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PLACE IN THE SUN

I hated seeing drunks on my nursery drop off so quit the depressed UK for Dubai – I now earn 6 figures A MONTH

Aimee also explained why people are so "depressed" in the UK

WITH the cold weather, dark nights, and the cost of living crisis, it's no wonder many people are daydreaming about life in another country. 

Well one mum decided to take matters into her own hands and stop dreaming.

Aimee has revealed why she is deciding to quit England alongside her son
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Aimee has revealed why she is deciding to quit England alongside her sonCredit: TikTok/@aimeeduncan1

This year, she shared how she left England behind to move to Dubai because she found the UK too depressing. 

Aimee Duncan, an expert in short-form content, relocated her family in September and hasn’t looked back since. 

She took to her to explain exactly why she wanted to leave the UK.

Speaking to the camera, she said: “So, three reasons.

READ MORE ON DUBAI

“Number one is that I genuinely do not trust the people here.

“I could not trust my little boy to walk home from school, or to walk himself to school, which is obviously when he gets a bit older, which I do not want to live in an area like that.

“You go to the high street, you see horrific scenes, people drinking, doing drugs on the street. 

“Not the type of thing that you want to come across on your way to work, or dropping your little one off at nursery.”

Secondly, Aimee believes that there are “just no opportunities in the UK whereas the opportunities in Dubai are insane” for her and her little boy.

She continues: “There are so many more opportunities in Dubai, so many more inspirational, motivational people and things going on in Dubai.”

Her third reason is the current climate in Britain. 

I was fed up of working 14-hour days to get by so I moved to Spain with my family and now we save £1.6k on rent and bills every month

She says: “The weather in the UK, and just the general environment in the UK is depressing. It is depressing. People in the UK are depressed.

“Everybody is either depressed about the weather, or they hate their job, they hate their life, they hate the government, or they hate something. 

Seriously thinking about doing the same thing for the same reasons

TikTok comment

“Everything is so negative in the UK. I just want to feel positive. 

“The minute I stepped into Dubai, I just felt this sense of safety, positivity, I was happy, it was sunny, we were getting sun on our faces, which is a massive thing.

“I think people forget that vitamin D is really important.”

In another video, Aimee has revealed how since moving she has quit her 9-5 job, is earning six figures a month and is living happily in the sunshine. 

Since moving to Dubai Aimee has had no regrets
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Since moving to Dubai Aimee has had no regretsCredit: TikTok/@aimeeduncan1
Aimee revealed that she is making more money then ever before
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Aimee revealed that she is making more money then ever beforeCredit: TikTok/@aimeeduncan1

Money-Saving Tips from Gemma Bird: Save £2k Before Christmas

IF youre' looking to save cash, you've come to the right place, as here, Gemma Bird has shared her top tips that'll save you £2k before Christmas.

  • Set a budget: Track your spending and create a realistic budget.
  • Cut unnecessary costs: Cancel unused subscriptions and avoid impulse buys.
  • Meal planning: Plan meals to reduce grocery bills and avoid takeaways.
  • Sell unwanted items: Declutter and sell items online for extra cash.
  • Cashback and discounts: Use cashback sites and hunt for discount codes.
  • DIY gifts: Make personalised gifts to save money and add a personal touch.
  • Pick up a seasonal shift: A really easy way to pick up a bit of extra cash in the winter is to find yourself some seasonal work.

Follow these practical tips from Gemma Bird to boost your savings before the festive season!

And she’s not the only one who believes that moving to another country is the way forward. 

Aimee’s video gained a lot of attention with many people rushing to the comments section to share her thoughts. 

One wrote: “Seriously thinking about doing the same thing for the same reasons. I’ll be following your journey. Wishing you all the best.”

Another added: “Couldn't agree more. We are moving too. In December.”

A third said: “Dubai is so safe . I was walking around at 3 in the morning and no one bothered me at all.”

However, some were left concerned on how safe it was to ditch financial security in England.

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One wrote: “I wish I could move but I struggle with saving money to move there.”

A second mentioned: “It’s not that easy to get into Dubai in terms of jobs, it’s a very competitive market! Very different from the UK.”

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

Consumer reporter Sam Walker explains all you need to know about the payment.

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free benefit designed to help cover the cost of heating through the colder months.

Most who are eligible receive the payment automatically.

Those who qualify are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.

If you do meet the criteria but don't automatically get the Winter Fuel Payment, you will have to  on the government's website.

You'll qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter if:

  • you were born on or before September 23, 1958
  • you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, known as the "qualifying week"
  • you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit

If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both the following apply:

  • you live in Switzerland or a EEA country
  • you have a "genuine and sufficient" link with the UK social security system, such as having lived or worked in the UK and having a family in the UK

But there are exclusions - you can’t get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain.

This is because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.

You will also not qualify if you:

  • are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
  • need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you can not claim public funds
  • were in prison for the whole "qualifying week"
  • lived in a care home for the whole time between 26 June to 24 September 2023, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Payments are usually made between November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.

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