roblpm Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 OK more moaning on here and elsewhere about the state of the UK, especially in regard to the younger generation. ie debt for going to college, impossibly high house prices, high energy prices, youth unemployment etc etc etc So I got to thinking if I was to advise my kids (now 9&11!) where to go where would I tell them??! As I have relatives in the states they could move there............ cheaper houses, but too many guns and not sure with their pre existing medical conditions that they would ever get medical insurance. So list of criteria is: a) English speaking? (Only due to laziness!! So not totally important.) State funded healthcare c) Good job prospects d) Reasonable House Prices e) Reasonable cost of living f) Niceish environment We live in Edinburgh so I would say we do ok for a (well scottish!!), b and f but not sure about c, d and e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashinmattress Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 OK more moaning on here and elsewhere about the state of the UK, especially in regard to the younger generation. ie debt for going to college, impossibly high house prices, high energy prices, youth unemployment etc etc etc So I got to thinking if I was to advise my kids (now 9&11!) where to go where would I tell them??! As I have relatives in the states they could move there............ cheaper houses, but too many guns and not sure with their pre existing medical conditions that they would ever get medical insurance. So list of criteria is: a) English speaking? (Only due to laziness!! So not totally important.) State funded healthcare c) Good job prospects d) Reasonable House Prices e) Reasonable cost of living f) Niceish environment We live in Edinburgh so I would say we do ok for a (well scottish!!), b and f but not sure about c, d and e Scandinavia. Sweden being the top of the list, and a lot of Swedish people speak and write English better than Britons do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggets Mahoney Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 (edited) So list of criteria is: a) English speaking? (Only due to laziness!! So not totally important.) State funded healthcare c) Good job prospects d) Reasonable House Prices e) Reasonable cost of living f) Niceish environment We live in Edinburgh so I would say we do ok for a (well scottish!!), b and f but not sure about c, d and e I love New Zealand and would still be living there if family ties hadn't brought me back to the UK. Unfortunately, it loses out on c), d) and e) and is currently suffering from net emigration on account of so many younger Kiwis moving over to booming Australia. At such a young age I'd be more focused on nurturing any portable, marketable skills my kids are showing any inclination and aptitude for. Languages for starters. Edited April 9, 2013 by Nuggets Mahoney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AThirdWay Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 OK more moaning on here and elsewhere about the state of the UK, especially in regard to the younger generation. ie debt for going to college, impossibly high house prices, high energy prices, youth unemployment etc etc etc So I got to thinking if I was to advise my kids (now 9&11!) where to go where would I tell them??! As I have relatives in the states they could move there............ cheaper houses, but too many guns and not sure with their pre existing medical conditions that they would ever get medical insurance. So list of criteria is: a) English speaking? (Only due to laziness!! So not totally important.) State funded healthcare c) Good job prospects d) Reasonable House Prices e) Reasonable cost of living f) Niceish environment We live in Edinburgh so I would say we do ok for a (well scottish!!), b and f but not sure about c, d and e You should wait 'til after the referendum before you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozen_out Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 (edited) Scandinavia. Sweden being the top of the list, and a lot of Swedish people speak and write English better than Britons do. This always comes up as a popular option. However, a lot of UK expats really don't get on in Scandinavia. I know a few who have tried it and the consensus seems to be it's a seriously acquired taste. It's difficult, everywhere has its pros and cons and it really depends what you value. It sounds to me like you want somewhere like Scandinavia, but with a US cost of living and English speaking. Don't we all Edited April 9, 2013 by frozen_out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 It is called the united kingdom but places within it can be so diverse both in climate and quality of life......I would travel around for a bit, you might find something you quite like much closer to home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheBlueCat Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 not sure with their pre existing medical conditions that they would ever get medical insurance. For the US that's not necessarily a show-stopper. Assuming they find work with a decent employer or that they have enough money to pay their own premiums for one of the Obamacare related plans, then they'll get coverage for pre-existing conditions. That being said, the US healthcare insurance system is a nightmare to deal with for expensive chronic conditions. US immigration is a whole different problem but they wouldn't be disqualified from getting a Green Card on health grounds unless they had something contagious. Where pre-existing medical conditions will potentially be a show-stopper is for countries that have free healthcare at the point of delivery. E.g Canada will not generally give permanent residence to anyone that will likely cost more than the average Canadian to the healthcare system (there's an exception for spousal sponsorship though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashinmattress Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 (edited) This always comes up as a popular option. However, a lot of UK expats really don't get on in Scandinavia. I know a few who have tried it and the consensus seems to be it's a seriously acquired taste. It's difficult, everywhere has its pros and cons and it really depends what you value. It sounds to me like you want somewhere like Scandinavia, but with a US cost of living and English speaking. Don't we all Bah, I will probably end up in Croatia or Slovenia when I retire. Cheap as chips and I have a lot of friends there... unless they start warring again. Swedes don't really want to integrate with Brits, especially as the moral compass between the two is mostly diametrically opposed. Still, it is a good country to move to when considering the options. NZ is nice, but sadly heading for a debt and employment crisis. Not much for high paying work there, or work in general. AUS is full of bloody red necks and nothing much in between. Good oil and mining money, but equally expensive property and too hot. Canada is ok, but winters are harsh and it is also huge and seriously lacking in any decent culture. Ok in cities if its your thing. America is fine if you stay away from the bigger cities, unless that's your thing. Europe? Well, depends on where. I don't think Brits seeking traditional employment in Europe will feel welcome. Even skilled is as such. Edited April 9, 2013 by cashinmattress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveAndLetBuy Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 (edited) OK more moaning on here and elsewhere about the state of the UK, especially in regard to the younger generation. ie debt for going to college, impossibly high house prices, high energy prices, youth unemployment etc etc etc So I got to thinking if I was to advise my kids (now 9&11!) where to go where would I tell them??! As I have relatives in the states they could move there............ cheaper houses, but too many guns and not sure with their pre existing medical conditions that they would ever get medical insurance. So list of criteria is: a) English speaking? (Only due to laziness!! So not totally important.) State funded healthcare c) Good job prospects d) Reasonable House Prices e) Reasonable cost of living f) Niceish environment We live in Edinburgh so I would say we do ok for a (well scottish!!), b and f but not sure about c, d and e If they are young then language differences should not be seen as an obstacle. In fact the opportunity to learn a different language is a bonus. Madrid ticks b ), d), e) and f) these days, and maybe in a few years it'll tick c) as well (in fact there's still plenty of work around for English teachers) Edited April 9, 2013 by LiveAndLetBuy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepless Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 (edited) Isle of Wight C job prospects bit dodgy but easy to nip back to UK on ferry Edited April 9, 2013 by sleepless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PricedOutNative Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Bah, I will probably end up in Croatia or Slovenia when I retire. Cheap as chips and I have a lot of friends there... unless they start warring again. Swedes don't really want to integrate with Brits, especially as the moral compass between the two is mostly diametrically opposed. I go to Croatia and Slovenia often but they’ve not been cheap for well over a decade, a flat in Zagreb or Ljubljana is going to cost as much as one in Berlin or Frankfurt, a decent size house/villa by the see can easily cost ~€300,000, the cost of food is no cheaper than Austria/Italy. The quality of health there is, from what I’ve heard, on a par with the NHS ( i.e. not that high compared with many western European countries). I can’t see there being war between Croatia and Serbia again, Slovenia was hardly touched by the war of independence anyway… I’ve only been there for a few weeks at a time but it does take some getting used to, people are generally better educated than in the UK but funnily enough more close minded/conservative; being openly gay out there might not be the best idea in rural areas for example… Not sure what you mean about Swedes moral compass, a number of IT guys I know have Swedish wives/partners and they seem pretty ‘connected’, although most think UK culture as a whole is selfish.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashinmattress Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 most think UK culture as a whole is selfish.. Yes, and greedy and corrupt us Brits are. Seen globally as a country full of people lying and cheating its way through life. I know about Slovenia as well, I'm there every summer for weeks with friends. You can still get a nice place in the north for a song. Nice place with land for less than 100k euros. Fixer upper of course. I'm talking north mountains, away from civilisation. Skofja Loka, Bovec, etc. Biker mecca. Hopefully they don't completely implode though with this financial crisis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyracantha Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Isle of Wight C job prospects bit dodgy but easy to nip back to UK on ferry Last I checked IOW hadn't declared independence... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepless Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Last I checked IOW hadn't declared independence... Yes we have - just not told anybody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjw Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Isle of Wight C job prospects bit dodgy but easy to nip back to UK on ferry Still very English - bliss! I'm sure Cameron has got an immigration scheme to "deal" with that "problem"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjw Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Another thought: if Spain crashes out of the euro, house prices there might be even cheaper - a beachfront property in a Alicante would suit me fine - and Spain is virtually English speaking in parts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjw Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 By the way, when reading foreign property portals has anyone ever managed to work out what a duplex means? It stumps me every time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 What most people are looking for is the UK, with slightly better weather, less arseholes and a culture that has not mostly turned to shite. I am afraid i don't think this place exists. As someone else says - a different area of the UK may be your best bet. Although its not gonna tick all your boxes - nothing is. Ps - your Edinburgh thread is still on the go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashedOutAndBurned Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Nicer part of one of the capital cities of a NuEU nation? The countries may be rough and poor overall but the capitals tend to be very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 The UK is not such a bad place to be. Bringing up a young family (as we are), commutable to all the main industrial centres can I say that our golden triangle drawn between Burton, Lichfield and Tamworth. The wife is an hour away from Sheffield by car (graphics team based there), an hour by train to London for client meetings, two airports (east mids/brum) for international travel each within half an hours drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swissy_fit Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 OK more moaning on here and elsewhere about the state of the UK, especially in regard to the younger generation. ie debt for going to college, impossibly high house prices, high energy prices, youth unemployment etc etc etc So I got to thinking if I was to advise my kids (now 9&11!) where to go where would I tell them??! As I have relatives in the states they could move there............ cheaper houses, but too many guns and not sure with their pre existing medical conditions that they would ever get medical insurance. So list of criteria is: a) English speaking? (Only due to laziness!! So not totally important.) State funded healthcare c) Good job prospects d) Reasonable House Prices e) Reasonable cost of living f) Niceish environment We live in Edinburgh so I would say we do ok for a (well scottish!!), b and f but not sure about c, d and e Switzerland, but no , no d) and no e). Spain but no c) and thus would not apply.) Iceland would be my choice if, as you presumably can if you're from Edinburgh, I could stand the cold, this is one of few places that has shown some resistance to the bankers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikthe20 Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 (edited) My vote would be Norway. They created a sovereign wealth fund rather than splurging their oil income like we did so have a pretty secure future economically. And their women are hot. Edited April 9, 2013 by mikthe20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadget Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 My vote would be Norway. They created a sovereign wealth fund rather than splurging their oil income like we did so have a pretty secure future economically. And their women are hot. Might fall down on the cost of living there... Also don't know about job prospects or ease of immigrating (being outside the EU) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Yes we have - just not told anybody Is it still 1952 on the IoW? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozen_out Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 (edited) My vote would be Norway. They created a sovereign wealth fund rather than splurging their oil income like we did so have a pretty secure future economically. And their women are hot. See my earlier point on Scandinavia. Norway, for all it's supposed attraction does not rate highly with expats. And if you think the British youth are lazy, ignorant and addicted to benefits... I seriously don't know why Norway scores so highly on all these standard of living exercises. Edited April 9, 2013 by frozen_out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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