if I’m wrong as it something I’ve wondered about.

No. I love it here. I recognise we have problems but all countries do. I would miss the UK too much.

Yep. Me. Germany 🇩🇪

It depends what happens between now and the next election. The future looks very bleak here but there's a small chance it can be turned around. If it doesn't improve I will feel I will have no choice but to go.