Expats claim living abroad is one of best decisions they’ve ever made – but a third nearly went home straight away

EXPATS claim that living abroad is one of the best decisions they've ever made - but a third nearly went home straight away.

A poll of 600 adults who have lived outside of the UK revealed 68 per cent are glad they made the leap, but 29 per cent found it difficult to settle in at first.

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And one in 10 admitted it took up to year to overcome their homesickness.

Innately knowing how things work, missing loved ones and being able to understand the native language were among the things they missed the most.

While others struggled with loneliness, getting used to the local dialect, dealing with their finances and bills, and setting up new bank accounts.

Finding a job, making friends and generally not knowing the life hacks of the new country also contributed to the concerns.

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Despite this, 59 per cent did feel prepared before the big move, with half researching the local culture beforehand, along with the weather, cost of living and the native language.

More than four in 10 of those (42 per cent) also made themselves aware of the exchange rates and 35 per cent investigated the local currency before relocating.

The survey was commissioned by iFAST Global Bank, which offers consumers around-the-world access to banking services in the UK.

Simon Lee, general manager of digital personal banking at the platform, said: “Moving to a new country can be daunting, as things are very different from what you are used to at home.

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“It’s not just a new language people have to contend with, there are the new processes too - for example setting up bank accounts and sorting the bills.

“This can be a complete minefield at home, let alone in a completely new culture.”

The research also found 27 per cent of those polled moved because they wanted to experience a new culture and the same percentage wanted to try something new.

Other reasons for moving to a new country included following a dream, gaining independence and wanting to step out of their comfort zone.

And the best things about the relocation included meeting new people, experiencing more opportunities and learning a new culture.

Despite initial concerns about settling in, 64 per cent would recommend others do the same after having a positive experience themselves.

With as many as 34 per cent considering trying out another new country of residence in the future, according to the study, carried out via OnePoll.

Simon Lee added: “It’s great to see how many people have loved moving to a new country and the fact they did it to follow their dreams is even better.

“You can learn so much and meet so many interesting people by immersing yourself in a new culture, it’s no surprise this many people recommend it to others.

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“But getting the simple things right is important. And looking after our money while moving around the world is a priority.

“This, in our view, is one of the most important aspects to making a move abroad a success – because so much relies on having easy access to our money.”