A MUM has revealed that ditching the UK has been the best thing she has done.
Poppy Owens, 33, and her husband Benjamin, 38, moved to a sunny tax-free haven with their two young children, Effie Beau, five, and Indie Summer, three, and say their quality of life is all the better for it.
The business owner, who is originally from North Wales, says there were many reasons – including the weather and the financial savings on her monthly salary.
Poppy claims the cost of living is very similar to that of Britain but with more money in their pockets, the family enjoy a much better standard of living.
“In the UK, I was the worst version of myself,” Poppy told What’s The Jam.
“Overweight, unhappy and wanted to stay indoors all the time because of the cold weather.
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“In Dubai, we spend a lot of time outside, doing outdoor activities.
“As a family we are so much more active. We have such a variety of things to do and are spoilt for choice.”
Now she says the whole family is much happier, especially with their additional income.
She explained: “With being business owners in the UK, everything we were making we felt like we were giving away to the government.
“45% tax bracket with 20% VAT but with nothing to show for it.
“Plus, the weather was a huge factor for us, I’m happier when I’m in the sunshine!”
The family moved to Dubai in December 2022. Poppy said: “Funnily enough, it was never on our goal list to move to Dubai.
“We had been on holiday there three times as a couple and Ben’s best friend, wife and children were moving out there for work and with us being online business owners.
“We thought, ‘Why don’t we go? The children are small enough. If we don’t like it, we’ll come back.’
So we just said ‘Yes, let’s do it!’”
Although they have no regrets about their move, Poppy explains that life in Dubai is very different to what most people would think.
She said: “Everyone sees the flash cars, luxury penthouses and yachts and thinks that’s how everyone lives their life here. “But it couldn’t be further from the truth.
“As a family-of-four, we live further out in the desert, in a family community with lots of greenery, more chilled lifestyle living and our complex even has its own waterpark.
How easy is it to move abroad?
Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here’s what you need to do at home before moving:
- Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
- Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
- Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
- If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre.
- You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
- If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
- If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools.
“It’s been set up for families so that it has everything you need with parks, pools, shops, restaurants, cafés everything!”
“I worked out that with the tax we were paying in the UK including living costs and the cost of living in Dubai with 0% income tax actually balances out and ends up being similar.
“Except here, you have way more to show for your money, a higher quality and variety of life with sun and vitamin D as an added bonus.”
Poppy did point out that moving abroad is “quite high” in terms of set-up costs, adding that you’re “basically setting your life up somewhere else and starting from scratch”.
One thing Poppy has noticed a slight difference in is schooling, she said: “The education is pretty similar.
“They attend a British school, however, schools in Dubai are the equivalent to private schools in the UK.
“You have to pay for their education. Nothing is free.
“They do have a swimming pool in their school and have swimming lessons, which I think is great!”
She also discussed the hardest part of moving so far from home – missing family.
Poppy added: “Not being able to see family and friends as often as we would like in person is the hardest part.
“Sometimes you just want a cuddle from your mum! Luckily, technology is really great.”