Ideas for moving abroad please !

[LDC134]

Hi, I am considering moving abroad, am early 40's and well travelled but I am fed up living in England with high taxes and thieving politicians. I would be interested in anyones ideas on where to live abroad, especially because I get the impression some of you already live abroad, so would be interested in the benefits and negatives, for where you live. I don't have any transferable skills so Australia is likely to be out of the question, I think.

[sandyRoe]

There's massive unemployment in the EU. A foreigner with no 'transferable skills' would find it tough finding work. How are you going to live?
I remember reading somewhere that 50% of people who go abroad to live eventually return home. If you sold property to finance the move and did decide to return, you'd find you couldn't afford anything like the property you had sold.

[Sqad]

I nagree with sandy............how will you earn a living abroad?

[AB Editor]

So you're after somewhere with low taxes and honest politicians?

The latter is impossible.

And the first, well, the UK isn't too bad for taxation considering the services we get for it. Can you live without free healthcare?

Spare Ed

[bednobs]

the "how will you earn a living" question is really important - it will probably dictate where you go. If you want to live anywhere legally, you will still have to pay taxes if you are earning you know!
Also, what places have you liked while travellign?

[R1Geezer]

most of the world has higher taxes and theiving politicians. we have the lowest direct taxation in Europe. I fear the grass may not be as green as you think. Move to Scotland or Wales who are subsidised by the English that should make you 120% better off than now. The downside is they are absolute sh1tholes, still can't have everything eh?

[JonnyBoy12]

The AB Editor is right. I do not know any other countries, which have free healthcare like the National Health Service, so this is what we pay our taxes for. As the old saying goes "A cynic is a person who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing".

Hope this helps.

[LoftyLottie]

I think you mind find that other countries have problems much the same plus a lot of other issues too. The grass is always greener on the other.

I know people who have recently returned from Australia and New Zealand because the good life they expected just didn't happen and they had the job skills necessary to go there in the first place.

[R1Geezer]

remember the £10 trip down under after the war? Loads of people paid £10 for a one way trip to Australia where a better life was to be had, many found it a lot did not because the sort of mentality that thinks the grass is always greener will fail where ever they go.

[Sqad]

red.......<<<<comes running back to bad old blighty for healthcare and housing?<<<<<

same old....same old......healthcare in Europe is on the whole superior to that of the UK.......I can´t understand this recurring comment.

[Dris]

We've had our house in Spain for over 5yrs now bought with the view of moving permanently-aint gonna happen anytime soon sadly.Good for holidays though!!

I know a couple of people who have relocated to France quite successfully -there is an ABer who lives in France who may be able to tell you what its like (forgot the name sorry)

[sandyRoe]

The government tells us we have the best health care in the world. That's one lie that lots of people seem to believe.
Being abroad on holiday is one thing. Living in a foreign country, perhaps not speaking the language, and not having the support of family and friends around you, it quite another.
As others have already said: The grass is always greener...

[R1Geezer]

that's just untrue sqad, you don't have insurance you fix yourself mate. Ok there is some sort of NHS in most of Europe but it's not a patch on ours and if it ain't local, tough. I remember my sister having a baby in Spain, she wasn;t allowed into the Hospital till she produced the insurance paperwork in between contractions, uncivilised I'm afraid. Britain, I'm delighted to say, is one of the few places in the world where you can get hit by a truck and get repaired even if you are potless. Ok sqad you can move on to how disgusting we are now....

[237SJ]

Lots of my British colleagues live in Europe (and some beyond). I haven`t met anyone that has come back yet however, things haven`t been so rosy for them since the Euro gained against the pound. That made a big difference as they`re paid in pounds.

[Sqad]

R1Geezer

<<<<<<<Ok sqad you can move on to how disgusting we are now...<<<<<

That is not necessary..

[Dris]

Why does RIGeezer continue to get away with making such inaccurate sweeping nasty comments ?

Just cant help himself even on a thread in Travel -how sad....

[bednobs]

also meant to add, what languages do you have? That might also limit/expand where you go

[McMouse]

My cousin retired to France several years ago. He and wife have no issues with local health care but does find his pension (paid in £) doesn't go as far these days.

[R1Geezer]

what is innacurate, sweeping or nasty, sqad always says the place is dirty. My comments on the NHS etc are accurate as are my recounting of experiences in Spain. So dris, pray tell me eh?

[Dris]

'R1Geezer most of the world has higher taxes and theiving politicians. we have the lowest direct taxation in Europe. I fear the grass may not be as green as you think. Move to Scotland or Wales who are subsidised by the English that should make you 120% better off than now. The downside is they are absolute sh1tholes, still can't have everything eh? '

An inaccurate sweeping nasty and uneccessary statement ....