US vs. Europe

[Cewseww6 16]

Hey forum,

 

I'm just looking to vent a bit and maybe get some input from others who might have similar thoughts or concerns.

We live in the US, me, wife and son (9 yrs) and we went to Europe (Sweden) for a vacation this Fall. Wife and son only spent 2 weeks here due to school and work, and I'm actually still in Sweden, traveling home in 2 weeks.

We've been in the US for the last 5 years and have it good, good jobs and salaries, house cars/trucks etc. No complaints really except we have some family and friends here in Sweden that we do miss. We own a cabin in a small village where my dad grew up so it really feels like home for me and us.

 

After being here, we're kind of contemplating moving back. But we do need to think about it a lot, things are not super easy here in Europe, low wages, high taxes, different political system, people's attitudes are different (I'm very libertarian and believe me, Swedes really are not  ). And in the US, things can be sketchy politically, higher risk of gun violence (not that I'm too concerned, living in a small town) and the risk of getting very sick or fired is always anxious. 

 

Anyone else who have done the journey recently? Anyone thinking about it and having the same issues?

We're all US citizens and it's only my wife who would need a VISA for Sweden, so we can easily move back but we have made this move several times in the last 7 years...

[JeanneAdil 7,214]

you have paid into SS and it can not be frozen but u can keep paying into it on the 1040 form as other taxes owed

BTW you do have to file US tax returns as  now u r USC (no matter where u live ) 

check out the forms and for international income m you do get to exclude over $100,000 each year (form 2555) for income outside the US 

when you are ready to retire , u can collect SS (if qualified by keeping up with any monies owed ) but need bank that accepts electronic payouts - i keep a US bank account open for my debit and credit cards .  SS will no longer write checks to a bene of SS payments

 

We did make a move (sort of) We bought a villa on the Mediterrean in Spain and spend 6 months there and 6 in the US

We like it as it makes airfare to travel EU,  north Africa and middle east (i like to paraglide in eastern turkey mts) so much cheaper and easier / i hated those long lay overs 

 

I don't see a downside as politics in the US are also sketchy and taxes and insurances were the breaking part for me /In the US it doesn't pay to work overtime as  federal taxes will take all the extra

 

I mean health, life, auto, homeowners,  dental, and eye insurances and our vet wanted us to take out for our dog .  its a little too much

 

u have my vote for moving 

u can always rent out the house in case the move is not as great as u thought 

and return to USA

Edited 16 hours ago by JeanneAdil

[Cewseww6 16]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

you have paid into SS and it can not be frozen but u can keep paying into it on the 1040 form as other taxes owed

BTW you do have to file US tax returns as  now u r USC (no matter where u live ) 

check out the forms and for international income m you do get to exclude over $100,000 each year (form 2555) for income outside the US 

when you are ready to retire , u can collect SS (if qualified by keeping up with any monies owed ) but need bank that accepts electronic payouts - i keep a US bank account open for my debit and credit cards .  SS will no longer write checks to a bene of SS payments

 

We did make a move (sort of) We bought a villa on the Mediterrean in Spain and spend 6 months there and 6 in the US

We like it as it makes airfare to travel EU,  north Africa and middle east (i like to paraglide in eastern turkey mts) so much cheaper and easier / i hated those long lay overs 

 

I don't see a downside as politics in the US are also sketchy and taxes and insurances were the breaking part for me /In the US it doesn't pay to work overtime as  federal taxes will take all the extra

 

I mean health, life, auto, homeowners,  dental, and eye insurances and our vet wanted us to take out for our dog .  its a little too much

 

u have my vote for moving 

u can always rent out the house in case the move is not as great as u thought 

and return to USA

 

Thanks for the input!

Yeah, the tax filing part is not unknown to me, a nuisance but one got to do what you need to.

 

We do have a cabin here in this little village which is cheap to own, but long and expensive to get here, several flights and a few hours by car.

Work/salary wise I could only dream to make what I make today in Sweden, I'd probably only make 1/3 in Sweden compared to the US, not a small decrease. I do work 100% remote but my wife doesn't and kiddo goes to school, so we cannot do this together for too long.

 

Insurances you'd need here too, but they are a bit cheaper than in the US. However, housing is equal or more expensive where we want to live. If we rent, we'd have it cheaper.

If we decide to move, we would keep the house in the US and rent it out, I see no reason to sell a property as they're usually a solid investment. Of course it can go South with the wrong tenant...

 

Again, thanks for the input, there's a lot to think of and keep in mind before we make a move.

[KMG 227]

11 hours ago, Cewseww6 said:

Hey forum,

 

I'm just looking to vent a bit and maybe get some input from others who might have similar thoughts or concerns.

We live in the US, me, wife and son (9 yrs) and we went to Europe (Sweden) for a vacation this Fall. Wife and son only spent 2 weeks here due to school and work, and I'm actually still in Sweden, traveling home in 2 weeks.

We've been in the US for the last 5 years and have it good, good jobs and salaries, house cars/trucks etc. No complaints really except we have some family and friends here in Sweden that we do miss. We own a cabin in a small village where my dad grew up so it really feels like home for me and us.

 

After being here, we're kind of contemplating moving back. But we do need to think about it a lot, things are not super easy here in Europe, low wages, high taxes, different political system, people's attitudes are different (I'm very libertarian and believe me, Swedes really are not  ). And in the US, things can be sketchy politically, higher risk of gun violence (not that I'm too concerned, living in a small town) and the risk of getting very sick or fired is always anxious. 

 

Anyone else who have done the journey recently? Anyone thinking about it and having the same issues?

We're all US citizens and it's only my wife who would need a VISA for Sweden, so we can easily move back but we have made this move several times in the last 7 years...

Is it possible to have the best of both worlds?  Maybe spend the summers in Sweden, so you can still keep your life in the U.S.?