… To be considering leaving the UK?

[globalnomad25]

We have been considering leaving, even if only for a few years. Many of our clients have already gone or are planning it, and some of our friends too.

I’m not sure where we’d go: UAE, Portugal, Jersey, Ireland, Canada, Australia? We don’t currently want to move to the US, even though that would probably make the most sense from a business/client point of view.

For those out there who have already left, how has it gone? Was it a horrible mistake or are you glad you did it?

For those also thinking about it, where would you go?

Kids are school-aged and smart and used to international travel as our work already takes us all over, although they’d miss their friends (as would we). We aren’t English so our family is already based all over the place, although we visit them frequently.

This is the crux of why net tax payers are wanting to leave, not only do they get burdened with ever increasing taxes but vilified by people who only take from the system in the process.

So why shouldn’t all hard working people have good wages-you know to spread the tax burden out a bit and cut down on those pesky benefit recipients.

Not paid less, receive less benefits or even start working. The fiscal drag on income tax should be eliminated meaning the higher rate kicks in at £72k rather than £50k. The £100k loss of tax free allowance should be around £160k if even at all. Education tax should be reversed.

They should, agreed.

Cool so raising wages for all maybe is something that should be focused on rather than the wealthy few wanting to hoard their wealth.

Hahaha. Exactly what I was thinking. Why on earth would you want to move there?

Definitely, you do this through lower taxes and education. Not crippling taxes, closing down schools and vilifying anyone successful.

I think the only countries I would be prepared to move to permanently would be Australia or New Zealand. I’d happily spend a year or two in many many places but I’d only move to those countries knowing it was for a limited time.

Australia or New Zealand (not actually been to either) are culturally similar enough for me to have a really good go at settling. But they’re really far away from everywhere 😆.

None of the latter 3 are actually happening and we have education. Also unfortunately the things we like such as that education you talk about and universal health care, pensions etc cost. You can’t just ignore the cost. The few hoarding the majority of wealth don’t need that wealth so really they need to and should be taxed more.

None of the latter 3 are actually happening

Easily verifiable facts. Doesn’t seem a lot of point in continuing if we’re not accepting reality.

I have loved in 2 other European countries.
Although both nice enough places, I missed the UK and am now firmly settled back here.
As a pp said , climate change is now a huge consideration, with parts of Southern Europe becoming uncomfortably hot for extended parts of the year

This is a very strong point, thank you, and uni fees are one area I’d not fully considered - I will look more into this!

I get it but teaching kids to pass tests doesn’t always make the best model either. Creating a love of learning is important and a lot of teacher son rhe UK will
tell you that the curriculum and learning in the UK is very restrictive:

Approx 23% of working age people in the UK receive some sort of benefit as opposed to approx 5% in Canada.

57.5% of working age Canadians have a university degree or higher as opposed to 22.6% in the UK.

So yeah your friends may not have agreed with the Canadian school system but twice as many go on to get a degree and a fraction rely on state benefits. I know both systems very well and the UK system is broken. Not to mention amazing teachers who are on their knees in the UK. The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan is worth 226 Billion. We value education and those who educate.

No, I want everyone to be paid billions, zero tax and massive benefits for all.

(I just accept that's not possible.)

As a Canadian, Canada is in a really bad place now. Jobs are hard to find, pay is often low, infrastructure needs updating, housing is through the roof expensive, and people die waiting in the ER and have no GP, and if you as a woman go to prison, or are raped, there is every chance you will be put in a bed next to a man.

If you have kids, I would also say the education system here is not likely as good as the UK, though it varies by province. But something to consider if you would be using the public system.

I totally disagree with this. Universities in Canada are a joke now, that is why so many have degrees.

Doesn’t represent the Canada we live in. We’re in Montreal, where are you?

I confess, 60% of people getting a degree isn't making it sound that rigorous to me.

A Canadian degree is highly regarded especially in U.S., Europe, and Asia and graduates in business and STEM are very employable. Like any degree it value depends on the subject and Uni.
Canada leads the G7 in post secondary school education attainment.

At the end of the day, wealthy drifters have always been a thing. For some, having no roots anywhere is not an issue, of course.

What matters is always keeping your health and wealth in order to be able to visit your DC and grand kids in Sydney, Vancouver, NYC, UAE- wherever. You need to consider that you are raising global nomads, too; DC who will also head to where the tax burden on wealth is least. But kids who may not always prioritise you in old age as other priorities will win out over far distant parents.

I think it’s absolutely fine to chase good weather, low tax, gated homogeneity, transient friendship.

But everything has its price.

Have you been to university in both countries? No three years of hard work based on an international standard aren’t a joke.

I deal with HMW private clients and we discuss amongst others in our sector how rich people from the UK often don't get on with going ex pat. It's not all its cracked up to be when you actually have family here.

As you're a citizen of nowhere crack on and move where you like.

We do have clement weather compared to extremes further south. I'd like the sun but not if it gets too hot.

Why because people aspire to more? Because we see education as important? Because we make it equal and possible for all? Because we value higher education and allow kids to make that choice not based on socioeconomics?

They are highly regarded and respected. Unfortunately you just don’t know what you are talking about. Or it bothers you that a country has it right so you want to bring it down and are skeptical?

Heres an example - Canadians have a brain drain of doctors to the US so degrees aren’t worth anything there either if they want our doctors?

And while I’m here, yeah Canada has universal free healthcare too.

They are happening, which is why increasing numbers of those with the means to are leaving. They’re also not being replaced. What you think people should do doesn’t reflect the reality of what they’re actually doing. Similarly, ignoring the detrimental impact of chasing away wealth because it’s ideologically inconvenient doesn’t mean it ceases to exist, or that it won’t get worse.

The UK has the one of the highest, if not the highest, rates of wealth flight in the world. When targeting higher earners and the wealthy results in them upping sticks and not paying anything at all, it may be a good idea to consider what’s more important to you - satisfying the ‘fuck anyone with more money than me’ narrative, or you know, actually getting those things you’ve mentioned paid for.

Cripes would people leave the US out of this discussion… the OP doesn’t want to move there 😁

The reason for the migration of doctors to the US is likely salary… that being said a Canadian doctor can’t just drive south and hang up a shingle in the US. Their training needs to be recognized and accepted in the US and there are more hurdles to jump through.

Their undergrad degree is probably not a big deal though.

(Not going to lie it’s a bit entertaining to see Canada in the hot seat for once. Hasn’t happened to me since I saw a Canadian backpacker turned away from Spain over commercial fishing in the ‘90s)