Thread: Moving to Spain from the miserable UK

Originally Posted by hardiehibee

You are probably right. It won't work, but can I tell you why?

Because of your attitude. If your heart is not in it, it wont work as it will be hard. Every time you fall down, instead of picking your self up and getting on with it you will be like " I told you so".
Health care? Shows what you know.
Yes jobs are hard to find at the moment but it is not always a case of what you know but a case of who. All it takes is for one of you to get lucky.

If you have a change of heart why not come over for a couple of months and see how you get on. You might not have a lot of savings but if you are staying with your partners parents it should not cost a lot. If you don't settle and want to go back you can always apply for the benefits you will miss so much.

Spot on the nail this post .. I would have said the same..


To my eyes you have the perfect chance ,, free lodgings so pressures off . Go For it i say.. but get your mind straight first ..

Definetly worth a go as you have free lodgings and this will give you a great chance to learn the language during this time. Be warned though that finding work without intermediate Spanish, at least, will be tough. What line of work are you guys in and what part of Spain are you planning to move to ?

Hi Junier,

Regarding your intention to move to Spain, the main thing that you need to consider is that, unless you have a regular income like a pension, or some considerable savings, the chances are that you will eat up most of your money in no time. With the credit crunch which is hitting Spain much harder than the UK we are nearing 20% unemployment, at the moment the unemployment rate in Spain is double than the average for the European Union. This means that employers take advantage ( very low paid jobs, with no contract and no Social Security contributions paid, which means no Unemployment benefit at the end of it and no free health service). Another thing you need to consider is that if you don't speak the language you will have very little chance, if any, of finding any work at the moment, unless you have a trade and you are able to set up as self-employed.

Had you come over a few years back, things would have been much easier. Now is unfortunately the wrong time if you have not got any financial back up.

One of the saddest things I have seen is when I worked in a Estate Agents a few years back. A young British family sold up in the UK and came over to live, as many other families dis, and a year down the line the turned up at our office asking for the nearest Job Centre, as they had not been able to find work as they had hoped.

If you really wnat to come over to live here, do learn Spanish and wait a couple of years, until the economy turns for the better. I know it must be hard living in the UK, but at least you know the system there and know how to survive if things go wrong.

Originally Posted by skootie

Hi Junier,
One of the saddest things I have seen is when I worked in a Estate Agents a few years back. A young British family sold up in the UK and came over to live, as many other families dis, and a year down the line the turned up at our office asking for the nearest Job Centre, as they had not been able to find work as they had hoped.

I live in the UK, this is exactly what happened to my new neighbours who have moved in next door about 8 months ago. With two young children and no prospects of work in Spain due to the property market failing (their line of work was looking after rental properties etc), they had to return back (I was going to say 'home') to the UK, they love Spain and everything about it because that was their 'home'. If the market was right I guess they would jump at the chance of going back again.

So going back to the original question - if your heart is in it then go and do it, because it is better to "try and fail; then to have failed to try!!!"
Good luck with your decision - me I have 6 more years to do before retirement and I know where I'll be heading

What you say is a bit openended as, yes I agree if your heart says yes, then a forward movement is on the cards. But these days its your cash flow which dictates things as living here at the moment has changed in the past few years on all fronts. I really d feel sorry for people who have tried but were they prepared financially for the dips in the economy, failing jobs and the lack of language skills ie speaking spanish. Most of the people I know who have had to go back have simply run out of money and work. When even thinking of moving out here, you must have a fair financial backing behind you.