Well, having a wobbly moment today...been here 9 months, can't believe it has gone so quickly, but finding it tough here.

There is a never ending stream of bills to pay, setting up costs a lot more than expected...some of the things we've had to deal with are bad luck but I honestly don't know how PT people survive on their salaries.

Paying insurance/car tax etc in one lump fee is hard, the oh got ill so ill he couldn't bear to sit in the hosp to be seen so went private €220 for a drip and medication then he was attacked in broad daylight in his car, one broken nose later and an emergency op that we still don't know whether we have to pay for, today he's broken his tooth...in the UK you just don't think about it the NHS is great.

Wondering whether medical insurance is the way forward but as a family of 5 think it will be too expensive. Hoping this feeling goes away as apart from the weather being poop and everything being expensive I do like it here...

G

things are bad , and if we beleive the tory press in the uk they will get worse in the eu and the first cull is nhs both in the uk and eu.

Feel sorry for me , i had a year of hopsital , pain killers over a year which made me even more ill , and ended up going private at the cost of 5k for kidney work..... and that was the uk!Its beginning to look like I may have to do the same again....but hey its cheaper in portugal than with bupa.

I aint been attacked though , bit of a bummer that , i could do with the sport.

Hmm it's hard I've had great treatment in the UK, I have a syndrome and get (or should I say got) regular check ups, emergency operation etc. Following on from the op in August (done at Addenbrookes) I was supposed to have a check up at 3 months...that was in November and I'm still waiting for a date through from a PT specialist. I have a feeling my PT docs has actually forgotten to do the referral must follow that up.

Yes probably the same in the UK I guess it's just all happening all at once and getting me down. I am hoping once we've paid the next set of bills (car repairs) that will be it for a bit, unless we get a bill through for the nose op!

Not much of a sport when you are in the car with the seat belt on and no hand brake on...more like bullfighting, there's only one outcome...

G

What a total bummer about the attack on your hubbie - that sounds utterly gruesome.

With regard to the other expenses, I know that we all have to budget to allow for the unexpected, but it can sure nip you in the ass when it actually happens.

I have been here for two weeks short of a year now, and despite all of the warnings and as much planning as a body can do, I am still shocked by how many dinheiros have exited my front door.

Life here has many attractions and compensations, but the expense of those first couple of years, in particular, should never be underestimated.

Work out a budget, double it and then stay at home a few days a week would be my advice to any newbie.

I know from your other posts, G, that you have young children - that multiplies the potential for unexpected expenditure many times more than many of us new residents.

Take care and I hope that things settle down soon.

I think we all go through the "wobbly" at some point....for me it was after about 3 months but a week "holiday" back in the central belt of Scotland soon made me keen to make it work here... 6 years on im so glad I made the effort and the thought of returning to the U.K to live....well, I would quite happily rather stick pins in my eyes! My point... im sure the bad times will pass!

Car insurance in one lump?! It can be split....6 monthly,3 monthly or even monthly(although monthly is much more expensive in the long run) which company are you with...I thought you went for Fidelidade?

Medical insurance...if you go for the whole package to include doctors appointments etc(im talking about Multicare although im sure Medis works the same) at a guess I would say just over 2000 euros per year for the whole family but if you just go for internimento...spelt wrong im sure(hospitalized) then probably around 500-600 euros for the five with 50k of cover each(20k is not much cheaper and perhaps not enough)

I hope a new day has got rid of some of the wobblies for you. We all have dark moments and it is good to have a place to share them with others. I hope you and your family find some opportunities and happiness coming your way.

Hi There.......Sorry to hear about the attack on your hubby....thats really tough to deal with...

as everyone has mentioned above, most of us go thru the " have we made the right decision wobblers" & financially its not easy either...but im sure a nicer environment for your children...Im sure the blues will pass.....

best wishes,

Completely understand how you feel. We have had the same this week - finding it such a mission to sort out our residency and hitting so many brick walls, the red tape has made the place seem really unwelcoming this week.

Still, its the weekend now and the sun is out - onward and upward and all that!

Hope things improve for you and best wishes

Ben

Do not know if this will cheer you up or put you in more despair, most people told us if you get over the first year here then things should look better, we have been here over 3 years and my wife would move back to the UK in a minute, there is some aspects of living here she likes but she is not settled and will never be settled here.

My family are over staying with us at the mo.....wish I was back in the UK!!!

Thanks for all the replies...I'm still feeling uneasy but know I have to give it time. For me the concerns are the schooling, my eldest will be in yr4 primary pt school come September then it's into Ciclo, and I'm not happy about him going to the local one it's just too big and he wouldn't cope.

Then it's all these damn bills! I didn't realise kids prescriptions wouldn't be free, and though it's only €2 for an adult to see a doctor and free for kids they then prescribe so much stuff I end up having to pay over €20 a throw. Typical though in the UK probably only had 3 or 4 prescriptions a year and since we've been here I've lost count!!!

Yes and having people over is stressful in itself, they are on holiday so want to be at the beach/cafes/restaurants and it just can't be done with 3 kids in tow wanting icecreams at €2 a pop.

I think move here once you've made your money in the UK, and don't need an income it's perfect but move here when you are trying to provide for a young family and it's definitely a lot easier in the UK.

There are so many great things here... my kids are so much more social than they were are not shy to say hi to adults and introduce themselves...people are so much more accepting of kids here too...it all comes down to money really.

Sooooo....I've done €6 on the Euromillions and better win it tonight!

Residency should be easy, if you need any help with anything just shout I speak fluent PT if you want something translating. Gosh if I didn't speak the language I think I would have been long gone, people behind desks can be so rude here.

G

You're right, it's great I can let off steam on here as the oh has enough to deal with without me landing this one on him! Though saying that I think he's feeling similar to me just not saying anything...and this is a man in his own country!

Hi when I brought the car over I had to insure it with one of those UK/Spanish based companies and once I got my new plates had to stick with them or they would only refund a piddly amount of money Will be definitely shop around next year.

That hospitalized sounds good, will look into that thanks I hadn't thought of just taking a basic package. Main issue for us is whenever we've needed to see a doctor ours has not been there, she seems to work 10-12 then 2-2:30pm!!! Then it means a trek to the hospital and with Lagos being dug up atm it's a nightmare with the 3 young ones. There's always a solution though so I shall seek it!

thanks
G

As a foreigner in Britain you ask and you get.
As a foreigner in Portugal you ask and you pay.