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Looking for advice

Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 9:59pm
4 replies151 views4 members subscribed
Nancysmammyandaddy

Posts: 2

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 24 Jan 2018

Hi 

Thanks for letting us join your forum.We are a couple in our late 30s with a 3 year old daughter a small dog( terrier x) and a lazy house cat.we live in Ireland. I am originally from the uk and my husband is from Ireland.

We are looking to relocate to Costa Blanca in April/may. We will definitely rent for a year or two first with the possibility of buying later on. I will be living there full time with my daughter and Enda (my husband ) will commute weekly working in Ireland 3-4 days as an engineer.We both speak very basic Spanish ( I lived for 10 months in Mallorca in my early 20s)

Now to my many many questions that I hope you can help with 😀

School

 I'm very undecided on private v public.

we are catholic and I had heard there were catholic semi private schools, is it feasible to think we would get a place or are they more for Spanish children?

I would like my daughter to speak Spanish is public better?

Are there any private  bi lingual schools?

Pets

Has anyone brought pets from the uk?

How expensive and time consuming is it?

Did your animals settle and cope with the heat?

Is it hard rent with pets?

Work

I don't plan to work straight away but would hope to maybe find some part time work in the future.

I am a twin and triplet maternity nurse and doula, a qualified nursery nurse. A reiki practitioner. I was also a guiding and transfer rep for a few seasons when I was younger and have done the odd bit of bar or cafe work. Can you see any of these being useful or should I be looking to gain Spanish qualifications?

Finances

After weekly flights for enda and our health insurance we will have a budget to live on of around €2000 euros a month this will need to cover rent,electricity,bins,food etc do you think it's sufficient until I work?

Areas

We don't drive( crazy hippies) so would need somewhere with good transport links,ideally no further then a 15/20min bus ride to the beach,we enjoy Spanish food and culture and Im happy to have a go at languages  but would like a Small expat community (English,Irish,Norwegian or German) until we become more fluent in Spanish. I guess a mix of nationalities but with a good Spanish community.

What areas would you suggest?

Brexit 

Obviously my husband and daughter both have Irish passports but my passport is from the uk. I am able to get an Irish passport.do you think it's worth doing?

We already have to pay in Ireland for private health insurance so we will just change policies.

Mortgages 

I have a friend who recently got a Spanish mortgage is this usual or is it like hens teeth?

Do I need to be a cash buyer?

Thanks so much and sorry for the long long post ( you probably fell asleep half way through)

Kelly, Enda and Nancy 

Nikki26

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 8:31pm

Posts: 47

16 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 18 Jun 2017

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 8:31pm

Hi 

I can answer a few of your questions.

Schools- most people with children as young as yours would probably put them into the Spanish school system as they will easily and quickly pick up the language. There are one or two private schools ie Newton College in Elche. Kings College in Alicante and Murcia are both private but teach in English the English curriculum and all exams are same as in England which is helpful in case you ever return. (Kings fees going up per year and you will need to pay for bus. Fees are on their website). So guess you need to decide!! 

There is another one I think something like Loudes but really not sure. 

Cost : I'm in a similar boat as you - I spend a week here with my partner and 2 teenagers and then a week in the UK (so fly every Monday).  Your budget, I think is enough for a comfortable lifestyle. 

Mortgage- I was a cash buyer so . ..

Pets - I brought out 2 dogs and a cat. Passports and jabs were the main expense but are a one off if you aren't planning on going back. We drove all the way (channel tunnel cost a bit for them) and it was a long drive but they were great and have settled in really well. My 13yr lab loves the warmth. 

Hope some of this helps.

Nikki 

Nancysmammyandaddy

Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 9:42pm

Nancysmammyandaddy

Original Poster

Posts: 2

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 24 Jan 2018

Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 9:42pm

Thanks so much Nikki, that's a great  help. Any ideas on areas? somewhere with a mix of Spanish and international community. 

Cheers kelly

Nikki26

Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 10:00pm

Posts: 47

16 helpful points

Location: La Marina

Joined: 18 Jun 2017

Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2018 10:00pm

I decided on somewhere outside of La Marina but you do need transport. I wanted somewhere with a large plot as we have 2 dogs and having grown up in the countryside - I wanted space and a garden to grow plants, fruit trees and vegs.  La Marina urb itself is like a mini town but mainly English and Dutch - which personally didn't appeal to me. House prices were about the same though. 

My children are independent now (18 & 16) so I'm perhaps not the best to ask as your situation is totally different ie small child and no transport.

I'm not sure what to suggest as you will be governed by choice of school and transport availability. 

Sorry that's really not helpful at all. 

Nikki 

Anne50

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:33am

Posts: 44

14 helpful points

Location: Orihuela Costa

Joined: 22 Sep 2017

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:33am

Nancysmammyandaddy wrote on Fri Jan 26, 2018 9:59pm:

Hi 

Thanks for letting us join your forum.We are a couple in our late 30s with a 3 year old daughter a small dog( terrier x) and a lazy house cat.we live in Ireland. I am originally from the uk and my husband is from Ireland.

We are looking to relocate to Costa Blanca in April/may. We will definitely rent for a year or two first with the possibility of buying later on. I will be living there full time with my daughter and Enda (my husband ) will commute weekly working in Ireland 3-4 days as an engineer.We both speak very basic Spanish ( I lived for 10 months in Mallorca in my early 20s)

Now to my many many questions that I hope you can help with 😀

School

 I'm very undecided on private v public.

we are catholic and I had heard there were catholic semi private schools, is it feasible to think we would get a place or are they more for Spanish children?

I would like my daughter to speak Spanish is public better?

Are there any private  bi lingual schools?

Pets

Has anyone brought pets from the uk?

How expensive and time consuming is it?

Did your animals settle and cope with the heat?

Is it hard rent with pets?

Work

I don't plan to work straight away but would hope to maybe find some part time work in the future.

I am a twin and triplet maternity nurse and doula, a qualified nursery nurse. A reiki practitioner. I was also a guiding and transfer rep for a few seasons when I was younger and have done the odd bit of bar or cafe work. Can you see any of these being useful or should I be looking to gain Spanish qualifications?

Finances

After weekly flights for enda and our health insurance we will have a budget to live on of around €2000 euros a month this will need to cover rent,electricity,bins,food etc do you think it's sufficient until I work?

Areas

We don't drive( crazy hippies) so would need somewhere with good transport links,ideally no further then a 15/20min bus ride to the beach,we enjoy Spanish food and culture and Im happy to have a go at languages  but would like a Small expat community (English,Irish,Norwegian or German) until we become more fluent in Spanish. I guess a mix of nationalities but with a good Spanish community.

What areas would you suggest?

Brexit 

Obviously my husband and daughter both have Irish passports but my passport is from the uk. I am able to get an Irish passport.do you think it's worth doing?

We already have to pay in Ireland for private health insurance so we will just change policies.

Mortgages 

I have a friend who recently got a Spanish mortgage is this usual or is it like hens teeth?

Do I need to be a cash buyer?

Thanks so much and sorry for the long long post ( you probably fell asleep half way through)

Kelly, Enda and Nancy 

Hello Kelly

I can help hopefully on a view of the questions.

We moved here to Villamartin nearly 11 years ago now, my son Daniel was 5(almost 6) and my daughter was 1 years old.

I enrolled them into the Spanish state Primary school, well my son to start with. Back in the UK he was in a Catholic School, but the Catholic Religion is taught in the Schools here. (Enrolling here starts in April/May) so I did not look at the Catholic Schools.

My daughter started in Infantil at the age of 3 years.

My soon took about a year to settle and is now in the last year of High School and is doing well, My daughter knew no different and is doing well, she struggles with a couple of subjects, but that is not due to the language, its like most kids are good at some lessons and not others.

She is now in her last year at Primary.

Infantil 3-5 years old

Primary 6-12 years

High School 12-16 years

6th Form 16 years to 18 years.

If they struggle badly the usually repeat a year, but believe me none of the kids think of it as a bad way and no once makes fun of them if they do.

Via the school both my kids did there 1st Holy Communion here in Spain, its a 3 year course at the local Church and is done when they are 10, the Church feels they have better understanding of the Religion at this age and it is an hour lesson once a week during School terms only and Church on a Sunday morning.

I probally could go on and on, but if you want to Private Message me, I can give you my mobile number and email address if easier.

We bought Cash, so have not rented or needed a mortgage.

Have two Cats, but both from here and in the Summer they sleep a lot and eat only a little.

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Espana Dream Properties
Car Key Solutions
James Spanish School
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AA Free English TV
Gran Alacant Insurances
Costa Blanca Building Specialists
Thy Will Be Done
Blacktower Financial Management
Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
Gentlevan Removals
interior building work
Expat Services
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