Retiring on £40K, where in the UK would you want to live?

[BlackIsland]

Just like the title says, what would be your first choice? Why?

I hope this is not an offensive question, so I apologize if it is.

We're eyeing retirement in the next decade, and all of the places in the US that have lower costs of living have miserable weather (exceedingly hot, humid, or both) whereas where we live now, the Pacific Northwest, has similar weather to most of the UK.

 

[MickDundee]

I think I already live in one of the best places on the U.K. Broughty Ferry / Monifieth just outside Dundee.

 

[Clint]

40k to do what with?

 

[BlackIsland]

Oh, sorry, 40K annual income

 

[Linalmeemow]

How are you going to deal with visa issues?

 

[Clint]

Ah,right...I dunno...but I would think that the North of the UK will get you more for your money...
Depends how much you wanna spend on a house....from where I live in North Wales to say,Surrey,my house is probably 200k cheaper...

 

[BlackIsland]

How are you going to deal with visa issues?

Wife is a UK citizen, but has never lived there.

 

[dad_of_jon]

Just like the title says, what would be your first choice? Why?

I hope this is not an offensive question, so I apologize if it is.

We're eyeing retirement in the next decade, and all of the places in the US that have lower costs of living have miserable weather (exceedingly hot, humid, or both) whereas where we live now, the Pacific Northwest, has similar weather to most of the UK.

the cost of housing would be a big factor as the cost of living outside of london and apart from the far north of uk (more heating required) would be very similar. I think i'd stay where I am in Gowerton. just around the corner from fabulous beaches. Otherwise suffolk as it's nearer the continent.

 

[BlackIsland]

the cost of housing would be a big factor as the cost of living outside of london and apart from the far north of uk (more heating required) would be very similar. I think i'd stay where I am in Gowerton. just around the corner from fabulous beaches. Otherwise suffolk as it's nearer the continent.

Thanks! One of our variables is whether or not to buy a house. If we relocate, we'll sell ours, and either invest or use some of the proceeds to buy a house. Who knows in 10 years what that will look like, but right now we'd come our way ahead in most places in the UK.

Off to google-map Gowerton

 

[marshbrewer]

What is it about the UK you both like? That's might help us guide to you to the right sort of place. It's quite a diverse place for a small island.

 

[Druncan]

Sorry, we'r full up with retirees like me apparently,,,,, and used up all the spare heating, trading (non HMRC) brews for wood fuel.

However I will open up bigger supply up here again, once the expansion is finished.

So my rambling point is,,,, Can you brew and sell? some Islands up here are dry and need wetting. Set up a Microbrewery and you'll be welcome?

Otherwise, owld rich fetk'r parasites we don't need. We take up too much of NHS Scotland's limited facilities,,,, :hat:

 

[Saisonator]

Sorry, we'r full up with retirees like me apparently,,,,, and used up all the spare heating, trading (non HMRC) brews for wood fuel.

However I will open up bigger supply up here again, once the expansion is finished.

So my rambling point is,,,, Can you brew and sell? some Islands up here are dry and need wetting. Set up a Microbrewery and you'll be welcome?

Otherwise, owld rich fetk'r parasites we don't need. We take up too much of NHS Scotland's limited facilities,,,, :hat:

If people are coming here with a good income, I would have thought they are not a burden to society.
It is also wealth created in another country so it must be a net positive for the economy.

 

[An Ankoù]

Otherwise, owld rich fetk'r parasites we don't need. We take up too much of NHS Scotland's limited facilities,,,, :hat:

Might be wrong, but I don't think US folk are used to having, let alone being a burden on, an NHS so some of that 40k is probably earmarked for health insurance.
The UK doesn't seem to be too "comfortable" a place to live in at the mo, to put it mildly, and I guess the US isn't any better. You'd (the OP) be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. That may have changed for the better or the worse in 10 years' time. Aren't there any other parts of Europe that would welcome your annual spend at no cost to themselves? With £40k disposable income, you certainly wouldn't be considered "a burden on the state" in France, you'd need only about a half of that.

 

[Skippi]

If it helps, this is a property price heat map of the UK - Heatmap of UK property values | PrimeLocation.
Might give you an idea what you can afford and where if you plan to buy a property.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Gosh why would you want to leave, I don't know Tacoma but I thought the Pacific Northwest was absolutely stunning. Apart from Bend, Bend was rubbish.

 

[terrym]

The UK is a very diverse place on many levels culturally, geographically and cost of living. Its very different in the Scottish Highlands, the flat East Counties, to large urban areas like the NW the West Midlands and of course London. And the people can be different depending on where they live. The weather is diverse too it's certainly different in SE England compared to Northern Ireland or the Orkneys. House prices and cost of living are also variable. A large place in Poole in Dorset on the coast will cost a lot more than say Redcar. Do you want a large place with land to match or would an apartment be satisfactory Feeling comfortable about living somewhere is a very personal thing. Some people want the buzz of being able to do things in a big city like going to theatre and opportunity to go out etc, others distance themselves from that, wanting to spend their time outdoors.
So my message to @BlackIsland is I can't advise you on where to go, I have no idea of what you and your wife want out of life. But I do advise, if you only have a limited knowledge of the UK, that you pay a visit to find out what it offers and perhaps spend some extended time in several different areas. But certainly don't sell up early in the US if you do decide to come over here, just rent out your US place and rent over here in case you find you don't like the UK to your liking long term, and then you can return to where you are used to.

 

[Leon103]

God knows what would happen in 10 years, perhaps repost in 8 years.
But 10 years does give you plenty of time to learn Welsh if you decided to move to Wales.

 

[Galena]

I think you need to give us a little more idea about yourself, what things do you like to do with your time as this can affect where you may choose to live. For instance do you like to go hiking, do you like theatre, are you a keen gardener, do you prefer remote isolated wind swept barren landscape, do you prefer the bustling city and socialising? All of these may affect your choice and you could narrow down your list and then perhaps have a long holiday in the UK and decide if it really is for you.

 

[Clint]

Theatre....only operating ones open at the moment...

 

[pms67]

I have a large shed 16 x 10
£40,000 one off payment and it’s yours forever, I won’t bother you in my garden, except for bottling time, and dry hopping time, and cold crashing time oh and sampling time (repeatedly)