Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

missile

There are lots of part time ex pats who have flexible work commitments. Those who are fortunate to work in jobs which allow them to take long holidays or work from home.

I met a lad in Val d'Isere who is a ski guide in winter, teaches wind surfing in Menorca in the summer then back to England working as a tennis coach. Some people are lucky, I guess?

seven-day-weekend

I personally don't know anyone who can spend that long at a stretch unless they are retired.

However, I do know a couple -she is a woodwork teacher and he is a bank nurse - who come here every college holiday (longer than school holidays) and they probably do spend a total of four months here. However, bear in mind that his leave is unpaid.

Also I know another couple who spend probably that amount of time here in total - she was a housewife and he was allowed unpaid leave from his job. He has since retired.

Some companies like Asda offer employment with what they call 'Benidorm Leave' where you can have a few months every year off on unpaid leave, but I think this is only available to older employees. (edited to add....you have to be over 50. See link below).

http://www.laterlife.com/laterlife-asda.htm

Also some people have internet-based jobs that they can do anywhere in the world!

Fortunately, my husband was able to rtake early retirement and we live here on his Teachers' Pension.

Hope this helps!

droopsnout

Yes, I'm here on my Teacher's Pension, too.

And I was just imagining some of the comments that some people may have been making on reading that.

I'd just like to say that taking early retirement is not what anybody should want to do. It implies that some life-changing illness has struck someone, and their career is shattered. Income tumbles, life aspirations crash to the ground, etc.

As it is, we exist on one-quarter of the income we had when we were both working, and right now, the pound is at its lowest level on record against the euro, meaning that my UK pension, paid in sterling, is buying fewer euros than ever before. My pension increase from last April has been pretty well wiped out by the currency fluctuation.

Yes, you know about this when you move; you know it's a risk. But it's still unpleasant when it happens.

Yes, I'm happier than when I was working. But it's not all plain sailing.

seven-day-weekend

My husband hadd to forfeit a quarter of his pension to take it at 55.

And yes, it was due to illness and we also live one quarter of what we had in the UK.

Although why people should make comments about living on your own money I've no idea!

hartcjhart

I am now starting to live part time UK part time Spain,

I work on power stations from about FEB to Sept and then go abroad,it is hard work 7days a week 12 hours a day but pays very well

margaretclare

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Although why people should make comments about living on your own money I've no idea!

Who ever did that, 7DWE? Who else's money should you live on, if not your own?

Margaret

droopsnout

I think I should clear up what I meant ...

I have heard Brits talk disparagingly about people they consider are leading the life of Riley having taken early retirement. The implication of such chatter has usually been that there has been some scam or other to provide the retiree with a small fortune and that they are now living on the costas gambling, drinking, etc.

Whilst there may be one or two to whom such things may apply, I think there are many who just decided to capitalise on their UK assets and buy a place where they could chill and recover from (or just live with) whatever ailment led to their professional demise.

lessonlearned

You are right Droopsnout. It's not all gambling and high living etc.

My husband and I spent three months in Spain in the run up to Christmas. He was self-employed and I worked in construction. Then he became ill.

We went to Spain to help him recover a bit. Whilst it was lovely to spend the time in the sun I found myself worrying about him all the time and couldn't really relax and enjoy it properly. I would give anything to have him restored to good health - even if it meant freezing in the UK!!

Like many of our neighbours in Spain we are only able to spend that kind of time out there because he has been forced out of work through ill health.

Perhaps if we'd had the good sense to get out of the rat race earlier he would't be ill now. Who knows.

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

I think I should clear up what I meant ...

I have heard Brits talk disparagingly about people they consider are leading the life of Riley having taken early retirement. The implication of such chatter has usually been that there has been some scam or other to provide the retiree with a small fortune and that they are now living on the costas gambling, drinking, etc.

Whilst there may be one or two to whom such things may apply, I think there are many who just decided to capitalise on their UK assets and buy a place where they could chill and recover from (or just live with) whatever ailment led to their professional demise.

Oh yes, although I have not heard that here in Spain, my next door neighbour in the UK is convinced that my husband has had a huge golden handshake, when in fact he had to lose a quarter of his pension for taking it five years early.

My neighbour however, DID have an enhanced pension as his retirement was on ill-health grounds, whereas my husband, although he retired because of his health, went on actuarilly reduced grounds.

Then again, before we retired, my neighbour always thought we were better off than him because we had no mortgage. I just used to point out that when he'd been paying his for twenty years, without borrowing extra, he too could have no mortgage.

Some people will never believe you no matter what you do.

Margaret, my comment about living on our own money refers to droopsnout's post #442, which he/she has now clarified.

donny-gal

We all have it, we often used to ask ourselves how some people had the things they did, when they were on less money, smoked and went out far far more. Long term we have finished early, and they now ask how can you afford to.

We live and spend as we decide.

DG