New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Although we havent decided where exactly, we do want somewhere with a short walk to the beach..

Theres myself, other half, 3 younger kids (over 10 and under 16) and my oldest daughter, her boyfriend and baby on the way..

Have looked at a few properties as we have some money coming to us soon.. and found 4/5 bedrooms.. in our price range, very basic houses, but able to be moved into without work needing doing, just a bit of decorating.. although we wont look seriously until we have the money in our hands..

What do we need to do if we all move together? Are there any legal requirements..

I would probably look for seasonal work, as would my daughters boyfriend, other half has his private pensions that he would live off. So we would have regular income..

Youngest will still be school age, we also plan on learning basic spanish as well, before moving there as we would like to live close enough to the touristy areas for work purposes but also in a more traditional setting..

So what do we NEED to know before making the move.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Hi, I'm not a Spain expert but there is a lot you need to know; much of it available searching through the forums. Buena suerte :-)

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Neither am I live like a mushroom :lol:

Things you need to research for yourself in no particular order.

Schooling and the costs !

Employment or rather UN employment 40%

No benefits unless you have worked here.

Self employed ? have to pay autonomo approx. 250 euros a month.

Need to prove you can support yourselves and not be a burden on Spain.

LOTS of bits of paper needed and a tax to pay to get some of them.

Hospitals and giving birth in foreign country possible language barrier

Buying a property ? need to check scrupulously that it is legal if you mind living in one that's not and the possible outcome of illegality. The process and costs.

Telephone/Internet .... not always available nor good in some areas and can be expensive.

Proximity to an airport if required.

I am quite happy living here although under changed circumstances from when I came. I love the light, the fish, fruit and veg markets, the bakeries and cake shops. The little markets, shops in odd places and the challenge to find what you want/need .. well sometimes :) the live music and some of the traditional events held in the villages and towns.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Use different forums for experiences and opinions- but be prepared for the fact that you will be overwhelmed and confused!
Use sites such as UK in Spain, Anglo Info etc or google your queries.
Books tend to be out of date very quickly as laws change all the time
Ensure you;
Find a good solicitor-not as easy as you might think!
Have enough savings for at least 1 year
Ensure you research healthcare, as you won't be eligible for free Spanish healthcare.No free dental treatment, either, so if kids need braces etc-very expensive.
if you have serious health problems or disabilities, think again about moving to Spain. Contact DWP with queries
Contact HMRC about your tax status. Make sure you research the Spanish tax system, very different to UK. You will have to pay income tax in Spain, apart from government pensions.Inheritance tax is different to UK, and there are various laws eg assets law which may be applicable to you if you have assets of over 50,000 euros in different categories. Timing of move to Spain is crucial-see 183 day rule.
Research schooling- disrupting the children's schooling may be a problem. Even state schools involve a lot of expense. Spanish-It's a myth that children just pick it up;they will probably need lots of extra tuition to keep up.
Jobwise-highly unlikely you'll get work, even seasonal.
Be prepared for cold winters, possibly unbearable heat in summer
It's such a huge thing to contemplate-you'll have to do loads of research. If you have property in UK, it's good to keep it if things don't work out.(subjected to various taxes in Spain too eg imputed income tax)
If I haven't put you off, read on-there will be many posts on this!

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

You need to know that even seasonal work is nigh on impossible to find - you will be competing with huge numbers of unemployed Spaniards who will work for as little as €5 per hour. Sometimes the pay for working in bars and cafes is even less.

You need to know that in order to sign on the official register of foreigners resident in Spain, you now need to provide proof that you have sufficient funds, in a Spanish bank account, or regular pension payments into one, plus proof that you have health cover (either by way of an S1 form from the DWP if you have an up to date record of NI contributions - which could give you up to 2 years' cover under the Spanish state system - or private medical insurance). If you don't have a residency certificate you will be unable to enrol your children in school.

You need to know that children between 10-16 will find it extremely difficult to adjust to Spanish schooling even if they succeed in learning "basic" Spanish before they arrive, and that job prospects for them once they finish their education are likely to be extremely limited, to say the least, for several years to come. That is why many young Spanish people, including those who are well qualified, are currently having to leave Spain to seek work abroad.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Thanks for all the replies, alot to think about.

We discussed some more and have thought about renting for a few months and then looking for something to buy afterwards. While also searching for work. Although i am currently self employed and could continue working while there.. But the self employed thing sounds confusing. Here i am a sole trader, have an accountant.. But would probably need to get an accountant for over there.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Partybabe, If you were travelling to Spain to live even with your husband, I would be asking you to do the Devil's Advocate and hold what you have. Spain is a graveyard for people trying to start a new life.

The only exceptions are somebody who has a magnificent amount of money and can afford the experience and the other is people retiring who are not looking for even season work.

You have got many impediments to successful living in Spain (no offence, just being practical). Unless, you are extremely lucky, you will find yourself like an average horse in the Grand National and will hit Beecher's Brook like hot butter falling from a skyscraper hitting the ground.

Think Long . . . and think hard . . . yours is a great recipe for disaster in Spain . . .

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Hola

put simply, search this forum for other threads of people wanting to move to Spain. Unemployment is split into two parts; under and over 25. One in three people are unemployed over 25, two out of three unemployed under 25. Doesn´t make pretty reading!

Petty theft is rife; people that were upstanding members of the community have bitten so deep into their savings they´ve got nothing left. Families support each other and to save rent, move in with each other when one part of the family falls unemployed. One wage that used to support husband, wife and two kids now supports brother or sister and their kids. Things are tight.

If the Spanish can´t get jobs for themselves and are moving abroad then that should speak volumes.

How much money will you need? I´d say that 2,000€ a month should cover your extended family; I´m sure others will follow with their guesses at how much a month you will need.

To put it bluntly and perhaps be rude - what you need is a brain. And that brain should say now is not a good time to move to Spain. By all means prepare for such a move in the future. Learn Spanish and read up all you can on the way of life here. But be patient, wait for the market to turn, then you will stand every chance of a successful move

Davexf

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

With a baby on the way, the parents need to look seriously at the medical situation. Will they get free maternity care or will they have to pay? Don't expect to have the same safety nets and financial cushions that the british benefits system gives - no other country in the world is anything like as generous with its payout: expecially to non-residents (resident is a legal/technical term, it doesn just mean that you live in a country).

Also you should be aware that there's a very strong possibility that Sky TV will be unavailable to brits in Spain very soon. What will your children do with all their spare time :o ?

With 8 of you in the house, you're going to need some serious income, just to feed that lot! You might just be able to squeak past on €1000/month - and that would ony be "surviving", not living. But even then, it's surprising how many unexpected bills there can be. Don't expect living in Spain to be any cheaper than living in England.

Given the number of people involved, it's a pretty good bet that at least one of them will grow to hate the place and want to go back to England. What plans do you have for that? If say your elsdest+o/h and baby head back to the UK. Does that leave you high & dry on the jobs/money side. You need to plan for the possibility that you won't stay, and bear in mind that it can take 2 or 3 years to sell a house in Spain, moving back to the UK won't be as easy as moving to Spain was.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

It's the age old story about how to become Spanish Millionaire, start with 2 million..

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Hi, butting in from the France forum, but it's a southern European problem!

Hopefully this is a typo - 1000€ per month (which corresponds to about 33€ per day, for 8 people, including a baby?:eek:) is the average official "poverty threshold" figure in France for A COUPLE to survive (the basics, e.g. very low rent, food, utilities, insurances, Property and/or Dwelling Taxes, internet/tel, petrol, ...).
The OP and all the adults concerned should think hard about how they are going to survive without the UK benefits that they are used to. A short walk to the beach isn't going to fill the children's bellies and clothe them and pay the school requisites and their social life...
If they had posted on the France forum, they would have had the same reactions as here - postpone this dream!

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

we are going to wait a year or so, both of us have some money coming, daughter and her boyfriend are moving in with us, and are going to save all their spare money.. My other half has 3 private pensions that he can take in 1 to 2 years, which will give him a lump sum of over 60 thousand, as well as weekly money amounting to nearly 400.. thats not including the state pension in the future, me or daughters boyfriend working would just be top up money.. Kids are older and wouldnt really need sky tv.. They can read, play their ds, or computer games..
All we want is a cheap livable house, nothing too fancy, a room for each of us.. and close to the beach.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

We have heard all this before.

How children won´t need this or that, but with my 2, they were more expensive the older they got.

Yours will want a social life, toiletries, and not just a splash of Varon Dandi, it will be what ever is the mode, CK, Hugo Boss or such.

School costs will need to be met, at no little cost to the budget.

Then their social life will cost, a teenager is not content to sit with a bucket and spade on the beach.

Then driving lessons........I could go on but all that on the amounts you give is nigh on impossible

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

You would be surprised with my kids, a bucket and spade still gives hours of entertainment, a fishing rod does too.. a pool table etc.. They are 13/14 and 9 the 9 year old would happily just read all day long.. my kids dont demand designer clothes etc.. are happy with the basics. And if they want anything later on they need to earn it.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Sorry to add another negative but from what everyone says on here about educating children your 13/14 year old will find it difficult in a state school and the international school does not come cheap. By the time you come it may also be a problem for the 9 year old too but I am sure that people who have children of these ages will tell you the reality of their educational experiences.

I hope that when you have thoroughly researched and made your decisions that things work out really well for you and your family.

Rosemary

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

The problem is that if you wait 2 years, as is your plan, the they will be 15/16 and 11.

Being happy with a few bits is the case with lots of children, but when nature kicks in and they start to notice the opposite sex, then all changes.

You will also have the problem of finding a job, all well and good for you to say that they will have to "earn" any extras the want.

Do you mean them finding a job, or are you going to pay them for doing chores and such?

Either way it won´t work, on your income you won´t be able to afford to pay them, and as for them finding a job, with no qualifications (not even the Spanish leaving cert) that mean anything in Spain, will be nigh on impossible.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

No doubt the usual suspects will jump on me for saying this, but I think now is the best time to buy up an existing business in Spain - especially as those that have suffered may be on sale for a bargain price. The economy is about to go back into growth after a long recession, western economies as a whole are starting also to grow again, and tourism spend is at a record.
Indeed I'm doing just this, and later this month I take up ownership of a Madrid concern. No doubt many will tell me this is a very risky thing to do - I see it differently. I can take over an existing business for the fraction of the cost it would take in the UK, and I believe I have a better chance of making enough money to pay the rent. We'll see if that pans out.
However the main proviso is that you establish who your customers are going to be. If you can sell things to an international market (whether on the ground or via the web) you are not dependent on a moribund domestic market. It will take longer, and be harder to build up a loyal Spanish customer base. Yet bigger operators like Amazon or M&S have decided it's worthwhile selling in the Spanish market.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Partybaby, you may say this has nothing to do with me, but you did ask on a public forum.
What do your three children think about this potential upheaval in their lives? They'll be leaving their friends and the rest of the family, and adolescents in particular need friends to discuss their problems.
They'll be thrown in at the deep end in a Spanish school (as mentioned above, you won't be able to pay for an international school unless you and your daughter's bf earn good salaries, and will he want to contribute to his step-siblings' schooling with a baby to bring up?), and even if your children have learnt basic Spanish in the next two years, they'll know nothing of Spanish culture that they'll need in order to pass exams.
It may be different in Spain, but in France, if your daughter isn't "legally bound", she wouldn't be covered by her bf's social security if he found a job, but at least the baby would.
Sorry to be a Cassandra, but I'm not the only one trying to get you to take your rose-tinted spectacles off and look at reality.:blink:

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

I for one am not disputing that it is possibly the best time to buy YOUR business, but this thread is giving advice to a mother with schoolage children
and a new grandchild on the way who are hoping to live on a private pension and find jobs to supplement their income.

We all know about your plans, I have read them numerous times on here and other forums. It sounds good for you, but you don´t have school age kiddies in tow and an extended family to support.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Suspect you have quoted the wrong post there..

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Well here is the suspect:rofl:

Firstly, I think M&S in Spain is a franchise. The Marbella one is owned by the Gibraltar one. It is also aimed at the expat market.

Maybe you are right about things picking up and getting in at the right time. However, retail sales fell again in July. Down 2% and the 38th consecutive fall. Also I would prefer to start up a new business rather than buying one. many have been stung by finding out things weren't as rosy as claimed despite certified figures. This happens in all countries.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

There are other differences, if you're being picky - which (as normal) you are. For example I've always stressed that the economy of somewhere like Madrid is totally different to somewhere on the coast. I do have an advantage in that I can also give the odd language class if the business is not getting enough takings. The disadvantage is that I won't have a family of helpers - I will start off with one local employee and that costs money.
It's not a light step to take, but I thought I'd just weigh in with my opinion, as others will be reading this thread. Yes, it could be I'm wrong and you are totally in the right. But so long as this is a free talkboard I will add my contributions, regardless of how little you regard them.
As for the OP, I'd suggest looking into the possibility of running a backpacker hostel - I'm not saying it could work everywhere, but they seem to be thriving in big cities. There may be a problem getting the right permissions in Spain, so it would need a lot of research, and as I say it may not be viable - but check it out.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

I was referring more to web sales by M&S (and others).
I think an existing business, especially if it has a good footfall already, is the way to go. I'm thinking of location really - you have to be totally sure if starting up a new business that you get the location right. Even with a web business, it takes a lot of time before you get people aware of your business. But this is just one opinion, and it's easy to find people arguing either side on the internet.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

They would need a big place to run a backpacker hostel.:blink: There are already 8 of them!

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

I didn't say they were allowed to sleep! :D

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

LOL we did find one place, which was two houses together, one is a one bedroom apartment, the other 3 bedrooms. We could always let it out in the holidays, which would mean cramped living for a few months.. but doable.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

When (if ever) are you finally going to tell us what sort of business it is?
Apologies if you already have. Good luck either way.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

I noticed too, but not to worry!!

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Don't give up on your dream patybaby. Book a 6/8 rental for net summer and have a practice run. After a couple of weeks the holiday buzz will begin to wear off and you will be left with a little taster of what your life could be.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

so long as certain (bank) things go through this week, I'll mention it next week. It's really nothing special though!

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

That might be the right advice for you: an entrepreneur who is familiar with Spain and the "spanish way".
However, it's worth noting that there are more bankruptcies during "boom" years then during a recession. In addition, any company that has survived up to this point will not be up for sale, for the very reasons you give - that things are starting to look up (unless there are some skeletons in its cupboard).

I'd never advise people moving to a new country to start their own business there, which is what this thread is all about, as there are too many unkowns and unknowables for newbies. Even if that business was in a sector they were familiar with. I would be even more skeptical about suggesting they buy one as a going concern - as I seriously doubt it would be.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

:goodpost:

Probably the best advice here (although many drawbacks may not be apparent if spending just a few weeks on holiday).

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Some good points there. One others have alluded to earlier is that location changes the (business) landscape totally. What may work in Valencia or Denia, may flop completely in Seville or Mallorca.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Their annual report suggests it is part of their core business. [ ref: Here ]

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

:fingerscrossed: And baited breath:fingerscrossed:

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

might try the living there for a while thing, while hubby continues to work over here.. Just to see what it is like.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

I remembered reading this when it opened.

Just in time for the Christmas rush, Marks & Spencer have opened a 14,000 sq ft store in La Cañada shopping mall in Marbella. The bright and attractively arranged store is managed by York Marbella SL, the franchise partner of the brand in Gibraltar – where they have been trading successfully for 41 years.

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

How easy is it to just rent a place? for maybe a year till we buy something?

Re: New here and talking about moving to spain
 

Oops, yes I have quoted the wrong person, sorry for any confusion caused.