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

 

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. http://www.expatforum.com/expats/sp.../expats/spain-expat-forum-expats-living-spain/26226-teaching-english-spain.html

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Sorry Lauren, I wouldnt want anyone to get on the wrong side of the Spanish authorities. Anyway, your best bet is to come over to Spain or the Canaries and do some fact finding and see if living here is feasable and do some fact finding. I hear the Islands are weathering the recession a little better so maybe thats the place to head.

Just dont burn your UK bridges til you're sure


Jo xxx

 

Sorry Lauren, I wouldnt want anyone to get on the wrong side of the Spanish authorities. Anyway, your best bet is to come over to Spain or the Canaries and do some fact finding and see if living here is feasable and do some fact finding. I hear the Islands are weathering the recession a little better so maybe thats the place to head.

Just dont burn your UK bridges til you're sure


Jo xxx

that'd be lots of fact finding then


you're right though - that's the only way to know for sure

 

Hello Lauren

Spain has many interesting things but unemployment here is high, about 25%. I moved about a year ago to the country and I'm moving out to Greece within a week because I'm really fedup with the way things are run here. I work for international agencies and would only come to Spain for fun not to live.

Good luck with your choice and I know that we can change reality when we want to but local government is not that interested in changing it for a better future.

 

Interesting, I would have said that Greece has a few more problems than Spain, but maybe not, maybe theres more potential there???????

Jo xxx

 

Indeed. But, as I said, I don't depend on local market to work. I just don't want to live in this atmosphere here, rather negative.

 

Wow, sorry I didnt mean to cause an arguement! Second thoughts I wouldn't be running it in Spain really, my parents have a business in the UK and I would run the shop online and my Mum would be parcelling them up in the UK etc. So surely theres nothing wrong with doing that?

I know we need to come out and find out the things out there, which hopefully we will try and do a few things while on holiday in September. I hear so many good things and get so excited then hearing bad things brings me back to reality!

Like I said earlier in 1 of my replies, I just feel that im young enough to try it and if it doesnt work we can come home easily enough, it's not like its a family im thinking of moving to spain, that would be a lot tougher decision. If we don't try we will never know!

x

 

If you are physically living here then you are working here & therefore have to pay your taxes & NI here

no question - no ifs, buts or maybes - sorry...............

 

The atmosphere in spain is negative?! Surely it can't be worse than the UK?!?!?!?

I know it sounds stupid but mine and my boyfriends heart is set on somewhere in Spain, even before we met it was both something we had dreamt of...so Spain just seems right...not so right if we can't find a job i know! haha!

x

 

I think it depends where you go. Personally if you want a happy atmosphere then anywhere that has tourism and holiday makers is gonna feel fun! Spain and Greece are both in the "brown stuff" financially and I'm not sure which one has the happiest atmosphere overall!?

I agree, while you're young, foot loose and fancy free you have to try these things, so go for it, but take some precautions just in case !!!!! If you do find Spain too negative, then maybe try somewhere else?? A different region or even Greece ????

Jo xxx

 

Quite right, Lauren. Then you should follow your dream and you are young enough to go for it with your boyfriend.
I'm also a taxpayer and can choose to live wherever I want. That is what makes things negative to me here.

 

We would want to go to somewhere touristy anyway as we have more chance of finding jobs there, hopefully!

Precautions....money? Plenty of it? Will that do? lol

How could Spain be negative every time I have ever been everybody always seems so happy, helpful and so laid back?!

x

 

How could Spain be negative every time I have ever been everybody always seems so happy, helpful and so laid back?!

x

But that was only on holiday surely! Life is not always relaxed, no matter where you live! And even in a touristy area (I am living in one), there is something called "every day life". Try the tourist areas in winter

 

Okay...someone telling me I should follow my dream gives me the biggest burst of excitement ever!! Thanks!!! x

 

Well yes, obviously that was just on holiday. I wouldn't be asking all this if I was already living in Spain ... But I was actually meaning the locals and people who are working. Im sure every day life in Spain is alot better than every day life in gloomy old England! ... Surely that depends what tousrist are you are in as to how busy it is in winter, as some1 said earlier that the canary islands are an all year round touristy place...?!

x

 

I am not a scuba diver, however the ocean off the island where I live is apparently world famous, if you "Google" El Hierro Diving Centres, or in Spanish, Busceo El Hierro, you will get umpteen links.
Perhaps you should ask your question there,

Hepa

 

I know people on holiday are bound to be relaxed etc, and people may be nice as they want you to come back, but atleast that happens. That doesnt happen in England, most people r just stressed and nasty to whoever it may be....and always in a rush to get everywhere and do everything!

Thanks for your reply about scuba aswell Hepa x

 

Sure - the Spanish people are one of its biggest assets, even more important than the weather in my book. So get cracking on those Spanish lessons and go for it! lane:

 

Gotta love fact finding ey....!!

 

So me listing an item on ebay and when it sells it is getting paid into my parents bank account and me being paid by somebody in england as working in Spain?

Im not trying to get out of paying it :S It was just a question as I'm new to this, my question was just what would I have to pay if it was me ebay shop which I was making money from, thats all?!

Sorry! ......

 

yes, strictly speaking - you'd be working here

you should register as autónomo (self-employed) & pay NI +/- 250€ a month +tax

I think you can earn +/- 20,000€ a year without paying tax - not entirely sure - my OH's accountant deals with all that for me

 

All I can think of is when I went on holiday to Lanzarote last year was in 1 restuarant we went to quite a few times, we got talking to 1 of the waiters and he was saying he had been working every day for the past 2 weeks and had been starting early having siesta and then doing another shift until late but yet he was still so happy and chatty to everybody...(maybe not so happy on the inside) But like I said thats what annoys me about this country, people are just rude...atleast the Spanish do put on a front of happy and smiley! ... Just like I do at work! Why shouldnt everyone else?! Sorry...rant over!!

 

Some years ago whilst living in England, my youngest son( then 28 and unattached) posed the same question that Lauren is asking, should he go and live in the Canary Islands.

I asked him if he had his return fare and some spare cash, which he had. I suggested that he book a two week holiday in Gran Canaria and have a look around, this he did, I took him to the airport and away he went. He stayed for over 5 years working as a bar manager in the Hipperdrome bar Playa del Inglés Gran Canaria. He now runs a restaurant in the north of England.

He enjoyed the experience of living and working in a different country, his colleagues taught him Spanish in return he helped them with their English.

So Lauren, it can be done, a big decision, but it is one that only you can make,

Hepa

 

Thanks Hepa I love postive posts!! I have my mind made up...I have nothing to lose, so why not?! I just need 2 get saving, and attempt 2 learn spanish...could be interesting?! Im guessing shouting at a barman when ur asking for a drink doesnt help then?! Like all chavvy brits think....!! HAHAA!!! x

 

20,000euros a year?! I wish!! But also it wouldnt be self employed as I would be working for my parents back in england, surely? Or am i getting confused?!

 

You must ask this question at your Income Tax office in England, if you are employed by an English employer and your remuneration is in England you will be taxed at source.

However if you eventually leave England, you must inform the English income tax office and they will provide you with the forms to fill in once you arrive in Spain, You can then apply to be exempt from U.K. tax and pay your taxes on your earnings here. Once you are paying taxes and social security payments here, you will then be eligible for health care and other benefits,

Hepa

 

Okay, thankyou. Bit confusing, but i think i get it

 

Lauren, if I understood right the issue, you can use paypal. Easy and not expensive.