Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

seven-day-weekend

Irishmummyof2 wrote: »

Could anyone point me in the right direction regarding selling an apartment in Bulgaria? Such as website or a company who can do this for you. My uncle bought a property nearly 10 years ago and has never stayed in it or rented it out, so would like to now sell it on. The person who helped him buy it, is now off the scene so we have no idea where to start. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Stick a sign outside it, saying 'for sale' in English and Bulgarian, with a phone number (preferably of someone who can speak Bulgarian)?

Or, if it is in a complex, ask the management of the complex?

unsaltedrhino

Hello there!

Myself and my Spanish partner with our two young children are going to be relocating to Madrid next Summer (2016). Any recommendations for cashback/comparison/MSE style sites?

gfplux

Hello all,
Petrol, diesel update again for those who may be travelling through France shortly.
I think we all have seen that the drop and recent rise in crude oil prices together with currency changes have had a yo yo effect of petrol and diesel prices wherever we may live.
Last Friday the 6th March I paid €1.07 for a litre of diesel in Luxembourg.
Driving down to the South of France on Sunday I noted that the price of diesel on the French motorways was €1.32/34. Today in Les Issambres (83) I paid €1.18.
During this time the price of 95 Petrol on the motorway was €1.46/48 and in Les Issambres €1.37
The price in Luxembourg is regulated by the State so the price is the same wherever you fill up.
France like the UK is a free market so the consumer has choice and can so choose.
As a retired salesman "trader" strangely I find the State Control comforting, perhaps it's my age?

droopsnout

Hi, gfp.

Yes, the price of fuel is suffering in the eurozone, as the euro has weakened against the dollar, the currency used in the markets.

I haven't been out for a few days, but last week the price of diesel in my area was around the 1,18 to 1,19€ mark. When I got back to France after the New Year, it was at 1.089€.

I'm going to Toulouse on Wednesday, and I would normally expect it to be a centime or two lower there than round here.

We haven't mentioned it in the past, I think, but heating oil, too, has followed other fuel prices. A few of us in the village here club together to have a delivery of oil at the same time, and we did a top-up recently at 0,68€ a litre of "Superfioul", the superior grade. The most we have paid was 1,02€ in March 2013.

gfplux

How clever droopsnout. Great copororatiion.
A few months ago diesel was below €1 in Luxembourg

droopsnout

Those of us receiving income in sterling should be happy today. The exchange rate has gone a little over £1=1,40€. Of course, if you're selling your property in the eurozone, you'll receive fewer pounds ...

gfplux

We are nearly back to the exchange rates of 10 years ago.
Was the Euro considered week or strong in those days?

zygurat789

gfplux wrote: »

We are nearly back to the exchange rates of 10 years ago.
Was the Euro considered week or strong in those days?

Started off 1/1/99 at €1.42 = GBP £1 which is where it is now.
It was considered a weak currency then because it was new.
It is considered a week currency now because of Greece

droopsnout

When we bought our house in 2002, we got 1,625€. But for quite a while, the rate was in the 1,40€ area. Then along came 2007. And after that, 2008 was worse still.

Graph of exchange rate since 1995:



The black vertical line in 2001 is irrelevant here.

zygurat789

droopsnout wrote: »

When we bought our house in 2002, we got 1,625€. But for quite a while, the rate was in the 1,40€ area. Then along came 2007. And after that, 2008 was worse still.

Graph of exchange rate since 1995:



The black vertical line in 2001 is irrelevant here.

Interesting graph since the Euro didn't come into existence until 1 January 1999