Your experiences of apprehension to move?

Hiya Jimbo,

Me and the better half did exactly that 6 years ago and never looked back 😁

I retired 2 years early after getting everything in order to retire to Benidorm which we had been planning for some years. We sold the family house, 2 cars, a big motorbike and 2 scooters and all the contents of the house. 

Before I retired I took out extra private pensions and increased payment into existing pensions. 

As soon as the house sale went through I organised a holiday apartment in Benidorm for a month and spent that month finding a permanent apartment. 

A British owned solicitors sorted out our NIE and all that was required to make us legal residents here in Spain. 

We love it here, love the lifestyle and of course the weather. 

Don't leave it to late before you put everything in motion as after 31st December it will be much more difficult to gain legal residency.

If you want to come here to Spain to live, do it. What is the "safety net " in the UK  you mentioned? It's not to difficult to gain legal residency but you will need to prove that you have enough income to satisfy the authorities that you won't become a burden on the state and prove you have full healthcare. There will be frustrating times and difficulties to overcome and many hoops to jump through but in the end it's worth it. 

Don't hesitate to ask more questions or you can PM me.

Steve 

Hi Jim,

It is difficult to remove  anxiety away from any move and changes to any situation, let alone a move to another country. It is perfectly normal to feel this way. 

We did exactly the same as you at similar ages and found gaining all the knowledge before hand was the most important  thing to do. There are links and topics on this forum that will help you. 

The one overriding benefit for us was to have choices in the decisions made, this enabled us to have options in the move, you mention you are concerned about selling up and not having a safety net, maybe think about renting your property at home and long term rental in Spain. With the view that at a later time maybe sale and purchase. Therefore if it isn't for you return to the UK is much easier. 

Residency should be part of your plan, and once again this is also easily reversible if it turns out not to be for you. These are in my view the two most important things in the transition of moving. 

Good luck with the process.

Regards Rob

We made the move nearly 5 years ago, I felt worried and concerned that we were making the right decision.

For me the first 12 months were taken up trying to get used to the Spanish psyche, I'm still not sure if I understand it.

Everything will take longer and cost more than you think, the Spanish love paperwork, why make anything simple when it can be made complicated.

Unless you speak Spanish really well Doctors Appointments or dealing with officialdom will be difficult and you may have to employ a translator.

Good luck, hope everything goes well for you.

Always get a written quote from different legal firms.   Don't forget a gestoria can do many legal matters a nd cheap than an abogado.  Use an abogado for big purchases but gestoria for N I E and residencia.

Hi Jim,

Although it is so much work moving from the U.S. to Spain we are doing it!!

We feel no apprehension at all.  The people in Spain are so welcoming.

We are moving to Benitachell on August 7.

Thank you. Very helpful?

so what cost more and took longer than you thought?

i don’t speak Spanish but would be wanting to learn.  

Hi Jimbo,

I don't particularly find anything more expensive. 

Supermarkets here are comparable to UK prices and certainly cheaper if you buy Spanish brands.

Beer and other alcohol is loads cheaper.

Rents in Benidorm are about €500 per calander month, so less than €100 per week for a 2 bedroom apartment and that included everything except electric. My electric bills are far cheaper than the UK. Heating the apartment in winter is minimal cost as Spanish weather is favourable. 

My pension goes much further here. So id like to know too, what is more expensive? 

Steve 

Tenor 53, you are the first person I’ve ever head say that electricity bills here are cheaper than U.K......they are certainly not

Mine most certainly are:

First full year here....

2015...€422

2016...€437

2017...€426

2018...€423

2019...€404

If the original OP wants proof I'll email photocopies. 

I'm in a 2 bed apartment with all the usual electrical things that everyone has including electric water heater, tv, internet (on all the time) etc. No aircon though.

How much is your annual electric bills and do you have aircon or a pool?

Steve