Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
#1
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Joined: Sep 2008
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Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Hi I am a single mum from London. My daughter will be 3 years old in December 2008. I have a couple of properties in London, but property market being dead makes it really hard for me to plan the relocation.
Ideally I wanted to sell here and buy there, but after reading the forum for a few hours I realised that it might ne wiser to rent first and only then to buy in the area which is best for me and my child(schooling etc). I was advised by the spanish estate agent that its better if I apply for a mortgage whilst being employed in UK. Any tips on that one?
Another issue that is bothering me, is the Spanish School v International School. A lot was said about it in the other topics. But I think I might want eventually for my daughter to come back to UK to go to uni.
Question: is it possible to find a spanish school which will teach half subjects in english, half in spanish?
By the way, I am still undecisive about the area where we want to live. I must be crazy as I haven't even been to Spain yet....
I wasn't born in Britain and only moved to London in 1999.
We are flying to Valencia in October. I have a friend there who also moved very recently. So obviously, as me, she has more questions than answers herself. I am kind of thinking to either choose Valencia region or Marbella.
And of course the biggest issue is finding a job. I work for a property company in London at the moment. My knowledge of Spanish language is zero, however I am going to start taking lessons. I realise that unless I learn Spanish to the level where I can write and read, leave alone speaking fluently, I have a small chance getting a job which would pay reasonable wage to support myself and my daughter. Oh... I fear that I might need to start off from working in the bar...
As a single mum I am receiving some Child Tax Credit in UK, is there anything like that in Spain?
I will appreciate any serious advice given. Thank you for reading
Ideally I wanted to sell here and buy there, but after reading the forum for a few hours I realised that it might ne wiser to rent first and only then to buy in the area which is best for me and my child(schooling etc). I was advised by the spanish estate agent that its better if I apply for a mortgage whilst being employed in UK. Any tips on that one?
Another issue that is bothering me, is the Spanish School v International School. A lot was said about it in the other topics. But I think I might want eventually for my daughter to come back to UK to go to uni.
Question: is it possible to find a spanish school which will teach half subjects in english, half in spanish?
By the way, I am still undecisive about the area where we want to live. I must be crazy as I haven't even been to Spain yet....
I wasn't born in Britain and only moved to London in 1999.
We are flying to Valencia in October. I have a friend there who also moved very recently. So obviously, as me, she has more questions than answers herself. I am kind of thinking to either choose Valencia region or Marbella.
And of course the biggest issue is finding a job. I work for a property company in London at the moment. My knowledge of Spanish language is zero, however I am going to start taking lessons. I realise that unless I learn Spanish to the level where I can write and read, leave alone speaking fluently, I have a small chance getting a job which would pay reasonable wage to support myself and my daughter. Oh... I fear that I might need to start off from working in the bar...
As a single mum I am receiving some Child Tax Credit in UK, is there anything like that in Spain?
I will appreciate any serious advice given. Thank you for reading
#2
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
My advice is DON´T. The chance of being able to support yourself is very small. Property companies as in the UK are suffering hugely and the fact that you don´t speak any Spanish wouldn´t help. Jobs in bars are likely to pay less than the UK minimum wage even if they didn´t need you to speak Spanish and then what would you do with your daughter re childcare as the bars open to very late at night. Your child tax credit etc would also disappear. Wait until you have sold a property and then rent at least you will have money behind you.
#3
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Playa Flamenca, Orihuela Costa
Posts: 542
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
My advice is DON´T. The chance of being able to support yourself is very small. Property companies as in the UK are suffering hugely and the fact that you don´t speak any Spanish wouldn´t help. Jobs in bars are likely to pay less than the UK minimum wage even if they didn´t need you to speak Spanish and then what would you do with your daughter re childcare as the bars open to very late at night. Your child tax credit etc would also disappear. Wait until you have sold a property and then rent at least you will have money behind you.
#4
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
I am wondering why you have chosen Spain if you have not been here yet. Personally I think that it would be a foolish move unless you were absolutely fluent in Spanish and had a definite job to go to otherwise you are not able to offer your daughter any form of stability.
Rosemary
Rosemary
#5
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Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Thanks very much for your replies.
The reasons why I wanted to move:
1.better weather
2.better education (from what I heard)
3.better quality of life in terms of being able to afford a nicer home(at the moment we live in a small terraced house in outskirts of London. I am sick of the constant repairs,rats etc), better food etc
If we move I will have to learn as much spanish as I can. I know that. I will also need as much cash as I can get from sale of my properties (which does not look very promising as the house prices keep falling).
Last year I was planning to move to America but with the terrible crisis hitting the country(I mean states) it made it impossible for us. Now thinking of moving to Spain. But reading your comments kind of makes me rethink my decision.
The reasons why I wanted to move:
1.better weather
2.better education (from what I heard)
3.better quality of life in terms of being able to afford a nicer home(at the moment we live in a small terraced house in outskirts of London. I am sick of the constant repairs,rats etc), better food etc
If we move I will have to learn as much spanish as I can. I know that. I will also need as much cash as I can get from sale of my properties (which does not look very promising as the house prices keep falling).
Last year I was planning to move to America but with the terrible crisis hitting the country(I mean states) it made it impossible for us. Now thinking of moving to Spain. But reading your comments kind of makes me rethink my decision.
#6
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
I think you are right to consider where your future lies. The UK has a long hard road to travel yet. You cannot undo the damage of 10 years of appalling fiscal management in a few short months. But bear in mind that the UK and the US have more flexible labour markets than most of the EU.
If you do have the chance of getting into the US, my earnest advice would be jump at it.
You have a pick of the climate, best job opportunities, and a dynamic and enterprising economy. The US will recover faster than the BBC etc will ever admit. It always does. Much of the underlying evidence is that this is already happening - (Lehmans etc are simply a demonstration that the only thing banks have in common with brains is that they both begin with 'B').
The problems affecting global economies may have started in the US, but were emulated all of the OECD. They are the result of 15 odd years of a deliberate (international) policy of low interest rates, rewarding speculation and penalising the prudent. This was not confined to the Anglosphere, nor will its effects be. Spain is hurting, as is the rest of Europe.
Best of luck on your journey.
If you do have the chance of getting into the US, my earnest advice would be jump at it.
You have a pick of the climate, best job opportunities, and a dynamic and enterprising economy. The US will recover faster than the BBC etc will ever admit. It always does. Much of the underlying evidence is that this is already happening - (Lehmans etc are simply a demonstration that the only thing banks have in common with brains is that they both begin with 'B').
The problems affecting global economies may have started in the US, but were emulated all of the OECD. They are the result of 15 odd years of a deliberate (international) policy of low interest rates, rewarding speculation and penalising the prudent. This was not confined to the Anglosphere, nor will its effects be. Spain is hurting, as is the rest of Europe.
Best of luck on your journey.
#7
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,030
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
why not rent out this properties until the market improve again in time (think no one know when that going to happen) . speaking fluently spanish help here with the jobs and again like UK thing are hard here , it the hole world is in the boat , facking banks ...... better quality of life in terms of being able to afford a nicer home(at the moment we live in a small terraced house in outskirts of London. I am sick of the constant repairs,rats etc), better food etc you got that right sun sea and sand here but work is work and hard here if want to make living , it not the dream off tv show showing people buy places setting up and try to run a bussines here , if you only see some off this people who buy bars there at there wits and broke yes spain is strating to become popluare again as flights are 2 hours - 3 hours and people want sun , after the weather in the uk this summer
but spain becoming a rip off like UK and Ireland wich is wrong
long hours here i would work from 10 am - 9 pm and some time up 3 am here , but that my job here but my weekend are are off and i njoy them i knock off at 4 pm and dont see the office until 10 am monday but still keep eye on work over the weekend
working in the Media area here ......
jurdy
but spain becoming a rip off like UK and Ireland wich is wrong
long hours here i would work from 10 am - 9 pm and some time up 3 am here , but that my job here but my weekend are are off and i njoy them i knock off at 4 pm and dont see the office until 10 am monday but still keep eye on work over the weekend
working in the Media area here ......
jurdy
#8
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Joined: Sep 2008
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Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Thank you.
It might be an idea for me to leave my daughter with my mum in UK for a while untill I find a job and a place to live in Spain. My mum visits us in London so can easily stay for 3-6 months if needed.
Will it be easier for me to find a job in more "english-speaking" regions like Marbella, rather than in places like Valencia?
It might be an idea for me to leave my daughter with my mum in UK for a while untill I find a job and a place to live in Spain. My mum visits us in London so can easily stay for 3-6 months if needed.
Will it be easier for me to find a job in more "english-speaking" regions like Marbella, rather than in places like Valencia?
#9
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 47
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Yes this is how I intially wanted to approach this whole thing. Rent out in UK, move to Spain and see how it goes. But I quickly realised that I wouldn't have enough money to survive first 3-6 months unless I sell my properties in UK and have some cash in hand in case I cannot find a job.
I made up a list of monthly outgoings here. I am sure you have seen plenty of them from other members.
Food 300
electricity 100
rent/mortgage 800
water 30
phone/net 50
insurance health 300
in total just under 1,600 Euros. This list is exclusive of all the extras like school fees, entertainment for myself and my child etc. In total I guess this amount could go up to 2,000 (or even 3,000) easily.
Just out of interest how much would a watress get paid in the bar, if works full time?
#10
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Thank you.
It might be an idea for me to leave my daughter with my mum in UK for a while untill I find a job and a place to live in Spain. My mum visits us in London so can easily stay for 3-6 months if needed.
Will it be easier for me to find a job in more "english-speaking" regions like Marbella, rather than in places like Valencia?
It might be an idea for me to leave my daughter with my mum in UK for a while untill I find a job and a place to live in Spain. My mum visits us in London so can easily stay for 3-6 months if needed.
Will it be easier for me to find a job in more "english-speaking" regions like Marbella, rather than in places like Valencia?
http://www.barcelonareporter.com/ind...govt_forecast/
Theres a lot of people who can speak spanish who are looking for work
#11
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,030
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
jurdy
some one in pub game tell me the wages plseas , cant get my mate on the phone
#12
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 614
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
living there any more?
Personally, if I was in your position I'd just get out of London. There are many
nice places in the UK and you won't realise how many aspects of british life
you take for granted (esp. with a child) - until you don't get them, any more.
#13
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 385
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Come on guys don´t be so negative or nothing would ever get changed in the world. Being realistic if you are good at what you do then wherever you end up you will do well, you just may have to work a little harder & longer in Spain than UK.
I can´t comment on work in Valencia but I have enjoyed many a fine lunch there, cool music venues, good shops, beach, mainly Spanish, reasonable prices for everything.
Personally I´d hold onto the UK properties & get some some income out of them, the net returns far outweigh an average spanish salary.
Hope it helps, wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide.
Cheers
I can´t comment on work in Valencia but I have enjoyed many a fine lunch there, cool music venues, good shops, beach, mainly Spanish, reasonable prices for everything.
Personally I´d hold onto the UK properties & get some some income out of them, the net returns far outweigh an average spanish salary.
Hope it helps, wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide.
Cheers
#14
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Come on guys don´t be so negative or nothing would ever get changed in the world. Being realistic if you are good at what you do then wherever you end up you will do well, you just may have to work a little harder & longer in Spain than UK.
I can´t comment on work in Valencia but I have enjoyed many a fine lunch there, cool music venues, good shops, beach, mainly Spanish, reasonable prices for everything.
Personally I´d hold onto the UK properties & get some some income out of them, the net returns far outweigh an average spanish salary.
Hope it helps, wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide.
Cheers
I can´t comment on work in Valencia but I have enjoyed many a fine lunch there, cool music venues, good shops, beach, mainly Spanish, reasonable prices for everything.
Personally I´d hold onto the UK properties & get some some income out of them, the net returns far outweigh an average spanish salary.
Hope it helps, wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide.
Cheers
Nobody in their right mind would advise her to move to Spain in these circumstances.
#15
Re: Single mum+ a toddler are planning to move to Spain
Thank you.
It might be an idea for me to leave my daughter with my mum in UK for a while untill I find a job and a place to live in Spain. My mum visits us in London so can easily stay for 3-6 months if needed.
Will it be easier for me to find a job in more "english-speaking" regions like Marbella, rather than in places like Valencia?
It might be an idea for me to leave my daughter with my mum in UK for a while untill I find a job and a place to live in Spain. My mum visits us in London so can easily stay for 3-6 months if needed.
Will it be easier for me to find a job in more "english-speaking" regions like Marbella, rather than in places like Valencia?