Thinking of moving back to the UK, could I live on this?

[AllThreeWays]

My partner died 6 months ago and I am feeling overworked and lonely. The city I live in in Australia is renowned for being unfriendly.

I am considering moving to the UK, I am a citizen but haven't lived there since I was 9. I have a teaching degree in Design and Arts, would have about £300000 from the sale of my home and a pension of $26000.

I have to work fulltime in Australia as the pension isn't enougj but I feel it may be enough over there.

What do you think? Are those amounts doable? I would like to work part time and make some friends. I would like to live in a village and I have a DS7.

Opinions?

Also, check that you can actually access your pension, as depending on age etc you might not be able to, or you might get less if you're taking it before the pension scheme retirement age. You'll also have to pay tax on it, factor that into your calculations. Good luck.

The pension was my DPs so isn't a problem. One huge blessing in a shitty situation.

I'm sorry for your loss op.
I live in the Southwest and you could buy a nice property outright and have enough to live off. It's generally very friendly around here plenty to do you just need to choose your village and area very carefully.
Come to Somerset, get a dog.

Could you perhaps do a long-term house swap (for a year) with someone in the area you are considering in the UK. Alternatively, there are lots of pet-sitting sites. You could pet sit for a few weeks (or sometimes longer) then hop to another one in another area you are considering. This is usually free for both parties (in exchange for looking after their pets).

Very sorry for your loss .
My local GP always advises all bereaved people to wait at least 2 years before making any major life decisions.
I think it’s sound advice .. you are thinking a lot with your emotions at the moment which is understandable.
Come for a holiday and a look around but don’t make any commitment...

Also please note that you will find the schooling system way different in the UK that Canberra ... don’t underestimate that !

I understand exactly what you are saying re social aspect of Canberra but the schools would be a major consideration for me .

Take care and good luck

Wherever you go you take it all with you. I think with a teaching qualification and good experience and a lump sum you are very well placed to move. 7 year olds are portable and I agree the busyness and doing of new place will be good for you both. If it was me I’d be looking all round the world for the place that makes me feel excited.

Sorry, didn't mean to upset you, didn't realize it wasn't your pension. Sorry.

It's OK NoIs.

On a general pension note, it's worth reminding people that there is usually an age that you can take a pension in full without reduction due to taking it earlier, although it seems this doesn't apply in your case. Just to let people be aware.

I'm in Scotland, not England, but would thoroughly recommend where I am. Very welcoming and decent schools, plenty of countryside and decent schools and loads for your DS to get involved with. All very doable on your budget and ime, getting decent Art teachers seems to be quite hard.

A quick search shows 9 art teaching jobs in Scotland - some of which are part time. None in the area i currently iive, but shows there is a general demand.

www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/search?keywords=teacher%20art

You mention you are atheist, all UK schools are required to have a 'daily act of worship', you can request your child doesn't attend and how schools interpret the law varies.

A lot of state schools are faith schools, you can end up with your child in a faith school if that is where there is a place.

We moved house a couple of times when I was a child, my mum deliberately cut off a lot of her family and I was just too young to be writing letters, I know things are different with the internet but your son could be quite isolated for a while.

I think it is good you are giving it time and if you do move plan for it and maybe move when (if you move) your son is ready to start secondary school, that's 11 in England but I think it might be a year later in Scotland (shout out to Scottish MN), and a few places have middle schools which are start a year younger and then you transfer to high school at about 14.

Another thing about Scotland is that your son would not have to pay for uni.

The advice about doing normal things like shopping and in February is good advice, more hours of dark than light, cold, wet and sometimes snowy.

Good luck with whatever you decide, and if that involves a trip then I'm sure lots of people can give you some ideas.

If you are considering Yorkshire (I'm biased, I was born there) this property reminded me of Australian houses (well a bit) have a look at how they state it has, "Impressive Rear Gardens & Patio" and try not to laugh.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80664809.html

Goodness yes, that looks very similar to an Australian townhouse, except for the locked gates.

There is a separate system of Catholic schools in Scotland which you'd have to specify request, otherwise each address is linked to your catchment school which is generally where you attend. We are atheists as are DC, the religous element is really not pushed. It generally consists of an occasional assembly by the local minister and the option to go to a Christmas/Easter service. You can opt out of these and you can seperately opt-out of RE or RME as the education element is separated from the worship element. I feel quite strongly about not having religion in schools but I let it be in primary to allow them to make their own mind up and at their reqyest, opted out of the observance element in high school. That meant they didn't go to cathedral twice a year and they didn't need to attend a couple of assemblies a year but I think they just went to those.

Depending on DSs birthday, they would normally be 11.5 to 12.5 on starting high school. Our cut of us end Feb but lots of DC defer and don't start until age 5.

In much of the country that amount will buy a smaller but very nice house with money to spare for a car, moving costs and furniture etc. The SE is not an option nor tourist hotspots (Cornwall is pricey) but Somerset and Devon outside of national parks and the coast perhaps. Or look north, the north York's coast and teeside for instance is beautiful and reasonable (£200k gets a really lovely cottage in the National Park). The cost of living here is lower too from what bil says, just basics like groceries and clothes.

Could you come to the UK for two years as “an adventure”. DS7 will like that idea and you could rent a small property in 2-3 locations and suss out housing and other opportunities. You could home school him. No permanent investment in housing and lots of flexibility to try things out. You are not restricted to teaching as you could produce works at home for sale. You might need a studio which might not be within budget in Cornwall but would be in parts of Somerset, Devon, south west Wales and further north east. If the pension is an Australian fund, remember exchange rates could fluctuate your future income, it might be worth transferring it to a UK fund if you eventually decide to settle here.

If DS likes it here, move here permanently. If he doesn’t, buy a house here where you want to live and rent it out. Use the rent and pension to rent somewhere in Australia and when he has flown move back here. You have your foothold in UK housing during that time.

I moved back to the uk from Australia when my dc were eight and eleven. They adjusted quickly and easily made new friends. They can and do still talk to their Australian friends using FaceTime and things like that.

Really their loves are similar to what they were in Australia. They go to school, they do sports, they watch tv, they eat the same foods etc. I did have to buy them a coat though!

I think the experience of living in another country has been so good for my children. Obviously it’s really far away but you can always go back to Australia if you want. Boomerang Poms.

I am a teacher and I got supply teaching as soon as I wanted it. Funnily enough, my dd’s school is an art specialist academy but they can never get an art teacher!

Would you consider some of the arty towns outside Melbourne? Daylesford/Woodend? I don't know what property prices are like there though.

I'm sorry about your husband.

I was surprised to see you name Canberra though - I've always found it quite easy to meet new people here (for a city, at least) since it's so full of transplants.

Would you consider elsewhere, maybe Melbourne or NZ to be close to your daughter but still feel like you're getting a fresh start?

Perhaps come back for a bit of a road trip/adventure with DS over the summer and see how you feel? Our friends went home to Canberra after 15 years away in London recently. They were back here within 8 months as they hated it and how small minded people seemed to be. Another friend from France came to London with her young DCs after five years in Melbourne and a divorce and they are so happy here, especially as we have a good community and lovely neighbours. They picked the area by sticking a pin in a map!

So sorry about your loss and also how shit your mum has been.