sick of this country, what countries provide a better life for people that live there

[redbobblehat]

i'm sick of all these cuts backs, and lies from the goverment

so sick of it i'm actually thinking for the first time, i might perher to bugger off and live elsewhere

dh thinks dubai would be a good bet, but i think as a married woman, it's wouldnt be my first choice

so where would be a good bet

[Gauri]

Ah, but the Canadians are the slightly dowdier, slightly less dynamic, slightly less pretty, slightly less richer, slightly less cooler lot than the Americans. I think that deep inside they have the insecurity of now being American.

[Mosman]

I fcuking hate Prawns. They are no bigger in my experience, size isn't everything anyway.

[honeytea]

Sweden doesn't have very high taxes, nor does it have a suicide rate higher than average.

The positives are amazing family support, 18 months paid leave to share between mum and dad, cheap housing, free daycare, very little class system, parks all over the place, fantastic winter sports, hot summers, snowy winters, everyone speaks English, lots of holidays, lots of space, cheap travel, free bus travel with a pushchair. Free Swedish lessons.

The cons are very cold winters (you really need to embrace winter sports) dark short winter days, in my experience Swedes are hard to get to know but there are fantastic ex-pat communities, really expensive food, it's hard to get a job without speaking good Swedish, there is a negative attitude to immigrants with huge immigrant areas that Swedes would not dream of living in, the Swedes are very conformist if yiu stand out (which you would because you are foreign) life can be hard.

[redbobblehat]

we don't claim any benefits thanks grow

but i don't likethey way peoples freedom is being taken away here, i think its this universal benefit thing that stipped me over the edge of despair, even when we don't claim anything

i dont like others being treated this way

[Francagoestohollywood]

Oh dear, I find Americans (US) utterly uncool, on average (with many exceptions, obviously)

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

What are taxes like in canada? House prices?

They are calling out for people in DPs training area. If it werent for the fact DD1 has her dad here we would be on a plane tomorrow. We fantasize a lot though.

Please tell me bad things :o

[GinandJag]

I love how people threaten to leave the country.

First of all, the UK must be one of the least corrupt countries in the entire world.

Secondly, you can just up-sticks and go somewhere else. There is a small matter of getting a visa.

Going on holiday for a week or two is not real life.

Having grown up in the nicest part of Scotland, lived for many years in the USA, and now the south of England, where I am now is the best by far. Saying that, I think it is great to live somewhere else for a while if only to find out what side your bread is really buttered on.

[Francagoestohollywood]

I agree,the UK is one of the least corrupted countries in the world, and I am Italian, I know what corruption is.

And despite all its cons, I think the Uk is a good and safe place to live.

[PandaOnAPushBike]

What's your definition of quality of life Panda ?

A lovely, spacious 4 bed detatched home for 50k. Clean air and streets. Peace and quiet. Polite community focused neighbours. Excellent schools with free school meals for all children and free university education. Children still play outside. Better work life balance for all, especially parents (480 days parental leave at 80-100% of salary split between both parents plus paid time off to care for your children when they're ill). Everything is done at a slower, more relaxed pace eg supermarket the week before Christmas is no busier than a UK one at 4.00am.

[ZZZenAgain]

if you are worried about the way the poor are treated in the UK and this is your main concern, a move to Dubai doesn't sound like the solution tbh.

If it is more about your own standard of living, if your dh is likely to get a job with a high income, yes , you could probably have a better standard of living in some other countries. However, this is becoming more difficult to obtain IMO than for instance even just 20 years ago, so length of contract, likelihood of renewal is worth keeping in mind.

If you are not moving via a high paid job, generally I think first generation immigrants have to be prepared to work incredibly hard in order to get something in place for the dc who will then reap the benefits of the move. The parents will probably need to work much harder than they did in the UK to get set up. This will apply whether you move from the UK to Portugal or to Australia or to Canada. Nothing will fall into your lap, unless you are unusually blessed. The time to do these moves IMO is as a student or young person setting out. It is not often possible to move somewhere else for a cushier life these days . Unless you are moving somewhere where families and local resources are geered to helping you, you have to be tough and determined and you don't really come across like that to me in your OP.

If it were me, I might look at somewhere in South America but you have all the worries of corruption and poverty there to contend with, that is for sure.

[GinandJag]

Yeah, but my local corner shop owned by Mr Singh is better than most Swedish supermarkets.

[SucksToBeMe]

I found Canada and Switzerland to be very close to perfect.

[HannahsSister40]

I think that everyone who's ever moaned about the uk and especially those who moan about 'fucking Tories' should spend 5 years working and travelling around the world. And then they might realise what a paradise the uk often is, by comparison. And that whilst the Tories have made cuts, which they and the Labour Party both said they'd make during the election, they could've made much much harsher cuts. And will need to, in future, to help clean up the mess made by Tony and Gordon. We've got off easy compared to the penalties around the globe for boom and bust fuckwittery. If you want to move to some socialist paradise where a government with unlimited funds throws treats to an expectant electorate, please let me know where it is. Because I know of no such place.

[GinandJag]

Canada is lovely but you spend so much time in the car surrounded by crazy and vicious drivers.

[ZZZenAgain]

I have always thought I could live in Canada (from what you pick up about it without ever having been there). Never crossed my mind that Canada is plagued with manic drivers. Funny, isn't it, how every place has its bad sides?

[GinandJag]

It might just be Toronto. Oh, and mosquitoes are viscious too.

[thegreylady]

My ds lives in Turkey and is very very happy there.I have travelled widely but have only lived abroad in Sierra leone in the 70's [pre civil war] when then dh was lecturing at the university.
I have never been in a country where I wanted to live more than here.
Health and education both have problems but they are free.Taxes are high but not the highest.Politicians-lets face it corruption seems to be part of the job description no matter where they are.
Social benefits are among the best in the world.We have a decent degree of freedom of speech,gun laws etc.
England isnt perfect but whenever I've been abroad and the plane comes in to land I feel safe-I'm home.

[Francagoestohollywood]

Good post, Zzz.

[ZZZenAgain]

redbobble my last long post was quite negative, sorry about that so let me be more positive. I would say, go on expat forums and read up about life in Dubai so you have more of an idea of the pros and cons. Read up on the place generally. Then see if it becomes more or less attractive an option. I can't say it would tempt me much tbh but I can imagine you could make it work, especially if you give yourself a certain amount of time to live there with the main aim of building up some capital before you resettle elsewhere. This is what most people I know have done there.

What other places could dh get a job in where the wage looks good?

[Booyhoo]

i have family that moved to canada roughly 30 years ago (3 uncles) 1 stayed and raised his family there, one moved to texas and the other came back home. the son of the one that stayed has moved over here now to live with his family and loves it. i dont really know what any of this says about canada though

[acceptableinthe80s]

Where's the nicest place in Scotland Ginandjag?

[crazyforbaby]

Ihatethecold and TheDudesMummy - not all of Canada is cold. In Vancouver on the West Coast, we have had a v v mild winter, with just one day of snow. Yes there is ski-ing, but you either have to travel up North, or go up high in the mountains. Now if only the property costs weren't as high as in London

[GrowSomeCress]

redbobblehat it's worse in so many other countries. The poor have it so much better here than they would in most other countries in the world - the only exceptions are probably the Scandinavian countries where taxes are v v high

[stargirl1701]

Perth & Perthshire is the nicest place in Scotland. I love living here.

[MrsDoomsPatterson]

The UK may have its faults, oh yes. But it's my UK & I couldn't, wouldn't want up live anywhere else.

It's still you, wherever you are....