votisit

The other half and I have decided that we are going to Spain. Luckily I already have family living there who will put us up until we find decent property.

We are moving with my son who is 7 and my 16 year old daughter (GCSE's completed) I do have an older daughter who wishes to stay here.

I'm really excited and even though our house isn't on the market yet, the 4 estate agents that came round this weekend have said that it shouldn't be hard to sell. But they would say that wouldn't they

The cost of living has become intolerable and our weather seems to be getting worse rather than as global warming predicted - better.

I'm thrilled, excited, scared, worried, hopefull, happy all at the same time, its exhausting me. I've read about the pitfalls, but fortunately the other half is into manufacturing so may be able to get something with bugger all Spanish, and my Spanish is fluent, so I could probably teach English or at least get an office job. My daughter will have to learn pretty quick, whilst getting employment in some rubbish job, but hey, she will learn fast. As for my son, I've already started teaching him Spanish, just wish I did it years ago.

We won't have a mortgage, such a relief, but of course will still need to pay the bills, I notice the council tax is far cheaper - massive help as ours is just plain stupid at over £2000 a year.

phew, sorry about the long post, but I NEED TO TELL SOMEONE! LOL

p.s. thinking of property within commute distance of Gibraltar for better job opportunities for other half, is that a good idea?

Sooo tell me, am I crazy?

Regards

Natasha

Mitzyboy

Hi Natasha

Welcome to the forum ..... you're certainly bubbling over with excitement.
Our council tax is €400 a year
Is your 16 year old going to be going to be doing higher education here? If not, what is she going to be doing?

votisit

Well unless she gets into an English school, theres no chance of her doing any further education. Her job opportunities are limited until she picks up the language, so I imagine it will be some menial job which she more than likely will hate, but that will hopefully get her to learn Spanish that bit quicker. Once she learns, then its possibly teaching English in a private academy or working in Gibraltar as bi-lingual office junior?

Council tax at 400 Euros a year, thats incredible, and I hear they take the rubbish daily rather than fortnightly recycling/rubbish/kitchen waste collections here!

celestine

We live in Marinaleda a small communist run village in Andalucia ours is 45 euros for the year. Inland, communism and rural can't beat it.

votisit

How is it a comminst run village? I'm confused. I think its great that its only 45 Euros, but slightly confused as to how its so low.

Mitzyboy

The rubbish is collected every night. We only pay €400 because we have a pool, otherwise I believe it would be nearer €300
Car tax is €100
Thing you have to remember though is salaries here are much lower also .... everything is relative

votisit

I'm aware that salaries are cheaper, on the other hand we won't have a mortgage so I'm thinking that if I get something decent (ish) and the other half gets something in manufacturing, daughter does part time bar/cleaning, we can manage easily.

We are extremely fortunate in having relatives out there already with a garage big enough for our belongings, (yes you could get 4 double decker buses in there) and some spare bedrooms for us to stay in whilst we look for employment.

Does anyone have ideas regarding the job market in Gibraltar?

celestine

Marinaleda is governed by the CUT (Collective of Unity of Workers), an Andalusian branch of United Left (Izquierda Unida), since 1979. Izquierda Unida has 9 municipal councillors in the "ayuntamiento" and the PSOE, Partido Socialista Obrero español has two.

Quote from hidden europe: 'Few towns and villages in Europe will mark the fortieth anniversary of the death of Che Guevara in October. But they surely will in Marinaleda, a small town in southern Spain where the cult of Che is alive and well.'

I cost of car tax here is also lower than most places. We pay 51 euros for the year. A fantastic little place but I guess only somewhere that may appeal to some. Very few Brits and English speaking people.

Mitzyboy

With only 2600 ish inhabitants I bet you know nearly everyone too

votisit

LOL I'm looking at Marinaleda Spain in google earth and I agree, you probably know everyone there!

bil

Near Vejer, council tax is about £9 a month.

votisit

Thats very interesting as thats one of the places I was looking at for property. But I'm thinking along the lines of the A381 towards Medina as a location. Easy travelling to Gibraltar and easy reach of parents in Utrera.

Mitzyboy

Yeah Bil but you live in a garden shed

votisit

I have so many questions, you are all going to get pretty fed up with me when I'm done.

Are there a lot of Brits in-land or do they live on the coast?
I know jobs are sparse at the moment, but whats the manufacturing employment like?
I don't want a brand new house on a development, is it easier to buy property with land or an apartment?

Are most of you retired or employed, what do you do for a living?

etc etc etc

Mitzyboy

Aggggghhhhhh

More on the coast I guess, but more and more moving inland from what I've seen
Cant tell you about manufacturing employment, no idea I'm afraid
Its as easy to buy property with land or an apartment. Just have to remember, obviously, you'll have little outside space with an apartment. Apartments near us going for €70k, so there are deals about. Just take note of the warnings about doing things properly that you find on here .... independent solicitor etc etc

I'm early retired