me me

Has anyone read the Sun today? There is an article about Brits living in Spain, who are having a hard time due to different circumstances. The exchange rate for pound to euro has hit hard, and pensioners are suffering. To the people who are thinking about making the move, take heed. Dont put all your eggs in the one basket. I hope these people can have a happy ending and hope that good times and good news are coming.

zel

The Sun

Even if the Euro became 1:1 it would still be cheaper for pensioners to live there than in the UK I'd imagine.

me me

It depends on the amount of pension because a person with a low income or pension can get extra payments in the UK. They can get help with rent and things, and if they are disabled they can get carers allowance and such. Of course the more well off pensioner need not worry about such things as the exchange rate.

jdr

A lot of the extra payments can move with you to Spain if you ask DWP for the paperwork.

zel

IMO You'd be off your rocker if you moved to Spain if your pension was that minimal and you couldn't afford to buy a property outright.

Do pensioners do this? move there and rent permanently? seems a bit insane since as you said they would be better off in the UK in that respect, even before the pounds strength compared to the euro.

XTreme

You read The Sun? You sick freak!

bil

I bet like most of us he just wipes his bum with it, and thus can't help but catch the odd word .

I stopped reading the papers more than a year ago, and feel a lot better for it.

me me

It is not only pensioners that are having a hard time, one story is about a couple in their 50s who tried doing odd jobs and airport runs, but there are so many Brits providing these services that they cannot sustain themselves. They are trying to sell up before they are repossessed.They dont have Spanish health care. It is stupid, but people come to Spain all the time and think that they can get by doing odd jobs. I would never be that brave, we came here speaking the language fluently, I am UK born of Spanish parents and my OH is Spanish from the North West. We still thought long and hard about making the move, though.

poshnbucks

Read the sun and others here www.wrx.zen.co.uk for free however no bum wiping material included

leighbloke

So is it possible to make a living by speaking Spanish and not doing anything else? I don't get your point there MM?

bil

I don't think that was the point, more that even with more going for you (eg fluency in Spanish which is an advantage out there if you want work) it's pretty damn reckless to go out there without proper support.

...and yet, isn't chasing the dream what it is all about? I bet that if onle sensible people with full financial backing and carefully thought out plans went to Spain, there would be a lot less of us out there.

A little madness is like yeast......

leighbloke

Madness gives you thrush too, bloody hell!!

Take the point B, but as you point out there must be plenty of peeps getting by, doing all sorts of stuff - I couldn't do it, but many may not have much to lose - skint and homeless in the UK, skint and homeless in Spain - you decide?

valenciatim

Well that's what brought me here! Lasted 5 years so far!
Stuck a pin in the map, packed the car and left!

leighbloke

And look at you now, a newly painted pool - no house, living of Mcd's scraps - but what a pool!!!

valenciatim

No, the rest is there too!