Has anyone changed their mind about going home?

[AgentProvocateur]

We live in the Middle East, working between KSA and UAE. We both work incredibly long hours in tough roles and we’d planned to come home this summer to semi-retire, but looking at the U.K. and the situation with inflation, we’re rethinking our plans. Not sure what to do. What’s everyone else thinking?

I moved back from HK at Easter and no regrets. However, I’m not at retirement stage so don’t really need to worry about impact of inflation on a fixed income. For me, escaping zero covid bollocks was my priority. On that basis it’s hard to advise as I always think the stay/ go decision is a case of weighing up multiple factors. What are your main reasons for wanting to move back?

Ageing parents 😰 And an easier life.

We moved back to the UK last summer. Wish we hadn't for a ton of reasons. Only come back if you're sure

This doesn't apply to me as we moved back to the UK ages ago, but OP I just want to say two things:

1. Adjusting to moving home is hard whenever you do it and the longer you've been away, the harder it can be. So you should take that as a given and not assume that it will be worse now that it would've been in the past or will be at some point in future. If the time is right to come back, bite the bullet and do it.

2. The situation here in the UK (or anywhere that is far away), nearly always looks far worse from a distance than it is when you're here. I realise that the way the govt handled the pandemic, Brexit, the cost of living crisis, problems with the NHS, travel chaos, etc all looks and sounds bad, but honestly unless you're going to be living on a low income and will struggle to pay your bills and feed yourselves, for most of us living in the UK those things aren't a huge deal on a day-to-day basis.

Obviously, you'll need to do your sums and decide if it makes financial sense for you to move back right now, but don't allow the hysterical press (which always makes everything sound like armageddon is about to occur), terrify you.

The UK is so depressing now. Can you go to a different country with a more relaxed ethos? Spain? France?

Easier life? How would you have an easier life? You can pay for someone to do all your domestic chores and get delivery of any I think easily for a far lower cost than in UK to start with.
We moved back from the Middle East for our kids education but I wouldn't say life is easier here

@maddy68 that was our long term plan before Brexit… 😰

@chopc easier, because we both travel to Saudi semi-regularly for work, but not at the same time (we don’t work for the same company) which means we often only spend Saturday together now that the UAE weekend is Sat/Sun. And on top of a (min) 48 hour working week, there’s no work/life balance. We have a cleaner and send our laundry out, but we did that in the U.K. too.

@AgentProvocateur Yeah, I get that. Where is easier to live massively depends on your life stage. When I had little kids, living in HK was a no brainer as I had live in childcare/ housekeeper and lived in a big, sociable apartment complex with pool, outdoor playground and indoor soft play. So much easier. Now my kids are older (early secondary) it's not such an issue - I have a cleaner come and clean/ do the ironing a couple of mornings a week and that's enough. Kids prefer having more space and UK style schooling. Employment prospects for me are way better (my sector doesn't really exist in HK- I flukily got a great job for 8 years for a MNC that randomly had this role but I wouldn't find another one). Also, like you, I wanted to spend more time with my parents while they're still in relatively good health (didn't want to come back into a crisis situation).

On the other hand, if you don't fancy UK could get a golden bond visa for Portugal? Gives you free circulation in Schengen zone.

The UK is so depressing now

For you maybe but not for many. Spain and France are facing the same problems as we are anyway.

Bloody brexit :(

Gosh, if you have a chance, don't come back here. Go to a third country that suits you better. I'm on a higher than average wage but chasing the rising cost of everything now. Barely anything left to save for a rainy day. Go somewhere where your retirement coffers go further but you aren't working every hour God sends. I hope you find your paradise.