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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

If you had a chance to leave the UK would you?

86 replies

GypsyQueeen · 16/08/2025 22:30

Hey,

Considering a move to the Channel Islands (probably Jersey).

Although rent/ living costs are high it will put us in the best possible financial position (mainly thinking about the kids futures - money wise).
Kids are 8, 11 and 14.

Feel like the UK doesn't have much to offer now and will only get worse when the kids are older.

Just interested in what other people think? Would you leave if you had a good opportunity for a life somewhere else?

OP posts:
Squirrelsnut · 27/08/2025 08:12

Makehaysunshine · 27/08/2025 07:47

I’d love to know where you live!

Show quote history

On the edge of the Cotswolds. Most villages around us are world class beautiful. And I personally love gentle hills and woods.

Iamfree · 27/08/2025 08:14

@Makehaysunshineno investment required just you need to draw a pension from abroad. I have a massive pension pot (well over £2m) and I only need to pay 7% on that rather than the ridiculous 45% + we pay in the UK. Lots of people already moving just google or ask Gemini and you’ll see all the info. I don’t think you need a EU passport (but I have two so I don’t need to worry about that bit). Do you speak at least French or Spanish? Easier to learn Italian if you do

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 27/08/2025 08:31

Trentdarkmore · 26/08/2025 17:26

I think I would have too much hiraeth for the West Wales landscape.

Yeah, I feel the same about bonny Scotland, if anything i would move further north.
I love our seasons, would hate permanent sunshine, all day, every day

Makehaysunshine · 27/08/2025 08:37

Iamfree · 27/08/2025 08:14

@Makehaysunshineno investment required just you need to draw a pension from abroad. I have a massive pension pot (well over £2m) and I only need to pay 7% on that rather than the ridiculous 45% + we pay in the UK. Lots of people already moving just google or ask Gemini and you’ll see all the info. I don’t think you need a EU passport (but I have two so I don’t need to worry about that bit). Do you speak at least French or Spanish? Easier to learn Italian if you do

Basic French! We would have to learn the language. Italian bureaucracy is a nightmare though isn’t it?

Iamfree · 27/08/2025 08:46

@Makehaysunshinei am fluent in thé three languages (Italian, French and Spanish) so I am not concerned. I’ve already spoken to an Italian lawyer specialised in Brits retiring in Italy and they would do most of the admin. Happy to go through lots of red tape to save a million quid (++ as also inheritance tax is 1% above €1m). So I’m off in a few years but I know it doesn’t suit everyone of course

Itsnottheheatitsthehumidity · 27/08/2025 08:47

On another thread I mentioned how I live a lot inside my head and daydream about travelling around without worrying about the cost. If I were to leave the UK it's not because I don't like it, its because there's lots of stuff to see abroad. I have daydreams about buying a motorhome and travelling from France and Spain to Turkey. However as pp have said there's a 90 day limit so I'd have to return home often (Damn Brexit!).

I've always loved Italy. If I had the means, I'd live near Garda. I had a very happy holiday once, I lived the lake and the mountains, and it's cooler than the South but not by much.

SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter · 27/08/2025 08:49

I'd love to live in Germany for a year. I'd miss England if I were away longer than that.

Echobelly · 27/08/2025 08:51

No, I wouldn't move currently. My mum's not going to be around forever, plus I'm pretty attached to London and all it has to offer.

Changesarecoming · 27/08/2025 11:19

I would and would like to move now if I'm honest. We have discussed this as a family but my children do not want to move so right now we are staying put. My eldest will do GCSE in a couple of years and I don't want to unsettle him. My DH has always wanted to stay in the UK, really just because 'it's just what you do'. BUT chatting the other day to him after watching the news, he said he can't see himself staying here once the kids have flown the nest. I was fairly surprised as this is a complete 180 for him. All countries have issues but I don't feel there is enough emphasis here on really living life to the full, more scraping by. Not always financially but time wise too. We constantly rush around. My eldest has already said he wants to leave England, I think my youngest will too, and quite honestly, I hope they do.

Thii · 27/08/2025 11:24

Yes actively trying too at the moment, some countries are off the table because of visa issues with past health, but applying for lots of overseas jobs at the moment that sponsor visas.

Hyperion100 · 27/08/2025 11:24

The press is always very very keen to tell us that the country is falling to bits before our very eyes and that its the absolute pits but the fact is, I'm barely affected by the majority of what is reported on and the UK still remains one of the most free, open, safe, inclusive, progressive, democratic countries on the planet.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 27/08/2025 11:31

I lived abroad for years but don't really want to leave the UK again. I can't, right now, in any case, as I have caring responsibilities for my elderly father.

Once my dad has gone, then it will really depend on what happens politically in the UK. I wouldn't stay here under a Reform government unless I had to still be here for my dad... but I don't think he will last that long in any case.

If we manage to avoid a far right government, then I'll be here for the duration. The UK is far from perfect, but every country has its issues and the grass is not necessarily greener.

Sadcafe · 27/08/2025 11:34

Love Jersey to visit, but living there , not sure how much better a life and opportunities kids would have, if I’d ever had the opportunity to move abroad it would have been somewhere like New Zealand or Canada

ninjahamster · 27/08/2025 11:38

As a child we lived in Italy for a while and as adults, we lived in Ireland with our family for a while.
Great experiences but the UK is my home, very happy here despite the rise of racism.

My sister lived in Jersey. They had a young family and it was lovely. But it’s a difficult place to relocate to. They were able to as she did a job that was required on the island. You would need to be in a career that they would recruit from overseas for.
Housing is horrendous in terms of cost too, you are restricted to buying certain housing as a non islander.

Iwantroplayanothergame · 27/08/2025 11:38

I would leave the Uk like a shot and am encouraging my children to do the same. However, be mindful that should your children choose to go to University in the UK they all be charged as foreign students for their degrees and not British Citizens if coming from Jersey. My DIL ,who is from Jersey, had to pay in full for her Medicine degree and had to negotiate with the Uni over the cost of her fees. She is now in Southampton hospital working as she can commute to see her parents easily from there.

mondaytosunday · 27/08/2025 11:57

Nope. I have lived in other countries (grew up in USA, lived in France a couple years) and the grass is definitely not greener. I think the UK has loads going for it.

Original poster
GypsyQueeen · 27/08/2025 13:57

Iwantroplayanothergame · 27/08/2025 11:38

I would leave the Uk like a shot and am encouraging my children to do the same. However, be mindful that should your children choose to go to University in the UK they all be charged as foreign students for their degrees and not British Citizens if coming from Jersey. My DIL ,who is from Jersey, had to pay in full for her Medicine degree and had to negotiate with the Uni over the cost of her fees. She is now in Southampton hospital working as she can commute to see her parents easily from there.

Thanks for responding.
They've actually changed the rules re Uni now and they are charged the same as UK kids.

OP posts:
Original poster
GypsyQueeen · 27/08/2025 14:06

Thanks for the replies!

I can work in Jersey as have skills they can't recruit for on the Island, so that means we will have no housing restrictions.
Despite rent & cost of living being higher we will be able to stash quite a bit of money each month due to 20% tax, & having a couple of small properties here in the UK that we can rent out.

It seems safe, clean & the beaches are beautiful.

It might not be a forever move but I think it'll be a good plan for now. If we stay for 10 years the kids will also be able to live & work there with no restrictions when they're adults, so I like the idea of them having the option.

OP posts:
MerlinsButler · 27/08/2025 14:36

I spent 6 months in Jersey with work absolutely beautiful island. But expensive and there’s the issues re housing etc if you aren’t from there etc. great if you are into outdoors lifestyles / water sports etc.

Baital · 27/08/2025 14:59

Have lived overseas on 3 different continents and had a great time, so many wonderful experiences. Glad to be back in the UK, and DD is happy to be living here as an older teen. A very safe environment (not perfect, of course) and so much freedom and opportunity for young women. About to go to College to follow her dreams, at no cost to me.

A safety net for me as a single mother.

Good health care, free at the point of delivery. GP appt on the same day when necessary. Additional support at school through an EHCP.

Not perfect, by any means, and a postcode lottery for some services. But as someone on a relatively low income far better than many other places.

Of course, if you are on a high income then many places will be welcoming. Just make sure you keep your health and suck up to your boss.

Mumofmarauders · 27/08/2025 15:19

I have dual nationality (Aussie) but I wouldn’t. Partly because of logistics (navigating a different system for my disabled child, being far from my DH’s elderly mum who won’t fly), partly because I hate being hot! And tbh I belong here and so do my kids, we have a community and family (though tbf we have family there too) and a connection with the land and the history of the place we live, though my folks were the first generation to be here. I think that sense of belonging, however you get it, is really important to some people like me.
(Also the snake question - shudder)

Greenwitchart · 27/08/2025 15:33

I don't think I would.

I have lived in France and the USA previously so I have experienced what it is like to live abroad and you will find some issues and difficult people everywhere you go.

I think I would find places like Italy, Spain, Greece much too hot these days because of climate change and I would not want to live in the USA under Trump.

The only thing that I have in the back of my mind is that if England was mad enough to elect someone like Farage then I would make my way to Scotland and retire there...

Happyher · 27/08/2025 15:43

No - I love the U.K. Times have been hard before and we survived. I’m in the North where people are generally friendly. I’ve always lived in a multi cultural community so I have no issues about where someone was born. Life isn’t perfect but I’d rather be here than anywhere else in the world

Wynter25 · 27/08/2025 15:47

No

Reanimated · 27/08/2025 15:50

We could move tomorrow but my family is here, our friends are here, the winters and summers are fairly mild, there's the occasional flood or storm but your house isn't going to be flattened by an earthquake or tsunami, there is an abundance of history under our feet, you can get just about anything delivered within the day, we do a cracking Christmas and everyone knows how to queue.

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