Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

sandy2_2

We live in Spain as well, using Mercadona and Lidl. Lidl we use for olive oil, milk, detergent, fabric conditioner, toilet rolls and kitchen rolls, wine, milk, fizzy drinks, dark choclate for cooking, OH buys sweets and twix type bars there, crisps shampoo, pizzas, tins of natural tuna, assorted special offers, semi curado cheese, engligh rashers, nescafe decaf, frozen salmon steaks, flour, jelly powder. Our branches of Lidla are always full of local small shopkeepers stocking up with trolly loads of flour, sugar, cooking oil, small fruit yoghourts, fizzy drinks, pasta, rice

Mecadona, cat and dog food, cat and dog biscuits, canned tuna in olive oil, eggs, biscuits, sliced bread, cereals, tomato frito, long life yoghourt (yogfit), butter, cheddar cheese cooked meats, some fresh meat and fish,

HTH
Sandy in Spain

Twig

Thats great, thank you for the list Sandy

donny-gal

I use Lidl in both England and Spain, and I find their meat and fruit and veg OK too IMHO better then Mercadona. Even in the UK with Lidl and Aldi I do not need a "usual" supermarket very often, and then usually for odd branded items. I also use the local markets for fruit, veg, eggs, etc.

The rule is simple, try something, if you don't like that item then go elsewhere, but if it is OK then save money.

DG

droopsnout

Well the carnival is well and truly over! We've had rain and grey days for nearly a week now! OK, we needed it, but why can't it all fall at night?

We're never happy, are we? But looking at the forecast, we have rain or showers forecast every day until a week on Thursday. And daughter is coming for a visit on Sunday ... April and May were sweltering, but June is washing away the tan!

donny-gal

It will start improving on Sunday, we are on our way over and always seem to bring a change. DG

seven-day-weekend

Writing from a hotel room 100km north of Madrid on our way to our Pyrenees Home Exchange.

*Robin*

I posted this query on the 'Buying / Selling Houses' section of the forum but was advised to move it here. Still not sure if this is the right place, as what I've seen of this thread seems to be more casual, general enquiries (for what it's worth, I find Lidl's great for stocking up on canned and dried basics in Spain. Not as much choice, but the quality is better than my local 'Big4' supermarket at home and even with the appalling exchange rate, prices seem favourable at Lidl).

Anyway, to my question:

I am hoping to find some advice for a friend who has a little old Spanish cottage, bought in the days when all it took was a handshake and a simple typed document signed by vendor, buyer and witness.

The cottage has never been added to the Spanish Land Registry, so about 18 months ago my friend approached a "Gestoria" company to get it sorted out legally according to current laws.

This company has relieved him of several thousand euros, and yesterday called him and the vendor into their office to sign the paperwork they have prepared.

This turns out to be a brand new sale document (dated yesterday). The sale price is pure fiction, and they'd even got the details of the house wrong (they've put the number of a neighbouring house).

My friend desperately needs some independent advice before he gets sucked into what looks like a very dodgy deal that is more likely to turn him into a fraudster than achieve the result he's looking for.

His inclination is to run a mile - but that won't get his house registered legally.. And there is the money he has paid to this company which he certainly can't afford to lose.

I'm sure I've seen some posts on here from a gentleman who is a Spanish lawyer - please can somone point me in his direction, or offer any bright ideas to help my friend reach a legal solution?

My friend has a little time before any confrontation because the "Gestor" has to change the details of the house on the documents.
Thanks for reading.

hartcjhart

which area of Spain

*Robin*

hartcjhart wrote: »

which area of Spain

Sorry - Malaga province.

gatita

This is an excellent forum for expats. I am sure you will get very good advice. Good luck.
I would certainly hang fire with what seems like an extremely dodgy gestor, at least until you get professional advice you can trust
Whoops forget to put in link!

http://www.eyeonspain.com/forums/Threads.aspx?dev=FB38