Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Yes. Good, innit?

Of course, if you bump into one of the locals whilst you're doing it, it can take all day!

donny-gal

¡Hola!
After a really chaotic day at work, you two rubbing it in is just what I need :rotfl: :rotfl:

Yes I am sure we will be fine, and soon get into the mañana lifestyle. Anyway I have told my DH not to worry he can have all the housework to keep him out of mischief. You can imagine the reply. :T :T

Is the EHIC card the new credit card thingy which replaces the E111? Or if not what is it and what do I need to do for it? Also does it work in all Europe, as we have a touring caravan too, and want to do some touring in that too, especially Italy, as it has been too far away for normal holidays.

Gracias, ¡Hasta Leugo!
DG

droopsnout

It is, and it does.

Though someone now is quite likely to correct me!

To get one, have a look at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=1073

Note that it is not designed to replace permanent health cover should you be resident abroad, and in those countries where a contribution is required towards the services received, you still have to make that contribution. What the card entitles you to is to be treated in just the same way as a resident in the country you're visiting.

If/when you become resident in another country, the EHIC card is not what you need. In that case, you should subscribe - in whatever way that is - to the health services of your new country of residence.

Rachie_B

An interesting thread :T

I hope you don't mind me joining?

I'm neither 50+ or Living Abroad

We are thinking of purchasing a mobile home static caravan ,either in the Costa del Sol area have seen some for sale @ Camping Cabopino http://www.campingcabopino.com/ING_home.asp ( and we love that area as a base for exploring ) or possibly France !

We enjoy family Keycamp type holidays so think this is ideal for us,and so much more affordable than buying an apartment etc !

Maybe in a years to come but we are both only 28 and have 2 children so plenty of time for that !

We would be buying in cash ,outright,just be using if for personal use,also family & friends etc ,so not relying on any rental potential etc.

Any hints,tips,advice good or bad! ,website links etc anyone can offer would be most appreciated.

TIA

donny-gal

Hello Rachie B

No experience of buying a Mobile Home in Spain, but I would be careful of who you loan it too. Often relatives can be the worst ones to borrow it as they do not always treat it with respect, even if they are not paying the going rate for it. If you can only use it for limited times each year, maybe the depreciation would outway the use you get out of it, and they do not last forever.

It may be worth hiring a mobile home in a site you think you like and trying it out, and then seeing what there is for sale while you are there. Obivously with small kids you want a full commercial site, with pool, kids entertainment, etc.

Rachie_B

donny-gal wrote: »

Hello Rachie B

No experience of buying a Mobile Home in Spain, but I would be careful of who you loan it too. Often relatives can be the worst ones to borrow it as they do not always treat it with respect, even if they are not paying the going rate for it. If you can only use it for limited times each year, maybe the depreciation would outway the use you get out of it, and they do not last forever.

It may be worth hiring a mobile home in a site you think you like and trying it out, and then seeing what there is for sale while you are there. Obivously with small kids you want a full commercial site, with pool, kids entertainment, etc.

Thanks DG

We would get a fair bit of use out of it,most school holidays and possibly long weekends ,when the kids have inset days on the friday / bank holiday monday

depending on flight prices of course !

We are going back to the area this summer ,cant wait ,haven't been since feb 2004 !! Hope the food in Alberts is still as nice as it was ! :T

The site I posted has all the facilites we would require i think ,the boys are happy so long as theres a swimming pool lol !

donny-gal

Without wanting to pour cold water on an idea, that is what I was meaning. I have been doing the same myself for the last 4 years with a house, coming out for all holidays especially the ones around bank holidays, and then two weeks in the summer. Unfortunately the flight prices are not longer as favourable as they once were. You really have to fly mid-week to get the bargains, and book as soon as the fights are announced, depending of course you know, Ryan air dont announce, and you then have to check every day until they are announced, and even then you can be too late. We used to be able to get flights to Alicante/Murcia Friday out Sunday back in November, January, February for around £40 each return with taxes, which meant a £80 + 2 day car hire was a good price for a weekend. This year it has been £80 each return, and they were few and far between, we haven't been. There is now an extra £5 on each flight each way for tax.

Re the entertainment, I would look at how long your boys are going to be happy with a pool/beach only, our son now 22, loved campsite life, we progressed from Keycamp type tents to a touring caravan we enjoyed the live so much, but once 14-15 he was fine the the day, but he needed a site with somewhere and something for him to do in an evening, safely, without us tagging on, which they hate.

I am not trying to be awful, but to ask you to think carefully. Do your sums, and will the costs of the caravan be less than hiring one for the time you can get there each year for say 10 years, for at that time caravans are often showing their age and some sites limit the age of the caravan (especially in the UK).

The only other question is will you and the boys be happy going back to the same place year after year.
DG

Rachie_B

thanks DG some things to think about there

as for going to the same place,i think yes,they would be fine going back to the same place

there is soooooooooo much to see / do !

the eldest is now 11 and in a few yrs it would be nice to invite a friend or cousin along, and of course they wouldnt have the accom to pay just their flights

as for price well,to rent a mobile home on that site in the summer costs around £500 - £750 p/w !! we wouldnt even pay that for an apartment <skinflint icon> lol

seven-day-weekend

I also have no experience of buying a mobile home in Spain, but have you considered that it will be very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter?

I have seen some for sale on the coast east of Malaga, between Malaga and Motril, but can't remember where.

Maybe if you googled 'mobile homes Costa del Sol, and tried either Malaga or Granada province it would come up with something?

Sorry I can't be more help.

Welcome to the forum bu the way. You can be the honarary 'daughter' to us over-50s!

Rachie_B

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I also have no experience of buying a mobile home in Spain, but have you considered that it will be very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter?

I have seen some for sale on the coast east of Malaga, between Malaga and Motril, but can't remember where.

Maybe if you googled 'mobile homes Costa del Sol, and tried either Malaga or Granada province it would come up with something?

Sorry I can't be more help.

Welcome to the forum bu the way. You can be the honarary 'daughter' to us over-50s!

:rotfl: :T

Thanks SDW

we prob wouldnt use it in months nov - feb as there arent school holidays then ( apart from xmas i mean !)

though we always used to holiday in the CDS in oct or jan or feb, and the temp was lovely,warm enough for short sleeves even in jan,and much warmer than Wales :T :rotfl:

the locals would all be wrapped up in their layers,leather jackets etc :eek: :rotfl:

Do you know how far Torrox and Antequera are from the Malaga area ?

My geography of the UK is bad enough but Spain even worse