Move to France/Europe - would you?

[RiderGirl]

I don't want to go into too many details, but if you realised that you could move to Europe with no visa requirements (we particularly like France), would you? DH just realised he can get a German passport so we could go. It would mean we could actually own a property rather than rent. I've a close relative there who loves it. No hope whatsoever of ever owning a property or retiring before 68 while we are in the UK and there has to be more to life than this!

Absolutely would.

Est-ce-que tu parler Francais?

Speaking as someone who moved and lived abroad do not be under any illusion it will be easy. Settling in can take years (language aside) culturally and making friends will be almost impossible. Join an expats group on Facebook and see what others say who have done it.

It all sounds great on the surface but there is real difficulty and discrimination involved living somewhere vs visiting.

As an EU citizen living very happily in the UK, I wonder if it would be worth putting the time/energy/money you want to put into a possible move, into a change of life here in the UK?
Perhaps there are cheaper areas in the UK where you would be able to find a lot of things you are hoping to find in the EU? Research different areas and job opportunities as if it’s a foreign move - maybe it’s possible to get out of your rut that way?

Disclaimer - love living in Britain and have no desire to return to my north European birth country 😅

We're incredibly lucky currently in that we live in a very beautiful part of the South West UK with access to beaches, moors and countryside. Although in many ways it's cut off from the rest of the UK transport links wise, I don't think I'd want to go anywhere else here, I moved here from the west mids as a young teen. I don't think that moving elsewhere in the UK would make a difference to us as in it wouldn't matter where we went, we still wouldn't be able to afford to buy a house!!

I have moved (pre Brexit though). I would say that the language can be quite a barrier if you don’t speak well. There is a lot of admin in France and they are less flexible around producing forms etc… in other languages so be aware pretty much everything is done in French like taxes, dealing with the French administration, social security etc…. Taxes are relatively high here so you will need to do your sums carefully especially if you are on a pension income with currency fluctuations.

I hear you but as someone who's done a few international moves you really can't just wing it at your age and without the language skills. It doesn't matter if you're willing to do anything if French people will not hire you, why would anyone hire middle aged Brits who aren't fluent, how far will you get opening a business without knowing anyone or the local area.

I knew a lot of fellow immigrants when we lived in France and everyone had the hardest time getting jobs, it's a real challenge.

At least try to get to C1 French before you go or establish some kind of online job or source of income.

Or you could move somewhere where English is spoken quite a lot? Luxembourg? Berlin? Even Frankfurt.

Not to piss on your chips but I live abroad and would advise you to do more research. You're saying you can't buy a house in the UK, and in France, you'll work in a bar or something - does your husband have many high paying job options in France then? I live in a small village in France and the only bar staff who own houses here have inherited them. Wouldn't get a chicken coop for 50K here..
If the houses are 50K that's usually because there are no jobs in the village. And if there are, a middle aged foreigner with moderate language skills won't be their first option.

Friend retired there a few years ago. She says their healthcare is a lot better than ours, and the villages have actual communities which we seem to have lost in the UK.

If the houses are 50K that's usually because there are no jobs in the village

Yes this is also true, if you see very cheap housing there's usually a reason

I'd second looking at Germany. It's very easy living in Berlin as an English speaker and there are lots of English language jobs, you could also get German citizenship yourself. You might not be able to buy but renters have incredible protection there, it's practically as good. It would be tricky to get your first flat without one of you having a good job first though.

DFIL and DMIL moved to France 20 years ago. It's very hard - the French don't make any accommodation for language skills and even now DMIL relies on friends to translate formal documents and procedures. Her conversational French is fairly good but she gets lost when language gets more technical. Food is expensive. Jobs aren't plentiful and, tbh, they'll go to French speakers.

I would certainly weigh it up, but l speak French. I would not go somewhere long term where l did not speak the language. I know you can learn but it’s a long slog.

You also need to consider work opportunities.