how has the life style
#1
sun lover
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: hertfordshire
Posts: 362
how has the life style
How has the life style of you expats that still live in spain changed since the recession ? and for what reasons ? & are you still happy there
Last edited by pjj; Mar 11th 2012 at 8:59 am.
#2
Re: how has the life style
No change for us except we are sad to see so many Spanish people struggling for work.
We still absolutely love living where we have chosen because the people are wonderful.
Rosemary
We still absolutely love living where we have chosen because the people are wonderful.
Rosemary
#3
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Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Velez-Malaga
Posts: 4,871
Re: how has the life style
Yes, I am still happy here. However, it is obvious that very many of my Spanish neighbours have been badly affected and that does bother me, a lot. So many people without work, queues outside the charity food bank. I really don't know how they manage, a lot of extended families must be surviving solely on the grandparents' pensions.
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2009
Location: Alicante province
Posts: 5,753
Re: how has the life style
Even in an expat area, or maybe even because of it, it's impossible not to be affected by the obvious poverty and unhappiness around you. It's everywhere, and dole queues and hospital waiting lists are getting longer.
I've stopped washing my car and dress down when I go out. Inevitably, muggings and burglaries have gone up and drug use among young people is worse than ever.
Businesses are closing at a frightening rate and only charity shops seem to buck the trend. The smaller bank branches mainly serving urbanisations have long been closed.
House prices are half of what they were as little as a year ago, and are still not selling.
Don't shoot the messenger.
I've stopped washing my car and dress down when I go out. Inevitably, muggings and burglaries have gone up and drug use among young people is worse than ever.
Businesses are closing at a frightening rate and only charity shops seem to buck the trend. The smaller bank branches mainly serving urbanisations have long been closed.
House prices are half of what they were as little as a year ago, and are still not selling.
Don't shoot the messenger.
#5
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,590
Re: how has the life style
Well most of the English that were close have left
Last edited by anonimouse; Mar 11th 2012 at 5:50 pm.
#6
Re: how has the life style
No change here. I havent seen the obvious poverty and unhappiness that HBG mentions around here. Some restaurants have closed ... but then again some have opened.
#7
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Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Beckenham, London borough Bromley
Posts: 1,617
Re: how has the life style
Hola
I have been here since April 2003; yes my life style has changed over the years and yes the recession has made me grateful for my life. I HAVE seen the poverty; my next door neighbours kids got one present at Christmas because there was no money - and they didn't get a birthday present.
I am currently in England and it is cold, dull and gray so yes I like living in Spain. Nowhere is without it's faults so if the real question you're asking is whether you would still move here - the answer has to be yes as my pensions go further, and I like the lifestyle here especially tapas as a more healthy and better way to eat
Davexf
I have been here since April 2003; yes my life style has changed over the years and yes the recession has made me grateful for my life. I HAVE seen the poverty; my next door neighbours kids got one present at Christmas because there was no money - and they didn't get a birthday present.
I am currently in England and it is cold, dull and gray so yes I like living in Spain. Nowhere is without it's faults so if the real question you're asking is whether you would still move here - the answer has to be yes as my pensions go further, and I like the lifestyle here especially tapas as a more healthy and better way to eat
Davexf
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2009
Location: Alicante province
Posts: 5,753
Re: how has the life style
I think a lot depends on where you live, the same as anywhere else in the world, I suppose.
I live in a busy city with 150,000 inhabitants, mostly Spanish but with 20,000 expat Brits on the outskirts, where I am too.
The main employers are in the fishing, salt production and the construction industry, mainly the latter, and it has died a thousand deaths over the past four years. The building has stopped and the building workers are now unemployed, many thousands of them.
It's had a knock-on effect on most other businesses, especially bars and restaurant premises, of which there were many.
I have a feeling that without the expat money things would be even worse.
I live in a busy city with 150,000 inhabitants, mostly Spanish but with 20,000 expat Brits on the outskirts, where I am too.
The main employers are in the fishing, salt production and the construction industry, mainly the latter, and it has died a thousand deaths over the past four years. The building has stopped and the building workers are now unemployed, many thousands of them.
It's had a knock-on effect on most other businesses, especially bars and restaurant premises, of which there were many.
I have a feeling that without the expat money things would be even worse.
#9
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: now just seville ( province)
Posts: 549
Re: how has the life style
I cannot retire until next year. I visit my house as often as possible which is at least 4 times a year. I have noticed many shops closing with the "pound" shops being the only ones to buck the trend. The quality of tapas has also gone down, because they have not increased the prices. It is times like these that you realise that the UK system of unemployment benefit ,although open to abuse, really helps those who are unfortunate enough to lose their jobs. Spain is really suffering especially in Andalucia, as ever the more affluent areas ( Catalunya ) just like the south east of the UK, always seems to suffer less than the rest of the country. Still everything taken into consideration I still can't wait to get there permanently.
Pete
Pete
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: how has the life style
Even Benidorm is feeling the pinch, rooms available now €35 all inclusive
http://www.abc.es/20120311/alicante/...-20120311.html
http://www.abc.es/20120311/alicante/...-20120311.html
#11
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: how has the life style
Even Benidorm is feeling the pinch, rooms available now €35 all inclusive
http://www.abc.es/20120311/alicante/...-20120311.html
http://www.abc.es/20120311/alicante/...-20120311.html
#12
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: how has the life style
It beggars belief that a hotel can provide decent food and service at that rate, not to mention alcohol! There was a bit on local TV. 5* hotel all-inclusive inc. flights in turkey for £310. The hotel looked ok too, not my style but large clean pools and decent rooms. Something has to give surely
#13
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: how has the life style
It beggars belief that a hotel can provide decent food and service at that rate, not to mention alcohol! There was a bit on local TV. 5* hotel all-inclusive inc. flights in turkey for £310. The hotel looked ok too, not my style but large clean pools and decent rooms. Something has to give surely
#14
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Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Aracena area Huelva Spain
Posts: 1,631
Re: how has the life style
It beggars belief that a hotel can provide decent food and service at that rate, not to mention alcohol! There was a bit on local TV. 5* hotel all-inclusive inc. flights in turkey for £310. The hotel looked ok too, not my style but large clean pools and decent rooms. Something has to give surely
#15
Re: how has the life style
The handful of Spanish neighbours seem as cheerful as always and the Valencian weekend visitors much the same.
Life carries on as normal in the nearby pueblo with little obvious change in the bars,restaurants and businesses.
Possibly the only noticable difference there is the peace and quiet due to lack of further development, though this is now changing for a short while with the Fallas season in full swing, but once again no apparent change in that respect either.
Life goes on as normal here and long may it continue.