Moving to Spain? Good or Bad idea? Jobs etc!

[lauren89]

Hiya, I'm new here so apologies in advance if I'm asking questions that have been asked a million times before..and sorry for asking so much!!

My boyfriend (35) and I (22) really want to move to Spain, we are both fed up of pretty much everything in the UK, and its something we've spoken about ever since we got together.

Firstly we obviously need to save as much as we can before we move out there, I have read that you should take enough to live off for 6 months, I would rather take enough for a year, just incase! My boyfriend speaks a little spanish and picks it up very easily as he did when we went on holiday to lanzarote last year but I..well just don't! Im sure I could if I put my mind to it, just like anything! :P

What sort of area is best to go, obviously the busier the better as it should hopefully be easier to get a job? Is a Canary Island a daft idea? Would we be better in mainland Spain?

My boyfriend was thinking about doing a TEFL course and teaching english out there, are those sort of jobs easy to come by? Or not so much? He's not bothered about doing that straight away, working in a bar etc would appeal to him just as much as teaching.

We obviously just want to rent somewhere out there for 6 months initially, hopefully with bills included just so it makes it slightly easier. But what other things do you need to pay? Is there anything that you pay there that you dont have to in the UK? Im just used to paying all your normal household bills. How much are things like council tax, elec, water in Spain? (depends on how much you use i know! ) just incase where we rent doesnt have bills included.

Lauren x

[lauren89]

Oh, I forgot to say.....we think of all the postives about moving to Spain, and read alot on the internet, but also find alot of negatives about it. So in peoples opinion who have been there and done it all and are either still out there or back in the UK, is it a good or bad idea...and for what reasons? .... That is my last question, for now, I promise!! x

[Alcalaina]

Hi Lauren and welcome to the forum!

The unemployment situation is far worse in Spain than anywhere else in Europe, 45% of people 25 are out of work, so it is very unlikely that you´ll manage to get find work here. It's usually a case of who you know.

There is some work for English teachers - check out this thread. Teaching English in Spain

The Canaries have a year-round tourist season and a healthier economy than the mainland, so you might be lucky to pick up some casual work there. But there is a lot of competition so the hours are long, the wages low, and there is no job security or unemployment/housing benefit if you are suddenly sacked.

Depending where you are, rents are generally cheaper than the UK (except in the holiday season). Areas away from the coast are cheaper of course, but you will have even less chance of finding work.

Electricity is about the same, water is cheaper. You are unlikely to have to pay council tax equivalent (IBI) if you rent, but it is much lower here. Eating and drinking depends on your lifestyle; you can live very cheaply but it's not much fun living on cheap wine and lentils. As a rule of thumb, the cost of living is about the same as the UK especially when the exchange rate favours the euro (as it does now).

So come over and bring as much cash as you can scrape together, but don't burn your bridges.

[MacRov]

My family and I are about to move out to Costa Calida in 2 weeks time but I wouldn't even entertain the move if I didn't have a job, read through all the threads on here and you'll see work is very hard to come by (even for the locals).
Probably best to decide on an area then visit and see what the work situation is like there before making the final plunge.
Although you say you're saving enough to get by for a year so might get some work before the cash starts to run out.

[lauren89]

Thanks for your replies. I guess the best bet is just to keep saving and hopefully when we decide to do it and have saved up more than enough things may be slightly better! The more we save the longer we can stay...even if we dont manage 2 get jobs I just see it as if you don't try you will never know.

Im pleased you said the canaries have a healthier economy as that was our preferred choice! We are off to Lanzarote at the beginning of September for our holiday... I'm sure when we get there it will make us want to do this even more than it did last time!

The places to rent I have been looking at I'm just amazed by, the rent where I live in the uk seems crazy compared to prices in Spain! ... I'm sure council tax is alot less, I currently pay £130 a month, just for a 2 bedroom flat!!

If i wanted to have an internet shop, just on eBay while out there is there anything I have to declare or not?

I would deffinately be coming out there once we have decided on an area, to look for work in the hope of finding some sort of job and looking at places to rent...I'm not that brave (or maybe stupid) to just come out with no plans.

Thanks again
Lauren

[djfwells]

Originally Posted by lauren89

If i wanted to have an internet shop, just on eBay while out there is there anything I have to declare or not?

Putting aside the issue of whether what you propose to do is morally / legally right or wrong, it comes down to this : What are the chances of you being caught by the authorities for doing this ? Answer : Slim.

Firstly, if you are selling an item that you have purchased without a VAT / IVA number and are selling without charging VAT / IVA and not raisng an invoice, chances are that nobody will notice.

Secondly, If you insist on payment through Paypal, then being a US entity, they are under no obligation to provide any financial information to the UK or Spanish authorities.

Thirdly, many E bay traders do so through a PO Box address. Who says that this can't be in the UK while you live in Spain ?

Finally, and probably most importantly, the tax authorities in Spain have much, much bigger fish to fry at the moment : Black Money Employees, Illegal workers, undeclared Holiday rental income etc... making a few quid from selling a handful of CD's online is likely to be way down on their list of priorities

[Hepa]

Hello Lauren,

I live in the Canary Islands, El Hierro. It has been reported in the local news media for the last two nights, that unemployment last month fell by 14,000. The tourist trade has had a dramatic increase compared with the previous years figures, staff are being re employed and further staff recruited.

This has been the sixth consecutive month that unemployment has fallen and the economy has grown in the Canary Islands. We seem to be the only province in Spain that has positive growth.

Depending on what your profession is, perhaps you should pay a visit to either Tenerife or Gran Canaria, try the south of both islands you will be able to judge the situation for yourself. The larger Islands have more tourist than the rest, you might also consider Lanzarote.

Should you get lucky and find employment, then don't forget to visit us on the smaller islands, the link below viewed as a slide show will give you an insight,

Hepa

[lauren89]

Thanks djfwells, I didnt think of it like that. It would be items that I buy and don't pay VAT on, and yes it would be through paypal. So, thats a bit of good news Thanks!

Thanks hepa, and yet another great bit of news....Canary Islands was where we really wanted to go like I said, but thought Mainland Spain would of been better for some reason.

We went to Lanzarote last year and loved it so are going again this year, I have also visited Gran Canaria before which was lovely. Not that i'd be moaning about moving to Lanzarote, Tenerife or Gran Canaria!!

Also another question....very random, my boyfriend is currently doing his scuba diving course and is then going to follow on my doing other courses which I think then means he could be an assistant instructor. Does anybody know if these are very rare sorts of jobs or if theres a few to come by? (I know as with all jobs at the moment, theres not alot af anything!)

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your replies! .... Although it is just getting me more and more exicted!! x

[jojo]

Originally Posted by djfwells

Putting aside the issue of whether what you propose to do is morally / legally right or wrong, it comes down to this : What are the chances of you being caught by the authorities for doing this ? Answer : Slim.

Firstly, if you are selling an item that you have purchased without a VAT / IVA number and are selling without charging VAT / IVA and not raisng an invoice, chances are that nobody will notice.

Secondly, If you insist on payment through Paypal, then being a US entity, they are under no obligation to provide any financial information to the UK or Spanish authorities.

Thirdly, many E bay traders do so through a PO Box address. Who says that this can't be in the UK while you live in Spain ?

Finally, and probably most importantly, the tax authorities in Spain have much, much bigger fish to fry at the moment : Black Money Employees, Illegal workers, undeclared Holiday rental income etc... making a few quid from selling a handful of CD's online is likely to be way down on their list of priorities

Its never a good idea to encourage people into thinking that they "wont get caught" I know lots of people in Spain who have been caught, its foolish in the UK when you understand the system, to think you can get away with anything in a foreign country, especially one like Spain when you dont even understand their language or rules is just plain stupid!

So no, if you're planning on tax evasion, then dont come and do it in Spain.

................. and there are plenty of lookie lookie men in Spain selling cds illegally already

Jo xxx

[djfwells]

Originally Posted by jojo

Its never a good idea to encourage people into thinking that they "wont get caught" I know lots of people in Spain who have been caught, its foolish in the UK when you understand the system, to think you can get away with anything in a foreign country, especially one like Spain when you dont even understand their language or rules!

So no, if you're planning on tax evasion, then dont come and do it in Spain.

................. and there are plenty of lookie lookie men in Spain selling cds illegally already

Jo xxx

As I said in my post ' Putting aside the issue of whether what you propose to do is morally / legally right or wrong ' , nor am I doing any encouraging - merely pointing out a few facts.

As you so rightly say, there ARE positives to paying Social Security contribuitions to Spain, I never said that there wasn't. I was answering a question as honestly and truthfully as I could - it's not our job to be somebodies moral beacon.