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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Suspect you have quoted the wrong post there..

Well here is the suspect

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.

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.

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.

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

I didn't say they were allowed to sleep!

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.

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.

I noticed too, but not to worry!!

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.