Husband applying for jobs abroad and not sure what I would do?

[boymama55]

We’ve spoken on and off about potentially moving abroad for financial reasons as well as trying to achieve more of a work life balance for us as a family. I have 3.5 y/o and a just turned 2 y/o. We currently live in a 2 bed mid terrace and 2 years into a 5 year mortgage. Our oldest will start school next September and our youngest would qualify for 30 free hours from Jan 2026. We currently have no real savings, as everything has been going on raising 2 babies and childcare with any spare cash going on house maintenance.

We currently pay £700 on our mortgage - £500 of which is interest (🤯). My husband has been a teacher in private schools for over 10 years and I was in luxury retail management but after our second baby I decided to move to a ‘non career’ 9-5 admin job and currently work 4 days a week.

My husband finally started applying for jobs last month (he’s been wanting to move jobs for several years now) and had his first interview today for an international school in Thailand on the outskirts of Bangkok. We don’t know what the salary would be yet but from what was discussed today, they seemed to think we would be comfortable enough on just my husband’s wage whilst I worked out what I may do after we arrived and were settled. I doubt he would accept if offering less than what he was on now (£38k). The package seems pretty good - full free places for both children (would start next September) , healthcare for all of us, free accommodation whilst we got settled (v.small for a family of 4) and then housing allowance once we found something more permanent. I would be on a spouse visa and not sure how easy it would be to get a job that’s within my skill set that would be sponsored/provide a work permit. I would only want to earn enough to be able to contribute half towards bills, travel in the holidays and have my own money (we’ve always had a joint account that bills go out of and our own personal money for personal spending which works for us).

just wondering if anyone had experience of moving abroad with young children and or being a trailing spouse or knows of anyone that has and how did it pan out? I just feel a little uneasy moving somewhere that I might not be able to work at all. He’s also been looking at jobs in Brazil, Dubai and Singapore which I think wouldn’t be as tricky to get work if not specialised.

If we did end up moving abroad we would most likely rent out our house which would pay off our monthly mortgage and hopefully put us in a position where we could start making overpayments to ensure we were paid up ahead of retirement.

Universities and corporate training are good part time options for work in SE Asia..English is the official language of ASEAN and it has a future as an economic block.I live in Java and I live like a raja.... no more worrying if I can afford muesli.

IF you are also looking at ME serious, scrap Dubai and look at Ras Al Khaimah. Totally different vibe, plenty outdoor stuff, cheaper. I believe they are now offering golden visa to teaching stuff to an extent. Amazing place. My fave in ME/GCC so far.
But! Salaries are also lower (lowering all across UAE) so you might have issue finding a job which pays well, or actually job at all due to oversaturated job market. So bear that in mind if offer comes in from UAE.

But yes, as pp said wherever you go make sure you are happy with visa situation such as permission to leave, what if he/you lose job etc.

This sounds like an amazing thing to do. I would think Singapore is expensive cost of living wise if you aren't on a full package. I have a lot of friends who used to work in Singapore (not in teaching but in a related healthcare field) and then there were some policy changes where jobs had to be given to locals above expats, and they began to feel quite frozen out and less welcome as expats. Just something to look into.

Thailand is one of the safest countries I've ever had the pleasure to visit. I spent a month there earlier in the year.

There will be Brits and Europeans at the school and they will have developed the social side. My friend has done this in Da Nang in Vietnam and they are having a fabulous time, without small children though.

Thailand is a very cheap place to live. Good food costs very little eating out, think a fiver rather than 20 for a main course! The markets for vegetables are prolific, western shops less so. Health care is excellent (private).

Try and avoid living in the middle of Bangkok, the outskirts are better, and make sure you have access to a pool for cooling off. It can get hot, but you will acclimatise.

It sounds a great opportunity.

DH and I moved to UAE >6 years ago and I have a senior leadership post in a British curriculum school. We sold our house and got rid of almost everything. We love it here, have saved a great deal as we're both working. I was a deputy head in inner London earning 60k before I moved here, and although initially my take home pay didn't match, it does now. A good package has health insurance, visas, annual flight allowance and accommodation as well as free school places. I work with many teachers raising children here and few of them go back to the UK.

I've lived in Thailand and I've got to be honest I never want to set foot there again. Our international school was only international because the dad's were either British or American and the mum's Thai. Absolutely not international at all. The kids had no interest in making friends with my son. They had grown up together and couldn't see the point. Most teachers were there to met a Thai wife/women/smoke weed, most were only teaching as you can be a teacher there with any old degree, and had never taught outside of Thailand. The visa situation is really long winded and for us personally expensive. Admittedly is wasn't Bangkok so maybe that's why but we left after a year as the wage wasn't livable for a family of 3. For us a huge mistake. If you want good money, good housing allowence and medical strike it off your list ime.

It sounds like an adventure and a marvellous opportunity for your whole family. International schools can be great places and even if you can't get a job at first (TEFL teaching would be a good way in) there are so many clubs and societies for expats that you will never be bored or lonely. Go for it!