Bluemoon10

Hi all,

I have been at a point of my life when I 'shut a few doors' behind me and have achieved quite a lot in the last few years and now I feel I deserve a little sabbatical period. I visited Sweden for a few days in 2008 for wedding. I stayed in Katrineholme and loved the scenery and the people I met. It is clearly impossible to gauge in a few days if Sweden is ideal for a few months away from it all but I was impressed with the peacefulness of the place and I wonder if people can give me some advice on my query.

I am planning to get some short-let rental, ideally a small flat or house in the country where I can go out on a bike, do some fishing, loads of reading; somewhere rural but amenities nearby. I plan to have months of relaxation so places to socialise nearby are not a must and because I am going to be on a budget I would keep that kind of activity to a minimum.

Based on my info, can you suggest: 1. Where is the best place to be based (I’m currently thinking a staying up to 8 months, avoiding the winter) 2. Approximately what monthly budget should I set just for basic living (rent, food, transport and a few extras)?

Thanks in advance.

mikelincs

Never been to Sweden, but, from what I've read on here it seems that rentals are expensive and in short supply, and the cost of living is very expensive.

Blackladder

Answer to question 1: East Ukraine (friendlier by far) Question 2. More than you can ever imagine.
Blackie

Bluemoon10

Both answers are overwhelmingly insightful!

But does anyone that actually have any significant knowledge of Sweden can give me (serious and helpful) answer to my question?

Blackladder

Hi Bluemoon,
Well, I lived and worked there for more than 40 years, so I do have a rough idea. First, you cannot live anywhere in Sweden for 8 months and avoid the Winter. Even furthest South, where I used to live, Winter begins in November and ends in April. Secondly, although it has been almost 2 (blissfull) years since I lived there, the cost of living cannot have altered that much. Then, the cost of food and fuel was the highest in the EU, and, given the length of the Winter, fuel costs are a Heavy item in the budget of any and everyone. Also given the length and severity of the Winter, biking is a very restricted means of transport or pleasure.
Blackie

Bluemoon10

Thanks Blackadder,
How about just taking an extended (as frugal as possible) holiday say from April/May to September. Where is a decent smallish town where I can be based and not expect to pay a fortune in rent?

Blackladder

I will only speak of places I have personally visited. First, Ystad is a Lovely Little old Town on the Baltic coast. You have plenty of flat country for cycling, some of the most fabulous long sandy beaches in Europe, still Close to Copenhagen and the continent. Another Town along the same coast is called Simrishamn, which is very quiet in the Winter, but bustling with visitors all summer. Lund, where I studied and lived for many years, is a largeish University Town, so accommodation is expensive there, and the city has lost much of its student charm of the 1960s and 70s. Malmö is just too large and is truly the most god-awful Place. If Allah wanted to give the World an anema, Malmö's where he'd shove the tube.
Blackie

Bluemoon10

Good stuff, Blackie.
Thanks for the tips, all noted.
Cheers!
BM10