Tips for Families Moving Abroad

**Collaborative post**

While many of us consider moving abroad for a while when we are younger, life, work, and family commitments often get in the way. I always wanted to be an air hostess when I was younger so I could travel the world, then after a break-up in my late teens I wanted to be a holiday rep in a foreign country – neither of these dreams ever actually happened, although I was offered a job as a Nanny while holidaying in Australia pre-children.

When moving your family abroad, there is a lot to think about so here are some great tips to help you get it right.

Research

Research absolutely everything about your prospective home. Check out the area, join online forums for expats in the area, and find out as much as you can about everything from their culture and economy to what the people are like. When looking for property for sale in Portugal for instance, take a trip to that area, talk to the residence there, visit the local parks, schools and shops not just the tourist areas. You don’t want to go into this unprepared. Make a list of everything you need to research and arrange, including things like housing and education.

Go for a Holiday

Don’t commit to moving anywhere without going on a visit first. If possible, go on a family holiday so everyone gets the chance to look around, and then an adult-only trip, which gives you a chance to investigate in more depth and start sorting out some details.

Prepare the Kids

The best way to prepare your children for such a big change is to involve them in the planning as much as possible. Let them help you as much as they can or at least show them what you are doing. Spend time every day talking about what they should expect and look at pictures and videos online.

Think About Work

Are you planning to work while you are away? While it may be easy to find property for sale Algarve – take a look at jobs in that area too. If possible, arrange to work remotely for your current company or arrange a transfer. If you’ve got the savings that mean you don’t have to work while away, brilliant, but if not you should at least try and manage on one income so you don’t need to worry about childcare.

Follow some Expat Blogs

This may help to give you some tips you’ve not already thought of and they may even be able to help you if you correspond with them. There are loads of Brits living and blogging abroad, they can help you with local information about schools, supermarkets and even doctors in the area.

There are so many bloggers who are sharing their adventures now they have moved away from the UK – while they may not be in the areas you are looking at moving to they may have some great tips on packing up, exploring the new area, looking at schools and many more useful posts – why not check out:

• jacintaz3.co.uk  – Jacinta is a wonderful lady who I’ve known for as long as I have been blogging (8 and a half years), she and her husband along with the children embarked on their new life adventure moving from the UK to LA in April 2018.
• Zara who blogs over at www.mojoblogs.co.uk moved with her husband and children to The Netherlands recently.
• Jenni and her family have recently moved to France and she is beginning to blog all the in’s and out’s that comes with such a move.
• And lastly, Laura and her family have moved from Derby over to Doha – read all about their adventures on Life with Baby Kicks.

Learn the Language

Learning at least a little of your host nation’s language will not only help to make it seem real for the kids it will also make things a lot easier when you arrive. Children generally pick up language much easier than adults, so you may find it’s them helping you.

Make a Budget

Living abroad can be tough if you don’t know much about the economy. It’s not as easy as just changing your currency. Things simply won’t cost the same. This is one of the reasons a visit is incredibly important. Do some research on the cost of living and then sit and make sure you can afford to live comfortably in your new country.

Living in a different country can be a great experience for young children. It’ll help to expand their world, introduce them to new ideas, new foods, and new ways of life, and it will give them plenty of adventures to enjoy.

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