Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Droopsnout, your house looks terrific, and very big! Is it a converted chapel or something similar?

Well, working backwards in time...

In 1964, it was converted into the house that you see in the pictures. Minor changes only since then.

For a period prior to 1964 (presumably from about 1880-ish), the house was actually the village school. The "big room" downstairs (with the long dining table) was where the children met before school, then they went upstairs to the classroom. At that time the arched windows of today were arches down to the ground.

Before acting as a school, it seems that the house was the village corn exchange.

And before that, we're told that it was probably the house of the village priest. (The church is just across the road).

One of the stones built into the front of the house refers in an inscription to a repair carried out in the 16th century, but this almost certainly (in my mind) refers to work done on the original castle, which no longer exists, and I presume that the stones for the house were "robbed" from the castle ruins.

One day, I'll get to the County records office to see if I can find some real evidence. All the above is what we've gathered from the previous owner and other villagers.

donny-gal

Hi everyone

If you want to see my modern Spanish abode. pm me for the link

and on facebook I am Donny Gal

DG

donny-gal

Merrywidow wrote: »

They were bottom teeth at the front that were very loose and had to go. (one broke off remember>)Now I am proud owner of a couple of plastic ones! Dentist first thought I would need implants but were not needed - thrilled - it saved two times 2 grand - whew.

I heard from a neighbour she takes a holiday to Thailand when she needs implants and claim she gets them done and the overall cost including the holiday is less than the UK costs. Worth a thought!

Hope you can eat soon.

DG

seven-day-weekend

Nice Villa there DG! Is that you lying on the sun lounger on the floor plan diagram?

donny-gal

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Nice Villa there DG! Is that you lying on the sun lounger on the floor plan diagram?

No it would be more a tame whale if it was me. :rotfl:

droopsnout

Very nice, d-g. Looks extremely tasty!!

Just realised that there are no photos of the garden and pool at our place on the link I gave, so I'll try and find time to add some.

Merrywidow

Hi Donny-gal, still feeling pretty low - still on mush to eat. Yes I know other countries are cheaper for implants - my Polish sister in law was lining me up for her dentist in Krakow - happily not needed. Dentist said it might happen in 6 months.

Yes the rates are crap for pound versus euro - but my Dutch pension smiles kindly as it is paid inEuros into my UK bank. Its all doom and gloom over here. House prices down quite sharply. If you are all going to camp out to earn some money I need a house in the sun for May for me, Brother and Sister in Law and 7 and 4 year old girls. We are all house trained. Of course my bungalow would be available for a swap but I don't think any of you favour the South-East. Come to think of it I am sure the Dutch House would be available. 4 bedrooms and 20 mins by car from Amsterdam - quite close to Schiphol airport. Needs to be close to beach, Brother-in-Law is a kid at heart (he's a Maths Professor - 48 years old) He looks about 30 - runs Marathons - Yuk - I have a treadmill in the Conservatory and on holiday he runs 10 kilometers every day !!

droopsnout

Sorry, Merrywidow, I'm 2½ hours' drive from a beach.

But I have been thinking that we are all getting to know each other on here, and house swaps for hols might be fun.

seven-day-weekend

We're nearly an hour away from a crAPi beach, the nearest decent one is two hours away.

But yes, house swops in the future might be a good idea.

gfplux

I have been a money saving expert for over a year and have only found this thread today!!!
I have read up to page 14 and enjoying it a great deal. Lots more reading to do but thought I would hang my hat here with some details about us.

We live in Luxembourg. We had lived in London N20 until the late 80's when we bought a place here and my wife moved officially and I remained a UK resident but commuted weekly to London.
We are now both officially resident here, have a 17 year old daughter who is in the local Luxembourg school system.
We have some experience of France (83) as we have had a small holiday home there for 18 years.
My tip for anyone moving abroad would be to RENT first.

Looking forward to reading to get up to date.