Should we move to Portugal ?

[bikersteve]

Should we move to Portugal ? That's our longtime dream/ plan?..we have plenty of time to do more research ,and shal start language lessons soon,..we shal travel out next year to look at different areas,..our budget won't be much,but we hope to pay cash..and renovate ?..hopefully find some sort of niche market?..I'm good with my hands,I do some plumbing / welding/ fabricating ..general handyman type..make motorbike frames, car chassis on hotrods..my wife likes drawing and gardening ..
We plan to grow our own produce for ourselves (we do this now).the place we buy will be insulated and maybe some sort of wind turbine and solar panels?

We are trying to cover every aspect,but we would love to hear views and advice from you guys already out there ?

[travelling-man]

Hello Steve..... Welcome to the forum.

There's a fair number of general handymen out here (or at least, there is in my area) but from my limited experience, not that many here that can do the more specialised engineering jobs such as custom frames & exhausts etc....... Whether there's enough demand for it is another matter.

[bikersteve]

Originally Posted by travelling-man

Hello Steve..... Welcome to the forum.

There's a fair number of general handymen out here (or at least, there is in my area) but from my limited experience, not that many here that can do the more specialised engineering jobs such as custom frames & exhausts etc....... Whether there's enough demand for it is another matter.

Thanks for the welcome, I don't intend to try and make a living from frames n exhausts or as a handyman,but was introducing myself as such ?..I'd hope to just bum around on my (estate) but reality will rear its head as always..my wife and I will have to earn some income,but not as much as here in UK..

[canoeman]

Welcome but what do you mean by not as much as UK? you could adapt your skills but little call here for hotrodding or customizing bikes, regulated more than UK not impossible just more difficult.

they are there T-m just need rooting out or finding the name of the skill

[travelling-man]

We're in the fortunate position of being able to run our business from anywhere in the world as long as we have an internet connection but I have to say, I reckon it'd be hard for the average non-Portuguese to find work in my area at least.

Canoeman, I guess I haven't got to know the area well enough yet but I seem to be able to find the basics but not the specialists yet.

For example, I can find a small place that can fit an ordinary mild steel exhaust system but not anywhere that can cut a stainless steel system open, fabricate a new set of stainless internal silencers to my design and put it all back together again.

Maybe they're there but I just can't find 'em!

So Steve, if you can do the above, you definitely need to move to this part of PT asap!

[bikersteve]

Well I'm pretty adept at most things,stainless is hard to work with but not impossible,if you know a supplier local for the metal that's a bonus? Can you not cut it yourself and get somebody to weld it ? Has for not needing as much money ? No mortgage,no cab to pay for,less heating bills?..obviously I will end up pay silly amounts of medical bill though ? He,he..

[canoeman]

Did you try exhaust guy in Lousa? he does work with stainless

Why would you expect to pay silly amounts for medical bills? less heating bills it does get cold here although for shorter periods, we average around 370€ pm without food, petrol, medical.

Medical isn't that expensive here it's just that you pay for things that would be free in UK, but then prescriptions are generally cheaper

[bikersteve]

Hey T.Man whereabouts are you situated in Portugal ?

[bikersteve]

Originally Posted by canoeman

Did you try exhaust guy in Lousa? he does work with stainless

Why would you expect to pay silly amounts for medical bills? less heating bills it does get cold here although for shorter periods, we average around 370€ pm without food, petrol, medical.

Medical isn't that expensive here it's just that you pay for things that would be free in UK, but then prescriptions are generally cheaper

Well I'm just assuming one has to pay for it out there ?. You say you average 370€ pm.without food etc,what do you mean,rent ,mortgage ? Heating,council tax ?

[canoeman]

Basic expenses oil, wood,water, bottled gas, electricity, rates, telephone, voip, internet, house/car insurance, mot, car tax, but we do have a large house rates aren't high but we do spend a lot on oil and wood.