Thread: Credit crisis hits ex-pats

As the global economic crisis continues, one group of people who are being unexpectedly hit are Britons who sought a new life abroad but I read today that many people living near Gib are now crossing the border in order to make their money stretch further. Do any of you cross the border for your weekly shop?

I don't think it could have been totally unexpected, many get their money in sterling and as such the rate of exchange must always have an impact one way or t'other. On the occassions I have gone across the border I am not sure I would say things were cheaper, in some cases difinately dearer.

I would reccommend everybody buys Gregs Survive the Crisis book and benefit from the sound basic advice he gives that will help keep more of your hard earned cash in your pocket and if in business help generate more/

From my area it would be false economy but The War Department will insist on her 3 monthly M and S trips. As far as food and everyday needs go the Spanish eqivalent is cheaper and better but that is only my opinion.

Yeah I did wonder about that but not living near Gib I don't know how far the pound stretches there.

That said to me the local food markets seem cheap, far cheaper than the UK and as you say the quality of the produce is good. I would have though even those surviving on a basic pension could feed themselves fairly well by shopping at the food markets.

Personally I find Gib very expensive and the duty free goods [not cigarettes and drink] are much dearer. It makes me laugh to see people comming out of Morrisons with 6 boxes of Kellogs and taking them home over the border to Spain!!! What no cornflakes in Spain. I recall some years ago helping an elderly lady on to a coach with her sholly. It weighed a ton and she informed me that she had bought thirty kilos of chicken nuggets!! Says it al really.

Apparently, there are some good deals closer to home for those near Fuengirola at Iceland. They are slashing prices back in the UK and those cuts have been transferred to here too. 4 pizzas for €5.00 I have been reliably informed so may take a little trip next week.Sounds like a good deal to me.

For those of us who like to shop for 'familiar' goods [myself not included] there are quite a lot of shops to cater for this need, at a price. eg Quiksave, Iceland, H and M, C and A, Dotty P, Wallis etc but I find that the Spanish equivalent is just as good if not better, certainly cheaper. I feel sometimes that people fail to identify the product as it is advertised in Spanish and so tend to go for the British product. There is a Hypercor in La Troche Centre near us and they have an aisle dedicated to British goods and I have heard people squeal with delight at seeing this little british enclave in a Spanish store.
I must admit that the War Dept. does have serious Marks and Spencers withdrawl symptoms so a trip to Gib is a twice a year must and before you ask I have never bought anything from the large Morrisons there.

Here,s a little gem Fresiskol on El Pinilio Trading estate near Torremolinas supplies to the local bars but are open to the public sells Danish bacon, English bread anything really good value

Let us not forget those in the world who have nothing. Their supporters will suffer but they will suffer a lot more as a result of the global credit crunch.