julian_m

This is my first posting here. I have been thinking about relocating to Spain for quite some time. Although I like the Lake District where we live, I am not so keen on the cold damp weather (which now seems to be affecting my health) and am of the age where a stroll along a beach now seems more appealing than a hike up the fells. Last night's Panorama about the future of British gas supplies made me even more convinced that anyone who can move to a warmer climate would be insane not to do so. I have to work for a few more years, but my business is Internet based and I can work anywhere with a decent broadband connection.

My wife, however, is not keen on the idea. Her main objection is that it would be too hot in the summer. Since we can't afford a second home "place in the sun" we would have to burn our bridges to relocate, and we don't even have family in the UK to escape to during the summer months, as I know many expats do.

I must be among many who watch the programmes about relocation on TV and think that moving to Spain would solve all the problems I perceive living here: lousy weather, stressful lifestyle, high prices, bad health service, and so on. But I am also aware that in my thinking there could be an element of "the grass is greener over there" (metaphorically, of course!) I am not a native of Cumbria, so I am aware from my experience of moving here 12 years ago that once you start living in a place it isn't the same as being there on holiday.

So what I'd like to ask members of this forum who started off thinking like me and are now living in Spain is: Is it everything you dreamed about before you came? Is it still like being on holiday? Are there downsides you didn't realise, or preferred not to think too much about (like how to survive the summers, or how to get health care) because it interfered with the dream?

gallerie9

Hi
We have been here for nine months now.
We came for a better way of life and an adventure.

On the better way of life, well we think it is, we are at peace here and have fitted in quite well, and it is not like the UK, it is a very laid back type of society and most people just want a quite life ( we do live in a small town in the white village region)
I have no real experience of any other parts of Spain, but like our area (except for holidays on the Costas)

The summer, yes it is hot but we were ok just did as the locals do and go indoors at 2 and go out again about 6 (we had air con and a fan on in the flat we are renting but not all the time )

The hospitals , well my mum brought her friend over for 2 weeks, while she was here she took ill, we took her to the local AE and she was seen with in 10 mins by a doctor who could speak english and was examined xray-ed blood test,the works with in 50 mins we were on our way home with medication.

Work, well if you work on the internet then location is immaterial and flight are cheap back to the UK from lots of places.

The cost of living is much more reasonable, for example our electricity bill is 24 euros every 2 months and we pay 12 euros for a bottle of gas that last a month, we dont pay for a TV licence (the television is not good though)
and the bins are emptied daily for 58 euros a year, and of course fuel is much cheaper, and so is car tax our is 60 Euros a year. We went out for dinner the other night our son is over from the UK with his girl friend and two friends we all ate and had drinks for 47 euros about 30 pounds and that was for three courses and at least 4 drinks each, he was amazed when 7 shots, 2 vino's and 2 beers came to 11 euros 20 and proceeded to tell out friend the bar owner so

I can only tell you how we feel and i dont think there is any thing that would take us back to the UK permanently, Life is good and we are at peace.

Chiclanagir

Is that a misprint about your electricity bill being 24 euros every two months?

montgomail

My electricity bill is at least that and the apartment is empty for large chunks of the year!!

Lis48

Sounds like just the standing charge that. For the first few months we were here we got several bills of that amount and then realised our meter wasn't being read and that we had to phone in with a reading. Then we had to backpay for the electricity used and were charged extra for being a high user for that particular bill. I complained loudly in my best Spanish and they agreed a discount off the next bill but being Spain it never happened and I lost heart....

mikelincs

Must admit I was amazed at the electricity bill mentioned, would seem to be just the standing charge.
We moved just over a year ago, and having come to terms with the slower pace of life, and the manana way of living we are very happy. We can get everything we want, even if we do have to use e bay for some things. Certainly I have lost my hay fever/asthma for the first time in 40 years, and my wife's arthritis is so much better. The health service is recognised by the WHO as better than in the UK, and we have no complaints at all.

jdr

Must be cheap electrickery in Jerez. or do you go to bed at sunset ?
We have two bed apartment and ours is nearly 3 times that, between 50 and 70 € usually.

GCM

I would say the grass is greener here in Spain - for me at least - but I am noticing many younger families moving back - and older people too - so the novelty does wear off.

Spain can be quite a basic country with poor services, facilities, things to do etc but the weather and laid back lifestyle in my opinion cannot be beaten.

Try come out here for an extended holiday - rent somewhere - as you say you can still work on your computer - and yes for many the summers are too hot.

Mark

julian_m

Thanks for the comments so far. Yes, I am hoping to find a villa with broadband internet access to rent cheaply off-season for a few weeks. In fact, a friend has found one in Nerja, which is just about the ideal location, being big enough to have the amenities we would need on a day to day basis, but not too big. So we will probably book a few weeks there unless something else comes up.

gallerie9

No thats what it is, we are living in a rented flat and we get the bills and that is the most it has been every two months between 22 and 24 euros, the standing charge, we pay that in our house, that is being renovated is only 4.90 euros every two months. I to was amazed

Fred James

I think you are lucky enough to have a mistake in your favour!

Assuming that you have a minimum 3.3kw supply, then the basic charge, with no consumption, would be around 20 euros every 2 months.

It would not be the first time that Endesa have got it wrong.

It would be a good idea to check your meter readings against those on your bill. You may get a large bill in the future to make up for their error.

Solarwhizz

Yep, Fred, i got a neighbour, down the road from me, used to love to boast in the bar about his elect bill being about 20€ per month,, Turned out it was the standard charge plus the average amount the the builder was using on temporary supply, when the chappy came round to read the meter, usually about twice a blue moon, the bill came in at 870 €, You can imagine the response of the friendly bar "P*** takers!!". I read mine every two months and send off a standard correction letter to the supplier with the reading and my bill is amended every month as is my DD. Average is about 50/60€ per month.

Chiclanagir

That still seems very cheap.

keithwalters

Gallerie could be right. We are in Jerez in a four bedroomed house. We have 4.4kw (which I think is more than most people) and the standing charge is 12.86. Add on the consumption and we pay anywhere between 35-60 euros per month.

Fred James

Yes, that is the basic "standing charge" but there are taxes and IVA on top of that plus a meter rental. Thats how I worked out my total figure of €20 for a 3.3kw supply.

35-60 a month seems pretty typical unless you have electric heating/aircon etc.