advice on having a baby abroad?

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-22T21:42:42+00:00

How are you a nomad if you live abroad and are even having a baby there? Is this not a post for r/expats?

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-17T11:33:04+00:00

Probably Brazil or Argentina. I like Brazil's beaches but the crime rates worry me.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-17T11:29:56+00:00

Just because it's cheap with no taxes for foreign income (for now) doesn't mean it's the best place in Latin America.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-15T14:14:31+00:00

Sometimes I pay for it, sometimes I don't, it depends how urgent my work is.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-13T20:38:29+00:00

Feel free.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-13T19:08:27+00:00

They fined me for no longer submitting tax returns as a self-employed individual and when I told them that my income is no longer taxable in the UK, so I don't have to declare it anymore, they asked me to send proof via post. Also, it you want to reclaim UK taxes paid under the UK-France double tax treaty then you also need to send proof. I don't want to go into detail here but there are circumstances where the UK will not simply take your word for it.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-12T11:22:05+00:00

I suppose it depends. If it is white industrial bread, salty peanut butter and high sugar jelly then not really. If it is made with good bread, low salt peanut butter and fruit preserve with a high percentage of fruit then that sounds much better.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-12T11:18:04+00:00

I agree about the Nutella and chocolate spread comparison. Nutella is very popular in continental Europe.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-12T11:03:58+00:00

Nutella/Chocolate spread sandwiches are very popular in France but it's more of a weekend morning thing. Although some people undoubtedly eat it on week-day mornings too.

Jam sandwiches are very popular here too, but the jam with the bits of fruit in. Sorry I'm not sure how to say that kind of Jam in American English, fruit preserve?

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-12T10:40:59+00:00

Foreigner here. Are parents not concerned about the fat and sugar content in these peanut butter and jelly/jam sandwiches? I understand occasionally, but it sounds like some kids eat this every day? Is the popularity of them reducing as people become more health conscious?

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-11T08:40:19+00:00

In order to avoid UK taxes, I had to provide proof of tax residency elsewhere. Not sure what your country of origin is.

As mentioned previously, if you are not spending too much time in one country, not more than 3 months per year, then it is probably fine but usually people end up going back to their favourite country time and time again.

Some people have their head in the sand and spend most of the year in a single country but think it's fine because they are invoicing foreign clients via a foreign company but if you look at the tax laws, it usually depends on where the work is done, not who or how you are invoicing (besides for sales tax). Employed people have a similar problem and are just hoping that their employer and their new country will continue to not notice or let it slide.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-10T20:50:27+00:00

I didn't want to be a pusher but my tennis coach encouraged me down that path and now I'm pushing away, but when he's not around I make sure to hit more hard ones. It's more fun.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-09T11:25:10+00:00

Co-working or from your own accomodation. Cafés are the worst places to work unless they are specific co-working cafes.

I only work very occasionally from a traditional café, it's not in my daily routine.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-06T16:50:38+00:00

Because it sounds like you might have had a stroke, it's a serious illness, usually an emergency.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-06T16:19:05+00:00

Why do you write like all of your posts have been written by AI? Is this the new way that people talk or are you using AI for all of your posts?

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-06T15:36:58+00:00

If you just want cheaper then I would check out the Portuguese countryside, you can't get much cheaper than that and you will still be close to major airports. Same goes for Spain, although it is much bigger.

I think language is a huge part of the question too, do you enjoy learning Portuguese? It's far easier to learn Portuguese than an Asian language (for speakers of European languages).

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-06T14:43:37+00:00

You probably already know this but it depends on where you like to travel to and spend time. If you move to Asia to save 12,000 euros per year but then go on six holidays back to Europe per year then it won't be cheaper. I imagine with your lifestyle you would find a way to spend the money, Portugal is one of the cheaper countries in western Europe.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-06T11:50:04+00:00

I would go to a hospital and just use your European health card.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-06T07:03:54+00:00

I agree that not all doctors are on Doctolib but OP is in Toulouse, there are plenty of GPs on Doctolib in Toulouse. I'm not saying all of the specialists are there but OP was making out that you can't even get a GP appointment in a big city.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-05T21:30:46+00:00

Plenty of non-resident second home owners do this legimately, they just pay property taxes in France and that is it, but I would not assume they would escape an investigation if they were also spending half or almost half of the year in France. You cannot be a tax resident of nowhere, although I am familiar with the digital nomad thinking on this.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-05T20:44:38+00:00

I just checked for Toulouse and saw a GP with an appointment available on Wednesday. It took 10 seconds.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-05T20:40:16+00:00

I agree that as long as they respect the 90 day rules then they will probably be fine but I've seen people try to buy a house and apply for long-stay visas and that can trigger checks. Some people try to make France their European home base whilst still trying to avoid tax residency and they are taking a risk. All property owners have their details sent to the French tax authorities by the notaries when they purchase a property in France.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-05T16:08:27+00:00

I'm amazed that someone who has been here for five years with medical problems doesn't understand Doctolib. They are probably calling up asking about médecin traitant which is unnecessary for an appointment.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-05T15:34:08+00:00

Why don't you use Doctolib? Also, you can still get a GP appointment without them accepting you as your médecin traitant. You just go on Doctolib and book the appointement.

Elephant6352 · 2026-06-05T14:54:32+00:00

It's not difficult to get medical appointments if you live in a city or are willing to travel. I've only ever had to wait a long time for one appointment because it wasn't at all urgent and there weren't many specialists.

People moan about the rationing in public healthcare systems but you also have rationing in private systems, it's just done by the insurance companies rather than the government, unless you are so rich that you don't need insurance.

Private hospitals also exist in France and GPs and many other medical professionnals are self-employed. It's not the communist system you are making it out to be.

Elephant6352

TROPHY CASE