The shift is undeniable: autumn has arrived. The rain has broken the summer heat, and Budapest feels lighter, brighter, and a little more alive. Andrew and I are spending more time back in the city, and it’s already shaping up to be a busy September. September 17th...
Money doesn’t stay behind when you move countries. It follows you - in all its messy, complicated forms. Pensions. Taxes. Healthcare costs you didn’t think about until the first time you need a doctor. Even the exchange rate that suddenly makes your monthly budget...
I didn’t apply for Hungarian citizenship. I inherited it. Through descent. A neat perk of having Hungarian parents though it came with none of the practical instruction manual. Passport in hand, I landed in Budapest 8 years ago thinking it would smooth everything. It...
It’s late August, and while Andrew is still clinging to shorts, I’m staring at the calendar and admitting that autumn is sneaking up fast. This week will bring not just the return of school bells and Budapest traffic but also a new routine for many digital nomads...
It’s mid-August, and in Budapest we’re still wiping away the sweat after the hottest summer on record. Yet, while I’m watering the plants and dodging tiny flying gnats, my thoughts are already turning to radiators, bills, and boiler checks. Such is life here: autumn...
If you live in Budapest, you might not know that the gas pipes in Budapest are an unexpectedly serious concern in the city’s classic apartments - especially those built at the end of the 19th century. Over the past three years, my whole family has been impacted by...
Eight years in Hungary taught me the value of strong paperwork. My family’s experiences with the Hungarian TAJ Card show how the system works in real life. My sister works for a multinational firm. Her HR department registered her without fuss. I run a small Kft., so...
Let me just say this straight out: if I had a forint for every time someone asked me whether they could retire in Hungary, I’d have enough to buy a Balaton villa and still have change for a few bottles of Olaszrizling. Andrew and I have spent more time on the phone...
I’ll be honest: as someone whose own kids went through the Canadian school system, I arrived in Hungary with a pretty relaxed idea of when education “starts.” So you can imagine my surprise when I learned that compulsory education in Hungary kicks in the September...
If you’re regularly driving through Hungary - whether commuting between Budapest and your countryside retreat or simply passing through on holiday - understanding the latest Hungarian vignette prices is essential. The motorway toll system is evolving in 2025, with a...
I’m Anikó Woods, a Canadian-Hungarian who’s been knee-deep in life here since 2017 - bureaucracy, culture, and everything in between.
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