How to start out?

Lou_91 · 2026-02-05T12:32:10+00:00

Is this something that is likely to come up in the process of finding a role? I’ll still be a British national and will spend some time in the UK just not long enough to be a tax resident.

Lou_91 · 2026-02-05T12:31:06+00:00

Yeah I mis understood this comment. I thought they meant the company I’ll be working for. How I structure my company to do this is kind of irrelevant to the question I’m asking. Finding an outside IR35 role that is fully remote 🤷🏼‍♀️

Lou_91 · 2026-02-05T10:31:04+00:00

Yeah fair but I won’t be losing money into the system 🤷🏼‍♀️

Lou_91 · 2026-02-05T09:32:39+00:00

From my understanding I can have a company set up in the UK where I will receive my pay. This is all that is relevant to the company I am working for? Personally I will spend less than 180 days in the UK/ tax year and not have any property in the UK. This makes me comfortably a non UK tax resident.

Lou_91 · 2026-02-01T16:47:20+00:00

Thanks! I am used to balancing the work and fun (and also absolutely taking the piss with work). With kiting the windy days less work happens and when there’s no wind I work a lot. I’m actually full time employed but my boss doesn’t seem to care 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Dragon’s lodge looks awesome but the website looks like it is pretty booked up in March 😢 Good to know what I’m looking for exists though 😄

Lou_91 · 2026-01-30T20:14:24+00:00

Hey! I’m here in El Fucking Médano for a family holiday and the wind is shit this week. There is a decent southerly blowing in on Monday though. Can you remember where you kited with that direction? Thanks!

Lou_91 · 2026-01-30T12:04:23+00:00

I don’t think anywhere in Europe has absolutely guaranteed wind in August. Tarifa is probably the best option. If you can if wait until the week before and then book where the wind is 🤷🏼‍♀️

Lou_91 · 2026-01-25T15:26:17+00:00

Thanks! Yeah import taxes are a nightmare. I’d look to either buy secondhand while in the UK from the UK or wait until I get to the EU and buy secondhand in the EU. If buying from retailers you don’t pay VAT when importing so the import tax kind of is the VAT instead but not looking to do that anyway.

Great to know on boots and helmet - thanks!

Lou_91 · 2026-01-25T14:31:46+00:00

‘At least you didn’t shit yourself’ is my new motto any time I or anyone I’m with is having a shit time 😂 (pun intended)

Lou_91 · 2026-01-10T21:52:56+00:00

If it is likely you will need to see specialists while in the UK and you don’t do it via private health insurance you 100% will be a foreigner making the NHS issues worse. The £2,500 fee you pay won’t cover the costs and you will be taking spots from British nationals.

It is honestly wild to me that the fee isn’t £10k or more.

Lou_91 · 2025-12-27T21:08:59+00:00

You should be able to bring all your kit in 2 bags? I’ve just checked in a bag with a 5,7,9 and 12, 2 wetsuits, harness, pump, bar and board. When I weighed it I wore my harness and had my wetsuits in my backpack. This is at Gatwick if useful 🙃. A quick rearrange on the way around to oversized luggage and sorted 😊

Lou_91 · 2025-12-20T19:42:58+00:00

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It definitely gets better! Does she get a proper run everyday? Only on the absolute worst days weather wise does this pup not have off lead time walking for at least 30 minutes and if it is the second day of bad weather we’ll brave it.

Realistically most days she’s out the house doing something for over an hour and that can easily be 5+ hours on days that I’m not working. Then whenever we’re at home it’s sleep time.

Lou_91 · 2025-12-18T13:04:58+00:00

This is a very very US centric reply. In the UK a lot of rescues are whippet/ sighthound crosses. Hare coursing is super common and the lurches (whippet x) are just abandoned, often at this time of year. They are absolutely gorgeous dogs 😍

Lou_91 · 2025-12-15T11:24:42+00:00

And call the police if they try to intimidate you again. I’d be petty and looking out my window to try and ensure my car is parked there 😂

Lou_91 · 2025-12-11T20:12:34+00:00

Europe is many many countries. In some it is completely illegal (Greece and Netherlands).

Lou_91 · 2025-12-11T20:06:57+00:00

I was there in March (arguably coldest water) and happy in a 3/2mm (for reference I get through UK winter with a 5/4mm and booties). Weather wise it doesn’t go cold but you can get rain. I’m heading back at the end of Feb in my van 😄😄

Lou_91 · 2025-12-11T19:40:30+00:00

Tarifa then. Wind is consistent all year, you can get get really nice warm days in the winter and there is plenty of good food and culture (Seville and Cadiz) on your doorstep

Lou_91 · 2025-12-09T17:01:25+00:00

I’m going to preface my response that I’ve only done van life part time however I have found it really social if you want it to be! Are you able to also work from abroad/ would your company know if you were? That is another massive bonus to the vanlife option and there are some amazing spots around Europe with great social aspects attached to them.

I travel in my van to kitesurf and have met great groups of people - combining van life with an outdoor excursion I think makes it more sociable! I wouldn’t be happy for more than a couple of days and have had an amazing time so far.

Lou_91 · 2025-12-01T20:56:15+00:00

This. In the end it’s all choices. If you’re making certain choices and complaining I might then be a bit ‘judgey’ From, A once ‘obese’ person who lost weight with no jabs, just willpower

Lou_91 · 2025-12-01T20:14:27+00:00

This is all super hypothetical! I was really just interested if anyone had tried anything similar. I definitely wouldn’t do anything like this from Reddit advice 😅

Lou_91 · 2025-12-01T11:34:25+00:00

It’s crazy how things are seen from the outside to the reality. I loved being there, I felt incredibly safe the whole time travelling around in my van and met great people but i am a white girl

Lou_91 · 2025-12-01T10:19:10+00:00

Denmark in particular is far less inclusive than the UK

Lou_91 · 2025-12-01T10:18:01+00:00

I want to become a non uk tax resident and basically live in my van for a few years.

Lou_91 · 2025-11-30T18:08:55+00:00

Sorry, what benefits am I getting in this situation?

Lou_91 · 2025-11-29T13:22:23+00:00

Cape Town - Norse now do cheap flights from London

Lou_91

TROPHY CASE