Tips on what household items to bring from the uk rather than buy in Spain? - Page 2

Prices are very similar if £10 in Uk it is €10 here.

Hi

I had a similiar conundrum when coming over and there were a few things I brought and bring over each time:

1. Pillows - I fund the quality of pillows not great and as I was bringing my bedding from UK wanted to make sure it fitted

2. Duvets - I went to Tesco and got their anti allergy duvets - they have a full cotton cover rather than the cheaper versions and are brilliant in summer

3. Microwave - found this one of the most expensive things

4. 4 slice toaster

5. CD player

6. Pots and pans - very expensive

Food stuff - I found english items quite expensive to buy and loaded up in pound shop on shampoo, deodorants,HP sauce, gravy granules, custard, cous cous and medical things such as flu plus, painkillers etc. Also cleaning products (only because I knew what they were lol)

I would also say go to the auctions when you are there - we picked up a DVD player and hoover for 10Euro each and other things such as some pots etc. There is also a lot of buy and sell websites on Facebook which are great for picking things up

We also bought all our dishes in Ikea so that if they got broken they were easily replaceable without having to buy a new dinner set.

Its also a good time to pick up bbq tools etc and sun tan lotions in the sales here and bring over

Hope this helps - PM me if you need any further info and good luck!

Many thanks for your comprehensive list, it's really helpful.

I am compiling a list of things, and your advice is great re the quilts.

I still can't decide if we buy quilts, summer tog, or just a sheet and a light blanket. With air con on, a bit of warmth is a good idea. But then the air con is expensive to run probably. Decisions decisions!

The pans, I had thought to look in TKMaxx. It is our intention to go to Ikea for the plates and cutlery etc. Will stock up on the tablets etc, and sun lotion.

If I have any questions over the next few weeks, I may PM you, thank you.

Hi we moved over in July this year and brought everything from UK as didn't want to be shopping around in the heat. I brought all my big cooking pots from ikea as well but there was a problem the electric hob would only work with a certain brand of pans. So all my saucepans were no good. If you can fit it in your vehicle then buy in UK and bring over. Regards Cathie 

Thank you for your further comments re bedding. It gives me a better idea about might work for us. 

Re the saucepans, our hob is an induction one, so I might have to buy and bring  those out from the uk as they are specific to an induction hob.

Thanks again for the advice.

Think these forums are a wonderful idea, and must save stax of little niggles & worries.  So interesting to read.

Annie 19

Hi. Bring pans from UK.  More expensive here.  Bear in mind bedding sizes - if Spanish beds are in your apartment, uk bedding wont fit and vice versa. Small kitchen appliances are cheaper in uk. 

I thought the Primark Towels here in Spain were really thick and only €7 for a big bath towel but colours are restricted, there was mid blue, grey, white, black and beige, I used to buy all my towels in Dunelm when in the UK,  yes definitely a 4 slice toaster and kettle to match if that's what you would want. Saucepans over here don't tend to have one handle apart from the small ones they have what I call casserole handles which I personally don't like so we brought a set with us. If you are bringing your car fill it up with any branded stuff that you use a lot of T bags etc and also paracetamol tend to be around €3 for 20 tablets  and can only be bought from a Pharmacy, I stock up from Wilkos or Tesco when I am in the UK. Hope this helps.

An electric blanket! We don't use one in UK but find it's an absolute must out here for December, January and February. If you have any particularly favourite items of kitchen/household kit then bring them with you, don't assume you'll be able to buy exactly the same out here.