Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

Well guys, Ive been in Benidorm, Spain now for 12 happy years and to be fair moving back home has been on the cards for a couple of years now but Ive been frightened to make the move. 3 weeks ago my 5 year relationship broke down and my girlfriend ended things and moved back to her parents in the uk within a week, yes a week!!! We live 11km from Benidorm where I work and although Iam lucky to have a full time job everything is now paid out from my wages with little over 80euros left to spend per month. The other option I had was to move back into benidorm,sell the car and cut down perhaps internet,sky tv which would not only give me back a bit of social life but I would have more cash. Third option is to move home.
Im 36 years old now,37 next week. I came here at a young 24 year old. I dont really have a career ond only done bar work previous to moving out here to do hotel Entertainment which I have done for 12 years in Spain. I realise going home wont be a bed of roses but I guess Ill be close to family and I have a good chance of getting work in the Royal Mail as my brother is a manager and they have a preference of hiring family members. I know they had a recent strike but they are definately recruiting in the spring at the Leeds branch and he said my chance of work would be likely. Going from Hotel Entertainment to getting up cold early mornings to get to the sorting office is a vast change but ive gotta start somewhere in life and I can always do a 2 year evening college course to help me get something better.

End of the day my wage here has never improved in Spain.I was getting 900 euros a month in 1999 and im getting 926 in 2009. I find this is the same for a lot of people here too. things are getting dearer and im going nowhere. theres no promotion here and I just seem to be doing the same thing every day.Benidorm is now like Blackpool in the winter.All the big caberet bars are shut and at the moment we have 27 people in our hotel that holds 600. Maybe my long term split could be the kick I need in life and its not as if Im running away because ive had chance to think. Im on my own here at xmas when I could be at my parents and visit my nieces and old mates. I do also have a few months rent saved up and cash to buy a car in the UK to get me going and I know there is a recession back home but I know people that have returned and found work so Im pretty sure im doing the right thing. I know its only me that can decide but I would love your thoughts on this.

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

I think know where your heart is at the moment

let your head follow it

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

spainboy,

What a good post. Obviously you are leaning towards moving back home. I am in the same boat (leaning-wise). A few years older than you, and have been in the US over 20 years, where I have had a good run, but still want to move home. Only you know what is best for you, but if you are comfortable with the move then I say do it. What is there left for you in Spain? Maybe think of 5 years from now, do you want to be in the same position, or do you want to be home where you can make a go of a new life with family and friends around? I know it is not as easy as that, but you are young enough to start again, and to be somwhere familiar with family, which does beat being by yourself. Think of it as a new start and an exciting prospect.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

By the way, I spent a lovely holiday in Benidorm as a teenager, where we hung out with the junior Barcelona football team, and had a ball!!! Sober I was not, but had a grand time..............

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

It's your decision, but on that sort of money I think you are going to really struggle, is it worth it? Once you answer that question, best of luck in whatever you choose :)

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

Spain can be a very lonely place when you are on your own. Go for it :thumbup:

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

Best to see it as a new adventure..it doesn't have to be forever !!

Living and working in the UK is not bad really (its only doom and gloom if you have that mindset anyway) ..OK there's not much sun but other than that, you will at least be able to kickstart a new career if you work hard enough.

Then you can alway come back for holidays and maybe retire early here after you've made a few bob.

All the best Spainboy. :D

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

I have spent many happy years in Spain and the Canaries and seen lots of people come and go.
Most of them lived very happily in Spain, and for many years never gave a thought to returning home,.......yet quite often after 9 or 10 years they would start to think about it, and gradually begin to feel drawn back to their roots.
I realize that the events of the past 2 years have forced many peoples hand,and no doubt most would probably have stayed on much longer if able to.
In my own case fortunately, I did not burn my UK bridges and enjoy more and more, my time back home, where I have found that things are not as black as they have been painted in the media, and in my own area at least there are many positive factors.
On the other hand I dont think I would be so content without regular spells in my pleasant Spanish bolthole.

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

If you are getting less money now than you were 10 years ago, the future doesn't look too bright, times are set to get much harder. Unless you have any special reasons to stay, I'll certainly give UK a try. Certainly this year the UK tourist industry has done OK, and it looks like more will be staying home again this year, there should be chances of a job.

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

I am with Lynne and most of the others on this, if you don`t follow your head you will always have that "what if" hanging round you.
Good luck. ;-)

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

Good luck in whatever you try and do. If you know you have a guaranteed job at Royal Mail in the Spring, then go for it - at least you will be close to family and (old) friends. If the job is not guaranteed, try to take a short holiday and apply for jobs without burning your boats, so if you don't get work, you've something to go back to. You say you're willing to do evening courses - why not start improving your Spanish (I don't know what level you are at) with the possibility of taking the DELE either there or when you move to the UK in the Spring. Also - never say never. Try and keep a Spanish bank account and a movil active, so if a better job turns up (or you fail to get what you're after in the UK) there's always the option to return.
It's been a very cold December in the UK, so if you return soon, it'll seem nice and wintry. Re-learn your snowman making skills!
Incidentally, you were on the board a few weeks ago telling us your boss couldn't find someone to work out there. Could you make him an offer - you find "young talent" in the UK who fancy working out in Benidorm for a season or two - and in return you pocket a finders' fee? Not going to be a massive earner, but it may help with a few pounds from time to time..

Once again good luck with whatever you choose to do. Also, whichever country you end in, make sure you get your pension contributions (via national insurance) transferred over.

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

They do not transfer, they are different pensions claimable at retirement age.

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

I think you should definitely go back. It will be a new start and possibly a new relationship at some stage.

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

I would not rush anything at this stage, not after 12 years there, and only five of those with the departed one. What about the seven years before that? Happy years, were they?

I know Benidorm quite well, and if you’re on your own, it’s not a bad place to be. Maybe it’s not the first thing on your mind right now, but Café Benidorm used to cheer me up when down. I can hear Tina Turner singing right now, and I’m miles away.

Depending on your own circumstances, rents, especially at this time can be very cheap, but you would know that. I would say that you’re earnings are about the national average for Spain and not bad for Benidorm, in the winter.

Carry on as normal and see what happens. The UK won’t run away.

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

I'm sorry to read about your situation.

But it could be worse.

I'm guessing in the time you've been in Spain you haven't paid into a retirement fund or planned a financial fall back.

Nobody can really tell you what to do, but from what little you've written its sounds as if you would be in a better position returning to the UK.

You never no once you step off the plane you may realise you actually missed the rain, cold and misery.:rofl:

I personally feel moving to Spain to work is so full of hassle and insecurity that anybody wanting to do it is crazy.

But each to his own I guess.

Re: Moving back to the UK, your thoughts.
 

I say "Go for it" :thumbsup: Give the UK a try. We came home at the end of July and are really happy that we did. It's great to be back with family, I am also back in touch with an old friend I really missed and can now see often :thumbsup: Even my daughter and her fiance came home in November - and he has been in Benidorm 13 years and watched the slow decline :thumbdown: They are happy and even enjoying the snow :lol: My daughter is working already and her fiance has a gig lined up (he's a singer) and is networking for more. Whatever you decide the previous advice of not burning your boats, i.e. keeping a bank account open and a Spanish mobile is a good one :thumbup:

GOOD LUCK :thumbup: