Is it really that bad???
 

I left the UK almost 11 years ago and am really missing home. I have been reading the comments posted on this site and I get the impression that England is the last place you should want to go!

Is it really that bad? Should I consider moving back?

I'd appreciate any conmments you have.

Thanks.:confused:

Hello there,

I suppose it depends on where you go and what you want. We're in Scotland trying to get to OZ. Not necessarily for the fantastic DREAMBOAT life but just a bit better quality, hopefully. Britain, in places, has increased in houseprices and general cost of living. Quite considerably in a few areas.

I think it very much depends on what do you want to come home from and what do you want to get away from.

I know this is not much help but just a few thoughts.

Ginny

Re: Is it really that bad???
 

Jeannie, I send similar emails to yours to my family and friends in the UK. The response I usually get is 'dont believe what you read in the papers'. Life plods on same as ever for all these people and they all seem quite happy with their lot! My parents are the ones I trust the most as they are extremely widely travelled and have lived overseas a number of times during their life (Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Bahrain). They swear that despite its drab weather life for them in UK is great, mainly because they can afford the best of the UK can offer - a nice house in a pleasant rural area combined with ability to travel overseas to interesting and varied locations several times a year. Of course not everyone is that lucky and without the ability to travel frequently I reckon life in the UK could be as dull as anywhere. If you dont have the money or the inclination to travel, you might as well be landlocked in a sunny place like Australia!

Herman/Ginny

I appreciate your thoughts. Life is not that bad where I am (the caribbean). I just miss home. I have tried to fit in here but it's not the same as the good old UK. The humour etc. is totally different and I feel as though I really belong back home. But everyone is discouraging me say "it's not the same as when you left" and "things are so expensive now" so I am torn.:(

I hear that kind of comment. Its nonsense. People are richer in the UK than they have ever been and compared to most countries in the world the average person in the UK live like royalty. The UK just has a national psyche driven by the press of being hard done by, eg the 'rip off Britain' campaign. Anyone who has spent time overseas knows this is rubbish spouted by rubbish journalist who seem to have nothing better to do than poison the press with their bitter tyrades.

Like you I've been living out of Britain for 11 years (5years in Singapore and 6 in Aus where I am now).

I miss home, and know that I will go back to live in the UK within the next few years as this country (Australia) is not my home and will never be.I did not emigrate to get away from the UK for a better life, it was work related with me, so it was never supposed to be forever.

The people who are discouraging you, have they lived outside the UK for years? or are they new immigrants abroad? Why I'm asking this is because to me it seems that the people who are discouraging about the UK haven't lived abroad for very long, or they are people who are still living in the UK. It seems to me a lot of people who want to go home (not all) are the people who have lived a good few years outside the UK, like 10 years and so on, and they are the ones which seem to want to go home for family reasons etc.

If you are torn, why don't you go back to the UK for a couple months, take a very long holiday if it's possible, so that you can make up your mind to whether you want to make the move back home or stay in the Caribbean. That way you can look around at the houses, jobs and the cost of living there again, basically life in general, and to see if you really do want to make the move back home. Only you can decide, and to be honest I wouldn't listen to the discouragers too much, only you can decide and know what is right for you.


cheers;)

Guys,

I really appreciate this advice!

I am getting discouragement from a mixture of people. One from someone who left the uk about 1 year ago is telling me that I wouldn't like it now and things have changed. I am also getting that talk from someone who has lived outside of the uk for over ten years but went back about 7 years ago for about 6 months.

I do have family over there, the closest being my sister. She really wants me to come back. The other problem is that since I have been here (Trinidad) I've gotton married and had kids. The kids would love to go but my husband is very hesitant. I know that the discouragement from others has played a major factor in this.

Anyway, I am going back in April (for the first time since I left) for two weeks to see my sister and other family. I suppose that at that point I will be able to see for myself what it is like now. I have a feeling though that this is going to make my feelings about wanting to go back even stronger. I wish I could take an extended vacation like you said but I have too many commitments here I'm afraid - family work etc.

I was born and grew up in London and I am very aware that house prices in London are through the roof now but I wouldn't mind living out of London if I returned. I guess I would have to get advice on where to go (a nice area) that isn't too expensive.

Hi there,

Dont want to put you off, but you are looking at 350000 pounds for a OK house outside of London and this would be semi detached 3 bed, the area will not be that nice either ... very heavy population, and a ZILLION cars etc ...

Most people on the OZ forum are cashing in on the housing market boom, to set up in OZ, for a quiter life with cash in the pocket, don't think taking 1m AU dollars is unrealistic, due to property here in the UK,

Best of Luck,

Actually, I checked out some prices on the net and I have seen loads of places, in decent areas for MUCH less than 350K. When I said "outside of London" I didn't mean just on the outskirts of London. I meant anywhere in England.

Have you checked out www.rightmove.co.uk

No. I'll check it out and tell you what I think.

Thanks!;)

Okay, I have just looked through the site and it is great! Lots of places to choose from and varying prices.

This will definitely help me to know what I am getting into if I do decide to move back.

Thanks again for putting me on to it.

You are right. We are returning to the area my parents chose after their life spookily mirrored ours. They lived in London in the 60's, got fed up with it and lived overseas for many years and then after weighing up all the options in the UK settled for working in Bristol and living in the South Gloucestershire countryside. My wife and I tend to agree with their choice, although I am obviously biased as I grew up there. A decent 3 or 4 bedroom house in a semi rural location, less than an hours drive into the centre of Bristol can be bought for under 250k. In fact we have seen many decent houses on the internet, followed up by viewings by my parents, which meet all our requirements and are 200k or less. Those who bleat about 350k house prices speak only for the areas close to London. Ignore them - its like me saying to buy a half decent 3 bedroom house in Australia you need $1 million. True for Sydney but not for the rest!

Another good site www.upmystreet.co.uk gives advice on neighbourhoods etc

£350,000 will buy a great house in London one of the most expensive cities in the world. We want to settle in Hampshire also expensive and we can find a lovely 3 bed detached for less than $250k in top area no worries and only pay 1% stamp duties.

People seem to forget its not just UK where house prices are rising although not sure they are any more in parts of Southern England. We sold our house in Oz and made 50% gain in 3 years. Everything in Brisbane is booming. I personally think prices are crazier here than in UK given the state of the country.