Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Canary Islands are slightly closer.

Have never fancied being marooned on an island. The thought of spending six months of every year stuck there does nothing for me at all. Very different from the odd fortnight.

droopsnout

queen_of_string wrote: »

Just popping in briefly to say hi!

And hi to you, too!

Nice to have some news and info from somewhere else, so please do keep on posting.

You have our deepest sympathy where the wine is concerned. But as you point out, there are compensations! Hope you are enjoying your life in your new country, and I look forward to learning more about what it's like over there!

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

Have never fancied being marooned on an island. The thought of spending six months of every year stuck there does nothing for me at all. Very different from the odd fortnight.

Like the UK?

seven-day-weekend

queen_of_string wrote: »

Just popping in briefly to say hi!

I too would like to welcome you to the board and say carry on posting! Nice to have a non-European expat here. We used to have a couple from the USA but I think they have sold up and passed on (from the USA I mean, not died!:eek:)

donny-gal

Hi Newbies

We have a "holiday home" in Spain in the main ex-pat area south of Alicante. The weather here this winter has been the best around Spain, and this one has been the coldest for about 10 years. Not an awful lot of rain, we were there mid January until mid-March, and only had a couple of days when it rained during the day, (a few more at night - but do not care what it does then!) but had more cloud than normal, but temps were around 15C on average, though we had some weeks in February when it got over 20C. Personally while country living sounds nice it is not for us, we like a choice of restaurants, walking ability to bars/restaurants when we want to go, shops we have 8 supermarkets within a 20 minutes walk, plus shopping centres with C&A, Zara, H&M, etc. There is a market within a short drive everyday and 2 some days. Though I have attended Spanish lessons, I still cannot converse in Spanish (be polite and ask certain things - heaven knows what they answer :rotfl:) we are happier in an English speaking area and have a large circle of friends and neighbours if we wish to talk.

The houses there (ours is 7 years old) are not built with insulation in mind, but if you area sensible and have thick curtains with thermal linings, rather than fancy voiles, then once you have the heating on it can get very toasty. For heating you have a choice of the Calor Gas Fires, electric and paraffin, though the latter I think may be the dearest of the lot. Natural Gas is now being put into many populated areas.

Just out of interest Tenerife had some horrendous storms during that time with much flooding as did parts of Andalucia. When we saw the Spanish weather forecast, only the Costa Blanca had dry/warm weather at times. Obviously this can change, but we were pleased to see it this year.
DG

seven-day-weekend

Hi Waxies, sorry I have only just seen your post.

We are 1000m high in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Granada province and this winter has been foul. SO much rain, we are still repairing the damage to our house, which was not built to stand vast quantities of water from the sky. None of the traditional houses have any insulation either, so they are VERY cold in winter and most don't have central heating. I don't think the new ones fare much better.

Also the coast can be very cold and windy in th winter.

Therefore, if you just want winter living I too would recommend the Canaries.

(Although we were in the Uk for the summer and here in Spain for the winter, but we are just wierd!).

Welcome to the forum.

WaxiesDargle

Thanks for the welcome droopsnout and SDW

sounds like you've had a bad winter there SDW...hope things are getting back to normal

I like the idea of living somewhere near Alicante as donny-gal mentioned...I would like to be near an urban area with supermarkets etc. I will be absolutely honest though the prospect scares me a bit...I will be on my own in another country.... I think the best way would be to test a few places by staying there for short periods and get the feel of it...I expect all this has been said before so apologies....a few holidays coming up in the next two years

I will do it though...you only live once

droopsnout

That's the spirit!!

You would be absolutely right to do some test visits - and also to do some of them out of season, so that you see the possible areas at their worst as well as at their best.

If you're on your own you could just find yourself very lonely in a rural area, but you could also drown in an urban area. Near to us is a village of around 1000 people, which has a supermarket, restaurant, pizzerias and a bar, plus the usual small shops, and I would consider that ideal. But then I like the quiet life and the countryside.

donny-gal

Hi again Waxie

There are loads of groups to join if you are into that following your interests. One lady near us who is a widow come out and joins in one of the older singles groups which do meals out, sometimes dances, and the more energetic play Badminton and Tennis at a nearby sports centre. Visiting is certainly a way forward and also renting a flat or house for a few months, at the moment there are plenty on the market. If you want to see what is on, then look up Costa Blanca News, CoastRider, Roundtownnews which are all on line and are available free if you get to the shops in time.

Bet if you ask Mrs Droopsnout though she would prefer to be nearer some real shops!;)
DG

droopsnout

Well, now, that's a bit of a provocative comment. But Mrs DS and I have been married for only 34 years, so I wouldn't presume to put words in her mouth! I have alerted her to this, though, so she may comment in her own good time!