Moving at 62 to Spain after death of husband

[Harbans]

I would love to move abroad to Spain, have raised 5 children 3 grandchildren. Worked 2 jobs now it was time to enjoy life , my husband of 36 years has passed. Had to downsize my children have each had their inheritance over £45,000 each and I bought a small property, now 2 have moved back and we are constantly arguing as I work for a educational agency and earn enough to pay bills and shopping no contribution from them . I have enough after I sell my property worth £200,000 to move to Spain would am on my own and have no idea where to begin.

One post by OP, no history of their username anywhere...makes you wonder what it's all about.

There is a Facebook group called ladies moving to Spain. There are many tips and info.

There is no such thing as a retirement visa.

If you are not intending to work, the visa you need to apply for is called a non lucrative visa which means that you cannot work at all. You must instead show a proof of a passive income (such as savings or pension) of 28,000 euros per year (for Spain).

If you are not intending to work, the visa you need to apply for is called a non lucrative visa which means that you cannot work at all. You must instead show a proof of a passive income (such as savings or pension) of 28,000 euros per year (for Spain).

If you'd read the thread, you'd see that's been explained a dozen times!

OP may or may not be for real but at least we've learnt that 😊

I agree that you won’t be able to relocate permanently now.
I would tell your children to leave your home and begin living your own life here in the UK; hopefully you’ll have money to retire and for travel once they’ve left.
You were incredibly generous in giving them a share of your house sale; don’t let them continue to leach off you.

My late PILs used to spend a lot of time in Spain - they bought a flat there in the 80s and went about 3 x a year - then when we had DC we used it. They built up a little social circle over the years but obviously they spent most of their time here.
Even without all the complicated red tape I’d really think about it properly, do you know anyone there, the area, etc.

@Harbans Has never come back- is it a waste of time even advising her now? No feedback from her and what's helpful or not.

I do wonder if her post is just 'fishing' for info for some other reason.

@WallaceinAnderland well yes, a visa which means you cannot work, for the vast majority of people this means retirement which is why it’s colloquially known as a retirement visa.

OP do you have friends in Spain and can you speak the language? All the feelings you have now will resurface but you will be in a strange land (which allows bullfighting) and which suffers from extreme heat at certain times of the year, awful floods at other times and the Spanish are getting so annoyed at foreigners buying up all their property.

You would be better off kicking the cuckoos out of the nest or demanding a nice rent from them so you can eventually buy a top notch seaside property in the UK or retire to the Lake District.

I agree with all the first part of this but Op won't get a top notch home in either of those places for 200K- double or triple that is needed.

Moving to Spain feels a bit … drastic? Can’t you just chuck your unpaid guests out?

Nor the parts of Spain that would be most appropriate if you on your own and needing to build a new life . A 1 bed flat, yes, possibly a2 bed in ‘some’ areas and you will use all your spare cash which I think is a bad idea

I have a family member who did this. So long as you have some savings and you are not looking to work you will be able to apply for a residency visa easy enough. It lasts for 5 years then you need to renew. As others have said, it would be good if you could keep your house or buy a small flat in the uk for something to come bavk to in older age. The rental income would help you while your in Spain too. Cost of living in Spain is much lower. Im happy ro answer any questions. For my family member its been great. Lots of friends and a much more outdoors lifestyle. It took a while to settle in but so much better. The downside is though we dont see the family member much now so you would miss out on time with kids and future grandkids. You cant out your life on hold for others though if its what you really want. My family member doesnt speak Spanish albeit has picked up the basics. Lawyers will speak to you in English and can help you get set up. The large banks will have an english speaker. At gp or hospital you will get a translator if there are no english speakers. The main difference is health care - day to day for gp etc there is no difference to the uk, if anything, you get seen quicker etc however if you need actual hospital care and an extended stay they work a bit different. The hospital will treat your medical needs but family tend to care for you so they would come and wash you etc. Just something to bare in mind if something bad happened. Good luck.

*My family member doesnt speak Spanish albeit has picked up the basics. Lawyers will speak to you in English and can help you get set up. The large banks will have an english speaker.

It really depends where in Spain you go to. Not everyone in Spain speaks English in some areas very few people do. It's like someone from a non English speaking country coming here and expecting people to speak to them in their native language.

There have been some discussion in Spain about bringing in a requirement to speak/understand Spanish for people applying for residency.

OP I wonder have you considered Malta as English is used a lot and it would still be warm. No doubt there are lots of ex pats from Britain there.

Please do as suggested and don't rush into buying. Myself and others have done the move abroad and regretted it. There's a honeymoon period and then you start to see things as they really are. Some can no longer afford to return to the UK and feel stuck and unhappy.

Lots never look back and love it, but just be cautious and don't rush it.

I don't think there is any danger of OP rushing into buying given she has posted exactly once.

Really don’t get why people only post once - lots of us have been supportive, just trying to say look at it from all angles- don’t rush

Might be difficult after the idiots voted for brexit.

First things first.
Tell the spongers to pay their way, or get out.

I had a property in Spain for many years, & intended to move there when I retired.
Brexit has made it very difficult, & friends that have lived there for years have sold up & returned to UK.
It's not an idyllic country . Red tape & corruption are beyond belief.

I understand where your comng from, i,m 60, 2 years of having alzheimers dad and health issues myself, .just got dad into care but still have dependant aunt and neighbour…. It grinds you down… i would do what someone else suggested, try going to spain a few times a year, book a month and see how you like it… i,ve just bought a caravan on a prestige holiday park 5 miles from me, somi now say, i,m working tues to friday and not free… if i didnt do that i would lose the plot… so i fully understand, good luck xxxx

I understand where your comng from, i,m 60, 2 years of having alzheimers dad and health issues myself, .just got dad into care but still have dependant aunt and neighbour…. It grinds you down… i would do what someone else suggested, try going to spain a few times a year, book a month and see how you like it… i,ve just bought a caravan on a prestige holiday park 5 miles from me, somi now say, i,m working tues to friday and not free… if i didnt do that i would lose the plot… so i fully understand, good luck xxxx

I understand where your comng from, i,m 60, 2 years of having alzheimers dad and health issues myself, .just got dad into care but still have dependant aunt and neighbour…. It grinds you down… i would do what someone else suggested, try going to spain a few times a year, book a month and see how you like it… i,ve just bought a caravan on a prestige holiday park 5 miles from me, somi now say, i,m working tues to friday and not free… if i didnt do that i would lose the plot… so i fully understand, good luck xxxx

I understand where your comng from, i,m 60, 2 years of having alzheimers dad and health issues myself, .just got dad into care but still have dependant aunt and neighbour…. It grinds you down… i would do what someone else suggested, try going to spain a few times a year, book a month and see how you like it… i,ve just bought a caravan on a prestige holiday park 5 miles from me, somi now say, i,m working tues to friday and not free… if i didnt do that i would lose the plot… so i fully understand, good luck xxxx

I understand where your comng from, i,m 60, 2 years of having alzheimers dad and health issues myself, .just got dad into care but still have dependant aunt and neighbour…. It grinds you down… i would do what someone else suggested, try going to spain a few times a year, book a month and see how you like it… i,ve just bought a caravan on a prestige holiday park 5 miles from me, somi now say, i,m working tues to friday and not free… if i didnt do that i would lose the plot… so i fully understand, good luck xxxx