Work / Life balance ?!?!?!?!

[Suenneil]

Originally Posted by Buenosdiaspet

I know for me being in Spain has meant harder/longer work hours than it did in the UK, but the bits when I'm not working, well there is the sea and the mountains and the pool outside etc. And my kids have a wonderful life mostly out of doors. I know I am very lucky in being able to work at/from home so I am not factoring in daily travel - but with the exchange rate and economic climate I know I am working harder than I ever did before to bring in the same standard of living (one of those factors would apply equally strongly had we stayed in the UK of course!)

I prefer the attitude in Spain, of living to work rather than the other way around. As well as the way people are generally less hung up on professional status... in an expat community people are less defined by 'what they do' than in the home counties. What's more important is their story and motivations, in a place that people live in because they chose to.

Exactly! which is why Ive decided to stay in Estepona! and put up with the travel ..... because my time outside of work is the most important time to consider .....

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Suenneil

Exactly! which is why Ive decided to stay in Estepona! and put up with the travel ..... because my time outside of work is the most important time to consider .....

I think we talked about this when we met, but cant you not work from home once a week or summat??????

Jo xxx

[Suenneil]

Originally Posted by jojo

I think we talked about this when we met, but cant you not work from home once a week or summat??????

Jo xxx

Hi Jojo..... missed you a lot recently .... hope all is going well

Sadly not ...working from home sets a precedent for everyone else in the company to do the same - so its a no no unfortunately.

But the point of my post wasnt to whinge about my working hours ... but to say I had taken a decision not to move because my home / personal life was more important than work ... so even though my time at home is less by living so far away from the office .... its better quality in my opinion by staying where I am ...

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Suenneil

Hi Jojo..... missed you a lot recently .... hope all is going well

Sadly not ...working from home sets a precedent for everyone else in the company to do the same - so its a no no unfortunately.

But the point of my post wasnt to whinge about my working hours ... but to say I had taken a decision not to move because my home / personal life was more important than work ... so even though my time at home is less by living so far away from the office .... its better quality in my opinion by staying where I am ...

I know, its a toughy, but at least you've made a decision which makes life easier and more settled.

We're just about in the new place, we sleep here, have the internet here, just gotta few bits at the old place and it needs a good clean!! my we're a messy family!! Its onlyt when you move that you can see how lazy I was with cleaning etc...!!!!!

Jo xxx

[Suenneil]

Originally Posted by jojo

I know, its a toughy, but at least you've made a decision which makes life easier and more settled.

We're just about in the new place, we sleep here, have the internet here, just gotta few bits at the old place and it needs a good clean!! my we're a messy family!! Its onlyt when you move that you can see how lazy I was with cleaning etc...!!!!!

Jo xxx

Listen - Im pretty clean and tidy around the house ... BUT I have always said that when I am on my deathbed the one thing you wont here me saying is "If only I had spent more time cleaning under the beds and dusting the skirting boards" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More important things to do in life!

[richie rich]

hmmm, all good points and certainly you guys have given me alot to think about.....as for work, I'll most likely be working as an Autonomo english teacher, and if I need to supplement the hours, I'm an experienced barman and doorman so I can hopefully land a job in a bar or nightclub if I need to.
But I would think that working 45-50 hours a week at around 20 euros an hour would give me an okay lifestyle wouldn't it? I'm not a high roller or a 'player' but I do enjoy my food and the odd night out.

[Chica]

Originally Posted by richie rich

But I would think that working 45-50 hours a week at around 20 euros an hour would give me an okay lifestyle wouldn't it? I'm not a high roller or a 'player' but I do enjoy my food and the odd night out.

€20 an hour????????????? I don't know anybody earning that much an hour in any job!! In the bars it's normally €5/6 p/h. Sorry to burst your bubble but that's the rate around here. Don't know about the other areas tho'??!!

[Suenneil]

Originally Posted by richie rich

hmmm, all good points and certainly you guys have given me alot to think about.....as for work, I'll most likely be working as an Autonomo english teacher, and if I need to supplement the hours, I'm an experienced barman and doorman so I can hopefully land a job in a bar or nightclub if I need to.
But I would think that working 45-50 hours a week at around 20 euros an hour would give me an okay lifestyle wouldn't it? I'm not a high roller or a 'player' but I do enjoy my food and the odd night out.

Hi Richie
Im with Chica on this - I dont know anyone earning 20 euros an hour here ? Not in bars etc anyway .... even people I know who are teaching at international schools are earning 2200 euros per month before taxes/SS payments - and they are the highly qualified ones. But maybe each area has different salary brackets ?

[jojo]

All the jobs I've been looking at, ok, unskilledish (altho I'm a fully qualifed nurse) have been in the region of 5€ - 7€ an hour. I actually havent seen anything advertised that pays more that 8€ an hour

Jo xxx

[jojo]

... actually, I'm useless at maths, but work this out. I had to have my pool repaired recently and it had to be reset in pressed concrete, I had 3 men working for 4 days (7.30am - 2.30pm) and they charged me 600€

My Spanish teacher used to charge 10€ an hour which was a bit on the high side but she came to the house giving us "one to one" and actually used to stay for longer to help my daughter with her homework

Jo xxx