Seriously thinking about leaving the UK

[Tanyasfootspa]

I’m not sure when the turning point was, but DH and I have hit a wall. The DC are both at university now, and for the first time in a long time, we’re thinking seriously about leaving the UK. The only thing stopping us is wanting to be close to potential future grandchildren.

It just doesn’t feel like the same country anymore. Everything seems to be falling apart — the NHS, education, transport, basic services — and yet at the same time, there’s this growing mindset that the government should step in and fix every personal problem. I’m all for supporting people who genuinely need help, but it’s frustrating seeing how much personal responsibility has gone out the window. It feels like no one’s expected to stand on their own two feet anymore.

We’ve worked hard our whole lives, paid our taxes, and honestly, it feels like we’re constantly penalised for it. Meanwhile, the cost of living is insane, our quality of life is slipping, and every time we turn on the news, it’s just more chaos or excuses.

We’ve started looking at options — maybe Canada, or somewhere in Europe (though Brexit makes that harder). We don’t expect a perfect life anywhere, but we want to live somewhere that still feels like it’s moving forward, not falling apart.

Has anyone else made the move once the kids were grown up? Did it help? Are we just burned out, or is this how others are feeling too?

Would really love to hear your honest experiences.

I was going to ask where you plan ro go because I agree with everything you say but its not a UK issue, its a global one. Most countries assume its an internal frustration brought on by their own political party in charge.

It certainly is the case for the majority of European countries but I don't know about Canada. Any Canadians residents here?

Go for it you only have one life. My only advice is to keep a small property in the UK too. This is what we always do.

Every country around the world is full of people bitching and whining about the state of their own country.
Source: have spent 90% of my life outside my own country in various countries

So you can contribute to the housing crisis and the "broken Britain" you are fleeing?

I was also about to say, its a global problem, not a domestic one.

It's the same everywhere. ESPECIALLY Canada.

We were planning on moving abroad in the next few years but I am having second thoughts, after this extended period of heat I am not sure I could live with it for months on end and I am sure every country has it's problems too . I would like to move somewhere really quiet, turn off the news and have a lot more holidays 😊

This is so true. People don’t realise this is a global issue. The UK is still one of the best places in the world to live.

I made the move when DC were younger and pre-Brexit. Lived in Europe for 15 years before coming back to UK a decade ago.

To be honest although I loved my time abroad the grass is not always greener. There are many European people who would say what you do about their own country and situation.

My biggest advice would be to go for it but keep options open and rent somewhere or travel around before making any life changing decisions or financial commitments.

Also not sure you would be eligible for a move to Canada at your age - though that would depend on individual circumstances.

Good luck

I think maybe you would need to move out of 'the west'. I keep reading its a global problem, or that there us a decline in the west.

Maybe south America somewhere?

Basically, the super-rich have brought up all the worlds resources and are now selling them back to us at 20 x the price.

I disagree. Over the last few months I have spent time in several different countries, and the problems here in the UK are far more acute, obvious and ingrained. One of the biggest issues is the apathy and entitlement.

I would never plan to move to a country I didn't already know . How would you know you were not jumping from one problem , into another the same ?

I know someone who is moving to Australia in the next few months but she has family already there .

She rents here and has over there but at the moment is frantically trying to sell as much as she can before it has to be packed for shipping .

I don't think Dubai counts really but thank you for your input 😂

Then do it...

But you might realise that the grass is not always greener.

Canada is very expensive to live in.

You need a visa to be able to live and work in other countries, including Europe after Brexit.

If you don't speak the language as well you will struggle with all the admin and daily life.

I have lived in three different countries so I am not suggesting that you don't do it, but do it with some proper research and without expecting that everything will be wonderful if you relocate.

Everywhere has good and bad points.

a friend recently moved to Canada with a great job, and is struggling with the cost of living there a lot.

I think it's always valuable to live in different countries and experience different ways of living. Even moving to countries with worse infrastructure or with less wealth is valuable so I would say go for it. The UK will always be there if you want to return a few years down the line. Returning isn't failure.

I grew up in Sweden, left in my early 20s and spent over 2 decades abroad living in 4 different countries. Each one taught me something, each one brought experiences that I couldn't have had if I had just stayed in Sweden. Now in my mid-40s I have returned to Sweden and I appreciate it in a way I could have never done had I not left.

The UK is definitely going through a rough patch at the moment, moreso than many other Western countries in my opinion, and I was very happy to leave after brexit as I could foresee that it could only go this way. I think you will probably miss it after a while, especially the people, but that is perhaps what you need right now to be able to appreciate it. Sometimes a bit of distance is needed.

It's called late stage capitalism, and the only way we can fix it is higher taxes, which I'm all for, to have better services. You can't complain about declining NHS and Education services and then say 'i've paid my taxes and don't want to support anyone anymore, I'm off'. That attitude is the problem, that it is people who are struggling that are draining resources. They aren't, it's the wealthy minority that are. I think you'll find it's the same in Canada. Unless you go and live off grid somewhere. That would be my choice.

I think Canada is quite hard to get into these days. My brother emigrated over there for work 20 years ago and it was relatively straightforward to get dual citizenship. He was saying a lot of Americans are trying to move over to Canada and are shocked that they're being refused entry.

I do think the UK has dropped the ball on ensuring we have opportunities for home grown industry (the fault of both blue and red governments over the decades). There was a period where people were choosing not to work or work fewer hours because they were better off claiming benefits. That was never the purpose of welfare and should never have been an option, but now that genie is out of the bottle, people expect the state to keep providing more and more.

My DH is keen to leave the country and I would consider it, as I don't see life in the UK improving any time soon. We're struggling to find anywhere else which doesn't have similar issues or worse and where we would meet the entry criteria.

I have thought about it.

I think what I feel the most is a disconnect between my personal values and the majority of people in the UK. I find a lot of people in real life, not deep thinkers, often tribal in their allegiances without really questioning the reasons for situations, like to moan rather than working towards solutions, sense of entitlement, no humility.

I would look to move somewhere where at least a substantial minority of people have an positive attitude.

Canada is fiercely expensive. Despite the amount of land they have property prices are extortionate. Much more extreme weather, some parts will hit mid forties in the summer and minus 20 in winter, so consider that for your energy bills/quality of life. Many Canadians i know are unable to go outside for several days in a row due to weather. Personally that would drive me nuts.

Much of Europe is only going to get hotter as climate change intensifies so same issue as above.

Not saying don't do it but definitely don't think other countries have it peachy. There are 5 countries considered the safest in the world (atm) from climate change and the UK is one of the them.

Absolutely agree.

With you op

we have discussed this at length and it is something we really would consider.

we have quite a while to go yet as we are late 40s but this country is crippling in so many ways.

I have a business and this last year with government changes,cost of living and just general being robbed blind one way or another it’s been a year of stress to be honest and it shouldn’t be like that but if you aren’t a chain or big corporate you stand no chance here anymore.
they don’t want the small people to be successful all they are interested in is lining their own pockets.

our people in charge get away with every type of fraud possible on a daily basis they just don’t even bother to hide it anymore and we all just float along with it

the mood in this country is generally oppressive and people are pissed off and miserable which has a knock on effect.
and yes the entitlement is absolutely shocking here.

I dis agree with people saying the grass isn’t always greener.

we’ve travelled and were in a European country recently and within half an hour of being there we noticed what a difference in peoples attitudes it was crazy

the locals all worked together within their community to create clean safe areas,most of the businesses were independents,we saw one chain coffee shop on the whole island.

we didn’t see one homeless person or gangs in the streets and when speaking to locals were told how their system is very different to ours and it works.

they have a better work life balance so people feel less stressed.

that’s how it should be.

this country just wants to keep taking and providing fuck all for it.

we are meant to be a rich country but the poverty here is unreal and the sheer amount of food banks and children living in hell should not be happening.

people are dying because our nhs has collapsed

seeing elderly people on trollers in corridors for 12 plus hours waiting to be seen in a and e to me is the worst it can be and don’t even get me started on the lack of any mental health provision here.

im not surprised our suicide rate is so high as a country.

but still it carries on

i say go for it op

I’ve done it.

Which visa were you thinking to use for which countries? I assume you’ve already checked this out.

I think you should go. More space for those of us who appreciate living here.