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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

DH interested in moving to SPAIN. Can you guys help me with some questions please?

50 replies

LadyOfTheHollyAndTheIvy · 29/12/2007 21:40

Firstly, does your credit rating from here go with you?
Do you think it is wrong to take my kids to Spain, they are 1 and 2, and make them live in Spain ie. make the decision for them to live in another country.
Obviously they are only english speaking.
Would I still be able to be a SAHM or do you think I would have to work ie: I would not get my tax credits/child benefits which just about allow me to stay home.

Or even better, has anyone done it? Gone to Spain to live I mean, with kiddies.

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyOfTheHollyAndTheIvy · 29/12/2007 22:03
Smile
OP posts:
Paromapu · 30/12/2007 17:09

Hello Firstly Credit score is private matter, is not government things. for example VISA is private practice and they'll keep tract on you as long as VISA country operate, so does master card and american express.

Secondly i dont think its wrong to move kids abroad as long as all is planned before.
Children are young enough to learn new language and settle in.

I live in Spain and came here when i was 11 yrs old. However i would recommend you visit for a holiday first to the area where you expect to live, look at accomodation, schools, local services, language schools for you and hubby.

As for sahm there are lots in spain but your hubby would need to earn more than 2000 euros for that to be viable as euro has made prices rise. I know from my experience that any salary less then this wouldnt be enough for comfortable living

DarthVader · 30/12/2007 17:11

2000 euros a week or a month?

Mercy · 30/12/2007 17:21

I know a family who recently moved (back) to Spain (mum is Spanish).

The main problem the mum has found is that there are very few part-time and/or family-friendly jobs for women. Plus I don't think you can claim child benefit or tax credit unless you are working for a UK company in Spain.

Sorry, I don't really know much about this - hopefully someone will be able to advise you.

1066andallthat · 30/12/2007 19:42

Hi!

No, the benefits system, as such, simply does not exist here. Saying that, there are loads of advantages, too.

I live in a very quiet area and my kids are safe, happy and used to interacting with everyone.

I'd agree with Paromapu about money and you'd probably need even more if you are going to live somewhere expensive, like one of the main cities.

The other biggie is they don't do M&T/play-group/soft-play as such, at least where I live, which is the sticks .

Still, it is a fab place to bring kids up. Both mine had problems with the language and yes, they were of a similar age to yours when we moved. And "we" changed to "I" this year, but I am staying put because ironically, my kids have a much better life here.

If you have any questions, just ask.

natmatt · 30/12/2007 19:49

id love to move abroad but im a single parent and as said above i wouldnt be able to support myself as i do here
although if you want to move and i can bring my kids and look after yours for you we can talk

Shitemum · 30/12/2007 20:07

Don't ask me I'll only be negative....

I've lived in Spain for 17 years and have 2 DDs now 4.3 yo and 15 mo. Am now thinking of moving back to the UK in the next 2 years or so. It's very hard without family and as 1066andallthaat says there are no MandT etc. groups at all, nothing. I second Paromapu, you'll need about 2000 euros a month.

Which part of Spain are you looking at? Do you speak any Spanish? Coud either of you get work from the UK, i mean be sent to the branch of a British company in Spain? Otherwise you are gong to find it hard to find work unless you start your own business or teach English.
Your kids will adapt quicker to the language than you do, don't worry about them. There are no benefits here except 100 euros a month per child from birth to 3 yo. And a new one-off grant of 3000(?) euros when you have a baby.

Speak to Senoraparsnip (formally senorapostrophe), she's just moved back to the UK after several years here.

1066andallthat · 30/12/2007 20:15

Where are you, Shitemum? Will swop locations , if you will!

Shitemum · 30/12/2007 20:19

1066 - where are you? Am in Granada

Shitemum · 30/12/2007 20:20

Actually if anyone with a house in central Edinburgh wants to swap, we are just finishing doing up a 2 bedroomed house in the old quarter with lovely views of the mountains, seriously.

1066andallthat · 30/12/2007 20:34

I love Granada - capital and surrounding area. Now is the time to sell, with the skiing! The Sierra Nevada was on TV2, yesterday, and made me think of the parador, there - went once for coffee.

I'm in Galicia; never wanted to come here but actually love it - go to the beaches most days and it is a very kind place.

Shitemum · 30/12/2007 20:53

Always meant to visit Galicia - Andalucia can be a bit harsh in many ways...

1066andallthat · 30/12/2007 20:57

Know what you mean about visiting - Cadiz, Valencia, Sevilla are all on my list.

What are you hoping to do back in Edinburgh?

Shitemum · 30/12/2007 21:00

survive

1066andallthat · 30/12/2007 21:04

Enough said! Know quite a lot of people who have emigrated to NZ or Oz and gone back to the UK - there are definite things in its favour.

Good luck!

Shitemum · 30/12/2007 21:07

Thanks!
I once started a thread asking people who had lived elsewhere what the best and worst things were about the UK, will see if I can find it...

Shitemum · 30/12/2007 21:09

huh, must have posted it in Chat, nowhere to be seen...

1066andallthat · 30/12/2007 21:16

That happens with chat, I believe - . Would you like me to answer your question?

Shitemum · 30/12/2007 22:43

Goan then

MeMySonAndI · 31/12/2007 00:41

We were considering moving back and did some research about it and we found that:

-If we sold our lovely 3 bedroom period house in a good location we would end up with a tiny 2 bedroom flat in the worst area of the city (well, after all, we sold our 1 bedroom flat overthere and got a 3 bedroom house in the UK for the same amount... unfortunately, property prices have gone up faster in Spain than here). As property prices are that expensive, finding a good place to rent is also very difficult.

  • Private education was considerably cheaper than what we are paying here, but we would be working from 9 until 7:30 at least so we wouldn't have much time left to be with DS during the week. (Which also brings the question of who would take care of him after school).
  • You can live well without spending masses of money. It is a different culture, and with the nice weather you can really have a day out without breaking the bank in the process.
  • We would have really liked for DS to be raised there as the society is more child friendly (which is notthe same as child orientated). However, if you are the sort of person that finds it irritating for strangers to be overly friendly to your children just because they are children perhaps you may find it a bit too much.
  • Ahhh and we also noticed that after 10 years in Britain we have grown to expect that things happen as they have been planned and now find those little inacuracies very irritating!
Shitemum · 31/12/2007 00:54

MeMySonAndI -
Whereabouts in Spain did you live and why did you leave? [nosy]
How exactly would you define child friendly and child oriented?

You are right about the long working hours in Spain.

So, you decided not to move back to Spain?

MeMySonAndI · 31/12/2007 01:04

Child friendly and child orientated.... taking the example of restaurants:

In a child friendly place your child will be welcome at any time as long as it is well behaved (although the definition of well behaved it is very loose as well). There wouldn't be a children menu in the the menu but the restaurant would be happy to cook something that it is not in the menu for your child or to halve a portion.

In a child orientated place you will find a child menu, toys for him to play, etc. etc.

Toddler groups and the like belong to a child orientated place, a place where your children are not outcasts after 7pm I class it as child friendly.

Place... Palma... I think we have talked about it before (perhaps if I mention about my MIL who had a huge flower sculpture hanging from the staircase well above the dininng table you may remember )

And no, we stayed here, mostly because we are now separated and there is no power on Earth to get me back to live there while my MIL is still living in that island!

Shitemum · 31/12/2007 01:15

Thanks MeMy - what a memory! I do remember the sculpture in the stairwell...but not the thread.
So the UK is child-orientated and Spain is child-friendly, right?
You are Spanish aren't you? (small clues in your English)...(hope I'm right )

MeMySonAndI · 31/12/2007 01:18

No, I am not. Ex is though

Shitemum · 31/12/2007 01:25

Ah, maybe you are 'contaminated'