Living in Spain
Living in Spain by Shelter Offshore in Living Abroad
Published on 18 July 2008
If you’ve been contemplating a move to Spain and were wondering if you could really justify it to your friends and family, or if you were just looking for one more reason to quit the UK, it comes in the form of a quality of life survey from uSwitch.com.
uSwitch.com examined the major European nations to determine which offered its citizens the best quality of life, and it seems that now it is 100% official: for quality of life, move to Spain because it tops all other nations in Europe in everything from the numbers of hours of sunshine the nation enjoys, to the number of days holiday those living in Spain get to enjoy annually.
Published on 03 July 2008
It may be hard for you to believe, but there is one good thing to come from the credit crunch that’s affecting those of us who live in the UK or Europe…moving to Marbella in Spain is now more affordable! It’s true, even the most sought after locations across Europe are now becoming more affordable and within reach for increasing numbers of us.
Property prices in Spain have been falling across pockets of the country for well over a year now, and one of the hardest hit locations is the Costa del Sol that was previously so oversold and overpriced that it was becoming increasingly overlooked. Well, now that prices are falling and the level of interest in Spanish investment property is waning too, it seems that the likes of marvellous Marbella are suddenly within reach!
Published on 30 June 2008
Regular readers will remember when we reported on the proposed changes to the healthcare system in France which would have left British expatriates who had taken early retirement having to pay for their medical treatment. Well now, unfortunately a similar fate is facing those living in Spain on the Costa Blanca.
As if a failing Spanish property market were not enough to dampen the once irresistible allure of retiring to Spain, healthcare woes for those living in Spain are now putting off would-be retirees from seriously considering the country as a viable place to live. But are the proposed changes going to become law and who might they specifically affect?
Published on 30 April 2008
Spain continues to be one of the most popular overseas destinations for British retirees seeking sunshine not showers in their retirement. It is an accessible destination from the UK, it’s famed for its laid back lifestyle and relatively low cost of living, and what’s more, the weather truly is glorious for the majority of the year on the coast in Southern Spain.
If you’re planning a retirement to a Spanish villa or perhaps a finca in the countryside, we don’t blame you! In this article we’ll cover UK pensions and tax for you when you’re living in Spain. It’s important to know what your liabilities will be before you go so you can make sure you have all your planning in order before you relocate.
Published on 27 April 2008
Despite the fact that property prices in Spain are falling and the media is having a field day publishing the fact that confidence has been lost in the Spanish housing market, it is not putting us off our love affair with Spain and we are still moving to live, work or retire in Spain in strong numbers each month!
But if you’re thinking of moving to Spain certain questions will arise that you won’t be able to get a straight answer to, and this may well be driving you mad! The most basic question about whether or not you need a visa to live in Spain and how you go about getting an ID card can seem impossible queries to get an answer to. So, if you’re moving to Spain, Shelter Offshore can answer all your residency and NIE questions.
Published on 16 April 2008
A new book entitled ‘Spain: The Expat Survival Guide’ has come to our attention because it has received excellent reviews from our readers and because it’s edited by an old favourite of ours, Debbie Jenkins.
The author of the book is Yolanda Solo; Yolanda has lived the dream in Spain and seen other expats fairing badly in their new life in the sun, which is why Yolanda was driven to write this particular title. If you’re thinking of living in Spain and you want to ensure you avoid typical expat mistakes, this book will make essential reading!
Published on 12 April 2008
Located in Western Andalusia, Seville is quintessential Spain! With its fabulous historic centre, great literary history and strong cultural feel, Seville is a popular tourism destination and is becoming increasing attractive to expats who speak Spanish and who want to live and work in Spain.
This is our guide to living in Seville in Spain if you’re looking for a destination with strong appeal, a diverse range of employment prospects and a really good social life.
Published on 29 March 2008
Located almost right in the middle of Spain, the capital city of Madrid is home to an increasingly large number of expats who are lured by the employment prospects, the relatively affordable cost of living, the high standard of living and the cultural and social side of life in Madrid.
But there are disadvantages as well as advantages to living in this exciting city which we shall now discuss, so that would-be expats can make their own mind up about whether they want to move to live in Spain in Madrid.
Published on 28 March 2008
There’s no denying the fact that Barcelona is one of the liveliest, most culturally rich cities in the whole of Europe. There’s also no denying the fact that Barcelona is a strong tourism draw as well as one of the most attractive city based locations for expatriates of working age who are considering living abroad.
In this article we’ll look at the essential facts about living in Barcelona so that if you’re seeking an overseas destination that combines charm with vibrancy and an attractive climate with good employment prospects, you can add Barcelona to your list of locations to consider.
Published on 14 March 2008
Is Spain still a cheap place to live in? There’s a great deal of evidence to show that the gap in the cost of living between Spain and UK has narrowed over recent years, yet in the main as long as you don’t move to Spain with the full intention of continuing to only purchase your favourite UK brands with no deviation whatsoever from your current UK shopping basket, you’ll find that with gentle changes towards a more localised shopping basket that living in Spain is still a far less costly option than staying in the UK.
As to exactly how much cheaper Spain will be for you personally, it does depend on your individual spending habits, how willing you are to adapt to the local products, your likes and your dislikes. Generally, the closer your life is to the life of the local population the cheaper it gets. If you’re happy to take a leisurely visit to the local markets for your day to day groceries you’ll comfortably reduce your shopping bill by up to 30%. On the other hand if absolutely you must have all UK name brand products and find yourself being drawn to the expat shops, with all of your favourite UK labeled brands you may well find that any potential savings in the cost of living will be lost in the additional import and shipping costs you’re now paying on UK produce.
Further Living in Spain Articles
Articles, ideas, news and facts for anyone seeking a new life abroad
The complete guide to buying property abroad, with advice and expertise from top global property investors
Debunking any myths about banking or investing offshore, clear explanations about legal tax optimisastion through the use of offshore jurisdictions