Hi I am hoping you can help and that this hasn't already been covered in another recent thread. I am wondering what types of 'goods' are cheaper, or more expensive in Spain compared to the UK. I am excluding utilities and I realise that there are regional variations but I am not sure what to bring out with me and what to buy in Spain.
Specific to my situation 'goods' include, gardening tools (going for self sufficiency vegetable growing), clothing (I have heard underwear is expensive in Spain), kitchen utensils (food mixers, coffee machines, breadmakers) furniture (second hand and cheaper antique/spanish style) and TV/CD players.
I know we have to allow for removal costs but planning on bringing a self drive van down anyway for indispensible personal items such as book collection.

thanks
Nicky

Lol thanks, We haven't made a final decision yet on size of van and who might drive (or not). Also hoping to drive down with 2 sedated cats if it is practical. It won't happen until some time next year but I will keep you in mind

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Read rule 9 and you will understand.
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Also you had better read rule 15 too and contact admin . thanks

OK, here is my take.

Ship down all you can, within the parameters of the trip. In other words, you will have a limited amount of space weight, and you simply need to prioritise all your goods. Everything that will fit into that zone, take it. Bin the rest.

WRTo garden tools, I never see a good fork where I am.

OK accepted re. rule 9

Rule 15 does not apply!

The 3 posts rule is a real issue as admin have asked me to read PM's but I can't so please STOP erasing posts or I'll never be able to read them.


(Sorry for the hijack!)

Clothing is generally cheaper in UK.

There seems to be very limited second-hand outlets other than 'rastros' but I would bring all you can and then advertise once you're here.

Things I'd bring to Spain fromt he UK would be mostly secondhand furniture in good condition. I have found that buying through a certain auction site is worthwhile for stuff that needs a van to collect it. The reason being that "buyer collect" items when the stuff is big doesn't attract many bids - choose your auctions well and nearly new can be bought at 25% of the list price. Plus furniture's expensive in Spain. Don't forget that "flat pack" can usually be disassembled flat again for transport.
To go the other way, I've noticed a striking difference in the price of floor tiles. A lot of tiles are made in Jaen and can be bought retail from around 4 euros per square metre (I got some very nice ones for 6 euros PSM). Compare that with low-end tiles in the UK which seem to start at about £15 and go vertically upwards in price from there.
I'd be surprised if you recouped the cost of the trip with either or both of these cargoes, especially if you can't sell all the stuff you transport, but it might be a "nice little earner" on the side.

What you have to consider, is the price difference worth the cost of transporting, most electrical things are as cheap here, AND bear in mind that items bought in the UK may NOT have the guarantee valid here. Second hand goods can be bought very cheaply here, providing you go to the rastros, auctions etc in your area

I think all clothing is expensive here , unless you buy it from the market and then it is crappy.

I have only ever bought clothes in Evans, Dorothy Perkins and HM here (in other words international chains). The independent Spanish shops are expensive imho.

We were in England for seven weeks recently and I stocked up with clothes (and underwear from M&S!) while I was there.

We kept our house in UK so had to furnish this one from scratch - a certain Swedish store that sells flatpack did the trick(although we didn't realise there was one in Madrid and carted it all the way from Wednesbury (near Birmingham!). The only stuff we bought locally was a double bed and various small shelves/cupboards. (Because I think Spanish furniture is expensive if you buy new and also I don't much like it).

We bought our white goods locally and IIRC they were a similar price to the UK.

Jeans = €5.99 from Al Campo.

Probably comparable with Asda jeans

But, they do the job for me. I'm a bit of a skin flint when it comes to clothes. I get through a pair of jeans in a month, so see little point in spending more than a fiver. Most clothes come from second hand shops. Don't really give a f*** what I look like and most of the students here seem to think I'm cool


Anything you bin is lost money. Just prioritise as you would. All second hand prices here are over inflated. Quality furniture is well worth bringing. Mostly cheap shit here unless you're prepared to pay and then pay some more.

English books are worth a fortune. Bring some to sell if you can

From our experience with shopping in Galicia is forget all of the big brand shops and purchase as much locally as you can. It will be cheaper, honest. Lugo does not have so many well known chain shops anyway. Finding your way around Santiago may take time too.
Bring what ever you want and priorities them. You will need items to start living straight away.
We have found bread makers hard to find, but you will find that there is a bread delivery will pas sometime during the day as everyone in the campo eats bread. Food mixers are available but they are very personal so maybe take your own. For antiques in Galicia go to Sarria as there is a street with a few dealers. Regarding cloths you will either find the quality is not so good or sizes and styles not to your liking, but in the end your cloths will wear out so you will end up purchasing locally.
If you are going to run a Casa Rural be where of the rules of growing your own food and serving them to customers.

Always far too long for me, being a little shortar$e. Agree about the books though.

My English books cost a maximum of €3, and I get €1.50 back when I return them, so NOT expensive if you know where to go. I usually get the recent English releases soon after they come out because there are always people coming over, bringing the newest novels, then getting rid as they don't wish to take them back with them once read.

You have obviously not shopped at El Corte Ingles's 'Oportunidades' great bargains to be had and top quality labels and all sizes, cannot be beaten anywhere in the UK