Living On The Island Or Living In The Uk?

[Lxxx]

Must admit the advantages are diminishing. If tax rises start, crime increases but the cost of living stays the same (all very possible) then it's a mere toss up between the two. Obviously comparing inner city M'cr/L'lp etc... and here is like comparing chalk and cheese but a nice little village in the UK, in reasonably close proximity to a large city and it's amenities, there soon won't be much difference and indeed the balance may be tipped in the UK favour.

[Snowflake]

Depends what you want out of life, if you're content cruising along claiming benefits and not working then here is best. In UK you would be assessed and lose money if you can't really prove your need. Don't get me wrong, there are people in genuine need and couldn't cope otherwise but there are some slackers.

Here everybody knows everybody else and it takes a lot to prove yourself worthy of support and help. There is a tendency to sit back on your arse and wait for things to come to you, instead of getting out there and finding that support/work. Something that we would do well to import from the UK, luckily there are plenty of immigrants to do that instead of being idle by choice.

Overall it's what you make it, there is no automatic right to being successful just because you were born here and know the local postman well, something that will show now we are in the shit.

Stay here and enjoy the benefits of living in one of the nicest and quietest places in the northern hemisphere and stop whinging.

If you don't like it you know where the ferry is.

 

Didn't realise I was and did I say I didn't like it? No.

 

But, people like you could change my mind.

[Addie]

Living on the island can be both wonderful and downright irritating. Just like anywhere else I suppose.

 

My main grump is the ever increasing expense and inconvenience of travelling to and from the island.

[Albert Tatlock]

Most places are actually the same IMO...shops, hotels, cathedral, pubs, restaurants. Somewhere to go at the weekend, walking, entertainment etc. etc.

 

What differs is the people types around you. People and happiness are the most important things in life IMO, and as that usually means family and friends, often kids settled at school/routine etc. parents/grandparents near etc. so lots of people are unlikely to move in reality.

 

If you're young or old you can still see the world though. They have jobs in all countries. I would recommend it if you are young - or are even facing hefty responsbilities soon (e.g. likely to have to look after aging parents soon - still go for it and be relaxed on your return when those responsibilities start!).

 

The Isle of Man is but one page of a very large book. What titzes me off about it at the moment, is that it is being allowed to be run into the ground while maintaining a 'we're alright Jack' bloated government. This will affect a lot of peoples quality of life and happiness on the island in the longer term. The cuts and extra bills are already starting, and may lead to tax rises too. The people more likely to leave are those with family in the UK, not the Manx. But businesses might end up struggling for key skills. Yet another affect of Bell's ostrich solution to the financial crisis facing the island.

[paswt]

Living on the island can be both wonderful and downright irritating. Just like anywhere else I suppose.

 

My main grump is the ever increasing expense and inconvenience of travelling to and from the island.

 

"A day off the island is a day wasted"

[ballaughbiker]

You have got to be on big money to benefit from living here just for the tax. Its much cheaper to live across if you can put up with all the nonsense that goes with it. My son lives in Powys and the scenery is every bit as good as the IOM (ok ok no sea) but the property prices are nearly half. I very pleased he's not having to borrow a fortune to buy a house that might be worth a lot less in 5 years.

Edited December 17, 2012 by ballaughbiker

[Domino]

^{I like the fresh attitudes to sex here, most of us on the club and pub scene bonk each other quite readily}

[Tweek]

Wherever my hat lands is home. This week I have been living in the hall, last week on the top of the bedroom wardrobe, the week before on the settee, and the week before that on the kitchen table.

 

I hate hats, they are far too much bother.

[Snowflake]

So far, it seems to be swings and roundabouts, tax better here, prices better there. Crime is dependent on where in the UK you choose to live, as are house prices.

 

So the only real advantage is the tax rate.

 

Wales sounds nice though and it's a place I would like to visit.

[localyokel]

Can you give me some good reasons as to why the Isle of Man is better than/preferable to/far exceeds living in the UK?

 

Apart from Nobles and their excellent staff, I am struggling to think of any.

 

Does the Isle of Man have to be " better" than the UK?

 

I like living here because of my heritage and its a choice I make, however I have to say that in the last 5 years as the quality of life has gone down here I'm aware that there are much better places I could live in if I wanted to. I also choose to spend more time off the Island travelling and seeing more of the world. I'd like to think that the Island should strive to be "different" rather than "better" than the UK and I think that's exactly where its failed as week by week we just become more like the UK in terms of pettiness and general irritants that affect quality of life. Our differences used to make us unique but now we are a bit like any bland UK town - but with worse shops, worse roads and more vindictive traffic wardens.

Edited December 17, 2012 by localyokel

[Addie]

It isn't quite so simple, or as inexpensive as you may think, to independantly up-sticks and go abroad, for example. UK expats have a far easier financial/medical time of it.

 

I'm not sure how Manx people fit into the UK system.

[Tempus Fugit]

It isn't quite so simple, or as inexpensive as you may think, to independantly up-sticks and go abroad, for example. UK expats have a far easier financial/medical time of it.

 

I'm not sure how Manx people fit into the UK system.

and you lose the manx supplement to the pension :-(

(although they are proposing raising the UK pension a fair bit ?)

[P.K.]

I'm not sure how Manx people fit into the UK system.

 

Try and get an EHIC.

 

Actually, don't bother - you won't.

 

In my experience most folks leave with the intention of returning. However as you get older your agenda changes and over time you realise just how restrictive and almost suffocating the place is. With what we have now we are absolutely certain that the island's parameters are simply too narrow for us to enjoy life there so we won't be going back.

[Moghrey Mie]

I suggest you go and see the world.

You can always come back just in time to avoid inheritance tax.

[Endovelicus]

So far, it seems to be swings and roundabouts, tax better here, prices better there. Crime is dependent on where in the UK you choose to live, as are house prices.

 

So the only real advantage is the tax rate.

 

Wales sounds nice though and it's a place I would like to visit.

It's okay to visit - for a very short while. But if you think the IoM is insular, believe me you ain't seen nothing until you get to North Wales! I once spent 3 years in Anglesey - no, I spent 3 days there, but it seemed like 3 years!

 

I'm not Manx (at least, not by birth - I have one parent who was born here) but, having lived in several different countries, I can't find much that's disagreeable about the IoM.

The Scandinavian countries are great places to live - Norway, Sweden and Finland; Germany is (mostly) good, France excellent - but most of the UK is abyssmal and depressing.