Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Welcome, gfplux! Another country to add for this thread.

I agree about renting. It takes courage, though, given the expense. We lived in a caravan whilst finding a property. That was OK up to a point, and I was perfectly happy being a bit of a gypsy, but Mrs Snout was quite anxious to move into something solid.

seven-day-weekend

Welcome to the forum gflux!

Renting is a good idea, especially given the current economic situation.(although we didn't:o).

The only time it can be a bit dodgy is if, like many expats here, you have sold your home in the UK and have no income in your new country. Many expats have bought a cheap house (in the days when you could) and then lived on capital. If you're renting then your capital can dwindle away and then you have no money left (although the capital always seems to run out anyway....)

Glad to say we are not in this position; we bought the house with the proceeds (£35k) of the sale of a little ex-council prefab bunglaow that my husband had inherited from his mother and bought the little wreck next door (£12k) with the lump sum from his Teachers' Pension.

We still have our house in the UK which is lived in by our son and his lodger, and have my husband's Teacher's Pension to live on, although this is being
s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d to it's limits with the exchange rate.

Anyway, I'm rambling - welcome once again!

Merrywidow

Welcome to our thread gfplux - we are a happy little family. I am back in England after 30 years in Holland, but looking to leave England asap again. Very interested to know what the attraction was in Luxembourg? I know it is a lovely country, we used to holiday there (Echternacht at Whitsun) but most of us are looking for sun. Sorry if I am being nosey - that's me. Welcome once again. mw

Merrywidow

Oh Dear, looks like I killed another thread stone dead - what is it with me. Never mind I am off on Tuesday for a couple of weeks to Tenerife so I can't kill off anything for a while. For those of you up a mountain in Spain, it snowed again today - bah - I want out. MW

droopsnout

I'm sure you didn't kill off anything, mw!

It's cold here, btw. Two degrees today, and a possibility of snow over the weekend. There actually was snow in Toulouse on Tuesday.

Anyway, have a great time in Tenerife. I've never been!

donny-gal

No I haven't been there either.

I am back here now, what a welcome on Sunday Morning SNOW when we got off the train! Only a smattering, but enough to show white, then heavy rain around the M25 and sunshine hit us as we got to Cambridge. Hardly been out this week, trying to acclimatise (sp?).

Have have great holiday MW.

Took the part I had fixed in France on the way down into our local VW dealer today to claim the costs back, I had had the part fitted in June 07, with a 2 year warranty on, so best part of 200 € should be coming my way.

I know it is awful for others, but with all the redundancy news around, it is quite a relief to know that we are not affected, wehave lived dodging it for 30 years, until it got us (thankfully) in June 07.

DG

droopsnout

I should be in Doncaster in February, d-g.

The ski resorts here are opening early due to the early snowfalls. I always think of our autumns as being long and mild, but not this year. In fact, it's been pretty lousy all year, this year.

seven-day-weekend

Merrywidow wrote: »

Oh Dear, looks like I killed another thread stone dead - what is it with me. Never mind I am off on Tuesday for a couple of weeks to Tenerife so I can't kill off anything for a while. For those of you up a mountain in Spain, it snowed again today - bah - I want out. MW

We have snow on the mountains both behind and in front of us and today, although it has been sunny, it is very cold!

We are at the height of the summit of Snowdon (just over 1000m) - so I suppose I ought to compare it to what it would be like on Snowdon in late November!:eek:

Have a good time in Tenerife.

donny-gal

Droopsnout - Better PM me nearer the time if you'd like a cuppa. DG

droopsnout

Will do!! Or can meet for a coffee in town, if you prefer. I'll be stopping with my mum. Mrs Snout will be in the UK with me, but not sure whether she'll be in Doncaster at that time, or with her sister in Worcestershire.