Seriously thinking about leaving the UK - AIBU?

[HonoraBridge]

I love the UK in many ways but it has been going downhill for at least 20 years and it feels as if the speed of the decline is accelerating. I no longer see a happy, or particularly safe, future here. For the first time in my life, I am very seriously thinking about leaving the UK and that feeling gets stronger day by day. When I mention this to friends, many are feeling the same way. YANBU - you are right to think seriously about leaving the UK. YABU - the UK is a still a great country to live in and you are being unreasonable to want to leave.

But then they would be adding to migration in another country. So part of the problem they would be trying to escape from in the UK.

One of my nieces did exactly that with Sri Lanka. She now has her own business and is very happy indeed.

I left the UK in 1988 because there were no jobs for people with my qualifications. I moved to a European country, where I spoke the language and had been very happy as an au pair and student.
Everything was fine until Brexit/Covid, so I became a dual nationality person, which I was not very keen to do, but needs must.
I can honestly say that I have not been back to the UK for more than 2 years and do not miss it.
However, the economic divide started in the 2000s, it is not a recent phenomenon.
Living "abroad" is just the same as living in the UK, same challenges, same "life admin", possibly slightly better pay and conditions, possibly better holidays, sometimes the weather is better, but, certainly in large cities, the issues are more or less identical.

It depends where you go. The grass isn't always greener. It's much worse in many countries and not necessarily better in others

This. ^ I can't imagine, for one split second, 'encouraging' my children to leave the UK. What a bizarre thing to do. The vast majority of people wouldn't want their children flying off to another continent to live. Why on earth would you try and encourage them to go?

Yup. Australia. Leaving soon.

Where are you thinking of going? You can't just rock up in France/Spain/Greece any more and get a job unless you have an EU passport.

You think there are too many foreigners in this country so you encourage your children to go and be foreigners in another country?
Don't you see the irony in that?

This. ^ The rose tinted spectacles that some people wear, and the fantasy world they live in is quite shocking. 'Oh the UK is shit, I'm off to live in Paris, LA, Bangkok, Sydney, Stockholm etc etc etc...' Like life is going to be soooooooo much better there. Upshot is, it's unlikely to be any better in any other country than it is in the UK, and in some countries it will be worse!

I think if you and your family have the employability and language skills to live elsewhere and dislike where you are now, then why not give it a go. It’s a personal choice.

Broadly though, I suspect quite a lot of people who think the U.K. is crap are being quite myopic. What do you think life is like for, say, a checkout worker or a cleaner in, say, Canada, Portugal, the Emirates, Japan or Austria? Do you think they feel they live in veritable utopias with the world at their feet? Life is pretty crap everywhere if you don’t have much money and no specialist skills to offer, there are no magical utopias.

go for it! Migrate for a better life. Be an immigrant somewhere else. Build a better life.

I’m sceptical about how many countries you can successfully do that in without experiencing many of the challenges your own country faces.

And I can’t help but judge people for not staying and improving this country, building it better. Rich people who can run away to greener pastures seem almost selfish. Leave your country for someone else to fix. In my mind, if you don’t care about your country and actively nurture it, what’s the point of having countries, nationalities, at all?

But humans have migrated for as long as we’ve existed. And migration is a positive thing. So I’m contradicting myself there!

Anyhow, like others, I’m keen to see which country you’ll migrate to. And even more interested to hear how you fare in the years to come. Keep us updated!

I know of 3 families that have moved to Dubai in the last year.

My husband and I are considering it (not to Dubai). We both have families in other countries (Canada, US and some around Europe). We're job hunting atm and soon as one of us gets one we'll go.

But I'd say this - it's not easy to move. I've done it once before. It's a lot of planning, logistics, and takes you a good long while till you feel 'settled' into your new place. So personally the place has to have a lot of pros in order to make it worth it.

Do you need a visa? If so will they want you, do you have the skills they want there? Can you speak the language? Will you be eligible for health care/ schools etc?

Where did you have in mind?

How do you feel the UK is declining?

"Presumably all Tory MPs past and present will be for the chop."

That's definitely worth consideration but returning to main point, I personally think the whole world is pretty fucked. There's nowhere really to run unless you've got oodles of money.

OP- From experience, do check how your financial situation will affect you re tax, assets , inheritance living in a different country.

I totally get where you're coming from OP. I'm not at that point myself, but I do feel UK society is getting more uncaring and dangerous virtually by the day. I also get fed up with how much more changeable the weather has become here in recent years, although I do count my blessings this country doesn't see the kind of weather and climate-related calamities some countries have to reckon with.

Then again, I've no way of knowing if anywhere else would be better, I think the whole world has turned cruel under the pressure of all sorts of global calamities in recent years. Ugh, I've depressed myself now typing that. 😬But I get where you're coming from. I suspect most people who think the UK is great are fit, healthy high earners, because otherwise things can be grim.

Nowhere in the world is great for unhealthy or disabled low earners. In most other countries, they get far less help.

If you feel done here, of course make plans to leave. I'm pretty happy in the UK and think my son has done well being brought up here, but I'm aware I have a nice life.

I don't agree with all these doom laden posts about the UK going downhill.

Most similar countries who industrialised at the same are seeing the same economic struggles that's true but if you look at our standard of living its still incredibly high. Of course there are some places where things might appear more shiny and new like Dubai but there's always a catch such as human rights inequality, exploitation and discrimination. There are lots of positives about the UK and if the press weren't so intent on clickbait headlines we might learn more about all the good things which are happening here all the time too.

The grass is always greener on the other side

The difference is, people, especially retirees, who go to live somewhere like Spain , Cyprus, plough a lot of money into where they live, buy a house, make improvements to the area etc, contribute to the community etc whereas some coming to U.K. illegally shores drain money and are a burden.

I’ve told all my family to get out as soon as they can.
Ds left with his Dw and Ds over two years ago, they live in Malta and absolutely love it…
They were lucky as Dil’s Df was Maltese and all that side of her family live there.
My Dd says she won’t leave but intends moving to somewhere very rural and Gs who is only 16 is adamant he won’t be staying in Uk, he says he’s not too bothered where, as long as it’s not here….but is looking to Canada, Iceland, Greenland and Alaska.

Brexit was the final decision maker for us as well. No regrets in leaving.

I'd be interested to know which country you are going to that isn't facing decline issues.

Why is it better?

How does your security look there long term?