Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that moving overseas to escape your problems is daft

127 replies

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:37

Because overseas will just have new problems (compounded by people thinking you're an annoying foreigner)

OP posts:
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 08/12/2025 10:39

Problems are probably more bearable if you can’t understand the language your problems are written/spoken in.

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 08/12/2025 10:40

It depends on the problem. If I was being chased by an ostrich then moving abroad might be the best solution.

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:40

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 08/12/2025 10:39

Problems are probably more bearable if you can’t understand the language your problems are written/spoken in.

Haha maybe sometimes but not sure that stacks up if you're being pulled over for speeding or admitted to hospital

OP posts:
Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:40

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 08/12/2025 10:40

It depends on the problem. If I was being chased by an ostrich then moving abroad might be the best solution.

Ok true although you could probably just install an ostrich proof fence

OP posts:
Maddy70 · 08/12/2025 10:44

I did , best thing I ever did

NotFBI · 08/12/2025 10:45

Is your problem your family? Totally works.
Is your problem you? Not going to work.
Quite a wide term "problem".
It can wotk with work, it doesn't have to. Unhappy with current life? Need some massive change/adventure /push yourself? Change of scenery might work, might not.
Really depends on problem

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:46

Maddy70 · 08/12/2025 10:44

I did , best thing I ever did

The BEST thing? That's kind of sad.

OP posts:
Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:46

NotFBI · 08/12/2025 10:45

Is your problem your family? Totally works.
Is your problem you? Not going to work.
Quite a wide term "problem".
It can wotk with work, it doesn't have to. Unhappy with current life? Need some massive change/adventure /push yourself? Change of scenery might work, might not.
Really depends on problem

Ime the problem is "this country is going to the dogs/I'm sick of paying taxes/etc".

OP posts:
InterestedDad37 · 08/12/2025 10:46

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 08/12/2025 10:40

It depends on the problem. If I was being chased by an ostrich then moving abroad might be the best solution.

😂
(but don't end up a country with ostriches) 👍

TheNightingalesStarling · 08/12/2025 10:47

Some people have idealised ideas of living abroad. Its mostly same shit, different place... with a bit of different shit as well. You still need to work, clean your house, get your kids to school, change nappies, pay tax etc.

But relaxing in the pool in your garden after a bad day at work is better than drizzly winters day.

NotFBI · 08/12/2025 10:49

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:46

Ime the problem is "this country is going to the dogs/I'm sick of paying taxes/etc".

Well why not if they can do better elsewhere, get better quality of life.
But yeah every place has some issues/annoying things. So it may just be move from one issue to different one. Depends on country and person

LondonPapa · 08/12/2025 10:49

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:37

Because overseas will just have new problems (compounded by people thinking you're an annoying foreigner)

I don’t know, I could move to Poland or the Baltics to escape the high tax, low return of living in the UK (my local council is forever on the decline) and my primary problem is solved. This is especially the case as I actually already have a community in both places and speak at least one language of the Baltics.

Other people heading off overseas usually screw themselves by not knowing where they’re moving to, have little plan to make it work and are generally not prepared. Be prepared and it’ll work better - ideally speak some of the language before you move!

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:49

TheNightingalesStarling · 08/12/2025 10:47

Some people have idealised ideas of living abroad. Its mostly same shit, different place... with a bit of different shit as well. You still need to work, clean your house, get your kids to school, change nappies, pay tax etc.

But relaxing in the pool in your garden after a bad day at work is better than drizzly winters day.

Unless you're having to plan the wildfire barriers for your garden as you do so...

OP posts:
Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:50

LondonPapa · 08/12/2025 10:49

I don’t know, I could move to Poland or the Baltics to escape the high tax, low return of living in the UK (my local council is forever on the decline) and my primary problem is solved. This is especially the case as I actually already have a community in both places and speak at least one language of the Baltics.

Other people heading off overseas usually screw themselves by not knowing where they’re moving to, have little plan to make it work and are generally not prepared. Be prepared and it’ll work better - ideally speak some of the language before you move!

So why don't you?

Is it because pursuing one theoretical metric rarely works out well overall?

OP posts:
EvelynBeatrice · 08/12/2025 10:51

Because the problem some people are escaping is indeed solved by moving if it’s a
medical one. Most of the rest of Europe has far superior healthcare to the UK.

TheNightingalesStarling · 08/12/2025 10:51

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:49

Unless you're having to plan the wildfire barriers for your garden as you do so...

I'd almost forgotten my back garden backed onto a fire break (about 30m of bare soil with no vegetation)

Which wasn't advisable to enter due to snakes.

Justlostmybagel · 08/12/2025 10:52

Worked out very well for me.

inkognitha · 08/12/2025 10:52

It was the making of me

Twoshoesnewshoes · 08/12/2025 10:53

I would definitely leave UK and live in Europe if I could

Eyesopenwideawake · 08/12/2025 10:54

I left the UK 30 years ago. Never regretted that decision.

LondonPapa · 08/12/2025 10:56

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:50

So why don't you?

Is it because pursuing one theoretical metric rarely works out well overall?

At the moment, it is a question of work as I’d like to move with a secure job in place. Fine in Warsaw but in the Baltics, where I have a strong preference to move to, the job market for what I do is much slimmer (DW has it easier). Once work is established, we will move.

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:56

EvelynBeatrice · 08/12/2025 10:51

Because the problem some people are escaping is indeed solved by moving if it’s a
medical one. Most of the rest of Europe has far superior healthcare to the UK.

That's definitely not true... UK remains one of the best places to be if you need access to cutting edge medicine through trials etc (for now anyway, certainly wouldn't hurt if we started boosting that more).

OP posts:
ChamonixMountainBum · 08/12/2025 10:58

Obviously depends what problems you are trying to escape from i guess but often a new environment away from the old routine and social groups allows you to see things in a fresh perspective. I came out of shitty relationship in my 20s and was not in a great place and soon afterwards saw a job opportunity in the south of France. I did not know anybody there but just went for it as I needed a fresh start and some time to just get my shit together, work on my self esteem and in hindsight get away from some negative groups who were not exactly doing me any favours. It was the best decision I have ever made.

Branleuse · 08/12/2025 10:58

It might be warmer elsewhere and you might have a bigger house and nicer views.

Justlostmybagel · 08/12/2025 11:00

Pavementworrier · 08/12/2025 10:56

That's definitely not true... UK remains one of the best places to be if you need access to cutting edge medicine through trials etc (for now anyway, certainly wouldn't hurt if we started boosting that more).

Normal everyday healthcare though...vastly superior. In my experience, anyway.