Step1 - Our UK house is on the market!

[Janice1971]

My husband is Turkish and because I have been married to him for 7 years I can apply for a Kimlik so that I can find some sort of work.  I have about 65k equity in my house (all going well)the whole reason for the move is so that we can have a better quality of life, my husband has loads of contacts and he was working all year round when i met him so hopefully he can do that again!

[Supacabby]

I did a  lot of homework on this during my 6 months trial life in Calis last winter, as you are finding out it's not easy to get it right!

Some basic (appx) facts: £65k equity less £5k relocation/settling in expenses = £60k to invest. At 9.5% net of tax this would provide just under £6k of annual income, remember you will have no access to this money because if you "dip in" to the pot your interest will be reduced. Top this up with hubby working full time at 1000tl & yourself part time at 500tl a month (average "blue collar" wage in Fethiye area according to my research) =  £1,100 per month net income. Now take your living expenses out: rent, utilities, food, travel, etc. & it should leave you in the region of £200 per  month for "pocket money".

Please don't take my figures for gospel, I have tried to approximate from experience where possible & the figures may vary, particularly with regard to income as we all know Turkey is often unstable throughout the winter season.

Imho this income is far too low to support your situation without putting yourself back to where you are today, the only exception being hubby is back "home" & happy + the kids should have a better quality of life compared to disrespectful Britain as it is today which I fully understand your desire to leave behind.

Keep throwing the questions at us, I'm sure someone will provide the "right" answer for you eventually.

PS: Please feel free to correct any mistakes with my figures, I worked it out on a calculator which I think Noah produced some years ago!

[Highlander]

I have to confess that I am a litte uneasy about this topic but Supacabby can I respectfully suggest that, if figures are to be quoted, then it might be better to quote them all in lira.

[Old Daffodil]

Went and collected a pizza last night from a  take away restaurant,Turkish family owners,picked up some Efes beer from a nearby small supermarket,another Turkish family also owns this.Went for a cup of tea at a small cafe in another town today which is owned by a very hard working Turkish lady. They all are very happy with their lives in England and when I asked them if they would like to return to Turkey they all laughed and said I must be joking!One chap said he couldn;t stand the heat in the summer!Everyone finds their own place they want to be I think.

[Janice1971]

Well thanks for that snipit of information Daffodil, most helpful!  Supercabby, thanks for your information, its really helping me to get a grip on things, so in effect then we may be able to get by with around £800-900 a month!

[Highlander]

"I really appreciate your input as I havent to date really had any positive support or opinions"

"Well thanks for that snipit of information Daffodil, most helpful!"

Both of those statements seem to suggest that you do not want to hear negative comments.

[LeeGlo]

I think the estimated 9.5% net is a bit optimistic, 10% gross less 15% tax is 8.5% lowering your net income to closer to £5000 pa. also the interest rates could easily fall again and if you are dependent on it, you will have the same problem as my friends.

I must agree though that your children would have a better quality of life in Turkey.

[Highlander]

"Kids have a better quality of life in Turkey".

Would someone be kind enough to expand on that statement.

[Scunner]

quote:Originally posted by Highlander

Both of those statements seem to suggest that you do not want to hear negative comments.

I didn't read it that way at all to be honest - Janice has one advantage over most thinking to move and that it that she has lived there already. I'm sure she knew one or two negatives from that time  in her life. It is human nature to ask for comments and hope for more that push us the way we plan to go than pull us back from it.

Nobody wants to hear negative comments when planning something major but we do realise that they will come - and that we can't ignore them entirely...

[Janice1971]

Im not completely naive about our move to Turkey, had our business not have gone down I would still have been living happily in Turkey.  The lifestyle really suited me and my husband.  I am just trying to do the right thing for us as a family and to be honest I am bored of my life here in the UK.  I am bored of the weather, I am bored of never having any money to do anything and believe it or not I actually miss my in-laws and extended family!  I am not only looking for positive comments, I take on board that life isnt perfect in Turkey, I just didnt need to hear about a Turkish family who have a business here and dont want to go back, Im just saying that, that comment didnt help me in the slightest, I am just trying to do the groundwork so that we are in a "real" position and we know what we are going to do, its facts that I need not emotion!  Everyone has their ownb reasons to do stuff and believe me I am NOT taking this move lightly as I have my 2 beautiful daughters to consider!