Hi from Alicante Spain

ognum

tonymar wrote: »

Hi

Well regarding areas its best to speak to people who live there , and ask their opinion.

Ask people who live here to recommend builders

Use common scene when buying as you would in the Uk

I personal think Spain has had a bad press I am sure there are many more happy ex pats than un happy ones !!

Most of my friends are Happy to live in Spain , its not for every one
and I would not force my opinion !!

Cheers Tony:)

Hi Tony

Why are British people living in Spain call expats and Spanish people living in Britain called immigrants?

It's good you are happy where you are, do you ever consider moving back to the UK, could you actually afford to move back?

ManAtHome

tonymar wrote: »

In my opinion it is a good pace to retire if you have funds to support yourself.

Very different tax regimes though? From this tax year in the UK you can have pension+savings income up to £15,600 (over €20.000) and pay no (income/savings) tax.

tonymar

ognum wrote: »

Hi Tony

Why are British people living in Spain call expats and Spanish people living in Britain called immigrants?

It's good you are happy where you are, do you ever consider moving back to the UK, could you actually afford to move back?

there are expats in the uk to

We get called immigrants here sometimes , dose it matter ?

I dont want to move back to the Uk , like the sun and cheep beer to much !
No probably could not afford to move back to London, but I really dont miss it at all

Cheers Tony:)

tonymar

ManAtHome wrote: »

Very different tax regimes though? From this tax year in the UK you can have pension+savings income up to £15,600 (over €20.000) and pay no (income/savings) tax.

I guess tax systems are different all over the world !

Sorry dont know to much about that , I know people are getting good exchange rates on their UK pensions at the moment !

Cheers Tony:)

C_Mababejive

ManAtHome wrote: »

Very different tax regimes though? From this tax year in the UK you can have pension+savings income up to £15,600 (over €20.000) and pay no (income/savings) tax.

You dont pay much tax in Spain. You just keep your black money at home wrapped in a big rubber band and hidden under the kitchen units

tonymar

C_Mababejive wrote: »

You dont pay much tax in Spain. You just keep your black money at home wrapped in a big rubber band and hidden under the kitchen units

How did you guess ?

Will have to find a new hiding place now !!:)

Cheers Tony

TopQuark

Do you speak Spanish, after 12 years out there?

tonymar

TopQuark wrote: »

Do you speak Spanish, after 12 years out there?

I can speak Spanish , good enough to communicate ,

but my kids are fluent as they did all their schooling here

I know many ex pats that Speak almost no Spanish and they still manage to get by, English is so widely spoken in coastal areas it can make us a bit lazy to learn Spanish !

Cheers Tony

ognum

tonymar wrote: »

I can speak Spanish , good enough to communicate ,

but my kids are fluent as they did all their schooling here

I know many ex pats that Speak almost no Spanish and they still manage to get by, English is so widely spoken in coastal areas it can make us a bit lazy to learn Spanish !

Cheers Tony

You know Tony this is the most off putting thing about the life you describe. Who would want to be surrounded by people who can't be bothered to learn the language of the area they live. I guess the sun and cheap beer is enough.

benjus

ognum wrote: »

Why are British people living in Spain call expats and Spanish people living in Britain called immigrants?

I find this difference in terminology rather annoying as well, because it seems to be a way for the Daily Mail-reading anti-immigration-to-the-UK brigade on the Spanish costas to differentiate themselves from "real" immigrants. Personally I think "ex-pat" should be kept as a term for temporary residents, e.g. people sent to work in a country for a couple of years. Once you decide to stay you become an immigrant. Do any of the British community around there call themselves immigrants?

Anyway, that aside, while I'm a long way from retirement I am rather tempted by the idea of living in Spain. I'm married to an Argentine and speak fluent Spanish, so language wouldn't be an issue. However, for the time being I need to focus on having a good income...