Coping with those VIPs – your kids!

So…you’ve decided to follow your dreams – or that great job offer – and move abroad! We receive many calls from anxious parents asking us how they think the kids will adjust. The good news is that they generally adjust far quicker than most adults.

The younger the child, the easier it is for them to adapt. It is generally acknowledged that children up to the age of seven are able to absorb and process what goes on around them quickly and effortlessly, and language is usually something that they are able to absorb readily and without much effort.

That is not to say that older children will not be able to cope, merely that it may require more effort on their part.

The essential thing is that you are enthusiastic about the move and that you include them in the preparations. If they think that you as a family are undertaking a huge adventure together, this will go a long way to making the move seem like something to look forward to rather than dread.

Discuss the move with them and talk about what they can expect to find on arrival. Highlight the advantages of the move and point out that family and friends are merely a short flight away and stress that holiday visits will be encouraged. And remember not to tell them this when volcanoes in Iceland are doing their worst!

Leaving friends behind is never easy but today, with the Internet and emails, it can be much easier, both for children and for you. Just make very sure that when you decide to rent or to buy a property that you have access to the Internet.

A few points for younger children:

• Encourage children to learn about your new home country in advance. Perhaps get an atlas and have a look at a map. Or if you can take them to a restaurant that serves food from your new country?
  
  
• If English is not the official language, perhaps a few lessons in the language of the country before you leave the UK will mean that they will have a good idea as to what is going on once they have to attend school
  
  
• Provide children of all ages with a notebook that they can write down all their friend’s email addresses and contact details to take with them. You may find that the computer, with all these vital details, gets damaged in the move
  

• Take photos of their new home and area if they have not yet seen it yet so that it looks familiar on arrival
  
  
• Arrange to visit new schools and meet teachers before the first day of school. When my daughter was young, her new school always appointed a ‘mentor’ for each new child – someone in the class who had been at the school for a while and could show her the ropes. You may suggest this…?
  
  
• There is nothing as comforting as a pet for younger children. Failing that, a favourite toy at hand at all times! My granddaughter had a favourite toy parrot, called ‘Parry’. As long as Parry was along for the ride all was well in her world, and she has made friends and is now thriving in Dubai. She has been transformed from quite a shy child into a well-balanced and confident one, so perhaps the move was actually beneficial
  
  
• My daughter went out of her way to make the acquaintance of other mothers so that her children would have friends over on ‘play dates’, a plan that seems to have been a great success!
  
  
• Each change of school means some adjusting to the school syllabus. There will be aspects your child has not covered and others where they will find themselves ahead of the class. If necessary it is essential that you either assist the child to catch up or seek help to ensure that they do not lag behind for long
  

• For older children the road is perhaps less easy. Apart from just the language, there are the social aspects. Teenagers need validation and approval from their peers and have usually formed a group of friends from whom they get this. Leaving these friends and changing schools will be challenging.
  

If they have excelled in the classroom, a new language will be daunting indeed and if they excel at sports they will feel that they need to start from the beginning to find their place in the sporting hierarchy. You will need to give them support and listen to their concerns to make sure that they are coping with the changes.

I must say that in my childhood we were eternally on the move and I don’t think I suffered overly because of it. Having emigrated myself I can testify to the fact that, with time and a bit of effort, you will soon all fit in and feel at home.

Kim

The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.emigrationguide.com

Buying a home overseas – some tips for you

This week I thought I would give you a few tips on buying a home overseas.

Become an information hog

There are countless sources where you can learn more about your overseas destination – books, magazines, the internet, property shows and so on. Seek out people who have made the move before you and gather as much data as possible on what to do and what not to do. Expat forums are a great place to start. Let the community know that you’re about to embark on a new journey and you could use all the help you can get … soon you’ll get the opinion of every member! Just remember to take some suggestions with a pinch of salt – if anything worries you or seems odd, seek out the opinions of others.

Decide on an area/region

This may or may not be predetermined. If you are relocating for a job, it may make this matter very easy. If you have free rein, keep your list of intentions close to hand while researching various areas.

Fine-tune your objective

By now you’ll have quite a bit of information under your belt. Write down brief details about your preferred area, type of property, number of bedrooms, maximum budget, climate, geography and every possible element you can think of. Do you want a pool, patio, garden or garage? Once you’ve nailed down your ideal home, you can then elicit the help of professionals to find it.

Contact the professionals

Contact the necessary people who can help you achieve your objective. These may include a developer, agent, private vendor, accountant, financial adviser & international payment specialist.

Book a viewing trip

Some people do not have the luxury of viewing properties before they relocate. If this is the case for you, I strongly suggest that you move overseas into rental accommodation to begin with. By doing so, you can get a feel for the various areas, listen out for potential noisy neighbourhoods and ask around as to what area will suit you best. If, however, you can get overseas for a viewing trip, make the most of your time. Prior to arrival, have the agent/developer send you the details of the properties you will be viewing. You can eliminate any properties that don’t tick all your boxes.

Research the agent/developer

The internet is a very good device for detective work. There are quite a few crooks out there, so it’s very important that you work on referrals from previous buyers, who often post their experiences online. Buying a new home in the UK is a massive project, but buying one overseas is even more momentous. Spend time making sure that you’re dealing with good, reliable, trustworthy companies. When meeting the agent/developer, ask them if you can have the details of a few previous clients to call, or wait at their offices and ask any buyers who walk in.

Analyse properties, areas and the financials

The OGC Resource Centre has an excellent worksheet that will allow you to analyse each property, area and the costs involved in purchasing a property. Just call them on 0207 898 0549 for more information.

Read the contract of sale

Don’t ever sign anything in a language you do not understand and take the time to read everything. In some countries, lawyers are not very efficient. You will need to make sure you take responsibility and ask questions. If something doesn’t seem right, find out if you can change it.

Retain an independent solicitor

This is the single most important piece of advice. Please do not fall for the developer/agents attempts to “help” you by introducing you to their lawyer, or their friend who is a lawyer. In fact, find out who your agent/developer recommends for the sole purpose of knowing who not to use. If possible, get a recommendation from someone independent.

Send money through a specialist

I’ve seen people lose huge amounts of money due to fluctuating currency exchange rates. The story is always the same … the buyer decided to buy a property in January, budgeted at a rate of X and then when they went to pay for the property a few months later, they had to find £10,000-£50,000 extra. Don’t let this happen to you!

Kim

The Overseas Guides Company

http://www.emigrationguide.com/

Buying a home overseas

Should you be buying?

Selling a house in the UK is relatively easy and cheap, yet the same is not necessarily true in other countries. In some countries local registration taxes could mean that the house has cost you up to 10% more than a developer is selling the same house for, estate agents charges could be up to 10 % more and banks on a private sale may only be prepared to provide a mortgage of up to 50% of your hoped for selling price. The net result is that if you come to sell you may only be able to realize half what it cost you (assuming a stable market), or not be able to sell for a very long time. So in some countries it is probably unwise to buy if you plan to return to the UK or relocate within your chosen country. Long term rental, which is far more common abroad, may provide a viable alternative. If you do decide to buy try to ensure that it is a house that you plan to live in for a very long time, which means careful selection rather than a rushed buy, or rent first to really assess everything locally.

Decide what you want

Your intention may be to buy a property in your new destination by a certain date. But what do you actually want from your new home? Have you, for instance, decided whether to go for a new build or seek out a character property? Have you worked out how many rooms it should have and whether or not you require outside space? And have you established what functions it needs to perform for you and the rest of your family?

If you don’t know what you want, others will often make assumptions and decide for you – especially in the world of property sales. Take some time to create a wish list and another detailing the things that you definitely don’t want. The more specific you are about your likes and dislikes from the outset, the higher the chance you’ll have of finding your dream home.

Your finances

Before you buy a property you may wish to consider:

° Your maximum budget. Bear in mind that if you’re going to use the proceeds of a property sale, the amount you eventually have at your disposal in your destination currency will change day-to-day, depending on the exchange rate. It’s therefore imperative to talk to a currency specialist to ensure that your proceeds do not decrease.

° All the costs involved in buying a property at your end destination (taxes, maintenance, solicitors, fees).

° When you’ll have access to the funds needed to purchase a property.

° How to finance the property - savings, UK remortgage, proceeds from the sale of your current property, overseas mortgage, off-shore mortgage and so forth.

The overseas property buying process

Every country has a different process for buying and selling property. By understanding the process, you can ensure that things are progressing quickly and legally. Don’t fall into the trap of unscrupulous property agents/developers - there are many out there. While trying to persuade you to buy, they’ll be your best friend and make you feel like a part of the family, yet when problems arise, they’ll quickly disappear.

Note: If you haven’t yet made arrangements to move into a property in your new country of abode, the OGC Resource Centre are in touch with a number of really good property professionals in many countries, thanks to our readers and to members of our team who have themselves invested in property abroad. If you need any help here, run it by them and they may be able to point you in the right direction. Just call 0207 898 0549. There is also plenty of information relating to buying property abroad in specific locations - including France, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Portugal.

Kim

The Overseas Guides Company

http://www.emigrationguide.com/

5 secrets to financial fitness

We are constantly being told to ‘keep fit’ - here are a few secrets to your financial fitness:

Get motivated
Set yourself realistic goals and work out what you need to do to achieve them. Get a financial personal trainer (or Independent Financial Advisor – IFA) to whip you into shape. Use them to help you come up with an effective wealth and fitness program. Have a clear vision of what you are trying to achieve and make sure your game plan is always on track.

Get active
Take an active interest in your finances. Keep yourself informed. Book yourself in for a full financial health check. Regularly review your policies and investments. Make sure you know exactly what plans and policies you have and why you have them. The financial landscape is always changing…make sure your portfolio matches the market and your current plans.

Look after your health
There is nothing more important than your health. In order to earn the income you use to fuel your financial planning you need to be fit and well. Stay healthy and make sure you have planning in place to provide quality healthcare and financial security in the event of ill health.

Cut out bad habits
Just like health and fitness, a bit of discipline is necessary to get your money in tip top condition. Review your bank statements to ensure you aren’t wasting any money. Draw up a budget with an allowance for financial planning. Minimise and manage your debts. Make it a top priority to be debt-free.

Build strength and balance
Now that you’ve got the basics sorted, it’s time to make you financially stronger. Pump that financial iron! Gradually accumulate capital through regular saving. Balance your portfolio with investment in different asset classes and products with different levels and classes of risk.

Get yourself an IFA to help you achieve the maximum financial benefit for your finances, both now and into the future – the key is knowing what to do with your funds, and when. You may like to chat to the OGC Resource team about this – give them a call on 0207 898 0549.

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.emigrationguide.com/

What is the cost of living looking like?

It’s no secret that the cost of living varies dramatically between countries. For instance, every country that has joined the EU has seen it’s cost of living rise quite dramatically…but then they have also seen their standard of living rise too so I suppose it’s a case of swings and roundabouts.

When you decided to emigrate I am sure that you looked at costs, including those to buy property and to move, but did you factor in the day to day cost of living? This can make quite a difference in your life style, to where you live and how you live. It would take more space than I have here to discuss each and every country in detail, but I have a few pointers that you may like to think about.

Food
In many countries, although food can be costly in the main cities it is usually much cheaper in more rural areas. You may also find that there you will be able to buy fresh produce locally, which will dramatically reduce the bills. My colleague Alexis, who has a home in France, visits the local weekly market to buy fruit and vegetables and says that the savings are quite dramatic. However it bears remembering that in, say, Greece, the islands - although many are rural - are sometimes more expensive as goods have to be shipped in. These are the things that you need to find out in advance and factor into your plans before you buy.

Utilities
The costs will vary, depending on the size of your home, how many people live there and where you are located. There may, however, be more than one provider and perhaps a comparison exercise would throw up a cheaper provider. A word to the wise here: my son has a far cheaper telephone line than mine, but there is always a problem with it…what’s the use of that? Best case scenario is that you chat to a local.

Schooling
You may find that free State schooling is available. But how good is it? And do you need to live in a more expensive or a rural area to access a better school? In South Africa for instance there are only a handful of State run schools that are rated as acceptable…and private schools really cost. This is the sort of thing that a good estate agent can give you the low-down on.

Health
You need to do your research here. Is there a State health care system that residents can use? If not you will need to pay for healthcare and this can prove very expensive. It is essential to check this out before committing yourself as this can be a deal breaker.

Transport
Costs can vary tremendously. You need to check this out carefully. In Johannesburg, South Africa, for instance there is virtually no public transport system at all. I had a bad car accident and no longer wished to drive, and it is not safe to walk…problem! Also, if one partner works and one cares for the children then you need two cars…and this cost needs to be factored in. Plus registration, insurance, fuel, garaging…

So you can see that ‘cost of living’ actually means the cost of living YOUR life. There may well be some things that are non-negotiable but there may be other things that you can compromise on in order to exchange your present life for one that you perceive to be better. The point is that you need to do your sums and take all the factors into account before deciding exactly where you are going to put your roots down.

Good luck – and please let us help you. We at the OGC Resource Centre have spoken to hundreds of folk like yourselves who are planning a move abroad. And also, sadly, those who have returned, having found that all was not as they thought it would be. Let us share our expertise with you – just phone 0207 898 0549 and have a chat.

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my website at: http://www.emigrationguide.com/

Save yourself £1000's

Let’s face it, the whole thing hinges on this. You need to make sure you have all your financial matters tied up. It is the one thing you do not want to be sorting out at a distance.

Open a specialist currency trading facility

It’s important to set up an account with a currency company to transfer any monies to and from your relocation destination, rather than using your high street bank. Don’t wait until the last minute and be forced into taking poor rates – with time on your side you will have more opportunities to secure a better rate.


Currency exchange specialists will save you money by …

- Offering better-than-bank exchange rates – on a £100,000 exchange, a currency company can save you up to £4,000 by providing better rates compared to those offered by your high street bank.

- Giving you the option to fix a rate of exchange for a currency purchase in the future. This is helpful if you know when you are moving and expect sterling to worsen against the currency of the country you are moving to. Also, by fixing a rate, you can set a budget rather than worrying unnecessarily about currency fluctuations – you will know in advance exactly how much money you have available when you reach your new country.

- Reducing or possibly eliminating receiving fees imposed by overseas banks. Some fees can be as high as £500.

- Servicing your international transfers with no fees, charges or hidden costs on transfers over £3,000.

- Streamlining regular payments at better-than-bank exchange rates for transfers such as pension, savings or mortgage payments.

There are several currency specialists, but the one that stands head and shoulders above the rest is Smart Currency Exchange. Give them a call on 0808 163 0102, or to get a currency quotation, go to: www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/smartsquotation.htm. Smart also offers an exceptional free guide plus currency worksheets explaining everything you need to know about sending money overseas. Although the guide is for people buying overseas property, anyone interested in sending money overseas would find it useful.

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my website at: http://www.emigrationguide.com/

Moving Overseas – I can’t make that happen…can I?

What is the difference between people who make their dreams come true and those who don’t? It’s not the act of making painful decisions, nor does it have much to do with having loads of money. People who live their dreams didn’t get what they wanted by selling their soul, struggling against the tide or gaining a windfall from the lottery!

Achieving the dream of living overseas is possible for anyone. Like any big project, it takes a vision and small steps that take you closer and closer to living that dream. People who have successfully made the move overseas didn’t wake up one day and think, ‘It’s official – I’m moving overseas today!’ Instead, they started with a niggle in their stomach. Something inside them felt excitement at the thought of the Mediterranean view from a Spanish villa, a field of wild flowers behind a cottage in France or a condo in America with a BBQ grill big enough to cook 100 hamburgers. And from that niggle, tiny actions were taken – one leading to another.

Sooner or later, if small actions towards a vision continue, the momentum starts to build and the vision becomes more and more achievable. Looking on the Internet for properties on Monday could lead to emailing an estate agent on Wednesday. After a phone conversation with an agent, a fact find regarding visas might follow. Then perhaps a few hours on ex-pat blogs (web journals) a month later and you will understand how to find employment. Perhaps the next step will be to visit a property show and discover finance options that you never knew were available.

When faced with a large project or massive change, many people tend to freeze and think, ‘I’m nuts. How could I actually follow that dream? I don’t have enough money…I don’t know the language…I don’t ’. These are usually the same people who have had the same job and the same complaints (about the same job) for years and years and years. These are the people that want more, constantly complain about how they deserve more, but never actually get up and take action. These are the same people who react to life and bumble along letting life take whatever course it puts on their path. Are you a bumbler? I hope not!

Why not make 2011 the year that you start taking tiny actions? Search the Internet, go to an exhibition, book an overseas visit, buy a book or create a journal outlining everything you want. You have a choice – you can focus on how miserable living in the UK is or you can put your attention on how great it will be when you are sitting in the sun, eating fresh fruit and watching your family play in the garden.

When I first had the thought that an overseas life was calling, it scared the pants off of me. I was £30,000 in debt, had no assets, no job and my destination country made it almost impossible for me move there. Added to this, there was no easy way of obtaining a visa to work - let alone stay. Objections aside, my first action was to write in my journal announcing my niggle. I wrote something like this: “I would like to meet a handsome prince [from my country of choice] who will marry me, buy me lots of clothes and pay off my debt.”

A few months later I met a guy during a networking event – he almost fit the bill. The guy was wealthy but he wasn’t a prince nor did he have all his teeth. Needless to say, within 6 months and taking a lot of small actions I sold my possessions and moved overseas. That was over 14 years ago and to this day, I can confirm it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Not only am I living my dream, but I’ve applied my small step approach to all things in my life – I now have overseas homes (yes – more than one), an amazing husband (who has all his teeth), no debt and an all round wonderful life. So – don’t be a bumbler. Start taking some small steps and discover what life abroad has in store for you!

Kim

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my website at: http://www.emigrationguide.com/

Non-res status: how do you achieve this? Part 2

I’m back to continue our discussion on what you need to do to make sure that you have effectively cut off ties with the UK in terms of living here. You will need to do this in order to get that non-res status that will allow you to pay tax in your new county rather than in the UK.

As we discussed, the overall pattern of your life must reflect your declared non-resident status and the fact that you have left the UK for the foreseeable future. I pointed out a few measures you could take and promised I would continue with a few tips relating to tax and finances.

Tax

- Send the completed form P85 to HMRC, declaring that you are a non-resident
- You would be well advised not to return to the UK for an entire tax year if possible. This will emphasise the break in residence
- Do not return to the UK for more than 90 days a year in subsequent tax years, remembering to factor in travel days in this number. It seems they are now counted…

Finances

- Cancel all UK credit cards and reduce balances in your UK bank accounts
- Pay all UK accounts and close them. Demand evidence that they are closed in the form of a letter of acknowledgement
- Consider transferring pension arrangements overseas

Cars

- Sell your car and cancel your car insurance and subscriptions to motoring organisations

And then finally, in your new country of residence, once you have moved abroad

- Establish employment or business links in the new country if you are planning to work there
- Obtain a residence permit where necessary
- Contact the local tax authorities to inform them that you have become a resident
- Purchase or rent a property locally on a long lease and buy a car there
- Register with a doctor and dentist in your new country
- Open a local bank account
- Establish social and cultural connections in your new homeland by perhaps joining clubs etc
- Register children at schools if appropriate
- Have a will drawn up in your new country of residence

Provided you can show that your personal, financial and social connections are now firmly lodged abroad you'll have a good chance of non domicile status being accepted. Best of luck, and I’d love any input from you on your findings.

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my website at: http://www.emigrationguide.com/

Non-res status: how do you achieve this? Part 1

You would think that once you have left the shores of the UK and emigrated you would have cut the ties that bind…especially those pesky tax ties! Unfortunately it’s not that easy.

In the past, providing you were in the UK for a certain length of time only, you were no longer considered a resident. Your absence and employment from the UK had to cover a complete tax year (that is 6 April to 5 April), you had to spend less than 183 days in the UK during the tax year and your visits to the UK should not average 91 days or more a tax year over a maximum of four years.
But things have changed and HM Tax and Revenue Services are becoming far more demanding – and watchful.

Just moving overseas won't be enough to establish that you've got a new domicile. Essentially you need to show that you've severed your UK ties totally and that you are living overseas on a permanent basis. There's a burden of proof and it is not something that is easy to convince the tax man of.

So…how do you make sure that you qualify for non-resident status? A suggested checklist of what you need to do: let’s start with

Property in the UK:
-Sell your UK property or let it out for at least 12 months - do not leave it unoccupied
-If you are letting the property, ask a UK agent to deal with the property on your behalf
-Pay all property bills before you depart the UK
-Notify your house insurers that you are emigrating and adjust the insurance accordingly
-Notify your mortgage lender that you are emigrating
-Notify your local council that you no longer reside at the property
Business matters in the UK:
-Consider resigning from any UK company directorships or company secretarial positions
-Consider disposing of your UK business interests altogether
Other UK matters:
-Notify your UK doctor and dentist that you have left the UK
-Cancel your UK sporting and social club memberships
-You would be wise to appoint an attorney in the UK who is empowered to deal with your UK affairs

I am going to continue with a few suggestions next week on matters relating to taxes and finance…and more.

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my website at: http://www.emigrationguide.com/

Now You Can Increase Your Pension Income by Moving it Overseas!

When living, emigrating or retiring abroad there are very important matters to consider concerning the amount of income that you and your family will receive.

British pensions – when paying out – are now deeply unattractive. The income generated by a pension is restricted by the fund. Only 25% of the fund value is available as a tax-free lump sum. The annual/monthly amount paid is taxed at source. The pension holder is forced to take out an annuity whether they need it or not. And sadly, a major proportion, if not all, of the final proceeds on death often disappear back to the insurance company rather than going to loved ones. Add to all this the ‘black holes’ (underfunded company schemes) that abound and the situation is indeed dire.

Many people are interested in alternatives. They’d like to have the option to increase the amount of overall income they receive and to be able to leave ALL unused pension funds to their partner and/or children. Many don’t want to be forced to invest 75% of their pension into an annuity that may produce deplorable or at best limited returns.

People want to have more control over their pension pot and remove the UK governments’ ability to dictate what they do with it. In the current risky financial climate many find themselves asking, “Do I want to run the risk of my former employer screwing up my pension funds by creating a massive pension deficit that they can’t fund...and then going bankrupt and bringing down my pension fund with them?”

Fortunately, if you’re going to emigrate or no longer live in the UK, there are excellent alternatives available. In 2006 new EU legislation opened up opportunities for UK pension holders to move their pensions overseas, thus giving greater control to the pension holder. However, the UK authorities will only allow you to transfer a pension abroad if the scheme meets certain criteria. Firstly you need to be living, or going to live, abroad and secondly you must remain living abroad.

Whilst you don’t have to reside in the same country, the scheme needs to be registered with an authorised trustee within the legal jurisdiction of the country it’s based in such as Spain, America, Australia, Guernsey or Hong Kong. Also, it must be a true pension scheme, not a vehicle that simply allows pension holders to access all their funds immediately, tax free.

The benefits of a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS – pronounced Crops) can be extremely advantageous. It may be possible for you to:

Eventually take out the majority of your fund by the time you reach retirement over and above the UK’s 25% threshold

Set it up so that any unused pension monies can be left to your heirs – not your annuity provider or your previous employer’s fund

Avoid UK income and inheritance taxes

Receive income in a more tax efficient manner than offered in the UK and/or have more freedom with your investments rather than having to follow set UK procedure (diversify investments)

Take income from the currency of your choice avoiding adverse exchange rate conversions

Avoid having to buy an annuity (when you die your annuity goes with you, meaning that the hard work that helped you create your pension does not get passed to your beneficiaries)

The good news is that getting a QROPS can greatly benefit anyone planning to move overseas or those who have already moved. The not-so-good news is that it takes 5 years of being a non-resident and moving the pension for a QROPS to show real benefits. That’s why it’s important to consider your options now rather than later.

After your pension scheme has been transferred and you’ve been non-resident outside the UK for 5 years the QROPS Trustee no longer has to report any withdrawals or payments to the HMRC. This is when the relevant overseas jurisdiction takes over and UK laws such as the requirement to buy an annuity by age 75 (or be faced with an 82% tax charge) no longer apply.

After the 5 years, QROPS arrangements can offer more flexibility, greater income potential and more investment potential than a UK pension. Furthermore, it’s amazing what can be done with regards to various tax benefits.

To get the full QROPS guide please email me at: emigration@overseasguidescompany.com

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my website at: http://www.emigrationguide.com/

What is the cost of living looking like abroad?

It’s no secret that the cost of living varies dramatically between countries. For instance, every country that has joined the EU has seen it’s cost of living rise quite dramatically…but then they have also seen their standard of living rise too so I suppose it’s a case of swings and roundabouts.

When you decided to emigrate I am sure that you looked at costs, including those to buy property and to move, but did you factor in the day to day cost of living? This can make quite a difference in your life style, to where you live and how you live. It would take more space than I have here to discuss each and every country in detail, but I have a few pointers that you may like to think about.

Food
In many countries, such France and Portugal for instance, although food can be costly in the main cities it is usually much cheaper in more rural areas. You may also find that there you will be able to buy fresh produce locally, which will dramatically reduce the bills. My colleague Alexis, who has a home in France, visits the local weekly market to buy fruit and vegetables and says that the savings are quite dramatic. However it bears remembering that in, say, Greece, the islands - although many are rural - are sometimes more expensive as goods have to be shipped in. These are the things that you need to find out in advance and factor into your plans before you buy.

Utilities
The costs will vary, depending on the size of your home, how many people live there and where you are located. There may, however, be more than one provider and perhaps a comparison exercise would throw up a cheaper provider. A word to the wise here: my son has a far cheaper telephone line than mine, but there is always a problem with it…what’s the use of that? Best case scenario is that you chat to a local.

Schooling
If you are moving within the EU you may find that free State schooling is available. But how good is it? And do you need to live in a more expensive or a rural area to access a better school? In South Africa for instance there are only a handful of State run schools that are rated as acceptable…and private schools really cost. This is the sort of thing that a good estate agent can give you the low-down on.

Health
EU countries have a State health care system that residents can use and that EU visitors can access for emergency health care if they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Other countries vary so you need to do your research here. Otherwise you need to pay for healthcare and this can prove very expensive.

Transport
Each and every country has a different transport scheme (or not…be warned!) and costs vary tremendously. You need to check this out carefully. In South Africa for instance there is virtually no public transport system at all. Plus it is not safe to walk…problem! Also, if one partner works and one cares for the children then you need two cars…and this cost needs to be factored in. Plus the registration, insurance, fuel, garaging thereof…

So you can see that ‘cost of living’ actually means the cost of living YOUR life. There may well be some things that are non-negotiable but there may be other things that you can compromise on in order to exchange your present life for one that you perceive to be better. The point is that you need to do your sums and take all the factors into account before deciding exactly where you are going to put your roots down.

To buy a copy of the Emigration Guide go to: http://www.EmigrationGuide.com/guide.htm

Kim Brown
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit my website at: http://www.emigrationguide.com/