Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Hi, all.

We just got back from a few days in N. Spain - not too far from home. It rained every day! The coastline is truly beautiful, and I expect the mountains are, too, but there was so much cloud that we didn't go up there.

S-d-w, there were plenty of other holiday-makers around, but almost all Spanish. Strewth, aren't they loud?! We went into one small coastal town on Friday night and had our eyes opened to the locals' tradition of spending the evening actually in town, in the bars, squares and everywhere. What a very social lot they are!

Around here we often complain that we can;t find many decent restaurants at the medium price mark - like the Menu del Dia places in Spain, where you can eat for around 10-12 euros. Well, it was the same there. Mind you, there were a few MDD boards around, but the restaurants were often closed.

Enjoyed shopping in Eroski, but never got into El Arbol or other supermarkets. Found prices broadly similar to here in France (except fuel, which was about 14/15 centimes a litre cheaper in Spain - though it went up every day from 103.4 to 109.6).

One lovely chap outside Eroski demonstrated his fresh milk machine by forking out 40 centimes for the bottle itself, then a further euro for the milk. Refused to accept our payment completely. In general, we found everyone very friendly, though driving tends to be much more aggressive than here in this sleepy corner. Never had a problem, though.

Well, it made a change, and that is almost certainly our last gallivant for 2010, a trip to the UK excepted.

Savvy_Sue

gfplux wrote: »

Talking of Volcanoes!!!!!!!
I am in Florida with a flight from Miami to Paris booked for Thursday night/Friday morning.
It will be "interesting" to follow the news in the next few days!

My Daughter who I am staying with is keeping her fingers crossed.

She's had enough of you? Or she's coming with you? :rotfl:

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

Hi, all.

We just got back from a few days in N. Spain - not too far from home. It rained every day! The coastline is truly beautiful, and I expect the mountains are, too, but there was so much cloud that we didn't go up there.

S-d-w, there were plenty of other holiday-makers around, but almost all Spanish. Strewth, aren't they loud?! We went into one small coastal town on Friday night and had our eyes opened to the locals' tradition of spending the evening actually in town, in the bars, squares and everywhere. What a very social lot they are!

Around here we often complain that we can;t find many decent restaurants at the medium price mark - like the Menu del Dia places in Spain, where you can eat for around 10-12 euros. Well, it was the same there. Mind you, there were a few MDD boards around, but the restaurants were often closed.

Enjoyed shopping in Eroski, but never got into El Arbol or other supermarkets. Found prices broadly similar to here in France (except fuel, which was about 14/15 centimes a litre cheaper in Spain - though it went up every day from 103.4 to 109.6).

One lovely chap outside Eroski demonstrated his fresh milk machine by forking out 40 centimes for the bottle itself, then a further euro for the milk. Refused to accept our payment completely. In general, we found everyone very friendly, though driving tends to be much more aggressive than here in this sleepy corner. Never had a problem, though.

Well, it made a change, and that is almost certainly our last gallivant for 2010, a trip to the UK excepted.

Spain has the dubious distinction of being the loudest country in Europe and of keeping the latest hours.

Also of course, you know one definition of a Fiesta is 'any excuse for hundreds of Spaniards to gather together in large noisy groups'!

When we first came here we thought they were all arguing. No - that is just Spaniards having a conversation.

Glad you had a good time, but remember next time that Northern Spain, especially Galicia, is only as green as it is because of all the rain it gets. Galicia has twice the rainfall of Manchester!

We are back from Marbella, it was like being in another country to our little white village. Although we enjoyed the holiday, I 'm glad we live in our village and not Marbella.

We have picked friends up from Malaga aiport; most flights sem back to normal.

donny-gal

Yes DS they are noisy, the trick in the summer is to listen before you go into a restaurant, if it is noisy and full of Spanish, then it will be good.

It does sound a bit like an argument/football match. We had to laugh once when in a Spanish restaurant a little inland at Crevellent a large table was set for about 20, and the people were talking across the table to each other, and the ones at the head and the foot were also talking to each other over the top of the others.

Thinking we may pop back late June/July for a change. :rotfl:
DG

droopsnout

Thanks for your responses, which I've enjoyed very much reading.

As a people watcher, I found it all fascinating. Perhaps Mrs DS found it a little intimidating, and since the "noisy coastal town" was evidently not the richest around, I can understand that. I wish we could make more excursions into the rest of Europe, including more time in Spain. Maybe, one of these days ...

de1amo

The spanish are second in noise levels world league-only the chinese are noisier--i lived in an interior city(valladolid) and it was excessive!-it was the fireworks at 3am that use to get me!--the streets always thronged about sunset as people went for the passeo before dinner-they like to catch up with neighbours and friends in the street away from the homestead.

droopsnout

One of the things I found fascinating, in an anorak-y sort of way, given my former profession, was the existence of a 24-hour radio station from Santander which is there solely to promote (and earn a living from) the teaching of English: Vaughan Radio (which also broadcasts to Valladolid, de1amo). I really enjoyed listening to their programmes, from which I learned quite a lot about English history, linguistics and American culture.

If you're interested, you can listen to their webstream at http://www.vaughanradio.com/.

sjcollett

Dear All,

Firstly, I have to say I have spent all morning (been up since 4.30am) reading this thread and I LOVE IT!

Thank you so much to all of you for sharing your experiences (esp. the regular contributors I feel I know you already!)

Its funny that I have found this thread when I am in a quandry:

In 2003 my boyfriend and I bought a 2 bed house on a complex in Corralejo, Fuerteventura. We were in our 20s and as he is Greek and I'm English we decided that in the future we should have somewhere as a "halfway" house culturally and weatherwise where we should live. We loved the Spanish culture and the Canarian weather (where it's mainly warm all year round) so that was it! Admittedly we probably paid too much (123k E), but we're on a repayment mortgage and it's now c.60k E. Regardless, we've bought it now - I tell you just to fill you in

For years we have had the property rented out mainly long term (it's walking distance to the capital town and has a huge pool) we have seen rents plunge from 750Epcm + bills to the last 2 years 380E INC bills.

We are now at a stage where we are asking ourselves why we are not using this house ourselves as clearly we are deriving no benefits from this (apart from the wonderful memory of owning a place abroad which gives me permission to escape - even if it is only mentally!).

I own my own business (propety rentals) and have full-time staff who work there. I also am trying to get a property website off the ground (this takes most of my time). My boyfriend was made redundant earlier in the year and is now doing contract work (well paid but intermittant). We have worked out that if we rent out the 2 houses we currently live is (we have a main home and weekend home) that after paying the Spanish mortgage we would be left with c.1200-1300E per month to live on.

While I know it is not a kings ransom I am tempted to just go for it and live on less rather than just slogging my guts out all the time. While I love England i'm just getting so depressed by the miserable weather, by the tasteless fruit and veg (god we had the most wonderful toms when we were over in march) and I have come to the realisation that life is now and what i make it. To be honest, I'm starting to think the more I earn the more i'll spend anyway so it seems quite fruitless to keep on a daily grind for what??

Having read all your posts I see the main reason people return is for medical or money. We are 34 and are thinking that the income we will have from our properties in UK would sustain us OK. To be honest, I'm more bothered about getting bored - I don't know what I am going to do with my time (although I have been thinking perhaps I could just continue down the internet business route), or otherwise maybe I should take up a sport/ hobby? (never had one before I love my work and that is all I do!). I've wondered about helping people do some property rentals in fuerte and I even thought about getting a market stall to sell second hand clothes? (these were more things to do for something to do rather than making money!).

To set ourselves up for succeess I was NOT going to sell the business nor our houses in the UK. I am trying to work out if we could/should live in UK 6 months and then Fuerte but we would have to live on approx 700E p month (after mortgage) and while I can be frugal we are only young once

I'm sorry if i'm rambling - but given your considerable knowledge and life experience I would love to hear any pointers in the right direction!

Thanks so much in advance

Sam

Savvy_Sue

Not going to be much help here, Sam, but we've holidayed in Fuerteventura and chatted to a few of the expats out there, and life is tough wrt supplementing your income legitimately. I know the things you suggested were for something to do rather than making money, but even so.

Businesses are failing, fewer tourists, no money to go round - well, you'll know that from the way your rental income has plummeted.

And I get the impression - perhaps wrong - that there are fewer and fewer openings for those offering rental related services.

FWIW I think you'd be wise to keep your UK homes and internet business going, not sure what the tax position would be if you were 'resident' in the Canaries, but leave yourselves a way back.

seven-day-weekend

Hi Sam, welcome to the Board.

All I really can say is make sure that you have a regular source of income (we find the amount you suggested lasts us about 7-8 weeks, but we don't have a mortgage and I don't know what the cost of living is like in the Canaries).

Keep your a residential base and business assets in the UK if you can; however if you are resident in Spain for longer than six months a year you will be tax resident and will have to declare and pay tax on your UK income in Spain. Don't worry, you don't have to pay it twice!!

As regards medical needs; unless you are paying into the Spanish NI system, or are of retirement age or on UK Incapacity Benefit (or a dependent of someone who is), then you will not be covered and will have to take out private insurance. However, if you have paid enough NI in the UK, you can be covered for up to two years. Ask your local DWP for details.

If you are not burning your boats in the UK and have somewhere to return to if it goes pear-shaped, I would give it a try - as you say you are only young once.

Good luck and keep posting.