[amideislas]

Originally Posted by bob_bob You do come out with some nonsense sometimes :

Your problem is that you've been in paradise for so long, you've forgotten what life is like on the outside:

The rest of the world lives in run-down trailer parks and rat-infested tent cities, and you'll pay over a million per week for a 4 square metre apartment, while your greedy capitalist neighbour with his stinking MBA and a senior management position has 80 trillion in his criminal offshore bank account pays no tax and lives in a huge mansion for free. That's normal life on the outside, just in case you've forgotten.

London, Hong Kong, Iowa, Timbuktu. All the same.

[cricketman]

Originally Posted by bob_bob You do come out with some nonsense sometimes :

We earnt over 70k in London in 1 bed flat, and I can tell you that it wasnt a lot. And that was just 2 of us

If you want to live in a sink estate then sure, you can live on a lot less

[bob_bob]

Originally Posted by cricketman We earnt over 70k in London in 1 bed flat, and I can tell you that it wasnt a lot. And that was just 2 of us If you want to live in a sink estate then sure, you can live on a lot less

Thankfully I've never lived in a 'sink estate'. Admittedly £70k or a little over is not a lot for two professionals (you and your wife are professionals you have said) in London, but unless you were renting over your means you should have done OK. How much rent or mortgage were you paying out of your £70k.

[amideislas]

Originally Posted by bob_bob Thankfully I've never lived in a 'sink estate'. How much rent or mortgage were you paying out of your £70k.

£70k? Well, I reckon anyone still living with mum at 46 would engage in make-believe from time to time. And as you can see, there does seem to be a historical abundance of make-believe coming from over there...

By the way, what is a "sink estate"? I can only presume it's any home not located in Spain?

[bob_bob]

Originally Posted by amideislas £70k? Well, I reckon anyone still living with mum at 46 would engage in make-believe from time to time. And as you can see, there does seem to be a historical abundance of make-believe coming from over there... By the way, what is a "sink estate"? I can only presume it's any home not located in Spain?

Its poor rental accommodation often provided by local authorities or bad landlords. £70k should mean you clear a grand a week or there abouts maybe more/less depending upon tax paid, pension/insurance etc. You can spend that quite easily in London or most major cities it depends upon how you 'cut your cloth', the choice is yours really. I was getting £1600 a month rent off tenants for a flat in WC1 before I sold it, not a bad area at all but that would still leave you enough to live nicely enough on £70k.

[amideislas]

Originally Posted by bob_bob Its poor rental accommodation often provided by local authorities or bad landlords. £70k should mean you clear a grand a week or there abouts maybe more/less depending upon tax paid, pension/insurance etc. You can spend that quite easily in London or most major cities it depends upon how you 'cut your cloth', the choice is yours really. I was getting £1600 a month rent off tenants for a flat in WC1 before I sold it, not a bad area at all but that would still leave you enough to live nicely enough on £70k.

Thanks for that. I also know you live just fine in London on £70k. But those who don't know much about anything outside of the paradise of mama's spanish pension casa would naturally have to fill in the blanks

[cricketman]

Originally Posted by amideislas Thanks for that. I also know you live just fine in London on £70k. But those who don't know much about anything outside of the paradise of mama's spanish pension casa would naturally have to fill in the blanks

What the hell are you talking about?

[cricketman]

Originally Posted by bob_bob , not a bad area at all but that would still leave you enough to live nicely enough on £70k.

Sure, we were living nicely in SW15, but there were only 2 of us. And we were 26 when we left so not bad salaries - and they were going up every year. The daunting thing was thinking about having a family there as you need to fork out either half a million buying or 2k per month renting, and then wont have time to see your kids anyway.

Yes I know there are cheaper areas, but the cheaper areas are horrible!

Both of us were out of house between 8am-7pm

[Abyss-Rover]

Just a little off topic?

[bob_bob]

Originally Posted by cricketman Sure, we were living nicely in SW15, but there were only 2 of us. And we were 26 when we left so not bad salaries - and they were going up every year. The daunting thing was thinking about having a family there as you need to fork out either half a million buying or 2k per month renting, and then wont have time to see your kids anyway. Yes I know there are cheaper areas, but the cheaper areas are horrible! Both of us were out of house between 8am-7pm

Please don't half quote me to the point where your post could be misleading
"I was getting £1600 a month rent off tenants for a flat in WC1 before I sold it, not a bad area" In full

So what cheaper areas are horrible? You are the worst kind of pretentious snob at times, you try and 'talk the talk', then fail and then can't pull yourself out of the hole you dug. Do you earn £70k in Spain very very doubtful.

[playamonte]

Originally Posted by Abyss-Rover Just to confirm one thing: From. playamonte, "I take it that your interest is in advertising & maybe you have a company that can help ?" Yes, my interest is in advertising. I also have a great interest in human nature. Relating to my interest in human nature, I asked this question. I was hoping to hear other, genuine, peoples opinion as to why this happens. Regarding my interest in advertising, I have no intention to promote my business through this forum. Everyone, either in business or looking for a business, has their own way to deal with this matter. For example... Our Villa for sale....or may consider long term rental ****** Back to the thread... It's interesting to read the different opinions on "word of mouth". Does anyone share my opinion, that relying on this mode of "advertising" restricts their customer base? I agree that it's a great way to find certain things but, if this were the case, why is there any advertising at all. Websites like Trip adviser thrive on people wanting to pass on their experiences, be it good or bad. Surely this is why they exist and why so many people use the site. Although I have read a lot lately regarding the reliability of their comments and / or ratings system. Even forums, this one included, make money from advertising. We must all understand that nothing is free and to running any form of website usually involves advertising. Maybe for those who are semi retired, or not in need of a substantial income, would suffice with word of mouth but do you think that a family man / woman, supporting a partner and children, maybe a mortgage, could survive on this approach?

I see, but as you can appreciate my little add is unlikely to produce what I hope for. Still its allowed & its free.

Your posts though do tend to come across as a tad evangelical hence my comment.

[Abyss-Rover]

Playamonte, I can appreciate that your add is unlikely to produce what you hope, this is probably because it is in the wrong place?

I would disagree with your term "evangelical", I am a genuine person with genuine questions and comments.

Also, as your apparent gripe was that I was advertising, please explain why this is so bad and when I advertised my business name, as without this, advertising is a waste of time? I have not mentioned the name of my website and I don't plan to. As for your advertisement, you could make more money per potential customers than I. You are offering a sale or long term let. My web site offers people a chance to be known, businesses to be found and most of all, it gives expats the chance to find and talk about suppliers and services, THAT THEY WANT. I am not taking peoples money, for a couple of weeks in the sun. I am giving people the chance to be noticed and everyone the chance to find who, or what they are looking for.

If the people and the business owners are not interested, I am not forcing anyone and I would like to be a part of this community and give what I can, to learn what I don't know and to be a part of this ex patriot community. I can only hope that jealousy and deceit will not prevent this.

If this offends you, or anyone else, I can only apologise. Also, if the people who are responsible for this site, believe that I have done any wrong to this site or the expat community, then they must take the actions that they deem correct.

Thank you

[amideislas]

Originally Posted by Abyss-Rover Playamonte, I can appreciate that your add is unlikely to produce what you hope, this is probably because it is in the wrong place? I would disagree with your term "evangelical", I am a genuine person with genuine questions and comments. Also, as your apparent gripe was that I was advertising, please explain why this is so bad and when I advertised my business name, as without this, advertising is a waste of time? I have not mentioned the name of my website and I don't plan to. As for your advertisement, you could make more money per potential customers than I. You are offering a sale or long term let. My web site offers people a chance to be known, businesses to be found and most of all, it gives expats the chance to find and talk about suppliers and services, THAT THEY WANT. I am not taking peoples money, for a couple of weeks in the sun. I am giving people the chance to be noticed and everyone the chance to find who, or what they are looking for. If the people and the business owners are not interested, I am not forcing anyone and I would like to be a part of this community and give what I can, to learn what I don't know and to be a part of this ex patriot community. I can only hope that jealousy and deceit will not prevent this. If this offends you, or anyone else, I can only apologise. Also, if the people who are responsible for this site, believe that I have done any wrong to this site or the expat community, then they must take the actions that they deem correct. Thank you

If you want to advertise your vacation let, then try 9flats.com or airBnB.com or roomorama.com. None of them charge a penny up front, and just take 15% from each booking. They all use good SEO techniques to spread your advert all over the internet, and have a lot of traffic. You'll get a lot of bookings if your place is decent and not overpriced.

[Rotor]

Originally Posted by Abyss-Rover The question is, why are there many people saying that business is so bad, yet they do not (in my opinion) try all avenues to let people know where they are? Simple.

A lot of business`s are that cash poor or heavily in debt they have got themselves into a catch 22 situation , cant get work without advertising but dont have the money to advertise , in addition there is much less work around as potential clients have no over time , reduced hours and of course unemployment which means no spare cash to pay tradesmen etc.Simple.

[Abyss-Rover]

Originally Posted by Rotor A lot of business`s are that cash poor or heavily in debt they have got themselves into a catch 22 situation , cant get work without advertising but dont have the money to advertise , in addition there is much less work around as potential clients have no over time , reduced hours and of course unemployment which means no spare cash to pay tradesmen etc.Simple.

Thank you. This actually answers my initial question, partially.

Although I must agree that many people have tightened the belt, there are many things in life that can't be ignored or "left till a better time". I guess this will cause more competition and maybe some businesses will make more of an effort, to do the job right, as a bad recommendation (in these times) would make things even worse.

Surely this is also a time where people can pull together and help each other. For example, A local expat is a plumber, other expats need a plumber. This plumber charges a reasonable rate for his services and does a proper job. Other expats recommend him and he does more work. The result would be interesting.