Would your family be happier abroad? (MSN article)

[Winston]

It's funny that this new article has my site's name in its title. lol

Again though, why is it that the media and other expat sites only talk about economic issues and politically correct topics, as if romantic, social, psychological and sexual needs don't exist or don't matter? This article is an example. My site is the only one that addresses these needs. (Why am I so unique?)


http://money.uk.msn.com/consumer/articl ... =149599101

Would your family be happier abroad?

Naomi Caine, writing for MSN Money

September 09 2009

It's something we all wonder every now and again: should we leave the UK and settle abroad?

There are an estimated six million Brits living overseas and many are happy with their new lives, particularly if they are parents.

In fact, nine out of ten UK expat mums and dads think their children are benefiting from the experience of living abroad, according to the NatWest International Personal Banking Quality of Life Index.

The main advantage of the expat life is that it apparently teaches children self reliance.

Parents also believe that their offspring benefit from exposure to a different culture. Perhaps more damning of the UK is that seven in ten parents think their children are receiving a better education.

Are you thinking of moving abroad? Already done so? Share your thoughts

Where's best?
New Zealand tops the rankings for the best education system abroad, followed by Canada and Singapore - all countries where English is widely spoken.

Next is France, ahead of Australia and Hong Kong. Spain ranks bottom of the list of 12 countries surveyed, even though it is a popular destination for UK expats.

Given these overwhelming statistics, should we all be thinking of packing our bags, if only for the sake of the children?

It's not difficult to list the potential advantages of a life overseas. A warmer climate often tops the list, but there are also opportunities to learn a new language, get to know a different culture and enjoy the sense of adventure.

Surely it all broadens the mind and enriches the soul? Surely you emerge a more confident, independent and tolerant human being?

Don't forget the career factor
Yet the reasons we move abroad are probably more prosaic. More than half of people who emigrated in 2007 did so because of work, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Australia was the most popular destination, followed by Spain and New Zealand. Often we are offered better pay and conditions, as an incentive to uproot our homes.

So the decision might be based on hard economic facts as much as soft romantic dreams. In fact, it's hard to disentangle economics from emigration.

For example, when house prices rise, so does the number of people leaving the UK. They either use the wealth in their home to fund a new life abroad, or they jump at the chance to buy a mansion in rural France for the same price as a bijou flat in Kensington.

Send money abroad with MSN's currency service

Currency concerns another factor
A stronger pound is another link with high rates of movement abroad, according to research from the Institute for Public Policy Research.

Emigration also increases when unemployment is low: the more buoyant the economy here, the more confident we feel about expanding our horizons.

As the economy started to fall in 2007 so did the number of people leaving the country for 12 months or more, according the ONS. While 400,000 people left the UK in 2006, only 340,000 emigrated in 2007.

There are already reports that some expats are feeling the pinch. Brits living in France and Spain, for example, are struggling against high rates of unemployment. The falling pound is also wreaking havoc with expat lifestyles. Then there's the housing market, which in many countries has virtually ground to a halt.

Emigration on the up swing
But despite all this, there are some signs that the recession is actually pushing up the number of émigrés.

The latest data from the ONS shows that emigration has begun to pick up again: a total of 395,000 people left the UK in the year to December 2008.

Countries that have avoided the chilliest recessional winds, such as Australia and New Zealand, are among the most popular.

Of course, it is not always easy to emigrate - nor should the decision be taken lightly. You might have a right to live in another EU member state, but you might be refused entry to a country outside the union.

The visa application process can be hellishly complicated, with restrictions on all but skilled or "desirable" workers.

If you are planning to work overseas, you should check out your employment rights and your tax position.

Also, find out whether you will be paid in sterling or the local currency and if you be allowed to remain in the country if your job comes to an end.

Remember that some UK benefits are not paid outside Britain. You might also discover that you are not entitled to free healthcare and should make appropriate insurance arrangements.

Frequent traveller? A multi-trip insurance policy will save you loads

Think of the children
Parents need to find out all they can about schools and entitlement to school places. Again, free education is not universal.

You might also worry about your children's ability to cope in a local school, where the teachers and pupils speak the local language. A private or international school might be a better option, although it can prove costly.

"People are generally happy with their expat lifestyle once they have moved," said Alan Wood, area manager of NatWest International Personal Banking in Jersey.

"But the process of moving can be stressful and difficult, particularly if you have children.

"It's hard enough to find the right school in your own country, never mind overseas. And who is picking up the tab?"

Weigh up the pros and cons
You are more likely to flourish in your expat life if you move for the pull factors of your new destination rather than the push factors of disillusionment with the UK.

It's also good advice to integrate as much as possible into the local community. Of course, some people never settle overseas, perhaps underestimating the tug of family ties or native culture.

Or maybe they just come to appreciate that Britain isn't that bad after all.

Would your family be better of abroad? Share your thoughts on the forum

Related Links

* Staying at home cost you more this summer
* Find financial advice
* Check the latest exchange rates
* Compare travel insurance rates
* Boost as pound rises against euro