Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

I love the Portsmouth-Bilbao route. In 2001, for our silver anniversary, we returned home that way from Bilbao. Had a cabin, with proper bed, a view of the sea and all the luxuries!

Of course, being a good MSE-er, I paid for three-quarters of it with my Tesco vouchers! Now there's one thing about the UK I miss.

Well, we got a free upgrade to one of the cabins you mentioned and are now in the UK. The cabin had a sea view through TWO windows, a tv with English channels on, a king-size bed, a free bowl of fruit, two free bathrobes and tea-and coffee-making facilities.

Luxury and well worth the price we paid (although had we have paid the full price it would have been £150 more).

Marvellous!

Francophile

Sounds wonderful Seven-day-weekend. Hope you get an upgrade on the way back.

donny-gal

We didn't get an upgrade, so had a inside 2 bed cabin - but TBH it was adequate enough. Slept well. and it took us 10 hours to get to the house. Meals were not too bad, we just bought an evening meal and took a travel kettle and a pack of cups of coffee with coffee/milk in from £1land, and some cereal bars for breakfast. DG had a sandwich at lunch, but I had some fruit with us. The stand up comedy features were good, the resident duo, awful.
DG

droopsnout

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Well, we got a free upgrade to one of the cabins you mentioned and are now in the UK. The cabin had a sea view through TWO windows, a tv with English channels on, a king-size bed, a free bowl of fruit, two free bathrobes and tea-and coffee-making facilities.

That sounds like it!

Have a good break in the UK!

fred_the_builder

When I was in the USA I found a site called Senior Discounts which had masses of discounts on it. The nearest I've found here is Oscaruk which has a lot on it, but nothing like as many as they have in the USA.

[Deleted User]

I joined boots advantage health club a few months ago. There are lots of discounts available but the best yet is 30% off my new specs yesterday. Varifocals, transition lenses and a nice boots frame. No wonder I am smiling and by the way I have had specs for 50 years and the boots eye test was the best yet

monstrum

I am currently in full time employment, renting an apartment in Northern Portugal, I pay UK tax and get a 100% refund each year, my ? is, where would the best place to put this refund in purely savings be?

donny-gal

Don't you need to pay tax in Portugal then?

Have no idea of the interest rates in Portugal sorry.

DG

droopsnout

monstrum,I think we need more info. In what country do you wish to invest? (For example).

I pay UK tax, too, and would dearly love to get a 100% refund. Do tell!

monstrum

Sorry, more info, Donny-gal, if you pay tax in one European country you need not pay in another, no matter where you live, Droopsnout, I pay UK tax because I work for an American/Norwegian company with an office in the UK, I am employed by the UK office and I am a British subject therefore liable for UK tax, I am a ships officer and do not reside in any one country for more than 182 days in any one year (I work month on/off and vacations sort any problems with the odd day out) so qualify for 100% refund.

As I travel a fair bit, I am not too fussed as to which country to put my savings in to but as I am more familiar with the UK that was my first country of choice.

I opted not to pay Portuguese tax for two reasons, one, it is higher than the UK, and two, I only have to fill in a three page form to get my refund in the UK, in Portugal it is a three volume book and a four month wait.

Hope that helps