Expatriate Lifestyle
Exploring expatriate lifestyle topics in depth and discussing the realities of expat life abroad
You're here: Home » Living Abroad » Expatriate Lifestyle
Latest Article
Living Abroad on a Budget
Dreaming of living abroad? Think you can’t afford to move? We show you how to live abroad on a budget.
Published in: Expatriate Lifestyle - Thu, July 28, 2011
The British government has announced that it’s going to survey its people to find out whether they are happy or not. Apparently the findings will sit alongside GDP figures, and statisticians and politicians will then be able to work out whether people have a decent quality of life in the UK.
Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics has revealed that 344,000 people moved abroad in the year to September 2010, and both Lloyds TSB and Skandia have revealed that wealthy Britons are particularly disaffected by the state of the UK at the moment, with up to 56% thinking about moving abroad.
So, whilst the government wonders whether the nation is happy, those who can will demonstrate with their feet and leave. But what about the rest of us…i.e., those of us who are not high net worth and who could end up living abroad on a budget, if indeed a relocation overseas is even possible? Well, the good news is, today we’re going to show you how moving and living abroad, even on a tight budget, is perfectly possible. Forget relying on the government and a happiness index to find out if you’re joyful – the only way to be happy is to live the life you want.
Further Articles
Things to Consider When Moving Abroad
In a guest post from Laura McDonald, Shelter Offshore readers can learn about the things they need to consider when moving abroad. From deciding which country is best, to working out how to afford a brand new life overseas, Laura covers the most critical questions would-be expats need to ask before moving abroad.
How to Move Abroad in 3 Easy Steps
If you want to get past just dreaming or talking about one day living abroad, we show you how to take three simple steps towards moving abroad so that you actually achieve a new life overseas sooner rather than never.
Live and Work Well in Singapore
An introduction to the quality of life on offer in Singapore for individual expats, families and businesspersons – looking at the economy, the way of life, the tax benefits and why incorporating a company in Singapore could make more than just financial sense.
Don’t Let Anything Hold You Back from Moving Abroad
A new survey has suggested Britons are nervous about committing to a move abroad because of all that they feel they will leave behind – we show you how you need to be realistic about your new life and how you can overcome any worries about your new nation with some forethought and forward planning.
5 Aspects to Consider When Choosing a Country to Move to Abroad
With an increasing number of Britons actively contemplating a move abroad in a bid to find a more affordable and better lifestyle, we examine the 5 critical concerns that anyone looking for a new nation to call home should factor in – including one essential yet often overlooked aspect needed for successful integration overseas
Overcoming Financial Issues Preventing Britons from Moving Abroad
Ironically the reasons for and against many Britons wanting to move overseas are financially related – we will show you how some fears many Britons have about moving overseas can be allayed with research, and how the final and ultimate benefits achieved from living abroad can far outweigh any negatives…
Can You Afford to Move Abroad?
On Friday we highlighted the fact that a new survey has revealed that more Brits than ever want to move abroad – but with a weak pound meaning that many Brits are suffering financially speaking, how can anyone afford to move abroad? We show you how…
Returning to Live in Britain: a Repatriation Case Study
We have spoken to a British expatriate who returned home to the UK in 2009 about her repatriation experiences in a bid to forewarn and forearm anyone else thinking about moving back to Blighty! The repatriation process is not always easy, and it can throw up unexpected challenges.
Help for Expats & Would-Be Expats Affected by Global Economics
There are no ways around it, expats and would-be expats are potentially being impacted by a deadly combination of poor exchange rates, weak economies, high inflation and low interest rates – but help is at hand from Shelter Offshore
Are You an Expat or an Immigrant and Does it Really Matter?
Do you think the term expat is elitist, and would you say poor people moving to rich countries are immigrants, how do you label your own non-domiciled, foreign resident status now that you’re living abroad – and does that say more about you than you think?
How to Make Friends Abroad: Ideas for Lonely Expats
It can be hard for an isolated expat working from home or stuck at home all day to reach out and make meaningful friends – but we’ve got a couple of ideas for lonely expats that could see them connecting with others and even helping fellow expats to integrate more successfully too.
Language as a Barrier to Integration: Focus Living in Argentina
Learning the local language of your new nation is seen as the number one key to complete integration success – however, the path to fluency for many expats is not a smooth one as one Shelter Offshore expat reader living in Argentina discovered.
How Hard Can Living Abroad Really Be? Focus: an Expat in Austria
We thought we’d bring you some true, funny and even embarrassing expat stories to illustrate how hard integration can sometimes be – and how the lessons we learn actually help us to become better expats, happier at home abroad!
How to Reduce the Stress of Moving Abroad
There are no two ways about it – moving abroad and integrating into the expatriate lifestyle is stressful at times – but there are a number of key ways you can reduce the amount of stress you experience so that you can be assured of successful integration into your new life abroad.
5 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Moved Abroad
Thanks to a handful of regular Shelter Offshore contributors we’ve put together the 5 main aspects of expat life they all wish they’d known about in advance of their relocation abroad – if you’re planning to emigrate and start a new life, this information and insight will be very valuable for you indeed…
British Expats Trapped in Bahrain Because of Debt
As an expat, it’s imperative that you understand the laws and rules in your new nation that could potentially restrict your freedom – in Bahrain some expats cannot escape the tension because they are in debt for example. If you were trapped, how could you protect yourself from civil unrest? We explore these scenarios…
Escaping Big Brother by Moving Abroad
Is it possible to escape the British government’s oppressive snooping by moving abroad – and is falling off big brother’s radar even wise when you consider what an important roll the foreign office can play if you get into trouble abroad?
British Expats’ Current Favourite Nations Examined
The Happiness Index from the Post Office has revealed where their surveyed expats are happiest living abroad: we examine the top 5 nations from the survey and look at whether they are indeed positive places to expatriate to.
Exploring Top 5 Reasons Why Brits Move to Live Abroad
Can you remember what drove you to move abroad in the first place, were your plans and dreams realistic? We explore the top 5 reasons for moving abroad in a bid to help would-be expats make their plans for their new life abroad realistic and achievable.
Moving Abroad? Secrets to Settling in Quickly
If you’re moving abroad there are a series of steps that you can take to ensure you and your family integrate quickly, and that your new family house overseas quickly becomes your home from home abroad
Why You Need to Be Honest About Why You Want to Move Abroad
Some expats say that the weather is a deciding factor for them when they move abroad, but the weather is always changeable – so to succeed abroad you need to be honest about the real reasons why you moved and stay focused on those reasons if things become tough.
Helping Your Children to Adapt to a Bilingual Environment
With expert advice and opinion from Olga Williamson, author of BilingualAge.com, we bring Shelter Offshore readers the answers to all their questions and concerns about how they can help their children adapt to a second language, a new culture and a bilingual environment when moving to live abroad.
How Has Living Abroad Improved Your Life?
Allegedly living abroad can improve many aspects of an expat’s life - from their creative abilities to their bank balance for example – so we’ve surveyed 220 Shelter Offshore readers to see how living abroad has improved their life. The good news is that 100% of respondents have seen elements of their life improve since moving overseas.
Should You Move Abroad Or Will You Destroy Your Family?
Today Shelter Offshore’s editor helps those people who want to move abroad - against their family’s better judgement! Is it right to emigrate or should you give in to family pressure to stay? Will moving abroad destroy your family or will they eventually come round to your way of thinking?
10 Tips Avoid ‘Inevitable’ Relationship Stress When Moving Abroad
According to new research, the relationship stress suffered by many expatriates when they move abroad is very high – so we show you the 10 ways you can alleviate this pressure and ensure you have a happy new life living abroad.
How to Make Your Expat Expectations Realistic & Achievable
If you want to move abroad and enjoy your new life to the full, it pays to have realistic and achievable expectations of what your new life will be like. If you dream too much or are too rigid in your beliefs about your new nation, you may well find that the reality of your new life abroad is not at all what you’d hope for.
7 Top Reasons to Start a New Life Abroad in 2011
We examine the very real reasons why we feel there will be increased interest amongst Britons into moving abroad and starting a new life overseas ion 2011
A – Z of Expatriate Life in Qatar Part 3
Concluding our series of guides relating to expatriate life in Qatar, here is part three of our report on the A – Z of living and working in this Middle Eastern emirate - where there are jobs for foreign skilled workers, and where the lifestyle is enviable.
A – Z of Expatriate Life in Qatar Part 2
Continuing our look at what it’s like for expats to live and work in Qatar, we move from F through to M and from fingerprinting to mobile phones and money matters for any expat living in Qatar!
A – Z of Expatriate Life in Qatar Part 1
Part one of an A – Z journey through expatriate life in Qatar – we will be exploring everything from alcohol to visas and from banks and beaches to X-rays and healthcare in general in this affluent Middle Eastern state where there are increasingly attractive tax-free employment opportunities for expatriates
7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Move Abroad
7 tips to help ensure your relocation abroad is successful and stress free…if you’re planning on emigrating, benefit from other expats’ experiences and hindsight!
Integration & Language Barriers: Obstacles to Moving Abroad
The final part of our ‘overcoming obstacles to moving abroad’ series focuses on integration and the language barrier that would-be expatriates may have to face in order to relocate to their chosen nation. As we show, complete immersion and successful integration are perfectly possible with a little concerted and targeted effort.
Overcoming Obstacles to Moving Abroad 1 – Loneliness
Loneliness and worrying about re-establishing social contact are barriers that would-be expatriates feel are holding them back from moving abroad – but as we show in the first part of our new series, there are practical and simple steps you can take even before you move to ensure you have friends abroad
Where to Live Abroad - Top 5 Countries for Best Quality of Life
We examine the 5 countries where expatriates are apparently happiest living abroad, where the quality of life on offer is excellent and where you too could perhaps find a better life than the one you’re currently leading in the UK
Do Expats Ever Regret Moving Abroad?
We have been asked a very important question by some of our readers – do expats ever regret making the decision to move abroad and start a new life. We explore this topic in depth and learn why most expats really don’t regret the decisions they have made…
Midlife Relaunch – Why it’s Never Too Late to Start Afresh Abroad
A midlife relaunch is not a midlife crisis – it’s an opportunity to start living the life you want to live. We show you why it’s okay to relaunch and how to go about relaunching abroad and having a successful and happy life as an expatriate
Who Says You Can’t Afford to Move Abroad?
In these very tough economic times more people than ever want to escape to a better life abroad, but they feel restricted by their financial position – so today we show you how to move abroad on a tight budget
Why Most Expats are Proud to be British but are Happier Living Abroad
You don’t have to turn your back on being British when you expatriate to live abroad – and most expats move abroad for work and money, not because they loath their old home nation...
4 Essential Research Tips for Those Planning on Living Abroad
If you want to be assured of a successful transition abroad, what are the 4 critically important aspects of your relocation that you need to research and get right? We detail what you need to do to move to live abroad and enjoy a great new life overseas…
Living Abroad Guides
Expatriate Lifestyle
Exploring expatriate lifestyle topics in depth and discussing the realities of expat life abroad
Expatriate News
Keeping you up to date with expatriate related news stories and the latest advice and information for expats living abroad.
Living in Australia
If you’re interested in living in Australia you’ll find plenty of articles and advice on what expats can expect from a new life Down Under
Living in Belize
From the cost of living in Belize to what expatriate life is really like in this stunning Central American nation
Living in Bulgaria
Advice for anyone interested in living in Bulgaria, and discussing expatriate related topics for those who have already moved to Bulgaria
Living in Canada
Discussing everything important about living in Canada from visas to employment, from education to the expat lifestyle
Living in Cyprus
Examining expat life living in Cyprus and North Cyprus; discussing the similarities and differences between the two sides of this stunning Mediterranean island
Living in Dubai
The complete expat guide to living in Dubai, we strive to keep our guides right up to date, please add a comment at the bottom of individual articles if you are aware of any significant changes or if you would like to contribute any valuable information to our readers.
Living in France
Many Britons dream of living in France; we explore the realities of every aspect of expat life across the Channel
Living in Ireland
Exploring what it’s like living in Ireland as an expat. Discover the huge amount of lifestyle choices that Ireland has to offer.
Living in Italy
All you need to know about living in Italy and establishing a new life in this stunning European nation
Living in New Zealand
All research topics covered for those planning on living in New Zealand - including working, retirement and the cost of living
Living in Portugal
Exploring aspects of expat life for those living in Portugal
Living in Spain
The majority of British people still dream of living in Spain when they think about moving abroad, so we explain what expat life in Spain is really like
Living in Turkey
For expats interested in living in Turkey, we introduce all the elements they need to know in advance of relocation
Retirement Abroad
Lifestyle articles for anyone planning a retirement abroad as well as those who have already retired overseas
Working Abroad
From working abroad to finding jobs overseas, from starting your own international business to the practicalities of seeking and applying for work in another country.