HELP Adivce Urgently Needed

[DH1875]

Really sorry to seem to be like all the others but I really need some advice.
My family and I are due to move to Spain within the next couple of months but my wife is getting cold feet due to the economic situation.

It is not something that we have taken lightly but as of the rest of the world we seem to have been caught up in the financial crisis.
We actually started our plans over a year ago and while we have enough money to cover us for 6 to 12 months we were wondering what the expats thought about our chances of survival.
As I have already explained we think we have enough cash to live on for at least six months but were wondering if you all think we should stay put here or give it a bash. While my wife is not to sure of the language my children and I know enough to get by and worst case scenario with our savings to support us I am open to any sort of work from fruit picking, bar work to anything really.

Muchas gracias.

[jojo]

I dont know what your chances are, the work situation here is very bad, its not what you know its who you know and you´ll not only be up against spaniards, but also other desperate expats for ANY work, however humble it may be.

If you really want to do this tho, what I will say is this: Treat it as an experiment! Tell yourselves, family and friends that you are simply giving it a try for one year. DONT BURN YOUR UK BRIDGES, maybe even make some loose plans to return?! If things work out then great, if they dont then you´ve had a year in the sun and tried. Seriously, thinking like this will take some of the fear away and make it seem less daunting.

Jo x

[SteveHall]

BLUNT answer - do not come.

That's the Reader's Digest but if you want more info just read back through almost every thread.

Fruit picking - zero chance. (see previous thread)
Bar work - join the queues. Almost zero chance

Survival - I wish you well but I did not come on to this planet to survive and what you are looking at looks like survival at best and hell at worse.

[Xose]

Originally Posted by DH1875

Really sorry to seem to be like all the others but I really need some advice.
My family and I are due to move to Spain within the next couple of months but my wife is getting cold feet due to the economic situation.

It is not something that we have taken lightly but as of the rest of the world we seem to have been caught up in the financial crisis.
We actually started our plans over a year ago and while we have enough money to cover us for 6 to 12 months we were wondering what the expats thought about our chances of survival.
As I have already explained we think we have enough cash to live on for at least six months but were wondering if you all think we should stay put here or give it a bash. While my wife is not to sure of the language my children and I know enough to get by and worst case scenario with our savings to support us I am open to any sort of work from fruit picking, bar work to anything really.

Muchas gracias.

A lot depends on your current situaion back home. If you're not working bacause you've lost your job, then JoJo's spot on in my humble opinion. Come over for say 6 months (best six months of the year anyway with summer jobs - few as they will be and with 500% resources to cover them) but at least it's a better shot than post season.

Then of course there's the kids ages. If they are early primary, then it's a wonderful experience opportunity for them, even only 6 months - and at a certain age (8 and under) they'll go back to the UK if you decide that, with a new language learnt. If they are half way through secondary, it could be a very bad move as it will split their education - the UK system is very different to the baccalaureat type system in Spain. OK if you were staying, but breaking the UK system for 6 months at a certain age could be very harmful.

All that said and if you decide to give it a go in any case, after the 6 months, if nothing works out, go back and get on the tredmill again.

All of these things are very individualistic so it's difficult to give anything but a personal opinion. But as I've said in tha past and got shot for it, if you're in hell there, then why not see what hell is like here rather than forever wonder what if - since comming to Galicia I've met a lot of people who went to the UK for 6 months and came back 20+ years later. Likewise for English and American people here who saw the life options and opted for quality of life rather than the corporate climbing greasy pole. Like I said, depends entirely on your circumstances... but all that said, having the ability to go back, even if you never do, is the key to being less stressed simply beacuse if all else fails... etc.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Xose

All that said and if you decide to give it a go in any case, after the 6 months, if nothing works out, go back and get on the tredmill again.

All of these things are very individualistic so it's difficult to give anything but a personal opinion. But as I've said in tha past and got shot for it, if you're in hell there, then why not see what hell is like here rather than forever wonder what if - since comming to Galicia I've met a lot of people who went to the UK for 6 months and came back 20+ years later. Likewise for English and American people here who saw the life options and opted for quality of life rather than the corporate climbing greasy pole. Like I said, depends entirely on your circumstances... but all that said, having the ability to go back, even if you never do, is the key to being less stressed simply beacuse if all else fails... etc.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

You also have to remember that if its hell for you in the UK at least its hell with money(UB), NHS, family, friends, familiar surroundings, first language..... Ok, in Spain you have the weather (only in the summer), the views, the beaches, BUT with no income and no money its hell!



Jo

[Xose]

Originally Posted by jojo

You also have to remember that if its hell for you in the UK at least its hell with money(UB), NHS, family, friends, familiar surroundings, first language..... Ok, in Spain you have the weather (only in the summer), the views, the beaches, BUT with no income and no money its hell!



Jo

Agree, however, UB? OK, but shouldn't stop you having a go at something you really want to do. Sign on now or in six months isn't exactly a gamble given the quantities involved and also given that once you're on, you're in and leaving it for a few months isn't proceduraly easy.
NHS, they will have E111 cover as they will effectively be on holiday for the "Test" period.
Family and Friends - absolutely, but then, if it's only for a few months and it doesn't work out, they'll be there when they return to the UK.

Bottom line, it's try it or not. But what it might not ever be is, go on the dole first, then, if you can't get a job in the UK and your money's run out (God forbid, get repossesed or whatever) then try it. No money to back you up for even 3 or 6 months, the "try it" option is gone.

I guess at the end of the day, the question as always is, just how much do you want to try it?

He who dares rodders - may we may we

Sorry, I know it's a serious matter and one shouldn't take such a move lightly, however, the fact remains that if you don't try you'll never know. If it's no biggie, don't try it!

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Xose

Agree, however, UB? OK, but shouldn't stop you having a go at something you really want to do. Sign on now or in six months isn't exactly a gamble given the quantities involved and also given that once you're on, you're in and leaving it for a few months isn't proceduraly easy.
NHS, they will have E111 cover as they will effectively be on holiday for the "Test" period.
Family and Friends - absolutely, but then, if it's only for a few months and it doesn't work out, they'll be there when they return to the UK.

Bottom line, it's try it or not. But what it might not ever be is, go on the dole first, then, if you can't get a job in the UK and your money's run out (God forbid, get repossesed or whatever) then try it. No money to back you up for even 3 or 6 months, the "try it" option is gone.

I guess at the end of the day, the question as always is, just how much do you want to try it?

He who dares rodders - may we may we

Sorry, I know it's a serious matter and one shouldn't take such a move lightly, however, the fact remains that if you don't try you'll never know. If it's no biggie, don't try it!

I totally agree! Thats why I always say, dont burn your bridges! I worry for the people with kids who sell up, give up good jobs etc and come here with rose tinted specs on!

Jo

[Cazzy]

We moved over for a trial period 4 years ago! We put our 14 year old son in boarding school in the UK as we didn't want to mess his education up. We have stayed in Spain, but work is becoming scarcer as nobody has any money. It worked out well as regards to my son who loved boarding school, and is now at uni in Brighton. My daughter's partner is losing his job in April and they are coming over with a young baby to give it a try, as they have nothing to loose, but only for a couple of months to see if they can get work. If not they are going back. Try it but don't imagine it will be easy!

[chris(madrid)]

Originally Posted by DH1875

As I have already explained we think we have enough cash to live on for at least six months but were wondering if you all think we should stay put here or give it a bash. While my wife is not to sure of the language my children and I know enough to get by and worst case scenario with our savings to support us I am open to any sort of work from fruit picking, bar work to anything really.

Frankly I think you'll struggle to find CASUAL work. I'd strongly advise you do not come UNLESS you have work lined up.

For years the Spanish did not want to casual stuff - so "immigrants" covered the "shortfall". There is now a visible return by the Spanish to return to agriculture because there is NOTHING ELSE for the unskilled. More people fighting for the same jobs. As a result many non-eu immigrants are accepting the goverment help of a ticket "home". The worse your Spanish is - the lower down the list you'll be for finding work.

The issue is can you live on what the wages will be? - This sort of work will be payin MIN WAGE (600€/month). You will not be eligable for much (if anything) in the way of SocSecurity, child support etc.

[DH1875]

Thanks for that Jo.
I realize that finding work is probably going to be the hardest thing but in a way i am lucky as in i will not be in need of a job the minute we arrive, although that wont stop me looking.
Like i said my Soanish is not the greatest but I think I could get by and hopefully it will improve a lot if I am using it more.
We also have a plan of return if things don't work out but I don't know if its a good thing or not as it could be to easy to come back if thinks start to get hard.

Thanks Again.

Originally Posted by jojo

I dont know what your chances are, the work situation here is very bad, its not what you know its who you know and you´ll not only be up against spaniards, but also other desperate expats for ANY work, however humble it may be.

If you really want to do this tho, what I will say is this: Treat it as an experiment! Tell yourselves, family and friends that you are simply giving it a try for one year. DONT BURN YOUR UK BRIDGES, maybe even make some loose plans to return?! If things work out then great, if they dont then you´ve had a year in the sun and tried. Seriously, thinking like this will take some of the fear away and make it seem less daunting.

Jo x