jay
 

ive been told that work in spain would be really hard to find as neither myself or my husband speak spanish, is this right. some of the advice ive been given on this forum is making me wonder whether moving to spain with my husband and 3 kids would be such a good idea. we are basically coming over with a car, 30,000 euros and hoping for the best. long term rental is what we have been looking at. we own a house in uk which we are currently renting out. dont want to sell just in case we need something to come back to.:confused:

Re: jay
 

Hi,
It is not that hard if you are willing to work in call centres etc etc.

We found quite a lot of jobs were available to us.

Where abouts are you going to be?

xxx

Re: jay
 

to be honest we will just go where the work and schools are.anywhere in spain has to be better than bradford west yorkshire. costa blanca seems the most reasonable when it comes to long term rental. but for the weather almeria seems like the place to be. any help anyone

Re: jay
 

We constantly hear of people returning to UK due to the inability to find work. People who are free from responsibilities of a dependant family have returned due to not being able to support themselves even when they have loads of qualifications and speak Spanish well.

The average wage in Spain is 12000 - 13000 euros per year. Things used to be cheap here but the Spanish are finding it difficult to manage on the low wage. Most live with extended family due to this and appear to be having smaller families.

Everyone on this forum has different experiences of life in Spain, depending on their own personal needs but I think most agree that it would be very difficult to find work without having learnt Spanish.

No-one can make the decision for you, you will need to weigh up the pros and cons of what a move will mean to your family. When doing this do not forget to add in what it will mean if the move fails, what the financial and emotional costs would be and also the effect that it will have on each individual in the family.

Rosemary

Re: jay
 

thanks for that. it must be a woman thing. my husand is a bit like sod it lets just go. but i have to admit that the thought of being there for a year then when our funds run out we have to come home coz we cant support ourselves, doesnt really appeal to me. coming home £20k lighter and having disrupted my children bothers me

Re: jay
 

i used to work in a call centre here in the uk. whats the money like though. could we live on the wage. dont want to leave uk to be totally poor in spain. not that we have a great deal of money in uk due to taxes and everything been so expensive here..

Re: jay
 

If you want to save your money then I would personally not bring the car. It will cost you to have it transfered and after a bit of research I have found some quite cheap cars for sale, and they are Spanish.

As others have said Spanish is fairly important, if you just want bar work or odd jobs in Brit areas then you will be ok with the language, but not for money. It is so easy to learn Spanish, just start now, buy a CD, or a course and whenever you drive somewhere play a 10 or 20 min bit of it, the more you surround yourself the easier it will be. My OH is now spoken to in Spanish, at home and at work, and she is getting the hang of the way it is spoken.

Dont know where your house is in the UK but I cant see that you will have problems renting a place in Spain with what you earn in the UK, how you would stand regarding tax I'm not sure, but someone will be able to tell you.

Re: jay
 

You need to think about why you are moving to Spain. If it is to earn lots of money and be better off financially then it isn't going to happen, but if you want a lifestyle change and somewhere different and relatively safe for your kids to grow up then you may just make it.

Life isn't easy, where ever you are, but if you never take a risk you will never know, you always have a house to fall back on.

Re: jay
 

Hi,
It depends where you will be based, hubby was offered a job at 800 euros a month and i was going to do the opposite shift so it would of been 1600 euros a month that way one of us was always at home with kids etc etc, however things happened and we came back to the uk.

xxxx

Re: jay
 

no not moving to earn lots of money. just wanted nicer life than we have here. but on the other hand dont want to move to spain and be on the bread line. i am in the process of buying a sandwich shop here in england but didnt know if to keep the money 30,000 euros and bring it to spain and see how we get on there

Re: jay
 

Well I'm not going to advise you on your life, but if it was me, and I wanted to move to Spain I wouldn't, the money will keep you afloat in Spain while you look for something that will provide you with the life you are looking for.

Re: jay
 

As I said in my earlier post no-one can really give you advice as it is down to the individual or family. All you can do is find out as much as you can and then weigh it all up. Financially it looks like you could be in a very similar situation here as you appear to be in UK except you speak the language in UK. 30000 Euros sounds a lot until you start dipping into it to pay your way and then it soon disappears. The various documentation required in Spain runs away with some of it.

You mentioned the diruption to your children and this to my way of thinking is the major factor. It could be that they settle into Spain very well, learn the language etc and then you find that they do not want to return to UK but you have to due to lack of work. So difficult for you all.

We took early retirement, we survive on a small pension and we have both said that we know that we would not have had the courage to come to Spain if the family were not grown up and self sufficient. Others on here have made a success of bringing a family out and do not necessarily understand why some people are reticent.

I do not envy you the working out whether it is feasible for you and wish you luck in your deliberations.

Rosemary

Re: jay
 

It seems to me that its an enormously difficult decision. We came here as early retirees, but I'm not quite sure if I would have had the courage to bring a family here and have to find work.

From what I've read over the last few years there are a great number people who come here in the same situation as you, run out of money, and have to return.

BUT, you have a house in the UK and that is income which is a start. You have well over 12 months worth of savings to support you. I'm not sure the funds would purchase you a going concern business, but who knows. The cost of living over here is less than in the UK and you will find a number of couples here who live on around 1000 ish euros a month. But then again you have to pay rent over here.

If you got a job over here earning 800 euros a month each making 19200 a year then your tax would be minimal / zero as you have three kids but then I don't know your personal circumastances fully.

General allowance 5,050 euro pa

Wage earners allowance 4000 euro

Child allowance
First child 1,800 euro
Second child 2,000 euro
Third child 3,600 euro

No one can advise you what to do ..... you just have to do your research. and don't jump into anything with your eyes closed!

Good luck

Re: jay
 

The only people I know that are not struggling to some extent are those who had a lot of money to start with & invested wisely, those who are retired with a decent pension (which will go further here), or those where one of the partners (usually the hubby) either works in another country, or has business in another country & commutes.

30,000 will not go as far as you think

There are a few - and I mean a few- exceptions, but they are constantly complaining that they have to work harder here than they ever have before in their lives!

sorry to sound negative - but you did ask.

having said that..I still wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

Re: jay
 

don't forget though if they are both working they would have to organise & pay for child care.....no extended family here....unlike the spanish families where the grandparents step in in the evenings & those looooooooong summer hols.

Re: jay
 

Surely their house in UK would come under wealth tax once they have been here for over 6 months.

Rosemary

Re: jay
 

Yep, worldly goods, everything you own.

Re: jay
 

that will be my truck, my Quad bike, and........................thats it.

Re: jay
 

Wealth tax personal allowances are 108102 euros each so a combined allowance of 216204 euros before anything is taxed. There is also an allowance of 150253 euros each on property, but the property has to be a principal place of residence .... not sure about a secondary place of residence.

2006 wealth tax rates started at 0.2% rising to 2.5%. If your total assets were to total 500,000 euros then your wealth tax would have been about 1400 euros after allowances. If the principla place of residence was owned in Spain it would be zero.

Re: jay
 

Except, god bless them, your home furniture unless its an antique :D

Re: jay
 

In order to set up any business you need to budget for twice the purchase price. this should allow you to organise the business, Stock purchases, legal expenses etc for approx 6 months. I know of businesses for sale in spain for as little as 15,000 euros. double that and your 30,000 is spoken for. Then you have living expenses.You would need to hit the ground running in order to support your family. 2 adults on their own............ Maybe??? But with 3 children in tow..................?????. Have you thought about going in with someone? maybe already out here, or like minded friends or family.

Re: jay
 

Hi,

Every persons move to Spain is a risk to some extent. Either financially or personally/socially.

Do you outright own your house in the UK? Is the rental income all yours or is some of it paying off a mortage?

30 000 Euros is a realistic total. Many people make the move on less. If you do end up doing it, give yourself 6-9 months notice and try to learn as much Spanish as you can. You aren't gonna be fluent before you go out there but you can "get by" and increase the speed of learning when you are there. I use linkword language CD. It's quite good.

Now the doom and gloom side to it. The grass is always greener, comes to mind. Don't move because you went on holiday and thought "I can get used to this!". You really have to outline your reasons for wanting to make the move. You may find the same or similar things in Spain you don't like, or even a whole bunch of new things.

I'm sure you have already thought of that though, good luck!

Re: jay
 

Hi Just read your post and not sure if the same thing has been spotted in mainland Spain as my knowledge is of the Mallorca island ...

As i was mooching along the numerous fronts and towns in Mallorca ,i always have been keeping my mind open for options as to what is missing !! And what would possibly fit in ?

Now as you mentioned the Sandwich bar thing ,that is one thing i did spot wasnt here yet .. In my hometown in the Uk a new SUBWAY sandwich bar has cropped up and is nearly always busy :thumbup: So that type of thing i am sure would do some reasonable business here , after all somedays a hot Burger or Pizza wouldnt maybe hit the spot ? where as a fresh light sandwich followed by a 1/2 pint of Spanish imitation real Ale may ?

So why not consider giving that a try in Spain , or if Mallorca takes your fancy i for one would invest with you as a sidline thing to keep me out of mishchief .. reckon set the whole thing up easy and cheaply :thumbup:

If it fails well we add a few kiss me quick hats and a ice cream machine still make a few quid :thumbup:

Re: jay
 

"Now as you mentioned the Sandwich bar thing ,that is one thing i did spot wasnt here yet"


We also spotted that but was told that it was something the Spanish just didn't do so would have to be in a busy tourist spot by the beach but the rents on the prom are horrendous

Re: jay
 

There are "Subways" and shops that sell bocadillos everywhere

Re: jay
 

Most of the garages do fresh made ones also and fresh bread.

Re: jay
 

Well thats put the kibosh on that one then :frown:

Never saw any in Mallorca though :) So shows Spanish use them and therefore could be worth setting up jay ? :thumbsup:

Re: jay
 

Hmmmmmm

I went on holiday to Mallorca and thought "I can get used to this" :rofl:

Oh and i have often looked over the neighbours garden and seen his grass and it most definately is Greener than mine , mine is sort of light greenish with a few patches of brownish as its short ..
His is really really Green as its not cut as often ,,,:)

Re: jay
 

hehe, you know what I mean. It's so easy to think you can move to a holiday paradise, do little work, make money and then enjoy the Spanish life.

Reality is different. By the way, I enjoyed your recent thread.

Re: jay
 

"Originally Posted by Mitzyboy
There are "Subways" and shops that sell bocadillos everywhere

Most of the garages do fresh made ones also and fresh bread."


OK Subway - one in Benidorm to my knowledge - but most of the shops sell other things as well not just sandwiches which was what the poster mentioned (a sandwich shop).

Re: jay
 

I live in the Almeria region and am lucky enough to have got out of England with a Teachers Pension. However most of the brits near us, and there are lots of them, usually have to make do with jobs with estate agents or in bars, unless you go to Almeria city there seems little in the way of call centres etc.

If you are thinking of coming over and renting, would suggest you dont come out July or August, most landlords can rent property as holiday lets. However understand that this might not help with organising schools.

I wish you luck, and would not want to put you off from coming to Almeria, and there may be others on this forum that have had success here, but there seems to me little in the way of jobs here

Re: jay
 

we are in inland almeria with 3 kids. Albeit not easy, for lenghthy periods
we have and do survive on a little less than 1000 euros a month. This includes 1 smoker, drinks, occasional coffees out and the odd beer or 2. We do own the house outright and the car, but elec, phone etc still have to be paid, as well as trying to renovate the house. I have add a variety of jobs, and now self emp, but only rarely earning. paying the social dues for the medical etc benefits more than anything.

I know of several brits , in different parts of Almeria who have got long distance lorry driving work, with little or no spanish. Mainly for international trips, to uk or germany and they have been hired because spanish isnt much needed in Uk etc, where communication is more important in order to find one's final destination. at this end its more, just load up ( or unload ) and go.

There are schools all over, from small rural places with possibly no more than a dozen or so kids to the more familiar large establishments with overcrowded classrooms. high schools are fewer, but the kids are bussed (usually free) from their home village to the nearest/catchment high school.

Smaller, more "remote" areas should mean cheaper rent, but less possibilities of work nearby, but apart from within large cities, travelling time would not be that much in comparison to the UK. Larger towns, with more local brits( coastal, roquetas, Mojacar, Garrucha , or inland Albox, Arboleas,Huercal Overa areas) may offer more possibilities of employment with little Spanish, (but lots more chasing the jobs), but learning Spanish willl be harder,as in some areas its more like Blackpool/southend, etc in the sun, and so many Brit kids in school that progress is much slower, and the rents are likely to be more expensive.

All the main services ( doctors, schools, shops, etc), are available in just about every village, except the very smallest ones which may have no shops, but visiting bread vans, fish, frozen goods etc do visit even the seemingly most outlying remote areas.

There are lorry drivers (and coach drivers) in employment all over, and generally there appears to be a shortage of these, however the main areas would be coastal (all the fruit and veg) and around Macael ( centre for the marble industry which exports worldwide. there are of course numerous other areas, which have businesses which use a lot of hgv transport, but not as concentrated as those 2 areas.

Personally, I'd say, go for it, the kids are still young enough to adapt, you would still have a home in Uk to return to, if it doesnt work out, and at worst the kids could fall ayear behind in uk schooling if you had to return, and it would have been a great adventure if it doesnt work out.

Re: jay
 

There is a fast food chain that do the bocadillos - I think it is called Pans & Co. You must have seen them?????

Anyway, re the sandwich bar thing....I think this sort of thing is popular in the UK where we only get one hour for our lunch break and very often eat our lunches whilst we are in the car/on the move/in the office because that is the sort of rat race we have come from.

The Spanish however get a nice relaxing 3 hours for their lunch break, so a quick sandwich probably isn´t what they are after.

That said however, in the right location it could work. You´d need to think who your target market would be (probably not the office workers on their lunch breaks). Maybe near a beach for the people who forgot to bring a picnic with them???.......I don't know really. When you go to Pans & Co the clientelle seem to be the same sort of people you get in McDonalds.....teenagers or parents with kids. People who are more interested in convenience than a healthy meal.

Re: jay
 

Smart response for you sir.

Re: jay
 

Hey! Not everything I say is total drivel you know!

Re: jay
 

sorry, I mistook you for me for a second!!

Re: jay
 

It´s easy to tell us apart. I´m the good looking stuuuuuud man and you are, well, you.