Six months ago we moved our family from the United States to the United Kingdom — with two little girls, two dogs, and no jobs waiting for us when we arrived.

So how are we actually paying for it?

In this episode we’re sharing the financial strategy that made the move possible, how we prepared before leaving the US, and the plan we’re using to support our family during our first year living in the UK.

Moving countries isn’t just plane tickets and suitcases. There's a lot more to it than that.

This is the honest story of how we’re funding our first year abroad — and the thinking behind the choices we made.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to move your life across the world, this episode is for you.

Thanks for watching!

Gemma and Brett

Join us on our website to keep up to date with all our goings on! With links to our YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more: 

www.HowGreatIsBritain.com

Email: [email protected]

Products We Used for Our US → UK Move  We’ve put together a full list of the pet travel items, packing supplies, and arrival essentials that made our move smoother: 

 https://howgreatisbritain.com

(The website page contains affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we’ve genuinely used and loved.)

#MovingToUK #AmericanInUK #ExpatLife #LivingInTheUK #MovingAbroad

Come with us as we travel from England to Orlando, Florida — from Heathrow to Magic Kingdom — sharing the small moments and familiar places that now feel a little… different.In this episode, we bring you along as the journey unfolds: from the airport, onto the plane, and into our first moments back in Orlando. You’ll go where we go as we drink fizzy drinks at 8:30 in the morning (thanks, jet lag), take a very windy walk around Disney Springs, and—of course—make a necessary stop at Target.We round out the episode in Magic Kingdom, revisiting a place that holds a lot of history for our family. As we walk familiar paths, we share a little about our professional past lives and the “friends” we made along the way.Princesses, monsters, castles, and People Movers await as we dive into Part Two of our Orlando series. Oh—and princesses. There are lots of princesses.Thanks for coming along with us.– Gemma & Brett📺 Part Two of our Orlando series👉 Subscribe to follow the journey🌍 www.HowGreatIsBritain.com

#Podcast #TravelPodcast #DisneyPodcast #FamilyPodcast #ExpatLife #MagicKingdom

New Episodes EVERY Monday!

We recently went back to America expecting nostalgia, homesickness, and a bit of uncertainty about our decision to move to England. Instead, we were surprised... Not by what we missed, but by how we felt. In this episode, we talk about the days leading up to the trip, what we thought revisiting our recent past might stir up, and the moment halfway through the week when our perspective quietly shifted. We were struck by just how big everything feels in the US (especially when driving), the cost of groceries, and—of course—the weather. We did everything we set out to do: Disney, the Orlando Science Center, performing comedy, and even a visit to our old house. And yet, through it all, something had changed. What we came away with was a simple but powerful realization: where you live matters less than the community you’re surrounded by. Stick around for Brett’s exclusive wedding reception dance moves, our thoughts on the latest series of The Traitors, and something about lipstick on a vicar’s teeth. We had a great time going back and experiencing the kind of week we once imagined before THE BIG MOVE — and this episode captures the moments where we realized why coming back to England felt like coming home!We are glad you're here!-Gemma & Brett

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HowGreatIsBritainWebsite: www.HowGreatisBritain.com Podcast: https://pod.link/1865420238?view=apps&sort=popularity #expatlife #movingabroad #HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs #BackToTheUS #EnglandLife #FamilyAdventures #TravelReflections #LifeAbroad #ExpatsInEngland #CultureShock #ThemeParkFun #OrlandoAdventures #ParentingAbroad #LifeLessons #CommunityMatters #UKvsUSA #ExpatsJourney #FamilyVlog #PodcastEpisode #LifeReflections #TravelThoughts

New Episodes EVERY Monday!

It's our first family Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day in the UK — and honestly, what an amazing experience!We left our food shopping until very nearly the last minute- only to be pleasantly surprised by Aldi- fully stocked and shockingly affordable (the true Christmas miracle may, in fact, be their vegetable prices). Aldi, if you’re listening, we’re open to sponsorship… and possibly even a name change.Christmas Eve was a bit of everything: baking cookies for Santa, getting dressed up for a church service (our first ever together), and possibly—accidentally—starting a brand new family tradition by ending the night with milkshakes and fast-food burgers. And of course one early present to open before bed!Christmas Day itself was peak cosy. Cold winter walks, gifts from Father Christmas, homemade egg nog, far more Christmas cards than we’re used to, an impressive amount of chocolate, the King’s Speech, and falling asleep to one of our all-time favourite Christmas films.Boxing Day slowed everything right down — pyjamas all day, nibbles for dinner (pigs in blankets, scotch eggs, pineapple and cheese… yes please), and absolutely nowhere to be.We wrap up the episode by bravely discussing Love Actually, fully aware this may divide the comment section (as it does us). This year has been hectic, emotional, exhausting, and incredibly meaningful. We’re grateful… and very, very tired.Thanks for watching!-Gemma & Brett

🌍 Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HowGreatIsBritain.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes content.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowGreatIsBritain#UKChristmas #BritishChristmas #ExpatLife #AmericanInTheUK #FamilyVlog #ChristmasTraditions #BoxingDay #AldiUK #MovingToTheUK #ChristmasVibes #britishfood #lifeintheuk

New Episodes EVERY Monday!

As the year comes to a close, we wanted to pause for a moment and take stock of how far we’ve come — not just where we are now, but everything it took to get here.

Making an international move while raising two young girls and two dogs has felt like living in the "sticky middle" of where we were and where we hope to be.

During this time of moving and settling, there’s always another decision to be made and another thing that needs doing. And while it’s easy to focus on the stress, we’re not always great at stopping to notice the wins — especially the small ones; like finding a vet for the dogs, finding your local supermarket, or knowing where to get that thing we need...then realising these are actually us building a life here!

This week’s episode is a little shorter, a little softer, and very much about perspective. We have some laughs, make a plea for egg nog, and what's that about a single bed?!

We also share some truly wonderful fan art given to us by a member of our Youtube community, and we are incredibly touched to share a special performance of a classic Christmas carol from the Torrington Silver Band made just for How Great Is Britain - Can you guess this American version?As everything feels hectic at the end of the year, we hope this episode is a reminder — for us and for you — that even when you’re still in the middle of it all, progress is happening - life is happening - it all just takes time. Sometimes you just have to stop long enough to see it.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Gemma & Brett

🌍 Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HowGreatIsBritain.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes content.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowGreatIsBritain⁠⁠⁠#EndOfYearReflection #LifeUpdate #FamilyJourney #Gratitude #SmallWins #MovingAbroad #ExpatFamily #ParentLife #ChristmasEpisode

New Episodes EVERY Monday!

This week, we’re sitting down for a cosy chat about Christmas — and realising that even though we both thought we grew up celebrating like everyone else, it turns out our childhood Christmas experiences could be quite different.From subtle British Christmas lights to full-blown American neighbourhood light fights, stockings on the bed versus stockings on the fireplace, nativity plays and Christmas pudding versus holiday concerts and gingerbread houses, we’re comparing what Christmas looked like growing up on opposite sides of the Atlantic.We talk about the traditions that shaped us, the things that surprised us when we experienced Christmas in the other country (Italian food?!), and how we’re now blending British and American Christmases for our girls. Food, decorations, school memories, family quirks — we've got it all right here!Let us know in the comments: what Christmas traditions did you grow up with, and are you blending more than one culture in your celebrations? December is officially in full swing here, and we’ve got plenty more festive episodes coming!

🌍 Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HowGreatIsBritain.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes content.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowGreatIsBritain⁠⁠#BritishChristmas #AmericanChristmas #UKvsUSA #AmericanInUK #ExpatLife #LifeInTheUK #ChristmasTraditions #Christmas2025 #FamilyVlog #BritishCulture #ChristmasVibes #HolidaySeason #DecemberVlog #MovingToTheUK

New Episodes EVERY Monday!

We’re back for Part 2 of our Christmas music extravaganza! This time we’re diving into our personal Top 5 Christmas songs, exploring why certain tracks stick with us, and discovering that we each look for something completely different in our festive favourites. Gemma gravitates toward the upbeat, classic British hits she grew up with, while Brett leans into the wintery, reflective songs that made Christmas feel magical as a kid.Before we get into our lists, Gemma and I share a genuinely heartfelt message for anyone who might be finding this time of year difficult. We understand and we are with you. We hope to bring even a little comfort and connection through our little videos. We then start with a quick recap of the UK and US Top 5 charts from the last episode. Along the way, we flip through a few childhood Christmas photos, take a nostalgic walk through our holiday memories together, and talk about why these songs are our favourites (at least for today!)As always, we want to know your favourites — tell us your go-to Christmas songs in the comments so we can build the biggest community playlist imaginable. And don’t forget: the entire month of December will be Christmas-themed here on the channel.Whether you’re driving home for Christmas, riding your boggy down the hillside, or wondering if they know it’s Christmas in Africa… this episode is for you.

🌍 Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HowGreatIsBritain.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes content.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowGreatIsBritain⁠⁠#ChristmasSongs #UKChristmas #AmericanInUK #ExpatLife #LifeInTheUK #MovingToTheUK #ChristmasMusic #UKvsUSA #BritishChristmas #ChristmasVibes #FestiveSeason #HolidaySpecial #Christmas2025 #TopChristmasSongs #UKYouTubers #DecemberVlog #BritishAmericanFamily

New Episodes EVERY Monday!

It’s officially December, which means the stockings have been hung, the festive pyjamas are on, and we’re kicking off a whole month of holiday themed episodes! This week, we’re diving into one of our favourite parts of the season: Christmas music.We begin by talking about how important it was to get all of our Christmas decorations safely over from America, and then swap stories about the songs that shaped our childhood holidays — including the mysterious Christmas track Brett absolutely hated when he was eight but still can’t explain why. (Spoiler: we think we finally get to the bottom of it.)Brett also breaks down his three categories he believes every Christmas song falls into, and we tackle the age-old question of whether Die Hard is actually a Christmas movie. (Don’t get too wild in the comments.)Then it’s dashing through the snow as we go head-to-head in not one but TWO Christmas quizzes: Brett tests Gemma on the UK’s biggest Christmas songs, and Gemma challenges Brett with the most popular American holiday hits. Things get competitive, nostalgic, and opinions fly like tiny reindeer.We wrap Part 1 right after the quizzes, and in part 2 we’ll be revealing our personal Top 5 Christmas songs, along with a few surprises we’ve been saving.Crank up the record player, deck your halls, and get ready to jingle those bells -

IT’S CHRIIIIIIIISTMAS!

🌍 Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HowGreatIsBritain.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes content.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowGreatIsBritain⁠⁠#ChristmasSongs #UKChristmas #AmericanInUK #ExpatLife #LifeInTheUK #MovingToTheUK #ChristmasMusic #UKvsUSA #BritishChristmas #ChristmasVibes #FestiveSeason #HolidaySpecial #Christmas2025 #TopChristmasSongs #UKYouTubers #DecemberVlog

🎧 New episodes Every Monday

After a week of exploring coastline, memories, farm shops, and childhood favourites, we’re back with Part Two of our Cornwall adventure — and this is where things get really special.This week, we finally reveal the new favourite place we discovered on this trip. It’s the spot that completely surprised us, made us slow down, and turned the whole week into something we’ll be talking about for a long time.We also visit Bude, go searching for hidden treasures at Cornwall Gold, and share a few life updates now that we’re settling more into the UK. We wrap up Gemma’s birthday week with some final reflections on what this trip meant to both of us.If Part One was about nostalgia and memory, Part Two is about discovery, connection, and the joy of experiencing somewhere meaningful together. Cornwall has a way of holding you — and now we finally get to show you how the moment held us.

Take care,

Gemma & Brett

🌍 Visit ⁠⁠⁠www.HowGreatIsBritain.com⁠⁠⁠ for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes content.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowGreatIsBritain⁠⁠

#Cornwall #VisitCornwall #Bude #CornwallGold #CornishCoast #CornwallUK #CornwallLife #ExploreCornwall #UKTravel #LifeInTheUK #AmericanInUK #ExpatLife #MovingToTheUK #BritishCoast #UKAdventure #FamilyTravelUK #ExploreBritain #BritishHoliday #UKYouTubers #CoastalWalks #HiddenGemsUK

🎧 New episodes Every Monday

This week we’re kicking off the first half of our Cornwall adventure — a place that holds a lot of meaning for Gemma and her family.

We talk about her memories of visiting Cornwall as a little girl, why it mattered so much to her grandparents, and how that connection has now become important to Brett too.

We spent our days exploring the coast, eating our way through Trevaskis Farm, and standing at the edge of the map at Land’s End. And in true British-cottage fashion, Brett continues his ongoing battle with doorframes built several centuries before tall Americans existed.

We also touch on Gemma’s birthday celebrations and reflect on how this trip felt like the perfect reset. And because this is Part One, we end on a little cliffhanger — the moment we discovered our new favourite place in Cornwall… which we’ll reveal in next week’s episode!

Warm memories, beautiful views, nostalgic stories, and the beginning of a two-part adventure.We're excited to share it with you!As always, thanks for watching!- Gemma & Brett

Take care,

Gemma & Brett

🌍 Visit ⁠⁠www.HowGreatIsBritain.com⁠⁠ for updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes content.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowGreatIsBritain⁠

#Cornwall #VisitCornwall #CornwallLife #CornwallUK #LandEnd #TrevaskisFarm #BritishCoast #UKTravel #AmericanInUK #ExpatLifeUK #LifeInTheUK #MovingToTheUK #FamilyTravelUK #ExploreBritain #BritishHolidays #CoastalUK #UKVlog #NewToTheUK #UKYouTubers #BritishCottageLife