Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
Rising inflation, the Ukraine war, not to mention other wars and conflicts which aren't in the limelight of international media, have been affecting energy costs over the past months. Is it still safe to plan a move abroad under these conditions? How are expatriates affected by such rises?
"Who will pay?" For some, this question ruins the beauty of the moment. For others, it simply solves a practical issue. We just surely pay before leaving the restaurant. What are the different approaches in various countries? What is women's stance on this? How is the practice of going Dutch perceived?
In March, the German government announced that it would be disbursing a one-off relief payment of 300 euros to help households face the rising cost of energy. This relief payment was meant to be debited in September and originally concerned everyone. But since then, things have changed. Not all people residing in Germany will be eligible for the relief payment. So who is currently eligible and under what conditions? Are expats concerned?
The profound changes experienced by the whole world since the pandemic have made some well-established expat destinations lose their appeal, and new ones become more attractive. The strictness of sanitary measures, political stability, and the cost of living during a period of worldwide inflation are all factors affecting this change in the choice of destination. Bloomberg published a list of six cities that are emerging as expat hotspots: Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, Dubai, Bangalore, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.
Singapore
Mangla is originally from Malaysia. She has been traveling a lot since a very young age and has lived in Australia and the UK. Today, she's raising her third-culture kids in Singapore. Mangla talks to us about what makes Singapore a great place to live as an expat.
Rising inflation is very likely to be a pain to households and families in Europe.” On Friday, August 26, the Chair of the Federal Reserve System (FED) of the United States, Jerome Powell, warned of a difficult future for millions of Americans – difficulties that are also threatening Europe. For now, a full-blown recession has been avoided. But ominous signs keep cropping up. Winter will be cold, and we're not only talking about the temperature. Moreover, the deterioration of European economies is raising fears of a slide into recession. This is raising significant concerns among expats and prospective expats.
Alex is from Germany, and his wife Alex was born in Brazil. Both had a normal life until they met in the UK and decided to go on an entrepreneurial adventure around the world. Today they live in Argentina and have taken up the mission of empowering other expat micro-entrepreneurs.
First of all, there's the official language of your host country. Getting used to it requires motivation, patience and time, the same qualities required to have a successful expat life. When we talk about languages, we're talking about all of their manifestations, regional languages, dialects and patois, jargon and slang, and body language. How should you prepare yourself for this change? What should you expect as an expat?
Céline and her husband Patrick are from France. In 2014, they decided to settle in Quebec with their two children. Former army officers, Céline and Patrick are now entrepreneurs. Owners of a French creperie, they share their experience with us and their success story despite the recent pandemic.
You've recently moved abroad, and you've just finished a great meal on a restaurant terrace. The weather is lovely, and the decor too. You want to leave your table to stroll around to digest your meal while enjoying the view. It's time to pay for your excellent meal, and here comes the most complex part. It's not that you don't have enough money. You've brought plenty of the local currency, and your credit card is also well stocked. But you don't know whether you should leave a tip or not.
Originally from the British countryside, Amy spent ten years in London before following her military husband to Brunei for an international assignment. She talks to us about her career conversion into an expat coach after giving birth to her first child and her journey as an expat.
Six years after the 2016 referendum, the full consequences of Brexit are still unfolding. Expatriation has become complicated for UK citizens. International media report that expats are being informed by British banks that their EU-based accounts will soon be closed. In Spain, British driving licenses were also recently rendered invalid.
Financial Advisor reported in July 2022 that more Americans are moving to Europe to buy homes. The difficulty of becoming a homeowner on a middle-class salary in the US, political anger caused by issues like mass shootings and the overturning of Roe v/s Wade, as well as strength of the dollar compared to European currencies: these are all factors driving US expats to move to the other side of the Atlantic.
Yasmine has been living in North America for multiple years. She first accompanied her husband to North Carolina, in the US, before recently relocating again to Quebec in the heart of winter. She talks to us about her experience in these two very different American countries.
Recent research from the University of Washington points out that more than 160 million women worldwide didn't have access to contraception methods as of 2019. This can be a significant concern for women planning to move abroad with or without a partner and not looking to give birth and make a family.
Preparing for retirement is an exciting stage of life, especially when considering retiring abroad. But just like retirement itself, it's important to plan ahead to understand all the aspects of retiring in a foreign country as a woman. It requires extensive preparation and retirement financial planning, besides considering thoroughly the country to retire.
Hamburg, Cape Town, São Paulo, Marseille, Agadir, Niigata... It can be quite hard to choose your expat city. Should you move to a capital city, especially if it is your first long-term stay abroad? Should you move to the city that stole your heart or rather consider objective information, such as the cost of living and wages, etc.? Here are some tips to guide you through.
According to a media report by BBC Africa, the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, recently condemned attacks on foreign workers in the country. Workers from other African countries in the Johannesburg township of Alexandra are experiencing escalating violent attacks on themselves and their businesses. They fear a repetition of the xenophobic 2008 riots, when 62 people from Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe were killed and over 600 wounded.
Make your relocation easier with our expat guides
Getting married in Bahrain
For expats, moving to Bahrain often involves navigating new experiences, and marriage is one of the most ...
Getting married in Morocco
If you want to get married in Morocco, there are different steps and a variety of procedures to follow. These can ...
Getting married in Panama
If you dream of getting married in a tropical paradise, Panama may be the spot. Even non-residents can tie the ...
Retiring in Tunisia
Sun, a relaxed lifestyle, traditional souks, incense, modernism, an effective health system, etc. All these are ...
Getting married in Qatar
Getting married in Qatar could be a hassle for newbies. However, knowing the right procedure and information ...
Marriage in Brazil
Brazil can be a romantic country, and you may want to marry here. Perhaps you even want to remain in Brazil ...
Open a bank account that suits you
Discover the best international banks to manage your money securely.
"