Top US Blogs From UK Expats

expat network

Top US Blogs From UK Expats

MoneyTransfers.com have created a list of the Top 20 blogs from UK expats giving their insight into life as an expat in various locations around the world. Three of these blogs relate to living in the US. Here we show which blogs made the list with a brief description of each.

Originally published by MoneyTransfers.com and re-published here with their agreement.

One of the best ways to prepare yourself for moving to a completely new country is to hear some first-hand accounts of people who have been there, done that, and are now enjoying life in a new culture. With inside knowledge on settling down halfway across the world, the following blogs are all founded by UK expats who document their own experiences adjusting to life in a foreign country and the adventures that come with it.

We update this list regularly so if the destination you were thinking about moving to hasn’t been added yet it may appear in the future.

UK Expats in the US

Living in the US is a popular choice for many Brits. Moving to another English-speaking country is a big attraction, making travel, job opportunities, navigating the culture, and really settling into a new community that bit easier. Converting pounds to dollars is an extremely popular exchange so you should have no trouble getting your funds to the US when moving there – our guide to sending money to the US details some of the best providers.

The US is a vast country with options for everyone: whether you’d prefer to settle down on the sunny beaches of California, immerse yourself in city life in New York, or explore the beautiful national parks in Utah, Oregon, and Colorado, to name just a few. Some of our top picks of expat blogs in the US include:

Lost in the Pond | http://www.lostinthepond.com/

Lost in the Pond is a blog written by Laurence Brown, who moved to the US with his wife in 2008. Laurence’s blog and YouTube channel by the same name focus on the life of a Brit in America, highlighting the major differences between the two countries in an entertaining and lighthearted way.

Between England and Iowa | https://betweenenglandandiowa.com/

Between England and Iowa is a travel and lifestyle blog founded by Kylie, a British expat living in Iowa, US. Her blog is packed full of resources on moving and working in the USA as an expat, adventures around Iowa and the Midwest, and plenty of information for anyone thinking about moving to the states anytime soon.

American Travel Blogger | https://www.americantravelblogger.com/

American Travel Blogger is a travel blog that focuses on travel tips all around the US as well as a few key highlights from trips abroad. The blog is run by Victoria, who is originally from Manchester and moved to New York city after a life-long love affair with the US in general – talk about the American dream!

General Expat Blogs

If ‘live abroad’ is on your bucket list, but you don’t quite have the where nailed down yet, there are a number of more general expat blogs that you’ll still find helpful. The following blogs can provide a great overview of popular UK expat destinations, as well as tips and necessary information on visas, job opportunities, finding accommodation abroad, and how to make the most of immersing yourself in a new country.

Ship It | https://www.shipit.co.uk/blog/

This blog has some great travel guides for popular expat destinations, as well as useful info on shipping your belongings to the other side of the world (without paying a small fortune to do so!).

Expat Info Desk | https://www.expatinfodesk.com/

This is a great one-stop blog for expat guides, resources, and services whether you’re just considering a move or are already living abroad. Expat Info Desk also has a forum which can be helpful for connecting with other travellers.

The Expater | https://theexpater.com/

The Expater was written for women abroad in mind, with a host of travel guides and tips to keeping safe when on the road. Nina also shares interviews and stories from other female expats on their own experiences living in a foreign country.

Where in the World is Nina | https://whereintheworldisnina.com/

Featuring travel guides, packing lists, numerous destinations guides, and information on working abroad or running an online remot business, Where in the World is Nina has some useful tips for anyone considering living and travelling abroad.

Expat | https://www.expat.com/

The focus of this blog is community – bringing expats together to connect and make friends when living in an unfamiliar part of the world. With over 2 million members, this site can be useful if you’re feeling isolated as an expat and would like to meet some like minded people.

Investments for Expats | https://investmentsforexpats.com/

Covering financial matters such as pensions, investments, tax, and property tailored specifically towards expats living and working abroad, this website has numerous helpful blog posts and case studies to help you get your finances in order.

Expat Network | https://www.expatnetwork.com/

Expat Network lists jobs, events, guides, top destinations, money q&a’s and more, this long-standing blog has thousands of useful articles for would-be expats and those already living abroad alike.

Choosing our top expat blogs

We have provided every blog on this list with this badge, so they can proudly display that they are recognised for being one of the best expat blogs in the UK.

For a brief insight into how we picked the blogs listed in this guide, we considered the following criteria:

Relevance: All the blogs listed above provide relevant, useful information for expats, whether you’re moving to a specific destination or simply looking for some entertaining anecdotes about life abroad.

Updates: We made sure to consider blogs that are regularly updated from people still living the expat life!

Layout: A well-structured blog with great photos creates a much better user-experience for readers, so this was one of our main criteria for selection.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.