Leaving the USA.. to somewhere cheaper

**mango** · 10-14-2011, 04:41 PM

It's funny how your prespective can change. I'm Australian and this is our third time living offshore. First two times I was always dreaming of getting back "home" and would have tears in my eyes whenever I flew home and saw the Harbour Bridge and Opera House out of the plane's window but now I wouldn't leave here unless we were forced to, loss of job or the country imploded and we were living in danger.

We've made a life here and I feel home is where my little family lives even though it has its downfalls like anywhere. Cost of imports, utilities and medical are incredibly high. However, we've been able to buy a small house on a big block full of established fruit trees and our mortgage is less than the rent we were previously paying and we love it!

I love going back to Oz to visit and taking the best it has to offer but I love flying back here. Would take out dual citizenship in a flash if it didn't mean I had to give up my Aussie passport which I'm not prepared to do under any circumstances.

Saying that I still consider myself Australian through and through and my husband and I have been singing our anthem at the top of our voices (much to our childrens' disgust!) before every Aussie World Cup rugby game!

Go the Aussies!

**valerian** · 10-14-2011, 05:34 PM

I would move to England if I could despite their lousy economy! I wouldn't want to leave the US forever though. I have strong pulls to both countries.

**frugalfranny** · 10-15-2011, 02:34 PM

Interesting post Mango.........wondered about how it would feel and you covered some of it..........

Where do you live now?

**Dutchie** · 10-16-2011, 06:22 AM

I was born in Scotland and came to live in Holland almost 35 years ago and absolutely LOVE it here,
HOWEVER.
When I go back to Scotland my heart beats just a little faster and I feel instantly at home again.

On saying that, I have the same feeling whenever I'm in the US.
(My dh says that I must have lived in the US in a past life since I feel really at home there.)

After living here for almost 35 years and speaking Dutch for most of that time I feel more and more that I would like to move to an English speaking country again.
If my dh came home from work tomorrow and said that we would have to move to either the UK or the US for his work, I would be ready and packed the same day.

The ease with which I say this has maybe to do with the fact that I have already done it - move away from home and family.

**miss_cas** · 10-17-2011, 12:17 PM

I have given a lot of consideration to moving out of the country.

There is nothing keeping me here but my pets. Some distance from my family would be a relief. More distance from my stalker and his friends would be a god send.

I've given a lot more consideration to moving out of state but the stalker is wealthy. His family made a point of talking about his jet-set lifestyle and no problems hopping on a last minute flight to probably bother someone else.

The cops don't care....

**krbshappy71** · 10-17-2011, 05:30 PM

Confucius said: "No matter where you go - there you are"

I have really strong feelings for the U.S.A, wouldn't leave. Could I build a life for myself elsewhere? Probably, but I am really happy here and money, living cheaper, isn't enough for me to leave family and friends behind. Knowing me, I'd just rack up a bunch of debt anyhow if my habits didn't change and moving doesn't necessarily change habits. I'll just stay here and try to work on my habits. I love it here.

**frugalfranny** · 10-18-2011, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dutchie

I was born in Scotland and came to live in Holland almost 35 years ago and absolutely LOVE it here,
HOWEVER.
When I go back to Scotland my heart beats just a little faster and I feel instantly at home again.

And who could NOT love Scotland?? If it weren't for some of their weather, I could consider it.........the people are FANTASTIC!
Not to mention that it is beautiful! (guess the rain and 'drizzle' is the price you pay for the beauty!!)

Hey, dutchie...........maybe we were just 'gypsies' in our
former lives!!

**wanderlusting** · 10-19-2011, 10:18 AM

I guess I'm sort of temporarily doing this. DH and I are in Germany and will have been here for 5 years when we leave. Before that, England for 4 years- by the Scottish border- LOVED it!

We're trying to get Australia next. We like living overseas while we can and we earn more money living out of the U.S. We're saving to buy land when we DH retires from the military in 8 years.

However, we won't consider living outside the U.S. permanently. We see issues with the other countries we live in and don't see things as "grass is greener". The U.S. has faults too- but it's where we want to put down our roots and raise our sons.

**KennySoward** · 10-19-2011, 06:28 PM

This is a great post. I have often wondered what kind of person would get up and leave the country for good.

It was interesting to see so many retirement places (Costa Rico, etc). I know a lot of native Costa Ricans, and they love it.

I guess the one thing I think about when moving to another country (especially 2nd or 3rd world) is the quality of health care. I'm only half-joking here, when I say I have watched the show "Monsters Inside Me" and I'd be worried about something crawling in me or getting a botfly in my head or something HAHA.

**frugalwarrior2** · 10-19-2011, 09:36 PM

I love to watch those shows where people have retired in a foriegn country but would I give up the things I know? I like my medical care and choices,having all my pets,competant housing.
I guess the answer is prob. not.

**Dutchie** · 10-20-2011, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by KennySoward

This is a great post. I have often wondered what kind of person would get up and leave the country for good.

I guess the one thing I think about when moving to another country (especially 2nd or 3rd world) is the quality of health care.

Our universal healthcare is excellent.

**KennySoward** · 10-28-2011, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by Dutchie

Our universal healthcare is excellent.

I don't consider you folks 2nd or 3rd world either

I work with some folks from Europe and have quizzed them on their universal health care. I have heard good and bad things (this is Brussels I'm talking about).

But there is no doubt that your country (Netherlands) is very progressive when it comes to handling drug addiction and other societal problems. Definitely some things to learn from.

**greekislandgirl** · 10-28-2011, 12:30 PM

I'm American and lived in the US til I was 28, then moved to Greece for reasons that were not related to cost of living. Greece, like most European countries, has a higher cost of living than the US. However, there are plenty of things that even it out - for example, it's the norm here to have 1 car per family, 1 child maximum, to live in an apartment (not a house), to eat meat once/week, to line-dry your clothes, etc. It's a more frugal lifestyle overall. It has to be, people make far less money here than in the US, and yet consumer goods, gasoline, etc., cost more, sometimes 5-6x as much.

I wouldn't recommend Greece for retirement, because of healthcare here and cost of living. In any case, it's irrelevant for 99% of the folks on this forum because you can't live here for more than 3 months if you're an American citizen. To retire here, you'd have to marry a local. For other EU citizens... you're better off staying where you are.

**wanderlusting** · 10-28-2011, 03:04 PM

Greekislandgirl- you're right. People in Europe do live more frugally because it really is more expensive to live here. Utilities, housing driving, gas, groceries are all more expensive.

I also don't like being told what to do LOL. Living in Europe, I've noticed how controlling it can be.

At our last base, the U.S. government paid for our share into the British national health system since the base didn't have adequate medical services. To say the least, I was not impressed. The only thing I thought was superior to U.S. health care was their OBGYN/birth/midwives. A lot of DH's British coworkers bought private health insurance so they wouldn't have to use National Health...even though they were entitled to it.