Re: Best thing about being an expat?

I dont know where you got the impression of NO TAX to pay
& KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL Vaniy, you must be living in a
different universe to me. My name is not Richard Branson.
We did have the option of employing a 'servant' as you call
them.
But, if we chose to employ somebody, it was , in my case
at least, to help that person have an easier life.
I think you said it all vaniy, when you said , l quote,
Hard work, well people working for me had to work hard.
Says it all really Vaniy, those people you employed, did'nt
have the option of selling anything to finance a business
venture.
However, l applaud that you did do what you did, you took a
Chance, and reaped the reward, Bravo, for you
I could carry on ad infinitum,but what l am trying to correct
Really, is your perception that expats have it easy and are
Tax dodgers, vaniy, this is only so in the so called ' upper
echelons

Best Regards Donkeyman.

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

Hi Donkeyman

I accept your reply but I can only speak from my meetings with the Ex pats that worked aboard

Most of these people worked in the Middle East or India their lifestyles were privileged I will give you that but their money was all tax free two of the people I know even had free houses with pools

The men worked and the ladies did lunch although when you speak to them it did become boring but they put up with it

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

I would love to have been a lady that lunched.... I had my own business too and I employed people ...small potatoes though in the scheme of things....it never allowed me to be a lady that lunched

I wish I had moved abroad though when the kids were little but alas it was not to be

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

We had been planning our move from 1986 and moved house in Spain more than the UK

Anyway we've both done well despite being from Leeds

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

I lived the Brit Expat life in Lisbon for five years, saw the tail end of a bygone age.

Christmas Carols at the Victorian St George's Anglican Church, garden party at The British Ambassador's Residence, charity fundraising events organised by old school Brits in their Estoril palaces.

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

I think the expats yo met, Vaniy, must have worked in the
Emirates or Saudi, and worked for firms doing business with
those countreis, and had accommodation provided by those
companies.
You are correct, they did not pay any tax here or in the
country they worked in, in the case of uk, because they were
not resident in uk.
You are correct also that they were extremely well paid this
in dollars. All these factors resulted in an extremely good
pay package.
My case Vaniy, was very different,
it was as follows . find job find accommodation.
leave job. start business. build house. build business
Buy another house. rent it out. and so on.
And yes my house did have a pool, which l payed to have
installed.
I think you will find most expats had a similar experience
to mine Vaniy.

Best Regards. Donkeyman

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

Having read all the expat posts in this forum, l have arrived
at a generalised conclusion that a persons state of mind has
a major bearing on whether or not the expat experience is a
pleasant or unpleasant one!
For instance, if you tend to be of an optimistic disposition,
and are willing to put up with a certain amount of discomfort
or struggle, then l think you will have an enjoyable expat
experience!
However, if you tend to have a gloomy outlook, and tend to
see difficulties in every situation you may be presented with,
even to petty things like the taste of the bacon!
You are unlikely to make a success of your move!
I myself became aquainted with a chap from Sheffield who
actually moved three times between UK and SA in a time
span of 5yrs! due to the above reasons.

Best Regards Donkeyman!

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

I never see expats moan about the country they moved to, I wonder why?
Every country has it problems be it political-social or economic. Is it because they are afraid to speak out as they are not naturalized citizens born in the country, so could be expelled?

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

I dont think so RS, l think it is precisely because of what
I described in my previous post as, ' their optimistic, flexible
disposition ' and the fact that they tend to get on with their
lives regardless,
In my own case, the country l chose to go to erupted into
violent insurrection 3wks before l was due to leave uk,
However, we persevered with our plans, and despite a number
of initial difficulties, we climbed our way up again until we
achieved a level of living we would never achieve in uk doing
what l was for a living!
So l believe some people will always be unhappy with their
lot and others will just get on with it!
The only reason we returned to uk was to reunite with our
children, and financially it has been a disaster.
But it is what it is and we will have to see it through.

Best Regards Donkeyman!

Re: Best thing about being an expat?

I love the expat life. I especially prefer the local Spanish. Even after years here I find their way of life much slower and calmer which suits me to a tee. Long may I continue to enjoy it.