Costs
 

Hi

Now you have probably seen this before and yes i have searched previous threads, but want an upto date insight.

Can you live in spain (playa flemenca) comfortably on $20,000 euros a year (not including school fees or money for holiday)

Im thinking

650 euro monthly rent
500 euro monthly food

500 euros other stuff petrol, gym, meals out, beer

I will the have 10k - 20k a year play money for holidays etc.

School fees, will be paid separately.

Re: Costs
 

Yes, you could. Playa Flamenca is a 'cheap' area, it was built that way, intended for the ordinary foreigner coming to live in Spain, with thousands of those popular Quad houses, quarter-detacheds in blocks of four to keep the costs down, while still being within easy reach of beaches and a dual carriageway running through the middle of it (the N332).

A lot of the initial drainage and other problems have been sorted out and a giant new shopping centre is about to open next month, La Zenia Boulevard. But the area has always been well served by shops of every description and regular markets, so you can live cheaply.

You won't find much scenic beauty or history, the whole place didn't exist 30 years ago, but a short drive inland can provide all that.

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Do I understand correctly by the term 'play money' that you will have up to 20K Euros spare cash per year having taken into account all living and leisure expenses (excluding holidays)?
If so, my next question is why would you want to live in Playa Flamenca? No offence to the area or residents but with that sort of income, your choice could be much wider and dare I say, more 'exclusive'!

:confused:

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Yes the 20k a year is for holidays and play money.

I am not a materialistic person and am really looking to spend money on lifestyle, ie not working (unless i choose to), taking the kids skiing regularly, visiting different areas / countries in the school holidays etc.

I have lived in a few upmarket areas and have found that you have to work to pay for them, its not important for me now.

As long as the area meets our needs, shops, beach, pubs, cafes, gym etc etc i think we will be happy.

I currently work my tits off in Australia and really am looking forward to time off.

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If skiing is important to you then you'd be better off next to one of the Spanish ski resorts. Especially the pyranees (although more expensive up there) or Sierra Nevada, you can ski 5 months a year there and can be on the beach one day and skiing the next

You'll need $20,000 a year though, if your going to do lots of skiing. Its not cheap

Re: Costs
 

Playa Flamenca is cheap compared to cities but it's not pretty by any means.
With your budget and if you've decided on this general area I'd suggest you look at Pilar de la Horadada, just up the road but nicer or San Pedro del Pinatar (my choice).
Best advice is to rent for six months whilst looking for the right area and property. At the moment if you buy, you're generally stuck with that property, it's very difficult to sell.

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You will be in Spain - why will you want to take Holidays ??

.

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:rofl: I'm dying for a holiday here you know

Do Spaniards not take holidays? :confused:

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Never ceases to amaze me. In the local travel agents I see ads for holidays on the costa del sol, and we are only 100km inland from Malaga. They could drive there in an hour.
Pete

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They could, but often you get a better package deal from an estate agent. Especially if you go in a group. However, most Spanish people rent out an apartment for a 3 or 4 weeks in July or August, or go to their own house or apartment than they own.

Times are a changing. 10 years ago the Spanish cities completely emptied and closed down as people headed to the coast. My wife cant believe how busy it is in Oviedo now. In August when she was younger, no shops were open and everybody had gone on holiday!

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On detail, you could be on the ski slope and the beach in the same day, not two days. OK a rather long day for the driver, but do-able!

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You have never noticed the adverts in Barrhead Travel for holidays in Kintyre?

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Some people live and holiday on the Isle of Wight.
I find that odd.

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Down in La Linea which is on the CDS you will see plenty of CDS holidays advertised.
However for the more adventurous there are some on the Costa de la Luz,

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for the past week there has been an advert on terrestial tv for Escocia.

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are they that desperate they are now doing holidays as well
:eek:

Little shop we know in Granada, selling household knicknacks such as ornaments and silvered mirrors and picture frames, not in the busiest part of town, always shut up for 4-5 weeks in the summer.
It closed last month for the very last time and is just a shell.

for some the holiday is the important thing, and it has been a way of life as the Miners Fortnight, but times change, people change and retailers have to change with it.
thats why some Spaniards find it hard working for international companies, they want their siesta, their holy days, bank holidays, 4 weeks in the summer. They just cannot understand what all the fuss is about
:(

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yes I've seen that

Visit Escotland!!

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Our Spanish neighbours always took holidays in the North of Spain for August. Everyone needs a holiday, something different and a change from routine.We always take our main one in Jan/Feb when the whole of Europe is cold.

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WTF???

How did this tread turn into a discussion about holidays???

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That's right, because being with the family is the most important thing. That's why the traffic is always so bad on the puentes. People who have moved away to work rushing to get back to their home town and stuff themselves silly on the abuela's cooking!

Rajoy was going to move all the fiestas to Mondays like the British bank holidays and get rid of the puentes, but I haven't heard any more about that.

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Because you said you had 10-20k a year to spend on holidays, and we're all jealous!

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It's surprising how many holiday homes at Playa Flamenca and the rest of Orihuela Costa are owned by Madrilenos and people from northern Spain.

They are here in force now and local forums are full of complaints about the noise they make, especially the Spanish kids who take over the communal pool areas in the summer.

It always makes me wonder, what do the expats expect when they buy a house near to a communal swimming pool or a line of noisy music bars?

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Has it not always been thus? I know most of the holiday homes along the beach front at Guardamamar are owned by spanish.

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So back to the original purpose for this thread,


Can you live in spain (playa flemenca) comfortably on $20,000 euros a year (not including school fees or money for holiday)

Im thinking

650 euro monthly rent
500 euro monthly food

500 euros other stuff petrol, gym, meals out, beer

Re: Costs
 

See post No 2

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You're asking a question about a tiny, tiny part of Spain on an expat forum covering the whole of Spain. Only a very few of us will know the place, the great majority of members will not even have heard of it.

You might get more answers on a more localised forum, just for the area concerned, although some of those small forums concentrate on matters of little interest to anyone outside their area, like the sudden drop in water pressure in their street, and their content can be pretty abysmal.

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For how many people? Fine for one, maybe a couple, you will live OK, but add children into the equation and it won't be so comfortable.

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Yes, obviously the definition of "comfortable" depends on the person, but even for a couple, 2,000 euros after tax would be a minimum I would have thought

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Do you mean dollars (as you state) or euros? 20k dollars is about 16k euros so, on that basis, I would say NO as you're already in the red.

Note to OP; be careful what you ask. I don't know what $20000 euros means

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To the OP, press and hold the Alt key and type 0128 which will insert the € symbol for you on a US layout keyboard IIRC.

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To clarify,


Can you live in spain (playa flemenca) comfortably on €20,000 a year for a family of 4 (not including school fees or money for holiday), kids 9 & 10.

Im thinking

€650 monthly rent
€500 monthly food

€500 monthly other stuff petrol, gym, meals out, beer

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If you can get away with only spending €500 per month on food for a family of four.....will you do my shopping for me?

I spend more than that for two of us and a cat!

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Just keep asking the same ........... question until you get the answer you want <LMAO>

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Hey

the reason i have asked the same question is (1) the thread turned to a holiday discussion and (2) i have had to clarify for people who cannot think for themselves and realise i was taking in euros not dollars.

Sarcastic t@#t!!!!

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but you had your answer in the first few replies - yes, you should be able to

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Wow that seems a little arrogant for someone asking for help. :eek:
Maybe you will find your answer here > http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...8050734AAoTEvV

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Do you consider yourself to be a morning person?
:rofl::rofl::rofl:

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morning person no!!!

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HA HA HA so funny - how about SHUT YA MOUTH unless you have anything worthwhile to contribute

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:thumbsup: Gotcha. Seems you put your foot in yours