Top 30 worries British expats have before moving abroad - like feeling lonely
British expats have shared the top 30 concerns they had before relocating to a foreign country, including feeling lonely, not making any new friends – and not being able to understand the language.
Other worries they had before moving abroad were finding a job, finding somewhere to live, and how to manage their finances – including setting up a foreign bank account.
And the survey of 600 adults, who have lived as expats outside of the UK, found that one in 10 struggled with homesickness for up to a year after moving – with a third almost returning home straight away as a result.
However, more than two-thirds (68%) say they are glad they took the leap, and consider it one of the best decisions they ever made – with 64% recommending it to others, based on their own positive experiences.
Despite 29% struggling to initially settle in, 59% claim they did feel prepared before the big move. And half did their research on the local culture, as well as the weather, the native language, and the cost of living in the country they were moving to.
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More than four in 10 of those (42%) also made themselves aware of the exchange rates, while 35% investigated the local currency before relocating.
The survey was commissioned by iFAST Global Bank, which offers consumers around-the-world access to banking services in the UK.
The best parts of living overseas include meeting new people, and learning about a new culture (SWNS)Simon Lee, general manager of digital personal banking at the platform, said: “Moving to a new country can be daunting, as things are very different from what you are used to at home.
“It’s not just a new language people have to contend with, there are the new processes, too – for example, setting up bank accounts and sorting the bills. This can be a complete minefield at home, let alone in a completely new culture.”
The research also found 27% of those polled moved because they wanted to experience a new culture, and the same percentage wanted to try something new in general.
Other reasons for moving to a new country included following a dream, gaining independence, and wanting to step out of their comfort zone.
And the best things about the relocation included meeting new people, experiencing more opportunities, and learning about a new culture.
It even emerged that one in three (34%) are considering trying out another new country of residence in the future, according to the study, carried out via OnePoll.
Simon Lee added: “It’s great to see how many people have loved moving to a new country, and the fact they did it to follow their dreams is even better.
“You can learn so much, and meet so many interesting people, by immersing yourself in a new culture, so it’s no surprise this many people recommend it to others.
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“But getting the simple things right is important, and looking after our money while moving around the world is a priority. This, in our view, is one of the most important aspects to making a move abroad a success – because so much relies on having easy access to our money.”
To open a free, Instant Access Multi-Currency Account with iFAST Global Bank, visit here for more details.
TOP 30 WORRIES BRITS HAVE BEFORE MOVING ABROAD:
- Not understanding the language
- Feeling lonely
- Finding somewhere to live
- Not making any friends
- Finding a job
- Renting a property
- Finding their bearings/getting lost
- Managing their finances
- Not knowing the best way to get around
- Not knowing the life hacks of the country
- Setting up a foreign bank account
- Not having enough savings to survive
- Not fitting in with the local culture
- Not knowing what to do
- Setting up bills
- Not understanding local slang
- Using public transport
- Getting used to the foreign tax system
- Not knowing where the supermarkets are/the food shopping culture
- What to do if they are in danger
- What foods there might be
- Moving money around in different currencies
- Not understanding the local currency
- Learning how to drive
- Knowing when, and how much, they should tip
- Not being able to pursue the hobbies they did at home
- Upsetting the locals
- Not being able to use their phone to speak to people at home, and let their loved ones know where they are
- Buying a property as a permanent home
- Putting all their belongings into storage
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