Thread: British expats returning home from Spain

I too was thinking along the lines of JazzminesII, how much different is the cost of living back in the UK now and will these who are returning end up regretting it?

Here's a related interesting article from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/bu...n.html?_r=1&hp

Let's face it in reality it's much cheaper to live in Spain or indeed in some parts of France.......I've heard people saying they have got used to a certain lifestyle and using that as an excuse to return to the UK but if they can't manage in Spain how do they think they are going to manage in the UK......they should not get benefits but unfortunately as I've said several times before the UK gives out benefits too easily........no other european country is so generous (at a cost to us tax payers grrrrrrrrrrrr)............. pound for pound its still more expensive to live in the UK people need to do their research.....

As mentioned in other threads, the pound although fluctuating every day is at the moment about 10% up on what is was in the new year.. My advice, tighten your belts and sit tight.
CD

Nowhere on this planet is perfect, but we surely have a better lifestyle over here than in the UK.....I wish some of the UK things could be over here....like the language!!!.....but I wouldn't be able to cope with all the problems in the UK now. You feel the stress of life as soon as you get off the plane in the UK.

Wouldn't go back to the UK we are retired and have lost money on our pension transfer but are still better off, even after paying a mortgage, in fact we have paid 1200 off in 9 months wouldn't have done back home, the eurobar is in our favour too on that score as we are due for an annual revue in Sept and have been paying 6.6% it could drop to 3% quite a saving

hate it here,5yrs now,ugh!!scared to drive,so no just popping down Rd. for a paper etc.Want to go to East Anglia,downwards,any semi rural quiet area,miss family and friends,and decent shops!!PROBLEM!! Can´t sell so can´t buy,also have 5 rescue dogs.Can anyone offer help-advice,thinking about finding a permanant house swap,must be people who want to come here and can´t sell.We both retired,so time is ticking by!!!! We are 10mins Albox,about 50mins to Almeria A-Port,and 30mins Mojaca.Hope someone can help us solve this predicament,I´m getting more and more depressed and lonely.many thanks,Barbara

Originally Posted by bluebells

hate it here,5yrs now,ugh!!scared to drive,so no just popping down Rd. for a paper etc.Want to go to East Anglia,downwards,any semi rural quiet area,miss family and friends,and decent shops!!PROBLEM!! Can´t sell so can´t buy,also have 5 rescue dogs.Can anyone offer help-advice,thinking about finding a permanant house swap,must be people who want to come here and can´t sell.We both retired,so time is ticking by!!!! We are 10mins Albox,about 50mins to Almeria A-Port,and 30mins Mojaca.Hope someone can help us solve this predicament,I´m getting more and more depressed and lonely.many thanks,Barbara

Sorry to hear you are unhappy in Spain; properties are shifting but only at realistic prices (often lower than what properties purchased in the last five years might have been bought for).

We had somebody near us who had to reduce their property from around Euros 215 to Euros 138 in order to procure that all allusive sale.

Just curious but have you always hated it in Spain because even 3 years ago the market was much healthier

Also is it the area you don't like or Spain as a whole? Just wondered if another option might be seeing if anybody wanted an inter-spain swap.

What about rental options.....is the rental market strong in your area? If yes have you looked into renting out your property long term and then renting in the UK (not ideal I know, but if you are that unhappy......)

Finally you might want to look at Spain - Spain Classifieds - ExpAds.com that site is part of Greg's empire You will see there is a link under there for house swaps.

Depending on other people to make you happy isn't a good thing. It's all a state of mind really....there is so much to love about being here. The UK is going downhill rapidly it seems in many ways.
However, we are all in control of our own lives, so if you are determined to go back and want a swap.... why not advertise....free of charge in Loot....the newspaper that covers all areas in the UK. State your case and see what replies you get.
Not sure if it is Loot.com or Loot.co.uk, but they are really good for most things.