Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

Savvy_Sue

droopsnout wrote: »

Don't ask me, Sue, but it's gone down again. Split your risk and get half now and half later?

:rotfl: don't need that many: we still have a few, plus we've STILL got some Euros on a PO pre-pay card to use up, plus our Nationwide Credit and Debit cards if we run out!

What I really need to do is book the car hire, but I lost the will to live after clicking multiple links for airport car parking!

donny-gal

It appears there is a shortage of hire cars in Spain and around this year, the banks appear to have cut their funding due to the recession, and as a result are very expensive and scarce. We used to use Carjet but not sure if they do Fuerteventura, and our son did find a car a little better prices by trawling the Spanish sites with his limited Spanish. However, in the end he decided to get a lift to our house and not have one, and he was pleased he did due to the very hot weather, so they had no "need" to go out and about to justify its hire.

Good Luck.
DG

Savvy_Sue

Thanks for the warning. My Spanish isn't up to doing it in Spanish!

The added complication is that we booked through Holiday Autos last time, and the actual car came from a company who didn't have a desk at the airport: we were all bussed out to a warehouse in the middle of nowhere. That wasn't TOO bad at the start of the holiday, but it made the end VERY stressful because we had a long wait for a bus BACK to the airport so were running very tight for time.

So this time, I want (and am prepared to pay a little extra!) for the convenience of returning to the airport itself. It's just a case of working out what the arrangements are, because we had no warning of how it worked last time. And I know we weren't the only ones less than impressed by it!

donny-gal

Carjet can do that, but I book without paying then look at the paperwork and if it isn't a desk then email them back to say I want an airport desk co. Thry have then changed it for me. DG

droopsnout

Pound down again ...

Bob_the_Saver

droopsnout wrote: »

Pound down again ...

Not just down but sinking without trace, (Should we bring back Gordon from his holiday) (ONLY JOKING - let him enjoy the rain):rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

seven-day-weekend

Well, I am now officially UK resident .

As you know we have been in the UK for three months (since the beginning of June). For some reason neither of us have felt like returning to Spain yet, which is why we are still here. Anyway, last week I discovered I needed to see an eye specialist as I have cataracts coming. So we decided to stay and I have registered with a Dr. Hubby will probably return to Spain for a couple of months so he is still Spanish resident at the moment.

Will still be able to spend several months in Spain though - we haven't gone for ever!

As you know, we intended to do half-and-half, with the longer half in the UK, from 2010, so it's really only brought it forward a couple of months.

droopsnout

Hi, s-d-w.

So sorry to read of your eye problems. My Mum is going the same way, and everyone tells me that the corrective procedure is very quick and painless these days, so I'm sure you've nothing to worry about. (Yes, I know we all worry anyway, especially over eyesight, and it's a dislocation, too, but what I mean is, it isn't as serious as it used to be).

Did you not fancy having the job done in Spain?

Good luck with all your plans, and take things easy!

seven-day-weekend

Thanks droopsnout, yes I know the procedure is quite easy these days - I instantly googled it as soon as I could!- thanks.

When push came to shove, I wanted my medical care in a language I understand properly. I have no doubt the Spanish hospital would have won hands down, but I would have been so stressed out by my lack of language skills. That was the deciding factor.

Money and medical issues are two of the main factors for returning expats, apparently.

droopsnout

Yep. Makes sense.

I suppose we seasoned internet users are very quick to look everything up on the net. It's usually the first thing that happens here after a trip to the doc's!

I wonder, though, if you built up the language problem more in your head to be more difficult than it really would be. Tricky one. Would have been a great motivator to learn more Spanish, though. I learnt all sorts of nasty little words when I had a short spell in hospital here! lol

As a matter of interest (cos of my Mum's situation) how long will you have to wait between diagnosis and treatment?