Moving from uk to Spain

[weesuz]

Hi everyone I was looking to move to Spain from uk somewhere that's affordable I am on social security benefits as an a stay at home mother with 2 girls and a man that works in Arnold Clark tyre distribution supervisor. My youngest girls starts school this summer so I plan to go get a job to refresh my call centre experience I have a background in sales as well so will be hoping to get a job but I need to no where the best place would for me and my children to live it has to be near a town beach school shops Docters ect ect. Wee would require renting a property reasonable cheap we do plan to save around 5000 to use until we get a job I need to no does public school cost I get free education over here is it the same over there ? Is there any fees ? What would be the right thing for me to do to go ahead and move to Spain *thanks*Honest answers please would be appreciated also how much is energy prices and sky prices and how does council tax work ? Thanks

[bob_bob]

Hi there. Have a look at the forum 'sticky' threads as a lot of what you need to know is already talked about. But a couple of thing for you to think about:

Spain is on its knees economically with unemployment as high as 40% is some areas. Unless you can speak the language to a very very high level the chances of you finding work are extremely thin; without a solid skill that cannot be filled my a Spaniard you won't get regular work. £5k will last you maybe two months after you have paid a deposit and rent on somewhere to live.

Some UK benefits are transferable, but by no means all and there is no benefit system here for you to try and fall back on, no money, no house, you go back to the UK with less than you left with.

Your looking at moving to a country with high unemployment, you don't speak the language, you don't know the rules and regulations and there is little hope of you finding work.

Sorry to appear negative but I would say to you 'Stay put in the UK'.

[weesuz]

Thanks for that but I am speaking some Spanish at the moment I plan to be advanced by the time I come over to be honest loveing here ain't that good I would rather work maybe even try and get experience for working in a bank airport hotel work what about this type of work ?

[paul44]

Weesuz if you were to do a search on this site you will find loads of threads explaining how bad the situ is for people who don't speak the lingo or have no job lined up.

the uk & ireland where i am based pretty much give benefits away if you qualify in Spain that's not the case if you don't or have never paid into the system you won't get a bean and you'll end up starving I know this sounds a bit a alarmist but it is 100% true.

5000 grand won't get you far after a couple of months. I know this isn't the reply you wanted but you need to know the truth.

I'm planning a move but don't need to work so its a big difference,but good luck

[jojo]

Originally Posted by weesuz

Hi everyone I was looking to move to Spain from uk somewhere that's affordable I am on social security benefits as an a stay at home mother with 2 girls and a man that works in Arnold Clark tyre distribution supervisor. My youngest girls starts school this summer so I plan to go get a job to refresh my call centre experience I have a background in sales as well so will be hoping to get a job but I need to no where the best place would for me and my children to live it has to be near a town beach school shops Docters ect ect. Wee would require renting a property reasonable cheap we do plan to save around 5000 to use until we get a job I need to no does public school cost I get free education over here is it the same over there ? Is there any fees ? What would be the right thing for me to do to go ahead and move to Spain *thanks*Honest answers please would be appreciated also how much is energy prices and sky prices and how does council tax work ? Thanks

The best place for you to live with what you've told us is the UK. You get benefits, child allowance, free health care for the family and you will have friends and family around you! However, if your husband is going to commute to the UK for work, then you need to be close to a good airport - Malaga or Alicante are good. That way, altho you wont be able to claim any benefits, your husband will still be able to claim child allowance

Jo xxx

[weesuz]

Thanks I was thinking Malaga or costa del sol I don't want freebies I want to work that's why I am going to get more experience before I come over ii have been looking at Spanish job websites and I would come over and get job interviews before I move so that I would have a job my man would prefer a job working with tyres are there many of these jobs available he has a great background in working x

[steve_in_spain]

Hi & Welcome to the forum,

Firstly I have to say I completely agree with bob_bob. Spain is not what it was a few years ago and if you read many of the recent posts you will see the constant advice being given to people in your situation. You will also see today some responses from people who have taken our advice and looked at it closely and the "thanks for the warnings, you are right"!

You mention maybe working in a bank etc. I have to say that unless you are Spanish (or so fluent that you can pass for Spanish) you will never get work in a bank or anything along those lines. With tourism at a complete low no airports are recruiting and if they do then they also will go for the Spanish and not the foreigners.

Unless you have an essential professional skill (for example you are a Doctor) then you will have to settle for the fact that you will probably end up pulling pints, cleaning, or doing other similar work and that is IF you are lucky enough to find work. With millions of Spaniards (many of which speak fluent english) out of work they will always get the jobs over brits. Yes there are british owned bars and businesses that are more likley to employ other brits but they have the pick of countless people to choose from and will usually pick people they know or people who are recommended to them (ie established expats living here).

I have been here on and off for 10 years and permanently nearly 3 years. My partner is Spanish and I consider myself here to stay and well and truly integrated but in oru family there are spaniards who speak perfect english and cant get work... many with university educations and vast experience.

£5000 whilst may seem a lot to you (and is of course a nice little amount of cash) is absolutely nowhere near enough to bring with you unless you have a job waiting. You WILL spend months and months (unless you are the one in a million lucky one) looking for work, and even with a cheap appartment and basic living expenses you are going to spend at least 1000 a month and after the initial costs of deposits, agency fees etc, that money will be gone in 2 or 3 months.

Sadly many many many brits return home. Many come out, stay a few months then go. Employers are aware of this and cautious about who they employ. If they are going to take on a brit then its more likely to be one who has been here years, knows the locals, knows the area, knows the ways, and is here to stay.

Call centres exist who employ brits but these tend to be sales and comission only. They all have a high turnover of staff because if you don't meet their (oftern unrealistic) targets you are out.

So, think carefully, do your homework, and have many many trips here and get established and make contacts. if you can't afford to do that then please for the sake of your kids stay put in the UK. Your benefits may be exported (in some cases) but for a very limited time and if you are seeking work and are lucky enough to export then in a couple of months they will end.

If you do come out then to answer your other questions... Energy prices tend to be similar to the uk although i spend more than in the UK. Houses are not insulated anywhere near that of UK homes, so right now I have 2 butano heaters going pretty much all day form wake up until bed, i use tons of electric and its all just to keep it comfortable. Then on the flipside in the summer I spend a fortune on electric running the air conditioning just to keep it cool enough to live in. Sky TV is available but at a cost... unless you are lucky enough to get into a place with a dish you will need to buy one... a big one! I paid about 1500 euros for a 2.4 m dish and then the monthly cost on top. Other options are available BUT to be honest if you are coming here and wanting all the things you are used to in the UK then it comes at a cost!

I dont want to burst your dreambubble and I wish you every success and like the others I am happy to answer any more questions you have and help where I can but you have kids and I trhink that bringing them out here, turning their lives upside down with very little backup plans and an almost guaranteed difficult ride is just not the right thing or sensible thing. Sorry!

[jojo]

Originally Posted by weesuz

Thanks I was thinking Malaga or costa del sol I don't want freebies I want to work that's why I am going to get more experience before I come over ii have been looking at Spanish job websites and I would come over and get job interviews before I move so that I would have a job my man would prefer a job working with tyres are there many of these jobs available he has a great background in working x

No there arent many jobs at all. There are squillions of out of work Spanish who are desperate for work. The benefit system in Spain means that they dont get dole money for an unlimited time! Learning a bit of Spanish will not help you. There are many bilingual professionals who cant find work. At best you may get a job as commission only telesales, I did it for a while and earnt just about enough to pay for the weekly food bill. My husband commuted and that kept us!

Trust me, unless you have a skill that is needed in Spain, then you're not going to get anything at all, not even an interview - and if you did, is your Spanish going to be good enough to chat a, read and write Spanish?? Mine isnt and I was in Spain for four years!!

Moving to Spain isnt an easy option, its a harsh country that doesnt have any social help for you when it all goes wrong. Dont do it!

Heres a post from someone who wrote on another thread that sums it up

...


Spanish culture puts Spanish people first regardless of their ability. Do you think you would see the Madrid bus company running a recruitment campaign exclusive to Poland only, excluding all native Spanish drivers as TfL has just done!

In addition Spain is on it's knees economically and it's going to get a lot worse.

Unless someone is professionally qualified and their skills are in short supply in the Spanish economy they stand a zero to just above zero chance of surviving. Sadly entertainment skills do not fit the above category.

To those that run down the UK..

You need to live life a bit more, see other countries, interact with other nationalities that live in the UK and you will soon realise that the UK offers unparalleled aspects of life from free education, free healthcare, free social security, human rights, respect for property, accountability in public office etc, etc, the list goes on.

Spain offers only one thing above the UK and that is sunshine!

Jo xxx

[steve_in_spain]

Originally Posted by weesuz

Thanks I was thinking Malaga or costa del sol I don't want freebies I want to work that's why I am going to get more experience before I come over ii have been looking at Spanish job websites and I would come over and get job interviews before I move so that I would have a job my man would prefer a job working with tyres are there many of these jobs available he has a great background in working x

Hows his spanish?

Any spanish company will want a fluent speaker. British companies are also looking for this now because with the amount of brits going back any british business with their head screwed on are now trying to target spanish not just expats!

[weesuz]

I just wish I could come over and find job I will prepare for all of this on the next 3 years unless I win the lottery (I wish) I will never be happy here in the uk its rubbish here so depressing I think life is just a punishment would do anything for a new start me and the family would be a dream come true i will just have to hope I get lucky then I will full fill this dream I'f it's the last thing I do I need to do something before I fall and don't get bk up