Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Absolutely - it can make a huge difference.

My wife and I get a total £465 a month extra on top of the basic state pension from all these extra pension options. They have changed their names so many times I have lost track of them.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I know if I were to come back to the UK, either before I become a pensioner or after, I would get nothing (except the universal pensioner benefits but I strongly suspect they will be long gone by the time I become a state pensioner in 9 years' time).

Although it varies very much by area (which is one of the problems with Spain, it really is a postcode lottery) some people do get help with their Council Tax here. I received my 2013 IBI bill today - the full amount is €572.23 but I get a discount of €243.28, leaving €328.95 to pay (just €9 more than last year). I don't have to be a pensioner to qualify, nor unemployed or on a low income - just have the house as my principal residence, be on the padron, have no outstanding debts to the Ayuntamiento and pay by direct debit. Much more help than someone in my circumstances would get in the UK, and a bigger discount than single people get in the UK (if it's still 25% there).

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

So true!
Ten years ago I could look forward to retirement at 60. Now I have to wait an extra 6 more years. 10 in total for me. It's like suddenly it's racing away from me. especially in possibility of ever living that long! My Mum died at 66. her mum at 42 My other grandma at 39. Looks like the government are betting on many of us never getting to claim at all!

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I bet you haven't lost track of them

:fingerscrossed:

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Angie, please no gloom, your mother lived 24 years beyond her own mother, hopefully you can go at least the same distance beyond your mother :fingerscrossed:

we are all living longer, we have less ailments than our parents and grandparents throughout our lives. in their day smoking was the most common thing after going to the toilet (sri for the crudity) but nowadays so many people never smoke, letalone are reformed.

My maternal grandfather came back from WWI with bad lungs which eventually killed him early at 46. Grandmother died at 71, whilst mother died of cancer aged 62.
paternal grandfather died at 71 having miners lung disease, grandmother died at 82, father died at 86 despite many illnesses picked up in Burma WWII.
so here's hoping that I have at least another 20 years to equal dad
:fingerscrossed:

but the pennypinching number crunchers they call actuaries are betting on us not reaching that age.

I remember sitting round a pub table with a number of ex-servicemen toasting the life of a lost colleague and one of the guys said "thats another one the govt won't have to pay out the full amount for." :(

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I think it is actually worse, already we hear that patients die unnecessarily in hospitals. Will they even pretend they wish to keep us alive when stem cell research allows them to make new, young, healthy humans at will?

Eat your cabbage and stay out of hospital, I say.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

The pension system the world over is creaking at the seams because we are all living much longer as we get more educated and severe illnesses are being eradicated. Providing you take a handful of expensive pills every day, you'll get your pension if you've got Aids, 96% of people survive testicular cancer, hardly anyone smokes and they've stopped building houses with asbestos.

Millions upon millions of people died in the wars of the last century, that will never happen again - even the Israelis and Palestinians are passing around the peace pipe as we speak.

Frying pans have stopped selling and my wife and I are eating rabbit food on a daily basis, Mediterranean rabbit food at that.

A this rate the Queen won't be able to afford to send out telegrams any more.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

After the big drop in property prices in Spain, and now that we are seeing less media articles warning of the imminent collapse of the Eurozone, are we going to see a return of articles saying stuff like "you can sell your suburban semi and buy a villa with pool or a country finca in the sun", do you think?

I notice the dear old DM has this on the website today:-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ndon-flat.html

Yes, I know that's France but the same principle applies, and France also has pitfalls regarding tax, especially IHT, for expats just like Spain has. The chateau looks lovely but I notice they don't mention the cost of the upkeep vs that of a London flat, just the purchase price!

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Well newspapers have to sell advertising, but have a look at this graph and see where you think Spain´s property prices are heading, other countries too.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/daily...l-house-prices

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Thanks Domino. It is of course what I'm hoping for. Though my mum did actually also have a massive coronary at the same age as her own mother died so I'm doing really well already. But the very best thing is that without the pain and literal heartache I've got a reason to live every day as if it were my last. and I really do! Consequently life has (almost) always been fun and I've packed in more than most people who live to old bones already..and is why I took the bull by the horns and moved here when things went belly up financially and we had to lose one house or the other. So. Going back to the original thread in a round-about way. I'm here to grab as much life as I can and won't go back under any foreseeable circumstances. Obviously you can never say never. As the pueblo 'Sevillana' (song) goes... "En mi pueblo (quiero) hacerme viejo...y en su tierra descansar"

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

my father retired at 64 with ill health later suffered from prostate cancer beat that and lived to 84. Mother and grandmothers lived into their late eighties.

His advice to me was live long enough to draw out all you paid in. I'm 70 next year so a year or two to go yet.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Don't go by your relatives. My Grandfather died in his 90's. smoked Players navy cut. My father (his son) died of a heart attack at 53, didn't smoke and drank very little... suppose I could be somewhere inbetween:unsure:

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

If you have young 'uns in the family then thet have a good chance to expect this...

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...-2012-live-100

Jon

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Ooops typo above thet = they.

Another reason to go back? And not to France?

http://www.theweek.co.uk/uk-news/543...-statisticians

Jon

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Having regard to France and inheritance tax the French simply will not change the Napoleonic codes. We live there for ages and bought houses throughout a long period.

Problem second marriage (not the marriage) and the fact that I have no children. So it was simply thinking what happens if my wife dies before me? and I go a bit later. Answer the Republique would take 60% and my aged brothers would have to stamp up with the cash save for a few allowances.

In the latter years we just sold the houses and converted them into cash and rent now. You have IHT in Spain as well and yes accountants and the like say ways around the problem but I would not like to take that risk.