Met some lads in Baku who were all going back to family in the UK via the soft border with Northern Ireland. Would fly to Dublin, cross over and use cash for the time at home, then go back out that way. None gave a monkeys or were worried about being caught.

I assume Brexit has or will end that route though.

Pre brexit Spain was a good option ….. tax residency generally kicked in at 6 months out of 12 and unless HMRC looked hard no formal record of you being there. All changed now though.

Hopefully they ensured to be less than 183 days in Europe.