The pros and cons of living in Spain

Although I have only lived in Spain for a year you learn alot along the way. So, I wanted to make a list of the pros and cons to help others who are thinking about moving to a place in the sun.

PROS

·         Sunshine

The long sunny days are certainly a benefit of living in Spain. When living in the UK and working with the general public it was always noticeable when the winter was coming to an end and the summer sun was appearing for the first time. People are happier, more tolerating and most of all friendlier.

The sunshine is also a great healer for many illnesses such as SAD syndrome, Eczema and joint problems to name but a few. Many people’s lives are greatly improved by moving to a place with more hours of sunshine.

As a mother of small children, the sunshine has also meant we are able to spend more time doing outdoors activities as opposed to being stuck inside the house throughout the winter months thinking of activities to do that don’t involve the tv, iPad or game consoles. There are so many beautiful beaches, parks and fiestas for free to enjoy and when that sun is shining it motivates you to get outside and explore the beautiful surroundings. For the retired there is a vast array of groups and activities to keep them active all year long.

·         Cheaper living    

      It is true that living in Spain can be considerably cheaper than living in the UK, you only need to look at the comparison site I have linked on my blog under the heading helpful links to see the difference in the cost between the 2 places. This is great if you have a huge savings pot, are a pensioner with a regular income or have a well-paying job lined up before you move to Spain, for others Spain may not be as cheap as they first thought (look at my cons list to find out why!) Yes, buying a pint of beer for a couple of euros or a 3-course menu del dia for less than 10 euros is great. There certainly are some bargains to be had and fantastic quality meals at very low prices.

·         Lower crime rates    

      In the UK I felt crime levels were getting higher as people are becoming poorer and the economy is taking its toll. The high population levels and number of immigrants also added to the stress on a country that is already bursting at the seams. Jobs are harder to find, terrorism and acid attacks on the rise adding to an uneasy feel in the country that I always called home. In Spain it certainly feels safer although there is crime, it seems more petty crimes such as burglaries, handbag thefts, car break ins etc. The violent crimes in the UK seem to be on the increase and as a mum this scares me not just for me but for my 2 beautiful children.

CONS

·         Low wages

Like I said before Spain is a great place to live if you have a huge savings pot, a regular pension income or a well-paid job but, unfortunately, for the rest of us it’s not so easy. If you have a business plan, qualification or experience in a well-paying field great, if not you are likely to find work earning 5 euros an hour cleaning, doing bar work or working in a shop. I hear so many people online on expat sites say ‘I want a job and I’m prepared to do anything’ but there really isn’t that much choice of jobs for us expats. I would definitely recommend learning Spanish as this will help you on your job search. Just think about how far 5 euros stretches when you have bills to pay? and although Spain is cheap it’s only cheap if you have enough money to support the lifestyle that you aspire to. I have seen people have to return to the UK for this very reason. You need savings and a plan to make the dream of living in the sun a reality!

·         Homesickness

When you have lived in the UK all of your life, you build friendships and family ties and although you can visit or use social media it isn’t quite the same. Again, this is another reason that people go back to the UK. It can be quite isolating in a new country not just for us adults but for kids too and without a lot of money to go out socialising the dream can quickly become a nightmare!

·         Paperwork

The Spanish certainly love their paperwork and the number of things you have to do when you first move here can be baffling although there are gestors and others who can help with this it can be very time consuming and expensive. (my blog will include help and advice on this subject so watch this space!)

                                              My final thought

Spain is a lovely place to live if you can make it work so do your research, learn the language, have a plan and enjoy! I would recommend renting before you buy a house so you can find an area you like and suitable jobs, schools etc first. If you have children the younger they are the easier it will be for them to adjust to a new life and learn the language it's much harder for teenagers but not impossible. Try and find a job before you move to Spain and ask others with experience for advice. If it doesn’t work out your pockets will be lighter but you will have gained more culture and life experience and there is no price you can put on that! I always like to look at the positives in life and in all experiences good or bad you have learnt something and grown along the way!

Thank you for reading!