With around 3.5 million British expats living in different countries all around the world, it comes as no surprise that a large number of them consider it to be the best decision they've ever made. A recent study by iFast Global Bank, which polled 600 adults, showed that over two-thirds of British expats were happy with their move abroad. The remaining one-third of expats polled decided to move back home, as they couldn't deal with being away.
This doesn't mean that those happy with the move faced no issues with the big change at first. Around 29% of them struggled to settle into their new homes, and it took up to a year for some to stop missing home so much. Most of these Brits missed being able to understand the country's common language and not having to learn the system of how everything worked.
Despite this, British expats are largely not only very happy with their moves abroad, but highly recommend that others take the leap themselves.
Preparing for life as an expat
To try and minimize initial struggles, a lot of them sought to prepare themselves for life in a new country. They took the time to research properly what was soon to be their new home, from learning about the local culture and language to understanding what the weather would be like and what to expect in terms of the cost of living.
Some even looked into exchange rates before moving to prepare for quick conversion on the go. This is especially helpful for newcomers, as you're always comparing prices to what you're used to back home. It also comes in handy to have an idea of the local currency and exchange rate to avoid overspending!
The search for a better quality of life
So why did all these Brits move away from home? Some stated that they wanted to experience a new culture that they would otherwise have not been exposed to. Others set out to chase their dreams and gain their independence. Some felt the need to be plunged into a new environment and test their limits, while others just wanted to try out something new and different in general.
While these are all reasons that many people around the world may share, there are others that seem to be specific to UK citizens.
Work-life balance
Research conducted by the Post Office showed that 50% of people who considered moving abroad were doing so because they were looking for a better work-life balance. Statistics from 2023 have shown that UK employees work the longest hours among other countries in Europe (at an average of a whopping 42 hours a week!). It also states that 88% of employees in the UK experienced burnout in the last two years and that more than half of millennial fathers are looking for work that would allow them to spend more time with their families.
It comes as no surprise that around 300,000 Brits live in Spain, as the country emphasizes work-life balance. The Global Life-Work Balance Index has ranked Spain second globally, thanks to its generous annual leave allowances and average hours worked per week.
Around 270,000 Brits were willing to go even farther away, to sunny New Zealand, for the ideal work-life balance. Currently ranked first globally by the Global Life-Work Balance Index, the country boasts a minimum sick pay of 80% and 26 days of paid maternity leave at a rate of $177 per week.
Inflated cost of living
The same research by the Post Office found that a third of those surveyed felt motivated to live and work abroad in order to save money. Recent data has shown that the annual inflation rate as of December 2023 was 4%, and while the numbers are going down slightly, they are still higher than they have been in previous years.
Though experts predict that the cost of living will continue to go down in 2024, around 240,000 UK citizens have decided to call Dubai their home to escape Britain's expensive lifestyle. Though Dubai is still considered on the higher end of cost of living, it's still lower than the UK, and offers higher salaries with no income tax.
Political dissatisfaction
The political scene in the UK also seems to be one of the forces driving Brits away from home. A poll conducted with British voters through Omnisis revealed that over half of those asked would choose to leave the UK if given the chance. A different poll by Ipsos shows that 60% of those surveyed believe that the UK is generally heading in the wrong direction, further motivating people to find a new place to call home.
Many British expats have had a number of worries before moving abroad, including feeling lonely, not being able to make new friends, financial management, and adjusting to the local culture. Despite this, though, a large majority have found it to be a positive experience and recommend others try it out. Not only that, but the study conducted showed that 34% of those happy with their move even consider trying out somewhere new to live!
