Anyone retired abroad...from the UK?

I live in Germany and so I am retired here. I speak the language fluently and over the past 40 years have got to know how the people in this part of Germany tick.

I recently saw a documentary about a woman who had gone to retire in Bulgaria and she managed well on her pension as the exchange was good. She stayed but felt secure only after meeting other British people.

If you are going to retire in Hungary you have to be sure you will get health insurance and eventually some sort of care in your final years.
Not everybody speaks English and if you don't speak the language then forget it.
Go for a long spell perhaps 6 months, put your house on airbnb and get a caravan. Only after that can you make a sensible decision or have you done that already?

I moved to Greece when I was widowed at 60. Found it extremely hard to learn the language so maybe you too would need English speakers close by. My tip would be don't sell your home in UK or if not possible buy something smaller to keep. Rent in your country of choice first. Even if you are sure you won't want to return to UK life can change suddenly and you could find it impossible to sell your new home.

I returned to UK four years ago and never managed to sell my home in Greece so now I still go over several times a year. If it's what you want to do go for it, you only live once as they say. I loved every minute of my life there.

We moved to France when we retired, we are really happy here despite worries over Brexit . I would agree with dogsdinner and rent before you buy. Live there for a while to see if it is really what you want. The language issues could make you feel isolated and fluctuations in the exchange rate could be a problem. Things are different now from when we moved 11 years ago. I don't want to put a damper on your hopes, it could well be all you wanted and more so good luck with the adventure.

Thanks Margaret, fortunately my husband is multi-lingual. But I am not. I like the idea of renting, just for a taster. We do have 2 properties in England that we rent if everything goes wrong we can return to the UK. Properties in Hungary start at as little as £5000 for a renovation project. We are going for a viewing holiday over Christmas. In the bleak winter things look very different. Brexit is also an issue, we need to move swiftly I think, but as nobody seems to know whats happening with that, we shall just go ahead anyway. I like an element of risk, if we don't try we won't find out. As Christine in France said life is an adventure!

As another person who moved to France after retirement I agree with the points above. Especially language - you need to be able to socialise otherwise you might feel isolated.
And health insurance. Which can be more of an issue after retirement.
But take the opportunity while you can. Even if things go wrong you'll have enjoyed the adventure.
btw - how are things in Hull? Husband lived there most of his life, and I lived and worked there for 20 + years.

I did my nurse training in Hull eons ago

*SueinHull" I agree with all the comments made so far but would like to stress a couple besides the very practical( insurance, keeping some property in the UK, having a 6-month trial renting there, etc.).

The ability to communicate in the language of the country is essential. You say your husband is multilingual, but does he speak Hungarian? And what steps do you plan to take to learn, bearing in mind that Hungarian is one of the harder European languages, unlike any other except Finnish, I think.

Some knowledge of the culture and customs of the country chosen is also essentiall. For example, what do you know of the political situation in Hungary now?

Some essential preparation will help you have a more successful move.

Good luck and have fun planning and preparing!

Sueinhull I've lived in Spain and Bulgaria. Can I ask why Hungary.

Hi Petra, we choose Hungary as the property there is so cheap. Our intention is to renovate (we have a team of builders)and use it for holidays, then eventually, if all goes well retire there. We have in the past looked extensively in Spain and before Bulgaria joined the EU we travelled there to explore what was on offer. In Hungary they have beautiful lakes (Lake Balaton) and thermal hot springs, the cost of living is cheaper than the UK and our pension will go further in the future. My husband is there now viewing properties, so shall see what the outcome is when he comes back.

TriciaF. Hull is doing good preparing for City of Culture 2017. Lots of events planned for the year and very good for the city.

The people in Hungary (Hungarians) speak very good English

If you've got £5k plus a sense of adventure, I'd take the risk.

Can I just say how envious i am of you adventurous people! It has always been my dearest wish to live in another country but DH has always seen all the difficulties and downsides from learning the language to finding friends. I only got him to move to the southwest from the Midlands after years of nagging and then threatening to leave. He actually loves it now!

Can I ask though how do you fit in and how long does it take to make friends as opposed to acquaintances? I am horrified by Brexit and feel very unsettled in the UK. I have an Irish passport and we are going to see what Ireland feels like now at some point in 2017. I've always thought you probably needed something to bring such as a skill or interest that you could pretty quickly share with others regardless of language abilities? Would that be right?

I'd love to hear about ups and downs if anyone has time to share.

Azie, ohhhh I feel your frustration. The friends thing you talk about, the estate agent we are using have a UK office and an office in Hungary. They have an expats monthly meeting if you want to get involved. I NEED people and don't want to be totally isolated. We want land to be semi-self sufficient, chickens, goats even pigs. Although I find the internet my best friend at the moment lots of researching. As Grannyknot says....most Hungarians speak English, the children are taught it in school. I read a blog the other day that the morals, ethics and way of life in Hungary are very similar to 1950's England. Leave their doors open, look after each other, children play in the fields etc. I am lucky, my other half speaks 9 languages but I don't....learning Spanish currently, although not much use in Hungary!! Lol. Think the best thing is TONS of research, lots of exploring, and then go for it. Life is too short to spend it in unsettled UK.

Hi Susan in Hull, We moved to Western Algarve Portugal two years ago. We went through the legal system to receive free heath care and residency. Unfortunately the lack of doctors and nurses mean that we have to get private Hecate and as we both are over seventy we cannot get health insurance. Apart from that we have no regrets would never return to the UK. We are also lucky that most people speak English large British expat community,but Portuguese people are so friendly. I have also joined a multi expat choir and we sing in all the chorus languages. Love it, love it. Just make sure of legal aspect of living in a foreign country and go for it. Do you know how cold it gets in Hungry?

Oops! Hungary

Hi nellgwin, yes done a bit of research about medical issues, dentistry etc. All seems very straightforward for Hungary. Hungary have double the number of doctors and hospital beds than UK...big bonus. As for the weather, deep snow in winter which is very good for hunting (my husbands passion) and nice hot not humid summers...which I love. Glad you had a successful move to Portugal, I have heard the people are very welcoming.

We have been very happy here in France despite language problems, think you get out of things what you put in. We have become involved with village activities and helped neighbours where we can. In turn neighbours have been welcoming and friendly, we are the only english people living in the village permanently but have never encountered discrimination. We also volunteer at an English library in a nearby town which is also an information and integration centre supported by the local Maire.
Rural France is very peaceful but not for everyone, much like the UK fifty years ago.
We have not regretted the move although French bureaucracy drives us mad at times.

SueinHull we have been to lake Belaton many times, beautiful. I also love their spa towns, unbelievable. Also Hungary is not too bad a drive to come back to U.K. for visit.

Perhaps if you play the violin or some other instrument you would be more than welcome in Hungary.
I can't see any other reason to go there, you will have noticed the political bias in Hungary? if not, check it out.

Has DH Finnish in his 9 languages? Hungarian is like Finnish but seems to be impossible to learn but from what I hear they do speak English but relying on that lays you open to be cheated.
Why are properties so cheap? Does nobody want to live there?

I admire your sense of adventure, my new life here with a German husband was a mixture of happiness, excitment and lots of homesickness and getting the children through the German school system was hard.
Best of luck.tell us what you decide.

@MargaretX In answer to your questions.... no I do not know the political bias in Hungary, only from reading Al Jazeera I have gathered there may be media restrictions...not really relevant to our situation, but I would be pleased if you could enlighten me further. Secondly, there is no work in Hungary for the Hungarians so they tend to leave their houses and pursue work elsewhere in the EU. Its a buyers market, particularly for foreigners. The reasons for choosing Hungary are detailed above in previous posts I have made.....its a beautiful country, cost of living is cheaper and crime levels are extremely low. As for language, DH seems to have a "language mind" (unlike me) and picks up language very easily, so I have no worries about being "cheated". He has just returned from his viewing trip to Hungary and we have chosen a property. Our intention is to visit Hungary again shortly and carry on our adventure. As an after thought...another reason for choosing Hungary is you can put your property in your children's name (under 18) therefore avoiding Capital Gains/Inheritance Tax when you are no longer around. In the UK it stands at 40%!!!!

@Petra...Lake Balaton is lovely, I think we may spend Christmas there. The hot thermal springs in Heviz (south of the lake) are hot for swimming all year round, so it will be quite a treat to swim outdoors in winter.

I wonder if you saw the Ben Fogle programme about people who go and live in the wild? We watched one (recorded) the other night, about a couple who went to live in a very primitive house in Hungary. I think they paid about £5000 for it.
They had neighbours who seemed to be very friendly.

@TriciaF ....Yessss that's what my husband kept talking about, he watched it and got himself all excited. Gave him the idea of Hungary. I am not one for the primitive lifestyle but there are certain aspects I do like. Keeping chickens, goats, pigs etc, cooking outside but I could not be cut off totally from the rest of civilisation that's scary lol!

Hello Sue and fellow travellers,

Yes. I moved to Thailand when I hit 65, been here 4 years now and it`s got the friendliest people I have ever met, it really is a pleasure to be living here.

I am living in the main city because I love live entertainment like Blues, Jazz, and Rock & Roll and they do have a lot of it here.

The shopping complexes are some of the finest in the world, not to mention the arcades and markets and bazaars. and a lot of cheap stuff too.

If you like Thai food there is literally thousands of restaurants and cafe`s plus English pubs.

It`s very hot all the year around average 30 plus, the best time to visit is last 2 weeks in December and January because the temperature can drop down in the evenings I have known it to be 18 Deg overnight and around 26 in the day.

The Beach is about 2 hours away and brilliant.