Each year more and more British people are moving abroad. Currently there are approximately 5.5 million people living abroad according to a 2006 survey. Besides this there are many many more Brits planning to make the move for good. The most common destinations being: Spain, Australia, Canada, USA, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, France, Cyprus and Germany.

Of course everyone has their own reasons for  moving abroad  amongst the most common are:

Rising costs – With London now being the second most expensive city in the world to live in, not too far behind Tokyo, many people yearn to see their money provide them with a better standard of living elsewhere. Out of this group are of course retirees who wish to make their pension stretch that bit further. However one further growing group of people are in the 18-25 year old age group. This group has been forced to suffer silently with little help from the government whom seem satisfied to see them struggle in their own country. Student loans, no grants, high house prices, high tax levels all contribute to pushing them away. This combined with the fact that the new generation are much better traveled and understand the potential for living abroad better than previous generations mean the group is likely to continue to grow.

Increasing crime rate – This is probably the most worrying of factors. People are becoming afraid of living in their own country. Walking around alone at night with groups of drunken youths about is no the most enjoyable experience (27% of British youths are regularly drunk), unrelenting drug issues and binge drinking all impact on how much people are enjoying their lives.

Further common reasons are: better weather, excitement, adventure, disapproval of government policies (taxation, Immigration etcetera…).

So with people looking to move abroad one of the most important things to think about is how to manage your finances or even transfer money overseas. Here are a few guidelines to consider regarding this situation:

There are three main options to consider:

1) Keep your UK bank account. If you choose to keep your account look for a bank that does not charge commission on ATM transactions overseas also make sure they are quite clear as regards to what commission they are taking from you and most importantly make sure you are getting a fair exchange rate! Check it against the daily papers.

2) Switch your bank account to one that is specifically geared towards ex-pats. These type of bank accounts are offered by the major high street banks and are often based in locations such as Jersey that benefit from different taxation laws. They usually provide multiple currency services whereby they can provide both euros and sterling for you to use. This would easily allow you to live in Europe and have a euro checkbook and cash but still pay bills at home in sterling. As ever though there are certain terms and conditions for benefiting from one of these types of accounts such as minimum balances and annual fees.

3) Try working through the host countries administrative process and open an account with them. This may or may not be possible depending on their requirements of your new country. Some countries require work permits and so on and the process can be made doubly difficult if you’re having difficulty with the local language. Of course if you plan on working abroad then the chances are your employer will be able to have one opened for you to allow payments. If you do gain a local bank account you are then faced with having to transfer money from the UK to this bank account. Depending on what bank it is you may be able to arrange a wire transfer from your UK account. Another simple way would be to use an online transfer service. These money transfer companies can transfer money directly from your UK account to you wherever you are in the world. They are very fast and efficient but again different companies require different fees.

The best advice would be to take a step back and look at your overall situation. Consider what is going to be the cheapest and most sustainable way for you to manage your finances abroad. Remember a 1% saving on several thousand pounds saves you a considerable amount of money. With the above tips in mind take your time, shop around and you will soon be able to start living in your new country worry free.

by http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Ryan

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Moving to Belize: Retired Belize Life

The Belize weather is sub-tropical. The Belize culture is very non-racist and liberal. The average per capita income in Belize is less than 6000 USD.  The retired life  in Belize is very peaceful.

The figures from the Belize Central Statistic Office in July 2005, prove that the population of the nation is fast rising and coming close to 300,000 permanent residents. This shows that the appeal and attraction of Belize is increasing per year.

Retired life in Belize

Belize has become a popular retirement destination due to the beautiful scenery, stunning climate, friendly people, tax advantages, proximity and good transport links with the United States and Mexico. The Retired Persons Incentive Program permits people to live 100% tax free. To qualify for this program, the individual can come from any country, must have a minimum age of 45 and should have a qualifying non-Belizean based income of minimum 2000 US dollars per month. This person may be subjected to some background checks. If the person is qualified, the family, personal effects and a means of transportation can be brought and maintained tax-free. Any income created from investments or business ventures would be tax free as long as they are not an output of Belizean economy.

These criteria are very simple to achieve and this is the reason that many Americans, British and North Europeans have retired in this cheap, sunny and beautiful tax haven. Real estate in Belize has very competitive prices. The initial communities are planning their settlement and are in the construction phase. Independent housing is available in the popular areas of Cayes, near Belize City as well as Northern Belize. These places are having a plethora of expatriates. The everyday cost of living due to water, electric, telephone etc. is at very reasonable prices. If local goods are purchased, the Belizean dollars would not accrue to a large value. However, the imported goods are exorbitant. It is easy to travel to Mexico or the United States. The intense wet season repels people from this area. However, this season is the cause that the country is lush and beautiful as well as rich in flora and fauna.

Cost of living in Belize

Belize has turned out to be one of the most exorbitant of the Central American nations. In 2004, the Gross Domestic Product has raised by 3.5%. However, inflation is increasing and this implies that the cost of living would increase. The tourism, agriculture and construction sector’s are progressing rapidly. This is very conducive towards economic growth. In the year 2005, the average per capita income was less than 6000 U.S. Dollars. A small flat in Belize City could be rented for about 1000 U.S. Dollars and a large house in the Cayo district for 300 U.S. Dollars. A piece of land had a cost of 5000 to 10000 U.S. Dollars. Some houses were priced at 25 U.S. Dollars per square foot. An ocean front property was estimated at 250,000 U.S. Dollars.

Belize weather

The weather in Belize is sub-tropical. The humidity is high, but infrequently oppressive. It is most felt in coastal areas. The mean annual humidity is 83% and is overcome by cool sea breezes. The coastal regions have southeast tradewinds at 10-13 knots. These are very consistent in July. The temperatures vary from 50 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit averaging 79. The mountains have a mean of 72. The Cayo district has about 125 rainy days per year, the Belize district about 171, the Stann district about 183 and Punta Gorda has more than 200.

Foods in Belize

The cooking methods are influenced by the Chinese, Creole, Mexican and European methods. Seafood or chicken and spices are the core of most Belizean foods. Some of the recipes are Barracuda, Beans and rice, Belizean Stew Chicken, Belizean Bake Chicken, Belizean Bake Fish, Belizean Chicken Stew , Ceviche, Belizean Scramble Eggs, Conch Fritters, Tortillas, Plantains and Potato Salad.

Belize culture

Belize is a Caribbean country rather than a Central American one. The people are very friendly and informal. Not greeting known people or failure to return a greeting is not considered proper. The society is fun-loving and not inclined to quarrel. It is thought apt to greet or make a friendly nod to strangers. Before starting a talk, a handshake is thought essential. Racism is not dominant in Belize. A locality may have different ethnic groups that co-exist without mixing. The inhabitants of Belize are cognizant about their clothing. They think it displays the level of their culture, taste and status. The contemporary trends from the  United States  are always held in high regard. English is the official language in this region. The actual language is a blend of English and Creole. Religious freedom exists in this nation. Catholics are 60 percent and Anglicans are 11 percent. Churches conduct a majority of schools and hence everybody is associated with some religion.

By Abhay Burande Published: 11/6/2007

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