Just wondering, those of you who have been in Spain for a number of years (having needed to work),and consider yourself to have made a success of it,what do you think has helped you to be succesfull here,and do you think you will stay permanently?
Will kick things of with a few suggestions;Language,secure job or viable trade,
adequate starting up cash,positive attitude

Three things! The language, the skills, and the commitment.
If you don't have all three (in abundance) you're up against it....big style!
Most Brits invariably have none of the above.....but they'll talk themselves up regardless!
Then the bubble bursts, their shortcomings get exposed.....and they blame everybody else for their failure.
And I'm here permanently.....I'm not even going back in a box!

oh shit

you know what Pete, you couldn't have possible hit the nail on the head better.

In the UK you always need a plan A and B.

In Spain you need a plan A,B,C and at least D.

When I arrived in Spain with a job, fluent Spanish and 80,000 cash, i thought yeap he we go, add a Spanish wife to the equation and jobs done.

But it was fun for a time.

What people fail to grasp is you can plan till your 80, change always happens.

After I left and became Autonomo, i learned that 6 engineers have since left and there about to close the office in Malaga.

I`m now investing the money into a second home in Spain and returning to earn a decent living in the UK.

And the govt are giving me cash for having children too only problem is I give it back to the govt in Tax

But at least i`m back earning double than in Spain and I`m getting a second home

Oh dear god!

In my two years here, I've already seen some ludicrous business ideas! Some came to fruition and failed, others never made it past the talking stage.
A recording studio in a cave in an isolated rural village was one, and a bloody car wash in the Almeria desert are the ones that immediately spring to mind.

You promised that you wouldn't mention that idea again you bastard!

You wouldn't find anybody else to shovel the porn out from the inside of your PC case Bob!
If you'd left it any longer it would have been smelling of fish!

Next time just take the bucket with you like I told you Matt!

Well ..... definately no competition

you stopped telling people off?

No I haven't .... please get this thread back on track

spoilsport!

I thought the donkey sanctuary was a bonkers plan, but he`s charity funded so can take the hits.

A petting farm was one done in the South, he came from a finance background, bought some land, piled cash into building a petting zoo, cafe and sleeping accomodation.

He didn`t realise there was a zoo 3 Kms away, with exotic animals from around the world, that gave free entry.

He failed in getting planning consent for the rest of the buildings and now has a huge headache, some rabbits, chickens and a caravan