Emigrating somewhere

[Shaoxter]

I'm currently getting a bit bored of life in the UK for a variety of reasons (perhaps it's a mid-life crisis...) and wondering if there are any places around the world where the grass would truly be greener?

Things that have slowly been pushing me towards this are:
- Being taxed to death as middle/high earners
- Stagnating/falling wages in real terms
- Cost of living
- Poor VFM of public services, as an example I had to wait 7 months to get wisdom teeth removed
- Freaking roadworks everywhere, when one completes another one pops up along my commute
- Constantly being targeted as a BTL landlord (first world problem I know)
- VAT on school fees (yes another first world problem)

However there are some things I still really like about the UK such as the work life balance, the climate (yes really), the cheap cars and hugely accessible car scene/trackdays etc.

Does anyone have any first hand experiences of emigrating somewhere where quality of life has significantly improved?

[K87]

I have lived in eight countries and the only place that I would recommend to a younger person would be New Zealand especially if you have some trade skills and are prepared to work hard.

[wildoliver]

Shaoxter said:

I'm currently getting a bit bored of life in the UK for a variety of reasons (perhaps it's a mid-life crisis...) and wondering if there are any places around the world where the grass would truly be greener?

Things that have slowly been pushing me towards this are:
- Being taxed to death as middle/high earners
- Stagnating/falling wages in real terms
- Cost of living
- Poor VFM of public services, as an example I had to wait 7 months to get wisdom teeth removed
- Freaking roadworks everywhere, when one completes another one pops up along my commute
- Constantly being targeted as a BTL landlord (first world problem I know)
- VAT on school fees (yes another first world problem)

However there are some things I still really like about the UK such as the work life balance, the climate (yes really), the cheap cars and hugely accessible car scene/trackdays etc.

Does anyone have any first hand experiences of emigrating somewhere where quality of life has significantly improved?

I'd say the work life balance is very circumstance dependent, I'm not that convinced it's that great for a lot of people in the UK (at least while earning a decent living wage).

Climate. I can't imagine anyone liking this climate. It's just completely miserable. The odd sparkling day with crisp snow, autumn leaves or warm sunshine but predominantly damp and mild - cold.

I am however in the same boat. I'm tired of the UK. I also like some of the things you like, the cars and trackday side. Not the weather.

Oz is really hot on policing cars, it's worse than here, but I suspect the climate wouldn't suit you, I'm assuming you don't like heat, which rules out a lot of places people generally want to move to, which might be in your favour. If you don't mind the cold then Finland is a place I've always admired, but the very obvious suggestions I reckon are either Holland or Ireland, Holland having the obvious geographical benefits, Ireland having the language benefits and a very keen Motorsport scene. Both have similar weather to the UK.

[TownIdiot]

Will you need to work or not?

[nuyorican]

I sometimes wonder what Poland would be like. thoroughly nice people from the ones I'm met over here. Never visited but hear the country is doing well now?

Or Portugal for a nicer climate.

[rustyuk]

nuyorican said:

I sometimes wonder what Poland would be like. thoroughly nice people from the ones I'm met over here. Never visited but hear the country is doing well now?

Or Portugal for a nicer climate.

I work with a Polish chap who is working from home in Poland this week. He is moaning how it's more expensive than the UK.

[Shaoxter]

wildoliver said:

Climate. I can't imagine anyone liking this climate. It's just completely miserable. The odd sparkling day with crisp snow, autumn leaves or warm sunshine but predominantly damp and mild - cold.

I just returned from a week in Abu Dhabi and while it was nice to get some sun at this time of year, I wouldn't want to live anywhere that's hot and humid all year round with AC blowing at you constantly. It's also nice to have 4 distinct seasons throughout the year. Oh yeah and I absolutely hate mosquitos, they love to bite me.

TownIdiot said:

Will you need to work or not?

Yes, we are 41 and 38 with a young child so still need to work for some years yet! It would need to be somewhere with decent finance jobs which kind of rules out places around the Med etc.

[wildoliver]

Shaoxter said:

wildoliver said:

Climate. I can't imagine anyone liking this climate. It's just completely miserable. The odd sparkling day with crisp snow, autumn leaves or warm sunshine but predominantly damp and mild - cold.

I just returned from a week in Abu Dhabi and while it was nice to get some sun at this time of year, I wouldn't want to live anywhere that's hot and humid all year round with AC blowing at you constantly. It's also nice to have 4 distinct seasons throughout the year. Oh yeah and I absolutely hate mosquitos, they love to bite me.

TownIdiot said:

Will you need to work or not?

Yes, we are 41 and 38 with a young child so still need to work for some years yet! It would need to be somewhere with decent finance jobs which kind of rules out places around the Med etc.

If it's just the seasons you want then there's no shortage of places depending on your desirability to a country, because Europe isn't the easy move that it was post Brexit. Plenty of areas in the us have distinct and beautiful seasonal changes, I love the central east coast around the Carolinas, a very similar living experience to the UK but better in most areas.

Switzerland would probably be a good base for a finance based job with mild summers and nice winters, great place to live.

Canada is probably an easier move than the us. Not much car culture though. Maybe short list a few places and book some hols, I'd include Ireland though, I think it might tick a lot of your boxes.

[davek_964]

rustyuk said:

nuyorican said:

I sometimes wonder what Poland would be like. thoroughly nice people from the ones I'm met over here. Never visited but hear the country is doing well now?

Or Portugal for a nicer climate.

I work with a Polish chap who is working from home in Poland this week. He is moaning how it's more expensive than the UK.

It isn't, although for a lot of things it's not much cheaper. Public transport is much better and cheaper though, as are taxis.

I quite like it - Polish wife, so we visit Gdansk several times a year. Lovely beaches etc there, plus she has some attractive friends

[sleepezy]

K87 said:

I have lived in eight countries and the only place that I would recommend to a younger person would be New Zealand especially if you have some trade skills and are prepared to work hard.

Out of interest is that from recent experience? We spent quite some time there but about 25 years ago, back then it was a great place but apparently is very much challenged at the moment (from people I've met who live there) which I thought was a great shame. We tentatively considered living there back then.

Only place I've lived for a period of time is Papua New Guinea. Don't move there.

[TownIdiot]

Shaoxter said:

Yes, we are 41 and 38 with a young child so still need to work for some years yet! It would need to be somewhere with decent finance jobs which kind of rules out places around the Med etc.

You'd really need to research places that want your skillset and go from there.

Then whether your skills command the salary you will need to live

Does your current employer have offices in other countries?

[Vasco]

I don't get the attraction of Ireland. Been there (north and south) a few times and always came home disappointed. Weather the same or worse than England and natives drunk or god worshipers.
I enjoyed New Zealand but would need to check it out more thoroughly these days. Portugal has always been high on my list, visited quite a few times and like most of it.

[nuyorican]

I hear Haiti is quite vibrant.

Or

Czech Republic. Cold lager, lovely ladies.

[Doofus]

TownIdiot said:

Shaoxter said:

Yes, we are 41 and 38 with a young child so still need to work for some years yet! It would need to be somewhere with decent finance jobs which kind of rules out places around the Med etc.

You'd really need to research places that want your skillset and go from there.

Then whether your skills command the salary you will need to live

Does your current employer have offices in other countries?

Do you speak a foreign language? Do you have any foreign finance experience?

If you can't transfer with your employer, the it's highly likely you won't still be middle/higher earners.

[TownIdiot]

Doofus said:

Do you speak a foreign language? Do you have any foreign finance experience?

If you can't transfer with your employer, the it's highly likely you won't still be middle/higher earners.

Is there anywhere outside the offshore centres that is active seeking people in finance?

[richhead]

Just as a note of caution, moving wont make your troubles go away, you will take them with you.
I have lived in 7 different countries over the years, with work, mainly in europe, but also the us and canada.
All were great, but im back in england now, and will probably stay here.
For all its faults england isnt that bad.
However if you are set on it, please ignore me.

[marine boy]

Do it OP or you'll spend the rest of your life regetting you didn't

We moved to Italy, just outside Maranello about the same ages as yourselves with our two young children, lived there for 7yrs, loved it, best thing as a family we've ever done

Weather was great, bright crisp winters, 2 weeks of spring, scorchio summers, 2 weeks of autumn, food fantastic, skiing, lakes, culture on our door step, also used the location for exploring surrounding countries and even bought a house in a neighboring country

Was difficult at the beginning, leaving our home, family, friends, everything familiar but it was just the sort of family adventure we needed

Took us a year to get into the rythem of our new life, 2nd year much easier, after that everything became normal routine

Icing on the cake was the job offer that gave us the opportunity was the best job I've had, working for the best boss I've had and working in the best team I've had

If you're looking to work in finance have you considered one of the islands in the Carribean. Can thoroghly recommend that as an lifetime experience but You'll need to fly away for your holidays or you might get island fever, like cabin fever but with hot sunny beaches

[Alickadoo]

K87 said:

I have lived in eight countries and the only place that I would recommend to a younger person would be New Zealand especially if you have some trade skills and are prepared to work hard and you like sheep.

[Skeptisk]

We have lived in Switzerland, New Zealand and Denmark.

Switzerland was very good but long term a problem as the Swiss don’t really like or accept foreigners and you would likely end up having just ex pats for friends. Getting citizenship is hard and takes a long time. I really really liked it at first (and could speak German and French and understand Swiss German), but I got frustrated with certain aspects the longer we lived there.

NZ is not good at the moment. Very expensive but salaries are low and the place I worked had a really toxic culture. Back stabbers. Lovely countryside and Auckland was really diverse. Lots of areas felt half Asian. Too far away from everywhere else and outside of Auckland there isn’t much going on.

Denmark was great. Danish is a weird language though and it is even harder to make friends than in Switzerland. Even more miserable in the winter than in the UK. Very expensive. I really loved Copenhagen. We didn’t think we could live there long term though.

[Skeptisk]

We have lived in Switzerland, New Zealand and Denmark.

Switzerland was very good but long term a problem as the Swiss don’t really like or accept foreigners and you would likely end up having just ex pats for friends. Getting citizenship is hard and takes a long time. I really really liked it at first (and could speak German and French and understand Swiss German), but I got frustrated with certain aspects the longer we lived there.

NZ is not good at the moment. Very expensive but salaries are low and the place I worked had a really toxic culture. Back stabbers. Lovely countryside and Auckland was really diverse. Lots of areas felt half Asian. Too far away from everywhere else and outside of Auckland there isn’t much going on.

Denmark was great. Danish is a weird language though and it is even harder to make friends than in Switzerland. Even more miserable in the winter than in the UK. Very expensive. I really loved Copenhagen. We didn’t think we could live there long term though.