Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

donny-gal

One of the ladies on the OS board is looking like she has to move to France, her hubby is struggling to get work in the UK, he is a self employed carpenter, and they have a house near Poitiers, which they are doing up. he has been offered some work in France, and are wondering about what they need to do to be residents, healthcare, broadband, etc.,

Any tips?

DG

droopsnout

Can you invite her to come over to this thread, d-g? Will be happy to help, but we're travelling for the next two days. Leaving here in the next couple of hours, in fact.

donny-gal

Have done.

Bon Voyage!
DG

Savvy_Sue

Welcome, although you'd have been welcome earlier, no-one's ever asked to produce a birth certificate here ...

I'm going to move you into our 'Living Abroad' thread, and suggest you read it from the back. There have been a number of posts recently about how things are, cost of living etc, and we have a couple of posters who know Spain well.

First piece of advice, learn the language. Second, know the climate. Spain can be cold in the winter!

donny-gal

First of All Welcome Bob - Don't worry about age we are all around 25 in our heads, though the bodies creak a bit at times.

We were made redundant in June 2007 and decided it was early retirement. We had approx 5 years previous just after our 50th birthdays purchased a house in Spain and partially with a big deposit and then a mortgage on our UK house, which had a 5 year fixed rate, fixed term. We are in the main ex-pat belt just outside Torrevieja, just below Alicante. Prices here are lower than Andalucia. There is lots of bad press about it being mini England, but to be honest there is a mixture and you can head to the English clubs, or find the Spanish Bars, whatever takes your fancy. We can walk to the sea - 20 mins or so, but prices are realistic, front line sea front are silly money. There are loads for sale and to rent, and maybe with the Euro what it is today I would think twice about buying, but do not regret doing it. We now split out time between here (we're in Spain atm), UK, and our touring caravan. Best thing is to get out there and look around. Loads of boating facilities about.

DG

donny-gal

Hi Again

Just had to come on and "preen" As you maybe know Spain is not the most technology advanced place, and they seem to like reams of paper.

However, the Correos (Post Office) decided to change all the addresses to make it easier for them, so we had to notify all the necessary bills to ensure we got them, as if the address was not correct, then the correos do not try to deliver. Everyone said I had to go around all the shops and queue for a couple of hours in each to do this. I don't do queuing if possible to avoid it.

So decided to set myself the task of changing on line/phone what I could.

Iberdrola (electiricty) had a contact email, so used that with a vague query, came back saying give us your reference no. and we will change your address, did that and they came back and confirmed it is change! Success 1

Aquagest (Water) had a proper form so used that, awaiting confirmation.

Telefonica (by telephone) have an English speaking Line, changed and set up on line viewing of invoices.

Just have to queue up to change the Suma (council tax).

Success
DG

seven-day-weekend

Well done Donny-gal! A first in Spanish bureaucracy!

Hi Bob and welcome!

We're in rural Andalucia on the southern flank of the Sierra Nevada (Snowy Mountains). The northern slopes have the southernmost ski-ing in Europe.

Our nearest coast is about one hour away but the houses are cheaper here and it is imho the most beautiful part of Spain. We're in the Alpujarras; have a look here:

http://www.andalucia.com/villages/alpujarras.htm

We live round the corner from Gerald Brenan's house mentioned in the link and in fact the back of our house overlooks his garden.

Also here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpujarras

And here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_from_Granada_(book)

mioliere

Hi - thanks to Donny-gal for introducing me in her post yesterday (post number 1602). We are still waiting to finalise a date for moving to France but should know by the middle of next week. Donny-gal has given me some great advice and I shall probably be a frequent visitor to this board, both before we leave and once we've arrived in France. I must say, it's great to find a whole board dedicated to living abroad. Thank heavens for the internet and for lovely ladies like Donny-gal! I have loads to find out about.

Kathy

donny-gal

Welcome Kathy, but come on, lovely me:o , stroppy, opinionated, etc., maybe :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Carrots I think in return is looking over the OS thread, she may get lost in there I think (lots to read).

Anyway I am only a temporary resident, there are loads on here who have far more knowledge, experience.
DG

Oldernotwiser

mioliere wrote: »

Hi - thanks to Donny-gal for introducing me in her post yesterday (post number 1602). We are still waiting to finalise a date for moving to France but should know by the middle of next week. Donny-gal has given me some great advice and I shall probably be a frequent visitor to this board, both before we leave and once we've arrived in France. I must say, it's great to find a whole board dedicated to living abroad. Thank heavens for the internet and for lovely ladies like Donny-gal! I have loads to find out about.

Kathy

Have you discovered sites like this yet? https://www.totalfrance.com