View Full Version : Relocation 3 yrs today since we bought here......The reality!
Tom & Sharon
06-03-2012, 16:46
How time flies, it's 3 years today since we completed on the purchase of our apartment - our own little bit of paradise!
I thought I would post this, just in case anyone's vaguely interested, and also for newbies planning on "upping sticks" and moving to Tenerife.
We bought our apartment "off plan" and actually signed to buy it in August 2006, but it took 2 1/2 years to build. It was part of a long term plan, and long held dream to live in Tenerife that we'd had since our first visit in 1984 at the tender age of 21. We fell in love with it then, and even though we were so young at the time, said what a lovely place it would be to retire to. In 2006, we decided "what are we waiting for?" and took the plunge.
Shortly after we signed, the world plunged into recession and onto its head! The reality of doing what we had started became very difficult. When we first signed the exchange rate was 1.48, and by the time we actually completed it had fallen to 1.08. Obviously on the size of the purchase, this made a substantial difference to the sums. Anyway, although at times it was quite stressful, we survived it and bought our apartment.
It had always been our intention to leave the UK at some stage and live completely in Tenerife. Tom had done 31 years with National Grid, and redundancies were doing the rounds. We both believed that we would be able to earn a living in Tenerife. Tom is a skilled engineer, and for the past 15 years since the children were small, I had worked in restaurants. Surely Tom would be able to possibly work for himself, and I would get a job in a restaurant? Our eldest son was at University and settled, and the younger one would live in Tenerife with us, and finish his schooling.
In August 2009, I arrived in Tenerife with our youngest son who was going to attend Britannia School, and the dog, all on a "one way ticket". Tom was still working at NGrid, but was in talks about redundancy. We were the advance party as we wanted to make the start of the school year. Josh started school in the September, and I started looking for a job. Over the next few months I actually tried 4 jobs, but none of them were for me. I had only had 2 jobs in the previous 15 years, but jobs and employers are nothing like they are in the UK. After trying 4, I decided I wasn't going to try any more - they are all rubbish.
In February 2010, Tom was made redundant from Ngrid. He arrived in Tenerife in March to assess what we were going to do with the rest of our lives. It didn't take him very long to realise that there are no "proper" jobs for a skilled man in Tenerife. There are more odd-job men than I've had hot dinners, and most of them are robbing a living. There are hundreds of builders/plumbers/electricians/gardeners/decorators who are in reality no such thing, all scratching around for a living, and all competing with each other. He very quickly decided that wouldn't be for him. He made a few phone calls back to the UK, and almost immediately returned to do a 3 month contract with a consultancy firm, while I stayed in Tenerife.
This is how our life has now evolved. Tom set up his own UK Company doing consultancy/engineering work on a contractor basis. This means he can work as and when he wishes. If he wants to take a month or two off, and spend them in Tenerife, he does. We both fly back and to, with him spending a few months at a time in the UK working, and me spending the majority of my time in Tenerife, and returning to the UK for a few days every month or so. We have the best of both worlds. We have a UK income, but can spend long periods of time in Tenerife.
Even though Tom gets his pension next year at 50, he has decided he still wishes to continue working. He is too young to retire, and there is nothing for him employment wise in Tenerife. We have both realised we will never both live in Tenerife 52 weeks a year. Tom wants to work, and I miss the smart shops, restaurants and bars of the UK. Life for us is still evolving, but we would like to aim for basically spending the summer months in the UK with Tom working, and spending the winter months in Tenerife although Tom would probably get bored and need to nip back to do a small job here and there. We are planning to relocate in the UK next year from the north to the south, probably the Kent coast, as most of Tom's work is down there, and the weather is better. We'll see what next year brings.......................
Our youngest son completed his last year of schooling at Britannia school which he enjoyed very much. He made lots of friends in Tenerife, but work for teenagers is very scarce (unless you want to be a PR) and he decided he wanted to return to the UK for some proper training. This he did and has been doing a Govt. apprenticeship for the last 9 months. He has lots of friends in Tenerife still, but I doubt for him it will ever be more than a holiday home.
I am posting this in the hope that the never ending stream of people who come on here, selling up in the UK, leaving behind good jobs, for a dream life in the sun may read it. How glad we are that we never cut our ties with the UK. Whilst I was working, I came across people who had no money for food or rent, but had nothing to return to either. If I'd not seen them with my own eyes, I would never have believed it, no matter how many times I'd read it on this forum. If you're reading this from the UK, and planning on leaving, please believe me it's true. I also see many people who live in Tenerife hand-to-mouth. If they can pay their rent they're lucky, but they can't afford to go out to restaurants, or live the way that they did when they simply used to come for holidays. The reality for many is completely different. I also see women who are about 70, cleaning apartments and washing huge mountains of bedding just to keep their heads above water and "live the dream". What are they thinking? It's about as far removed from a dream as you can get!
Anyway, that's our story so far. We wouldn't change the fact that we bought our apartment ever. We love it, and love the time we spend there. Our life has evolved in a way we didn't envisage when we first bought it, and is still evolving now. How glad we are that we didn't just sell up, sever all ties and move to Tenerife to live the dream. If we had, I don't know what would have happened. I cringe when people come on here and say that's what they are doing. I cringe even more so when I read comments like "I'd rather be skint in the sun".
It's all worked out for us, but differently to how we had imagined. We've also both realised that we could never live in Tenerife 52 weeks a year. There actually are things we miss. If you're thinking of selling up and heading to Tenerife, I hope our experiences help.
Own up Sharon, you just love Warrington..lol..
Even more so after this weekends fun & games..:D
Very interesting.....I hope people take note Tenerife is NOT the promised land.As with all life changing moves it boils down to money and jobs.I was lucky when I did my bit on the island a few years ago. I found a job and had plenty of cash behind me.After 18 months I got fed up and moved back to the UK. I am now in a position to buy a holiday apartment with cash and no mortgage but can't decide what island. Fuerteventura and Tenerife are on the short list but who knows as im in no hurry to part with my cash..
Top posting T&S *Doffs cap* :c2:
Thanks for sharing your story Sharon! I for one enjoyed reading it! I feel the same as you regarding severing all ties with the UK I think this is a very unwise decision and have kept everything registered in the UK myself and have a business there. Tenerife is a wonderful place to be but for me feels a bit small at times! I wish I could afford to have a permanent home in UK but alas not possible unless I win the lottery! Thanks again for sharing your experiences I'm sure it will help a lot of people who are teetering on the brink of making a move here! :hello:
bonitatime
06-03-2012, 17:07
I am glad it has worked out for you both although not the way you had planned
Can I ask something, do either of you speak Spanish?
Tom & Sharon
06-03-2012, 17:30
I am glad it has worked out for you both although not the way you had planned
Can I ask something, do either of you speak Spanish?
We went to night school for 2 years in the UK. Mine's OK, and I can get by in most circumstances, but Tom struggles.
Well done for giving the real reasons in your story of moving here and not living in Tenerife for 52 weeks. I am sure its a hard decision for anyone to make. We are also lucky in that we have the best of both worlds,winter in Tenerife and summer in the UK. I am sure it must be hard for the people who have given up everything and now like you say are finding it hard with jobs etc. We are one of the lucky ones . Thank you for your lovely story for other people to read, I hope it helps other people thinking of moving to the sun.
Thankyou for Your thoughts, which I agree 100 % with.
I would do similar if possible
Older People can also have Medical Conditions and This is also a factor to be considered.
Wouldnt move South though.. I dont like the Beer
Nothing at all like Burtonwood.......lol
YOUNG GOLFER
06-03-2012, 20:18
We went to night school for 2 years in the UK. Mine's OK, and I can get by in most circumstances, but Tom struggles.
They are both learning Polish in the UK as we speak:bootyshake:
Margaretta
06-03-2012, 20:42
Hey Warbey! Kentish Ale is brill!!! :hello:
This is the ONLY advantage of being retired and old; we can move from place to place without having to worry about working. I would love to move here but to the north of the island. Hubby likes the south but misses his English garden. Although it would be great to create a paradise of blooms in Tenerife we would have to sell up in both places to buy the dream finca. Even retirement needs a purpose and without an occupation or a cause it would be easy to become bored or even an alcoholic here.
I suppose too we have to think ahead. At the moment we love the frequent flights to and fro but may have to think again if we become less mobile.
I think 'commuting' is probably the best option in many situations. I enjoyed reading your post Tom and Sharon. In my opinion your example and advice is very, very wise.
Tom & Sharon
06-03-2012, 20:59
They are both learning Polish in the UK as we speak:bootyshake:
Not speaking Polish in Warrington is a problem, I must admit!
Back on topic though, even if you can speak Spanish, the employment prospects are pretty bleak.
Yes, there are jobs, PR'ing, waiting on, telesales, cleaning apartments, but that's it in the main. If you've been used to a good salary/job/standard of living, complete with pension scheme in the UK., then stay there unless you can work remotely.
It's OK saying "we want a better quality of life for our kids" "sunshine is free" "It's better to be skint in the sun" and all the other rhetoric I've seen on here, but the reality is totally different.
I cannot see the point in living in Tenerife unless you have the money to enjoy it. From what I've seen, an awful lot haven't!
What a very factual, honest post, hats off to you. I feel exactly the same way as you do, & in fact our lives follow similar parallels with my O.H. going bk to uk to work at his business there, & returning here to do little jobs, in his small drinking water filters business here, for a few weeks at a time. I work for a dog charity as some of you know & run the shop in los cris, I meet a lot of folks who cannot afford the basics, who live on the streets, or have families they cannot clothe. It keeps me busy, otherwise i think i would have gone mad over here, & focused on my passion which is dogs ( strangely lol ).
We did however envisage this before burning our boats, Tenerife is not the place to come to set up any new business & expect to live on what you can earn here. Or indeed find a similar position to what you had in u.k. with equivilant pay. IT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE...
We still have a house in u.k. ( rented out at this moment), & merely rent over here.
three years in i,m so glad we kept our ties with u.k. Who knows what the future will bring. whilst i love Tenerife for the climate & fantastic scenery, it is the same as anywhere else, if you don't have the means to make a decent living, or indeed a basic living. Life can be just as stressful in the sun.
The grass can always look greener, but sometimes it can be a mirage.
finca18jrl
06-03-2012, 21:18
Thank you Sharon for writing such an honest post. I hope that all those thinking about moving out here really take on board your comments. I agree completely with your opinions. The ideal scenario is definitely to have a foot in both camps. The UK offers so much in so many ways and we don't fully appreciate it until we don't have it! You cannot live on sunshine alone!
Thank you Sharon for writing such an honest post. I hope that all those thinking about moving out here really take on board your comments. I agree completely with your opinions. The ideal scenario is definitely to have a foot in both camps. The UK offers so much in so many ways and we don't fully appreciate it until we don't have it! You cannot live on sunshine alone!
Another excellent post!:agree:
bonitatime
06-03-2012, 21:44
There is a serious lack of good jobs if you have no read and written Spanish and convalidable qualifications.
The bi-lingual children I know are all working at something. This may not be what you hope for in life. But every thread I answer about moving here I talk about learning the language.
Look at most of the people who are still here after 10 years, 90% will speak Spanish. Some better some worse but they will be able to comunicate.
When the crisis started someone said to me there will be a massive shake up here a lot of people will go home. Not sure I would have believed how many.
I think your life plan sounds great and I am interested to hear how you find the South as thats where I grew up.
Astara are you really saying that a sucessful business can't be run here as that was what I interpreted?
There is a serious lack of good jobs if you have no read and written Spanish and convalidable qualifications.
The bi-lingual children I know are all working at something. This may not be what you hope for in life. But every thread I answer about moving here I talk about learning the language.
Look at most of the people who are still here after 10 years, 90% will speak Spanish. Some better some worse but they will be able to comunicate.
When the crisis started someone said to me there will be a massive shake up here a lot of people will go home. Not sure I would have believed how many.
I think your life plan sounds great and I am interested to hear how you find the South as thats where I grew up.
Astara are you really saying that a sucessful business can't be run here as that was what I interpreted?
IMHO & from what i have seen in 3 years, it is very difficult at this time of crisis for anybody to launch a new business & have a good living off it, unless you have funds behind you. I have seen many new businesses launch & fail within short periods. Including bars, restaurants, ' The express post' who must have put mega amounts of start up money in. Lots of folks who come here for a new start only to find the same problems. Economic downturn affects people all over the world even in the sunshine.
cainaries
06-03-2012, 22:11
This thread should be made some kind of mega-sticky. Next time anyone new comes on the Forum to ask 'should we move to Tenerife' the first person to spot the thread can just link them to Tom and Sharon's original post. Everything they need is in there.
We are on La Palma and here there is a constant trickle of 'Good Lifers' who want to come out and be Tom and Barbara and live off the land and sell their produce (organic naturally). But there's no-one to buy it! They never do the market research first, just buy the finca (usually without all the right paperwork) and plant some tomatoes and ... you know what ... everyone has got their own tomatoes! Just a thought to add to this excellent thread.
Tom & Sharon
06-03-2012, 22:16
There is a serious lack of good jobs if you have no read and written Spanish and convalidable qualifications.
The bi-lingual children I know are all working at something. This may not be what you hope for in life. But every thread I answer about moving here I talk about learning the language.
Look at most of the people who are still here after 10 years, 90% will speak Spanish. Some better some worse but they will be able to comunicate.
When the crisis started someone said to me there will be a massive shake up here a lot of people will go home. Not sure I would have believed how many.
I think your life plan sounds great and I am interested to hear how you find the South as thats where I grew up.
Astara are you really saying that a sucessful business can't be run here as that was what I interpreted?
It's not just about speaking Spanish though. The unemployment rate is over 20%, and that includes Spanish speakers.
I just think for English ex-pats, there's no money to be earned. I know there are exceptions to this rule, but for the majority that's the reality. Most people seem to be earning 5/6€ an hour, and if they're lucky they keep their heads above water. A lot don't.
As much as we love Tenerife, that's no way to live. It's not a dream, more of a nightmare, and I don't think it matters one iota if the sun is shining.
More worrying, is that every week there are people on here queuing up to do the same. Tenerife is an amazing place to live, but you have to have the money to do it.
Earlier this year the forum welcomed a new member Elaine TV - on behalf of her family she asked a stack of sensible questions, and quite honestly received a stack of honest answers but perhaps did not want to hear. She's not been back for a while, but I really do hope she reads T&S' original post - it is so much more the reality than the dream.......
There is no doubt that the dream is not what it really seems, sadly.
xx
Added after 3 minutes:
It's not just about speaking Spanish though. The unemployment rate is over 20%, and that includes Spanish speakers.
I just think for English ex-pats, there's no money to be earned. I know there are exceptions to this rule, but for the majority that's the reality. Most people seem to be earning 5/6€ an hour, and if they're lucky they keep their heads above water. A lot don't.
As much as we love Tenerife, that's no way to live. It's not a dream, more of a nightmare, and I don't think it matters one iota if the sun is shining.
More worrying, is that every week there are people on here queuing up to do the same. Tenerife is an amazing place to live, but you have to have the money to do it.
The unemployment rate on the islands is now over 31% - yes THIRTY ONE PERCENT!! They now estimate that around 100,000 of the unemployed receive not a single cent in dole (paro) or other hand outs simply because the benefits have now run out because the time limits have expired.
It really isn't a pretty story if you have to earn a living.
I live in Kent if you need any advice. Best of luck to you.
Thank you Tom & Sharon for an excellent post. Those who are on here regularly will know I am due to move out in July with my family. As I have said many times before we have found the forum to be excellent in terms of advice, opinions and information.
We are in the fortunate position of having funds to acquire or set up a business, (non bar or restaurant as we are quite happy at the right side of the bar!), we have many years of business experience behind us and we are not naive, in actual fact quite sceptical! We know the risks we are taking and are absolutely not moving out on a whim or thinking it will be like it is when you come on holiday and therefore with our eyes wide open, we hope to succeed. Reading the posts almost addictively I do worry that people move over without any real concept of what that are letting themselves in for and I hope that I don't turn out to be one of them. Our move has been thoroughly researched and is as risky/or not as risky as the other adventures we have undertaken in our lives.
The constant question arises do you sell up lock stock and barrel and make the commitment to move whilst possibly burning your bridges or do you keep your ties in the uk and have a get out?
We have decided to keep our home in the uk and have tenants ready and also keep our other business interests alive but we are coming with a view to not returning.
I appreciate that we are fortunate in a financial sense to be able to come out without the financial worries that others have but you also have to evaluate your own personal circumstances and arrive at the sensible conclusion based on your circumstances. If you decide to ignore the fundamental deciding factors then on your head be it....(sorry if this offends). We are all learning Spanish and whilst I am somewhere off fluent I am really puttting the time and effort in as I feel this is very important to us settling well.
Someone wrote on an earlier post about Elaine who posted a lot around the time I joined and I did pm her with some info I had found helpful. She has gone quiet but I'm sure that the many responses she received to her questions helped her make a decision and whatever that was I wish her good luck. I hope to make a success of our move and I am doing everything to prepare for it to be a success and truly hope that it works.
My one question to the very regulars on here, do any of you really regret the move you made?
junglejim
07-03-2012, 04:12
Thanks to Tom & Sharon for their post , I can agree that finding skilled work is very difficult even with good language skills and the pay isn´t going to match UK.
My experience is a bit happier as I had planned financially for almost 20 yrs. to buy and move over on a semi-permanent basis ,
My plan involved my wife´s agreement on how much time we would spend in Tenerife and over the last 7 years she has seen the benefits in terms of lifestyle and weather , especially in winter !
I was fortunate that I received a good pension (early retirement ) augmented by redundancy so I don´t need or wish to work though was hurt a fair bit by stock market downturn on investments. I agree with observations on the number of Expats struggling on €6 per hr. jobs and the horrible unemployment rate here - people are being ground down to work for bare minimum or worse just to survive .
I have the lucky option of a home in UK but my preference is here for my health and lifestyle - back home in West of Scotland is a bit depressing at present with high unemployment and low prospects for most .
My only regret is I have a new grandson and have limited access except for holidays and Skype but overall it´s the best move we´ve ever made !
Unlike Tom & Sharon who moved to a residential complex (and the problems) we deliberately chose a Touristic site where we had made friends over years of renting( We don´t rent) - our problem is Spaniards trying to reverse it to a Residential Complex! couldn´t make it up!
Tom & Sharon
07-03-2012, 11:51
Thank you Tom & Sharon for an excellent post. Those who are on here regularly will know I am due to move out in July with my family. As I have said many times before we have found the forum to be excellent in terms of advice, opinions and information.
We are in the fortunate position of having funds to acquire or set up a business, (non bar or restaurant as we are quite happy at the right side of the bar!), we have many years of business experience behind us and we are not naive, in actual fact quite sceptical! We know the risks we are taking and are absolutely not moving out on a whim or thinking it will be like it is when you come on holiday and therefore with our eyes wide open, we hope to succeed. Reading the posts almost addictively I do worry that people move over without any real concept of what that are letting themselves in for and I hope that I don't turn out to be one of them. Our move has been thoroughly researched and is as risky/or not as risky as the other adventures we have undertaken in our lives.
The constant question arises do you sell up lock stock and barrel and make the commitment to move whilst possibly burning your bridges or do you keep your ties in the uk and have a get out?
We have decided to keep our home in the uk and have tenants ready and also keep our other business interests alive but we are coming with a view to not returning.
I appreciate that we are fortunate in a financial sense to be able to come out without the financial worries that others have but you also have to evaluate your own personal circumstances and arrive at the sensible conclusion based on your circumstances. If you decide to ignore the fundamental deciding factors then on your head be it....(sorry if this offends). We are all learning Spanish and whilst I am somewhere off fluent I am really puttting the time and effort in as I feel this is very important to us settling well.
Someone wrote on an earlier post about Elaine who posted a lot around the time I joined and I did pm her with some info I had found helpful. She has gone quiet but I'm sure that the many responses she received to her questions helped her make a decision and whatever that was I wish her good luck. I hope to make a success of our move and I am doing everything to prepare for it to be a success and truly hope that it works.
My one question to the very regulars on here, do any of you really regret the move you made?
I wish you the very best with your move and your plans I really do.
What I could have added to my original post though, is that we could have had the option of investing Tom's redundancy in a business, and would still have the option in the future of doing the same instead of Tom working in the UK. We are also fortunate in that we have no financial worries, and in less than a year, Tom will be in receipt of his (much criticised) public sector pension.
The question is - "Would we do it?" Would we risk everything we have, and therefore a guaranteed "money worry" free future, by investing in any business in Tenerife? The answer, quite categorically, and without a moment's thought, is NO.
Bars and restaurants, as you rightly say, definitely not. But any business? No. The reason for this is quite simple. There is no money on the island. I know that sounds like a sweeping statement, but in general it's true. To make money in business, you need other people to buy the goods or services you are offering. Where will that money/demand come from? The previously discussed people struggling to make ends meet on 5/6€ an hour? Not likely is it? If you are thinking of establishing a business whereby you can work remotely from Tenerife, that is different, but to rely on your income from local sources? Too risky for us I'm afraid. You could quite easily lose everything you've worked all your life for, and more besides. Plenty of people already have.
We'll be quite happy to continue to take our income from the UK thanks. Risk free and practically guaranteed. At nearly 50, we don't need the stress of throwing all the sticks in the air and seeing how they land, especially not in Tenerife. It means we will never be there full time, but we're quite happy with that. Maybe when we're 65, who knows? Tom might just get fed up of working by then. Until then, we will be in Tenerife for long periods of time, and more importantly, we'll have the money to enjoy it whilst we're there. We also have the comfort of knowing that if at any time Tom wants to stop working, he can. For the life of me, I can't see the point of living in Tenerife if you can't actually afford to enjoy it. OK, the sun's free as we've heard countless times on her, but if you've got to work so hard you don't actually see it, or when you've finished you can't go out for a nice meal or a drink, what's the point? And there are plenty of people like that.
Good luck with your venture, and whatever you decide. I hope my comments are helpful.
People forget this island is so transit. People come and people go.Sometimes i feel left behind because all the people i met a few years ago are all gone. I remember all the people i met when Tom and Doreen opened Ojangle, i reckon 80 per cent are gone home.Only jobs are prs 50cents for each persons they pull in.No mon no fun on this island unless you have money. I look most night as about fifty people sat up beds on the the waste ground or claiming into pipes beside costa mar apartments. Just another side to Tenerife
mike in chayofa
07-03-2012, 15:04
A great post T&S :c2: If it makes just one person think and decide 'yes or no' to moving, it will have been worth while.
To expand just a little, learning Spanish is obviously a good idea in a Spanish speaking country, but there are many more things that need to be taken into consideration.
All countries have rules, regulations and red-tape but in your 'home' country you learn all this over a period of many years. When moving to a new country, you are suddenly faced with situations that you need to know the answers to NOW. This usually means employing someone to help or do things for you - we are fortunate to have Di from One Stop Problem shop as a trusted and valuable member.
Then, there's the lack of culture (in general terms). OK there are fiestas by the dozen, but TBH once you have seen one parade, or one manky camel ... not forgetting the many celebrations concerned with sardines, you've seen the lot (and probably can't park either). If there's an antiques fair, a classic car rally, a painting exhibition etc etc, it's quite normal to not learn about them until after the event.
In general I love my life here, although it does sometimes have it's shortcomings, but if you take away places where I couldn't learn the language, places that have bad climatic conditions, places that have deadly animals and places where I don't like the politics ... I guess that I'll have to stay here :D
Best post i have seen for a very long time xx
I hope Tom is going to keep working Sharon. Charlotte starts school in a few years and I hear its quite pricey! :)
Tom & Sharon
07-03-2012, 18:02
I hope Tom is going to keep working Sharon. Charlotte starts school in a few years and I hear its quite pricey! :)
Haha.......
Thanks for a very thought provoking post T & S
We have many parrellels with you. First came to Tenerife early 80s, both ages similar (50) and keen to work. i must say that Tom and least had the ability to find work in the UK thats a plus. i am in construction and got into a wee bit of developing heavily funded by the banks. The development I was building in 2008 when the world changed still has a property unsold and i was lucky in that I had squared the bank. Since then construction development and bank funding simply dont get uttered in the same breath. We had a big house so we started a B and B pretty successfully and 4* rated on the tourist board with many good tripadvisor reviews but its a slog and the weather kills me so I think the big difference is if you can work in the UK or not. Having had the house in Tenerife for ten years now we would love to move over, the age of one of our dogs is also an issue but over all nothing you say surprises me. Chuckled at your description of odd job men as I too get frustrated as living in a world where you are a bricky,Joiner,spark,tiler etc etc cant get used to people who say they are all things to all men (and women) On reflection I would still fancy giving it a go but would never burn all my bridges. we need to sell up to generate what we need to do what I plan in Tenerife but if we didnt living in tenerife oct to march and running the BandB March to october would be perfect although when you have dogs there is always issues. No its not the dream life anymore and I see many friends we know eeking out an existance but its for everyone to ensure there house is in order financially if you can. I certainly would not contemplate it if it was merely to struggle by. We were lucky as you seem to have been unlucky in the exchange rate as it was 1.66 the day we paid for our property also.
Looks like you have it sussed but nobody really knows untilthey tried. you seem to have worked out a way you can live with and that allows you the best of both worlds, well done
I wish you the very best with your move and your plans I really do.
What I could have added to my original post though, is that we could have had the option of investing Tom's redundancy in a business, and would still have the option in the future of doing the same instead of Tom working in the UK. We are also fortunate in that we have no financial worries, and in less than a year, Tom will be in receipt of his (much criticised) public sector pension.
The question is - "Would we do it?" Would we risk everything we have, and therefore a guaranteed "money worry" free future, by investing in any business in Tenerife? The answer, quite categorically, and without a moment's thought, is NO.
Bars and restaurants, as you rightly say, definitely not. But any business? No. The reason for this is quite simple. There is no money on the island. I know that sounds like a sweeping statement, but in general it's true. To make money in business, you need other people to buy the goods or services you are offering. Where will that money/demand come from? The previously discussed people struggling to make ends meet on 5/6€ an hour? Not likely is it? If you are thinking of establishing a business whereby you can work remotely from Tenerife, that is different, but to rely on your income from local sources? Too risky for us I'm afraid. You could quite easily lose everything you've worked all your life for, and more besides. Plenty of people already have.
We'll be quite happy to continue to take our income from the UK thanks. Risk free and practically guaranteed. At nearly 50, we don't need the stress of throwing all the sticks in the air and seeing how they land, especially not in Tenerife. It means we will never be there full time, but we're quite happy with that. Maybe when we're 65, who knows? Tom might just get fed up of working by then. Until then, we will be in Tenerife for long periods of time, and more importantly, we'll have the money to enjoy it whilst we're there. We also have the comfort of knowing that if at any time Tom wants to stop working, he can. For the life of me, I can't see the point of living in Tenerife if you can't actually afford to enjoy it. OK, the sun's free as we've heard countless times on her, but if you've got to work so hard you don't actually see it, or when you've finished you can't go out for a nice meal or a drink, what's the point? And there are plenty of people like that.
Good luck with your venture, and whatever you decide. I hope my comments are helpful.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a useful reply, your comments are helpful and we have taken them on board.
I am sure that many others have found them extremely useful too in helping them to make a decision.
The more information the better, good or bad.
captain beefheart
07-03-2012, 21:15
excellent post Tom and Sharon, We are planning a similar lifestyle move as you have both done. Since joining the forum i have read and learned plenty about life in Tenerife. I have to say this post has been most helpfull. We are wanting to spend most of the winter months in tenerife coming back to the u.k. in springtime. we are undecided whether to buy or take long lets. Do readers of this forum think buying property is still a good thing. Also due to more local people becomming jobless and homeless do you think there is or could be a growing resentment to expats living in tenerife
Tom & Sharon
07-03-2012, 22:13
excellent post Tom and Sharon, We are planning a similar lifestyle move as you have both done. Since joining the forum i have read and learned plenty about life in Tenerife. I have to say this post has been most helpfull. We are wanting to spend most of the winter months in tenerife coming back to the u.k. in springtime. we are undecided whether to buy or take long lets. Do readers of this forum think buying property is still a good thing. Also due to more local people becomming jobless and homeless do you think there is or could be a growing resentment to expats living in tenerife
Don't get me wrong, the lifestyle in Tenerife is fabulous. Tom does get bored after a couple of months of doing nothing, and I like to nip back for the shops and the city. However, both of us are quite happy to spend the majority of our time in Tenerife, me more than Tom.
Also, neither of us regrets buying our apartment for a single minute, we both absolutely love it.
My point of writing is to highlight the fact that if you need to earn a living in Tenerife, the picture is not so rosy. If you have a UK income from either business or pension (or both) then there is nowhere nicer to be. Sunshine alone however, does not give you quality of life. There is much more to it than that.
bonitatime
07-03-2012, 22:21
I think part of the reason I see things differently is the age I came. If you arrive here at 16 things are different but you adapt. I have no home to go back to. I have no friends a such in the UK. The ones I went to school with have spread around the world.
As for no culture what are you looking for. There is cinema, theatre, art galleries, an outstanding orchestra 30 mons up the road.
The Russian ballet visits most winters. There are wonderful boutique shops, and most high streets are uniform where ever you go. There is of course no Primark or boots but that's not culture.
I think Tom and Sharon have found a great lifestyle but this is never going to be affordable for 90% of the population where ever they live.
Added after 3 minutes:
Captain Beefheart I would long let the first year as people tend to find where they thought they wanted was not where they are staying
It is a good post. After 14 years here Ive seen so many come and go. Some of them make me laugh - the ones who think living the dream is sitting in bars all afternoon drinking €1 a pint local beer, dog at their feet that will end up in a refuge when they go home with nothing and can barely afford to fly themselves nack, let alone the dog. The ones who buy into businesses they have zero idea of how to run - "I worked in an office in the UK so will therefore open a bar in Tenerife!!" I think Ive seen it all. When I first lived here I couldnt believe the PR´s down Veronicas - I´d never seen a PR before. I couldnt believe these kids would do that just to stay here, I would rather have gone home. For me its been fine. The crisis has changed things of course, we are earning less per night than when I first lived here, but its still a good living, its just not so easy to save money these days. It depends on your line of work I guess. All in all I would rather be here. :)
timmylish
08-03-2012, 03:32
I have found this thread to be really interesting in as much as how people who have lived here for some time have not made Tenerife what i would call "home". It has been mine now for 23 years and became such after 4 or 5 years when I realised that i had no desire ever to live in the UK again, or indeed anywhere else! Of course we are all different, thank heavens, but I would like Bonitatime, see things a little differently. Mu main bone of contention has to be the decision to live in an ex-pat environment as opposed to a Canarian one. By doing so you open up a different set of rules on life and possible alternative future employment prospects. Although possibly in the minority on here some of us have made a living here and continue to do so without any recourse to the UK or owning property there. For those of us this being home we do see things differently. This is not to oppose the O/p merely open a different slant on a very welcome posting. For that I thank the O/p.
Tom & Sharon
08-03-2012, 10:22
I have found this thread to be really interesting in as much as how people who have lived here for some time have not made Tenerife what i would call "home". It has been mine now for 23 years and became such after 4 or 5 years when I realised that i had no desire ever to live in the UK again, or indeed anywhere else! Of course we are all different, thank heavens, but I would like Bonitatime, see things a little differently. Mu main bone of contention has to be the decision to live in an ex-pat environment as opposed to a Canarian one. By doing so you open up a different set of rules on life and possible alternative future employment prospects. Although possibly in the minority on here some of us have made a living here and continue to do so without any recourse to the UK or owning property there. For those of us this being home we do see things differently. This is not to oppose the O/p merely open a different slant on a very welcome posting. For that I thank the O/p.
Do you think things would have been different for you if you had arrived now though Timmy? You arrived in what were probably the boom years, but it's different now isn't it? You've been very lucky in that you found your niche, and at the right time.
I know people who've been here as long as you, and have always worked in timeshare. They're still here, but no way are they earning what they did 20 years ago. Some still work in it, some have gone on to try other things. I would be interested to know how many fresh faced newbies arriving on the island today to sell timeshare make a living and a long term life from it, and how many do it for 6 months and return to the UK. I'm not criticising the industry by the way, it's something I could probably do, but it wouldn't be for everyone.
What do you feel about my comments regarding buying a business? If you had a successful life in the UK, in this economic climate, possibly with a couple of small children. Would you risk all that today, to come to Tenerife and open a small business? Or would you stay in the UK for now, and see what happens in the world?
Bear in mind that you know how the island works. Look at it with uninitiated eyes, no experience of business in Tenerife, and probably just a smattering of Spanish. Would you risk it?
I certainly wouldn't risk selling everything in the UK to open a business here, I have seen so many lose everything that they came with, This is my home here and I am happy, but I am also very glad I never cut all my ties with the UK and kept hold of my house, I think deep down one day I may return but who knows what's around the corner. Never say Never is a good old saying.......
golf birdie
08-03-2012, 11:44
there is also a huge difference in coming by yourself and coming as a family. By yourself its all up to you love it or hate it you decide what you want. As a family, if one does not settle the dream can become a nightmare. I have seen many arrive here, strong couples splitting up after a short while as one wishes to stay and the other go back. The move in the good times was never easy, now its a lot, lot harder. I have advised 3 sets of friends not to make the move and thankfully they took the advice. They come on holiday and think we have a great, stress free life here, its only when you explain how we think they have the perfect life in the UK do they start to listen. I say to them if they lived on a dog end estate, no job with no hope of getting one then Tenerife is a good option as you have nothing to lose.
bonitatime
08-03-2012, 14:26
I have recently talked to a family who were in construction in the UK and moved out about 6 months ago. They are finding it tough but are paying their bills at the end of the month which they tell me was what they were doing in the UK but at least the sub shines. They work hard perhaps harder than they did in the UK but they are happy.
Not sure who talked further up about the folk with no experience opening a bar, God help them all. But having watched kitchen nightmares UK this happens everywhere.
I say to them if they lived on a dog end estate, no job with no hope of getting one then Tenerife is a good option as you have nothing to lose.
I think this is the main point to consider, whether you're better off on tenerife depends what you've come from. I can understand people giving it a shot when the alternative is nothing in the uk. It's the ones in the middle that probably need to think the most about a move ; If you're struggling to keep your head above water in the uk it won't be any easier in Tenerife. But if you've already set an income up for yourself from the uk, or if you've literally got nothing to lose, why not go for a few months and see how it goes.
Having income from the uk and enjoying the lower cost of living on tenerife is the best way, also a good idea to keep the option of returning to the uk for the summer. I don't know how people stay on the island all year, again I guess it depends what you were used to in the uk. I guess you all must be dog lovers who like hearing the wild ones yapping all day and all night!
Great thread - thanks Sharon. I have to say that business can be very tough here without the "right" contacts and good command of Spanish ... and sadly, I have come across more than a fair share of incompetent/negligent Spanish advisors so that is not the answer :(
I certainly agree with the original post but one advantage to coming here is if you can find an industry that is profitable, it is a lot easier to break into and compete in than it is in the UK. Far less competent competition. I see that with both the Brit businesses and Spanish owned businesses. So long as you have the drive and necessary capital all you have to do is be better than most of the rest and that is certainly a lot easier here than back home in my experience.
I see a lot of people fail because of lack of business experience, lack of experience in the field they enter and naivety when it comes to picking "advisors" be it lawyers, estate agents, business sales types, gestors or worst of all "Johnny upstart" propping up the bar who knows everything about getting ahead here in Tenerife (but hasn't quite got there himself yet!) Being completely obsessed with coming here and giving it a go isn't always a good thing either. Sometimes the best business decision is to walk away from an "opportunity."
An easy example - if you Google "Buying a bar in Tenerife" I have an article on my site near the top of Google. It is cynical to the extreme and is very blunt about the fact that YOU WILL FAIL!!! I still get people asking me though. "I´ve read that and its very informative. So, can you help us find a good bar then? We simply have to give it a go for ourselves...."
For those looking at business opportunities, dont buy one - start one! The money you will waste on a crap business here (and how many ads aren't for naff businesses??) would be far better invested in starting your own but prior to this live here for a while and get a feel for the place. Find out where there are gaps in the market, where you could effectively compete and do better than the top players are doing. I think there are a lot of opportunities for this but they are vastly outnumbered by dud opportunities hence the requirement to live here and do plenty of research before investing anything. If you find someone nice whose willing to help you out just ensure they aren't a wolf in sheeps clothing looking to profit from you as the place is full of them!
So far as coming here to work for someone, if I had to find a job, unless it was something very well paid and working for someone already very successful, I would leave - simple as that. The wages are low, no-one cares about experience, qualifications, personal attributes. You simply cannot make enough money in any employment to actually put anything away for your future so it just seems completely pointless to me.
I´m sure I´ve said before in posts, if you are coming here to work, you´re in your 20´s with no kids and 5,000€ to blow then do it and have a great 6 to 12 months. If you have kids but no decent income from the UK or no very large lump sum to fall back on then just dont do it.
Better to spend 4 weeks a year loving and enjoying Tenerife than 52 weeks a year hating the place.
cainaries
08-03-2012, 22:28
We have no place in the UK (I would love a 'bolt-hole' but we can't afford it). We took early retirement 6, nearly 7 years ago. About 6 months ago I felt at home here but it has taken me this long. OH was at home on the first day. People (couples, families ..) need to be kind to one another as OH has been with me, to get to the point where everyone feels settled.
I don't think I would ever go back permanently now but, never say never ...
thanks to everyone for this thread, it is really interesting.
We have no place in the UK (I would love a 'bolt-hole' but we can't afford it).
A couple of people have said this now, it seems some of the permanent residents here are here permanently partly because they just can't afford a home in the uk. I don't own property, I couldn't afford anything liveable in the uk since the housing bubble has put everything out of reach.
It's sad to think that some people have been forced out of the uk due to the housing bubble there. Very irresponsible politicians and mortgage lenders, sad for us all. I wonder how many people are settling in tenerife out of a real choice.
I certainly agree with the original post but one advantage to coming here is if you can find an industry that is profitable, it is a lot easier to break into and compete in than it is in the UK. Far less competent competition. I see that with both the Brit businesses and Spanish owned businesses. So long as you have the drive and necessary capital all you have to do is be better than most of the rest and that is certainly a lot easier here than back home in my experience.
I see a lot of people fail because of lack of business experience, lack of experience in the field they enter and naivety when it comes to picking "advisors" be it lawyers, estate agents, business sales types, gestors or worst of all "Johnny upstart" propping up the bar who knows everything about getting ahead here in Tenerife (but hasn't quite got there himself yet!) Being completely obsessed with coming here and giving it a go isn't always a good thing either. Sometimes the best business decision is to walk away from an "opportunity."
An easy example - if you Google "Buying a bar in Tenerife" I have an article on my site near the top of Google. It is cynical to the extreme and is very blunt about the fact that YOU WILL FAIL!!! I still get people asking me though. "I´ve read that and its very informative. So, can you help us find a good bar then? We simply have to give it a go for ourselves...."
For those looking at business opportunities, dont buy one - start one! The money you will waste on a crap business here (and how many ads aren't for naff businesses??) would be far better invested in starting your own but prior to this live here for a while and get a feel for the place. Find out where there are gaps in the market, where you could effectively compete and do better than the top players are doing. I think there are a lot of opportunities for this but they are vastly outnumbered by dud opportunities hence the requirement to live here and do plenty of research before investing anything. If you find someone nice whose willing to help you out just ensure they aren't a wolf in sheeps clothing looking to profit from you as the place is full of them!
So far as coming here to work for someone, if I had to find a job, unless it was something very well paid and working for someone already very successful, I would leave - simple as that. The wages are low, no-one cares about experience, qualifications, personal attributes. You simply cannot make enough money in any employment to actually put anything away for your future so it just seems completely pointless to me.
I´m sure I´ve said before in posts, if you are coming here to work, you´re in your 20´s with no kids and 5,000€ to blow then do it and have a great 6 to 12 months. If you have kids but no decent income from the UK or no very large lump sum to fall back on then just dont do it.
Better to spend 4 weeks a year loving and enjoying Tenerife than 52 weeks a year hating the place.
Its funny the mention of buying a bar is so prevelant. I have convinced myself that Long term Tenerife is for me after visiting for close to 30 years now and owning for ten. I dabble from time to time on sites that are selling business but to be honest dont know if thats the best option. I also untick the boxes or leave out bars and restaurant and it must take out over 90% of busineses available.
I am amazed how some survive in our location and even more amazed than when bars close someone else has a go despite the obvious. They must also feel that they can conjour up custom where none has been before, we suffer badly from the All inclusive hotels where we are and despite the fact the hotels are fairly busy the bars and restaurants or more accurately the remaining ones either cater for residents mostly or are dead. I have become so dubious that I constantly suspect the motives that some remain open as they cannot possibly cover there costs. The comment made about the ex pat sitting in the €1 a beer bar with a dog at there feet strangely was a bit too realistic also unfortunately.
I genuinely feel sorry for people who have planned this well but have not had access to enormous finance and a combination of issues means there pension/retirement fund does not go nearly as far as they had planned.
We all visited under the illusion that it was cheaper than the UK for many years as the exchange rate sat mid forties (1,45) but now the truth is that it was just the exchange rate and we are all finding out how expensive it is.
I love Tenerife but I am constantly amazed at how expensive and limited certain things can be that we take for granted in UK, suppose thats the price of being in a sun soaked island near North Africa considerably far from Continental Europe.
A couple of people have said this now, it seems some of the permanent residents here are here permanently partly because they just can't afford a home in the uk. I don't own property, I couldn't afford anything liveable in the uk since the housing bubble has put everything out of reach.
It's sad to think that some people have been forced out of the uk due to the housing bubble there. Very irresponsible politicians and mortgage lenders, sad for us all. I wonder how many people are settling in tenerife out of a real choice.
I think for most it's a life change that they were seeking! but for some after a few years down the line after breaking all ties with the UK realise they are trapped here. I could think of worse places to be a prisoner though! I'm happy here and made sure I kept everything registered in UK (a foot in both camps) I do have property in the UK unfortunately it's commercial not domestic! can't have it all though can we?:D
I am biding my time - 50-50 between Tenerife and the UK.
I think I'd like to be here permanently but part of me says I would enjoy it more when it's something to look forward to.
But above all else, the weather is a big pull - well mostly. ;)
cainaries
09-03-2012, 13:00
I am biding my time - 50-50 between Tenerife and the UK.
I think I'd like to be here permanently but part of me says I would enjoy it more when it's something to look forward to.
But above all else, the weather is a big pull - well mostly. ;)
Everyone needs something to look forward to and I think this was one of my problems in settling that I didn't have any major life change to look forward to any more. Settling into being contented with my lot has taken me quite a while.
Added after 2 minutes:
A couple of people have said this now, it seems some of the permanent residents here are here permanently partly because they just can't afford a home in the uk. I don't own property, I couldn't afford anything liveable in the uk since the housing bubble has put everything out of reach.
It's sad to think that some people have been forced out of the uk due to the housing bubble there. Very irresponsible politicians and mortgage lenders, sad for us all. I wonder how many people are settling in tenerife out of a real choice.
We moved because we knew 100% we wanted to live here. However, I hadn't realised we would never have enough money to go back. As someone said on a different thread with a similar theme ... get a dog, that's the answer.
... get a dog, that's the answer.
Lol - sore point - we have here in the UK - a major obstacle to moving out full time.
Everyone needs something to look forward to and I think this was one of my problems in settling that I didn't have any major life change to look forward to any more. Settling into being contented with my lot has taken me quite a while.
Added after 2 minutes:
We moved because we knew 100% we wanted to live here. However, I hadn't realised we would never have enough money to go back. As someone said on a different thread with a similar theme ... get a dog, that's the answer.
You can just leave it behind in a refuge for someone else to look after when you find you have to return to the UK penniless! Sorry Cainaries sad but true!:(
cainaries
09-03-2012, 14:52
You can just leave it behind in a refuge for someone else to look after when you find you have to return to the UK penniless! Sorry Cainaries sad but true!:(
Apologies, Suej, I was being flippant and I shouldn't be flippant about animals. We brought out six cats with us and we lost two last year. This week we had to have a third one put to sleep as he was just too poorly to go on. I love them all dearly and never meant to imply that a dog is a substitute for something missing in anyone's life ... unless the something missing really is a dog.
Saw a notice in Spanish (a rather tatty notice now since it's March) advertising puppies for sale for a Christmas present. Long way to go with all this.
Apologies, Suej, I was being flippant and I shouldn't be flippant about animals. We brought out six cats with us and we lost two last year. This week we had to have a third one put to sleep as he was just too poorly to go on. I love them all dearly and never meant to imply that a dog is a substitute for something missing in anyone's life ... unless the something missing really is a dog.
Saw a notice in Spanish (a rather tatty notice now since it's March) advertising puppies for sale for a Christmas present. Long way to go with all this.
No apology necessary! I'm over sensitive about the amount of people who get a dog and then decide their circumstances don't suit! or they have to go back to the UK! I just wish they would think longer and harder before they commit to taking on an animal!eek2: Anyway that's another story! off topic now! Doh!;)
cainaries
09-03-2012, 16:17
No apology necessary! I'm over sensitive about the amount of people who get a dog and then decide their circumstances don't suit! or they have to go back to the UK! I just wish they would think longer and harder before they commit to taking on an animal!eek2: Anyway that's another story! off topic now! Doh!;)
Yes, we are in danger of starting a dog thread. Apologies Tom and Sharon.
caroll72
09-03-2012, 20:19
I can remember chatting to a PR who was desperate to leave Tenerife & move back to uk, but didn't have enough money or any ties in the uk to go back to. She said she felt trapped on the island and had no choice but to stay put.
I wonder how many more people are in this situation, mainly due to lack of funds?
Did anyone watch ' Our man in the costa's' last night on channel 4, which showed the work of the british consulate in spain.
There was a 61 year old guy on there who's business as a golf club taxi driver had gone tits up & he'd gone to the consulate for help.
They eventually found someone to pay for his flight home, back to the uk.
What could he have been thinking to get into that situation in the first place where he didnt have the price of a air ticket home. Especially at 61.
Wonderful thread Tom & Sharon
Tom & Sharon
09-03-2012, 21:27
I can remember chatting to a PR who was desperate to leave Tenerife & move back to uk, but didn't have enough money or any ties in the uk to go back to. She said she felt trapped on the island and had no choice but to stay put.
I wonder how many more people are in this situation, mainly due to lack of funds?
Did anyone watch ' Our man in the costa's' last night on channel 4, which showed the work of the british consulate in spain.
There was a 61 year old guy on there who's business as a golf club taxi driver had gone tits up & he'd gone to the consulate for help.
They eventually found someone to pay for his flight home, back to the uk.
What could he have been thinking to get into that situation in the first place where he didnt have the price of a air ticket home. Especially at 61.
Wonderful thread Tom & Sharon
Thanks Caroll. I'm still waiting for Timmylish to come back with the answer to my question. His thoughts will be interesting...................
We have decided to keep our home in the uk and have tenants ready and also keep our other business interests alive but we are coming with a view to not returning.
If you are renting out your property in the UK you need to research all the implications of being a non UK resident landlord, the tax may need to be paid at source and a UK address for service of notices must be provided in addition to all the other responsibilities of the Housing Act, Landlord and Tenant Act, etc etc
learning Spanish is obviously a good idea in a Spanish speaking country
read and written Spanish
Easier said than done, although a lot can be done by intuition.
I worked out "abre fácil" like that.
"Abre" I think means "open" ...... so basic deduction leads one to the conclusion that "facil" means "impossible without tools".
Santiago
09-03-2012, 23:13
An excellent thread - I have just read it through - and it certainly makes a lot of extremely sensible points. One point which wasn't covered was the problem which arises if one partner dies and the other is left alone. I live in Cornwall in a second home/holiday home area and many people have moved down here into these homes when they retire. Although many of them are relatively wealthy, (although some have been hit badly by the recession),they have left behind all their friends and neighbours whom they have known for many years, and have discovered that the people with whom they spent their summers, are no longer around for nine months of the year. If it is no longer feasible for them to return to the area where they used to live, then they are stuck here alone and lonely.
At least in Cornwall we all speak the same language - more or less! - but the problems for a widow or widower alone in the Canaries with few friends or family to help them must be disastrous and if there is no chance of them returning to the UK, they may end up living the rest of their lives in great distress.
Tom and Sharon have made a very sensible move and can choose their future, others may not be so lucky.
Tom & Sharon
09-03-2012, 23:53
An excellent thread - I have just read it through - and it certainly makes a lot of extremely sensible points. One point which wasn't covered was the problem which arises if one partner dies and the other is left alone. I live in Cornwall in a second home/holiday home area and many people have moved down here into these homes when they retire. Although many of them are relatively wealthy, (although some have been hit badly by the recession),they have left behind all their friends and neighbours whom they have known for many years, and have discovered that the people with whom they spent their summers, are no longer around for nine months of the year. If it is no longer feasible for them to return to the area where they used to live, then they are stuck here alone and lonely.
At least in Cornwall we all speak the same language - more or less! - but the problems for a widow or widower alone in the Canaries with few friends or family to help them must be disastrous and if there is no chance of them returning to the UK, they may end up living the rest of their lives in great distress.
Tom and Sharon have made a very sensible move and can choose their future, others may not be so lucky.
Good point! I hadn't thought that far ahead (God forbid it) but yes, you have to think about that.
Maybe the 70 yr old women I mentioned much earlier have befallen that?
Mind you, if you've lived most of your life in the UK, you would be entitled to a widows pension. I'm not sure if the same applies to men? i don't think it does, but I'm not certain.
Well me being nerdy, control freak, I already thought about what I'd do if hubby popped his clogs.
I'm gonna get me a Canarian toy boy. :D ;) :callme:
Seriously though, I think it's something you have to discuss. A lot depends on things like whether you make new friends quickly, how close you are to family etc.
When I lived in Cornwall I found I saw more of my friends and family than I did before I moved. Oh the joys of living in a holiday area! Had to strike a few of my less close friends off my invite list - usually the ones that invited themselves - soon found out who was in it for the free holiday and not much else. :devil2:
I think the real test is to imagine what would happen in the UK if you lost your partner. How would you cope and what would be different in Tenerife?
Santiago
10-03-2012, 16:11
I think the real test is to imagine what would happen in the UK if you lost your partner. How would you cope and what would be different in Tenerife?
The difference in Tenerife would be that you are on an island where there could be language difficulties, especially when dealing with the authorities; where most of your oldest friends and your family are 2000 miles away and you can't just jump in the car, or catch a bus or train to go and see them - or vice versa; where medical arrangements may be different from those you are used to, and again there may be a language problem.
At least if you have remained with one foot in each country you can always go back, like Tom and Sharon, but if you burn your boats behind you and don't have the financial resources to return to the UK if you need to, then life could become very difficult - and lonely!
Sorry to sound the knell of doom and gloom but it is another angle from which to view a move to Tenerife, or any of the other Canary Islands.
The difference in Tenerife would be that you are on an island where there could be language difficulties, especially when dealing with the authorities; where most of your oldest friends and your family are 2000 miles away and you can't just jump in the car, or catch a bus or train to go and see them - or vice versa; where medical arrangements may be different from those you are used to, and again there may be a language problem.
At least if you have remained with one foot in each country you can always go back, like Tom and Sharon, but if you burn your boats behind you and don't have the financial resources to return to the UK if you need to, then life could become very difficult - and lonely!
Sorry to sound the knell of doom and gloom but it is another angle from which to view a move to Tenerife, or any of the other Canary Islands.
I totally agree with you Santiago! but we also should take into account you don't have to be older to be ill or die! none of us know what is around the corner! I couldn't see myself living permanently in Tenerife without my OH, we've made a few good friends here but would feel I need the security blanket of being near to my life long friends and my albeit small family the distance from here to the UK would just be too far! You can get back to the washing up now girlie!;)
cainaries
10-03-2012, 17:54
I totally agree with you Santiago! but we also should take into account you don't have to be older to be ill or die! none of us know what is around the corner! I couldn't see myself living permanently in Tenerife without my OH, we've made a few good friends here but would feel I need the security blanket of being near to my life long friends and my albeit small family the distance from here to the UK would just be too far! You can get back to the washing up now girlie!;)
Ah, but how easy would it be for those of us who have been away for quite a while to pick up where we left off? Our 'old' friends have made new friends, some of my extremely small family have moved abroad ... just another thought to add to the thread ....
We have met couples here and only one singleton. I do wonder to what extent I would continue to be included in all the 'coupley' invitations if I were on my own.
Santiago
10-03-2012, 18:04
Ah, but how easy would it be for those of us who have been away for quite a while to pick up where we left off? Our 'old' friends have made new friends, some of my extremely small family have moved abroad ... just another thought to add to the thread ....
We have met couples here and only one singleton. I do wonder to what extent I would continue to be included in all the 'coupley' invitations if I were on my own.
That's true, cainaries! One other thought is that if the one left behind doesn't drive and has to rely on public transport or taxis, this can also get quite expensive and restrict movements around the island.
Sorry, I'll get back to the washing up Suej!!
Ah, but how easy would it be for those of us who have been away for quite a while to pick up where we left off? Our 'old' friends have made new friends, some of my extremely small family have moved abroad ... just another thought to add to the thread ....
We have met couples here and only one singleton. I do wonder to what extent I would continue to be included in all the 'coupley' invitations if I were on my own.
Very True Cainaries! TBH it's a horrible thought to be anywhere on your own! maybe it's a question of confidence! As for the coupley thing don't you think that would be the case whether here or UK?! I think whatever a person is feeling at the time I personally would still like to have the free choice of living in either place and not be forced to stay in Tenerife.
:)
A lot of good points have been made on this thread i have seen a lot of people come and go for various reasons some financial and one other reason is family many underestimate how much they will miss there family particulary grandchildren growing up you need to make sure Tenerife is trully where you want to be.
If you still want to give it a go only do so if you have nothing to lose dont give up a good job because theres none here have enough money to stay here without having to work and please dont buy a bar! and think you can make it pay when others have failed. David
Tom & Sharon
10-03-2012, 19:19
A lot of good points have been made on this thread i have seen a lot of people come and go for various reasons some financial and one other reason is family many underestimate how much they will miss there family particulary grandchildren growing up you need to make sure Tenerife is trully where you want to be.
If you still want to give it a go only do so if you have nothing to lose dont give up a good job because theres none here have enough money to stay here without having to work and please dont buy a bar! and think you can make it pay when others have failed. David
Yes, grandchildren may change things.
Our boys are 19 and 22 soon, so maybe in the next few years, we'll become grandparents and who knows how this will alter things. Probably make Tom want to stay in Tenerife!
My original point was to highight the lack of employment and opportunities on the island, but some good points being raised about other reasons that people should consider before jumping ship from the UK, and making that "lifetime" move.
Yes, grandchildren may change things.
Our boys are 19 and 22 soon, so maybe in the next few years, we'll become grandparents and who knows how this will alter things. Probably make Tom want to stay in Tenerife!
My original point was to highight the lack of employment and opportunities on the island, but some good points being raised about other reasons that people should consider before jumping ship from the UK, and making that "lifetime" move.
Sharon this really is an excellent thread!:c2: and it certainly has opened a can of worms and made me for one really glad I do have that choice to stay or go!
callao girl
10-03-2012, 19:42
hi sharon we too were going to up sticks and move to the rock at 50 , but thats been and gone.
we do have a little villa there and use it as often as we can the whole family was coming then one got married and things changed
but we do enjoy our time there and when were at work in uk we cant wait to get back .at least we can . so i count my blessings to have the best of both worlds:)
Tom & Sharon
10-03-2012, 20:08
hi sharon we too were going to up sticks and move to the rock at 50 , but thats been and gone.
we do have a little villa there and use it as often as we can the whole family was coming then one got married and things changed
but we do enjoy our time there and when were at work in uk we cant wait to get back .at least we can . so i count my blessings to have the best of both worlds:)
If you were going to up sticks and move with a view to working, you've done the right thing.
You've got your place anyway, when you're there you've got the money to enjoy it, and you've always got your next visit to look forward to.
Just been looking at Airfares to and from Manchester..
Commuting is getting harder too.!
cainaries
10-03-2012, 22:07
That's true, cainaries! One other thought is that if the one left behind doesn't drive and has to rely on public transport or taxis, this can also get quite expensive and restrict movements around the island.
Sorry, I'll get back to the washing up Suej!!
As soon as we arrived to live here permanently OH bullied me into driving on my own. I have my limits but I can drive to the shops, the hospital, the airport and the beach! It's like getting back on a horse if you fall off .... you have to do it straight away.
(The kitchen floor could do with a mop whilst you're at it!)
Yes, grandchildren may change things.
Our boys are 19 and 22 soon, so maybe in the next few years, we'll become grandparents and who knows how this will alter things. Probably make Tom want to stay in Tenerife!
My original point was to highight the lack of employment and opportunities on the island, but some good points being raised about other reasons that people should consider before jumping ship from the UK, and making that "lifetime" move.
yep a lot of good points been raised, which is good for reference for folks thinking about doing the move over here. iIknow for me, with my daughters being in their twenties, when i get to have grandchildren i,m sure i will want to have a foot in both camps. I don't want to miss them growing up.
I work in the charity shop with lots of lovely ladies, many of whom spend winters here & summers in u.k for that very reason - family.
yep a lot of good points been raised, which is good for reference for folks thinking about doing the move over here. iIknow for me, with my daughters being in their twenties, when i get to have grandchildren i,m sure i will want to have a foot in both camps. I don't want to miss them growing up.
I work in the charity shop with lots of lovely ladies, many of whom spend winters here & summers in u.k for that very reason - family.
p.s. i have to say tho the men seem to want to stay here in summer when the ladies go back !! lol
Tom & Sharon
10-03-2012, 22:32
Just been looking at Airfares to and from Manchester..
Commuting is getting harder too.!
It's not you know. When you book as many flights as we do, you get really used to how the airlines work.
We get some fab flights.
Santiago
10-03-2012, 22:48
One other small point: what would I have to look forward to if I was out there all the time?
I've done the floor, any laundry to do?
One other small point: what would I have to look forward to if I was out there all the time?
I've done the floor, any laundry to do?
looking forward to going back to see folks in u.k. as i am for easter, cannot wait.. lol
timmylish
11-03-2012, 02:19
I do hope that you,ve not been staying up late at night just awaiting my response to a very deep and personal question. I say that with absolutely no disrespect its just that on this Forum I seem to be a bit of an odd one out with opinions which seem to be totally at odds with the consensus of opinion. Anyway, that,s an opening defence to what I,m gonna say and believe me its not going to be earth shattering.
I suppose that many years ago, without realising it, I had taken certain preliminary steps to forsee my future as a single man coming up to a very difficult age. I was coming up to my late 40,s and a single man. Having left Scotland with next to nothing following a divorce where I left all and sundry to the first Mrs. T. who, of course was being asked to bring up the 2 kids. Now that sounds rather dramatic but we had taken steps, following the bankruptcy of our business interests in Scotland. Now, that in itself was catastrophic as we came from being very, very wealthy to skint within a 6 month period. Kids school fees, a home for all of them and an interest which would cover the University fees for both kids sorted. So I came here, at the invitation of a resort, to start all over again. Therein lies the root of what I have done since then. I HAD to earn to stay alive but did not have to worry about the financial side of the kids and the ex Mrs. T. quickly took up where she had left off and started earning a very good income. Now suffice to say that one way or the other, without having any parental back up of any kind (they were very working class people and never provided me with money at any time), I have always been able to make money whether it be in my own business or working for a company. Being involved in T/s was a relatively late development in my life although it lasted for my remaining 20 years, working!
So. Would I do the same again then, if I were the same age and the family organised as I,ve said, then yes, very probably. Not long after coming here and because of my personality and apparent accumen I went to Russia to work and as a single guy, like most ex-pats there in every industry, earned well and tbh. those earnings formed a financial backbone for what was to come, meeting a lovely lady who is a very sensible lady. We have no kids but I did suffer a stroke which put paid to me ever being able to earn as before.
I still say that in many ways not integrating into local society hinders the ability to find opportunities. Now I read all the subsequent postings and whilst I would empathise the re-occuring theme is being unable to find a way of starting a business or at least getting good work in the English speaking environment thereby denying the opportunities in the Spanish speaking world here. Since arriving on Tenerife I have never been one for sitting in pubs, watching the world run a way. Of course since the stroke I do not drink at all. That helps enormously as we just do not live a British life style at all.
Finally, althougjh I have said I would probably do it all over again as I,ve loved every minute of it, well almost, this is/was based on my situation. Wife, family, business earning sufficient for a decent lifestyle in the accepted way all in the UK then, to-day, no unless we were strong enough for us to live apart for 9 months of the year and both earning combined sums to let us change, later in years and come here, financially well balanced. Again, however it comes back to my opinion on lifestyle here. You cannot have both Ex-pat British and local Spanish, it has to be one or the other and if its the former its likely to fail. Buying homes in ex-pat areas are more expensive, just for starters. Cost of living, going to Iceland and the like, paying over the odds for everyday produce, not NEEDING to go out 3 or 4 times a week into British bars. I,m not going to tot it all up, if you are honest with yourselves you will see that for two you could easily be spending 100€,s pw and that,s before paying a mortgage on an over priced property. Perhaps I,m wrong when I said that if you are strong you could have a seperate but conjoined life, each living part of the year apart just on the financial grounds of running 2 homes. Yes. For Tom and Sharon its working. I would hazard a guess and say that there are unlikely to be many in that (fortunate) position.
So, all in all, a very confusing answer but to me, clear as a bell. No regrets and loving my life here, except when dealing with bureaucrats. But then Spanish are no worse than British its just if you cannot communicate what chance do you have?
As Timmy says Sharon and Tom are in a very fortunate position but I wonder Sharon if you were not in that situation and had to make a choice UK or Tenerife which would it be? eek2:
Tom & Sharon
11-03-2012, 12:18
I do hope that you,ve not been staying up late at night just awaiting my response to a very deep and personal question. I say that with absolutely no disrespect its just that on this Forum I seem to be a bit of an odd one out with opinions which seem to be totally at odds with the consensus of opinion. Anyway, that,s an opening defence to what I,m gonna say and believe me its not going to be earth shattering.
I suppose that many years ago, without realising it, I had taken certain preliminary steps to forsee my future as a single man coming up to a very difficult age. I was coming up to my late 40,s and a single man. Having left Scotland with next to nothing following a divorce where I left all and sundry to the first Mrs. T. who, of course was being asked to bring up the 2 kids. Now that sounds rather dramatic but we had taken steps, following the bankruptcy of our business interests in Scotland. Now, that in itself was catastrophic as we came from being very, very wealthy to skint within a 6 month period. Kids school fees, a home for all of them and an interest which would cover the University fees for both kids sorted. So I came here, at the invitation of a resort, to start all over again. Therein lies the root of what I have done since then. I HAD to earn to stay alive but did not have to worry about the financial side of the kids and the ex Mrs. T. quickly took up where she had left off and started earning a very good income. Now suffice to say that one way or the other, without having any parental back up of any kind (they were very working class people and never provided me with money at any time), I have always been able to make money whether it be in my own business or working for a company. Being involved in T/s was a relatively late development in my life although it lasted for my remaining 20 years, working!
So. Would I do the same again then, if I were the same age and the family organised as I,ve said, then yes, very probably. Not long after coming here and because of my personality and apparent accumen I went to Russia to work and as a single guy, like most ex-pats there in every industry, earned well and tbh. those earnings formed a financial backbone for what was to come, meeting a lovely lady who is a very sensible lady. We have no kids but I did suffer a stroke which put paid to me ever being able to earn as before.
I still say that in many ways not integrating into local society hinders the ability to find opportunities. Now I read all the subsequent postings and whilst I would empathise the re-occuring theme is being unable to find a way of starting a business or at least getting good work in the English speaking environment thereby denying the opportunities in the Spanish speaking world here. Since arriving on Tenerife I have never been one for sitting in pubs, watching the world run a way. Of course since the stroke I do not drink at all. That helps enormously as we just do not live a British life style at all.
Finally, althougjh I have said I would probably do it all over again as I,ve loved every minute of it, well almost, this is/was based on my situation. Wife, family, business earning sufficient for a decent lifestyle in the accepted way all in the UK then, to-day, no unless we were strong enough for us to live apart for 9 months of the year and both earning combined sums to let us change, later in years and come here, financially well balanced. Again, however it comes back to my opinion on lifestyle here. You cannot have both Ex-pat British and local Spanish, it has to be one or the other and if its the former its likely to fail. Buying homes in ex-pat areas are more expensive, just for starters. Cost of living, going to Iceland and the like, paying over the odds for everyday produce, not NEEDING to go out 3 or 4 times a week into British bars. I,m not going to tot it all up, if you are honest with yourselves you will see that for two you could easily be spending 100€,s pw and that,s before paying a mortgage on an over priced property. Perhaps I,m wrong when I said that if you are strong you could have a seperate but conjoined life, each living part of the year apart just on the financial grounds of running 2 homes. Yes. For Tom and Sharon its working. I would hazard a guess and say that there are unlikely to be many in that (fortunate) position.
So, all in all, a very confusing answer but to me, clear as a bell. No regrets and loving my life here, except when dealing with bureaucrats. But then Spanish are no worse than British its just if you cannot communicate what chance do you have?
Wow, thanks Timmy for your heartfelt answer.
All the points you make pertaining to your situation are absolutely clear. You were risking nothing when you arrived, and have been fortunate in making a good life for yourself. I am sure you will never wish to return to the UK now, it is no longer your home and I'm sure you never want it to be.
However, the point of the thread was to highlight the reality of arriving today, and as a family. They are the people I was aiming at. The people who are giving up successful lives in the UK to "live the dream" in the sunshine. As has been pointed out on here, if you are single and have nothing to lose in the UK, give it a go, why not? But time and time again people come on here with lots to lose, and are still prepared to risk everything to give it a go.
I understand that you don't live a British life. Of course you don't, Mrs T is Russian. She won't want to go to Iceland, the products are foreign to her. But the British who move here do want to go. I think it's fair to say that we are more typical of the people who move here than you are (thank God I hear you say!) but it's true. I didn't arrive with stars in my eyes. I always knew I didn't want to be Spanish, I'm English and always will be. I didn't think I'd suddenly start wearing a pinny and cooking paella! I love the Spanish way of life, but I'm not Spanish. I'll always want to go to Iceland and buy things like frozen chips, mushy peas, bisto and HP sauce. I was never under any other illusion. Don't get me wrong, I am perfectly at home sitting in a Spanish shack bar somewhere up the mountain, where no-one speaks a word of English. I am a very confident person, and would sit in one perfectly happy on my own, eating and drinking with the locals and it wouldn't bother me one iota. But a lot of English wouldn't.
I wouldn't want to live in a Spanish town either I don't think, but that's more to do with the standard of accommodation they offer more than anything. I love going to Los Abrigos, Las Galletas, El Medano, but they don't have the kind of luxury accommodation with swimming pool type of accommodation I want to live in. That's why we live on the Golf, in what you call "overpriced property". Having said that, in our complex the British are in the minority. The majority are made up of Spanish, Italian, French, Russian and Chinese. So the Spanish also like to live there, and I think that's quite nice.
But the majority of the British who move want to live with other British. That's the reality. They want to live in the type of accommodation they've holidayed in in the past. They want to go to the British bar down the road, eat British food, send the kids to Wingate, and shop in Iceland. And that's the people who are coming over to try to earn a living, and that's hard - very hard. I would go so far as to say almost impossible in this climate, if you want to have a decent standard of living, and I think that's what people come for. You're right that we spend hundreds of €'s a week, although our mortgage is tiny, but that's what we came for. We didn't come to scrimp and save, penny pinching round Mercadona and having to think twice about going out. If we want to go out 3 or 4 times a week, which sometimes we do, we don't want to have to count our pennies first. That's not the way we lived/live in England, and that's not the way we want to live there.
I think that's the vision most people have when they move to Tenerife, and the point of the thread is to highlight the fact that if it's to be funded by earnings from Tenerife, it's unlikely to be the reality.
Added after 2 minutes:
As Timmy says Sharon and Tom are in a very fortunate position but I wonder Sharon if you were not in that situation and had to make a choice UK or Tenerife which would it be? eek2:
The answer to that is, if we could make a living, Tenerife. But it's that big IF that makes the difference..................................
callao girl
11-03-2012, 14:13
me again
if people move lock stock and barrel and don't look into it properly then if it does not work out and you have given it a chance say 18 months like my friends (not tenerife) when they went back to uk they had no house, job and got less for their apartment than they thought they would so not enough to buy out right they could not get a counsil house had to private rent and still are 3 years on could not get help as been out of country even though they found out he had over paid on his contributions. she now has full time job in her old place of work he can only get a part time job and their money is running out and there on the retierment path
so coming back is not always that easy and we forget that
Tom & Sharon
11-03-2012, 15:24
me again
if people move lock stock and barrel and don't look into it properly then if it does not work out and you have given it a chance say 18 months like my friends (not tenerife) when they went back to uk they had no house, job and got less for their apartment than they thought they would so not enough to buy out right they could not get a counsil house had to private rent and still are 3 years on could not get help as been out of country even though they found out he had over paid on his contributions. she now has full time job in her old place of work he can only get a part time job and their money is running out and there on the retierment path
so coming back is not always that easy and we forget that
The one thing you must never, ever (there aren't enough nevers!) do, is sell up in the UK, and move out to Tenerife, using the equity from your house to fund a new life, and then just rent.
If you have to do that, you really can't afford to do it. Keep your house in the UK, or buy one in Tenerife. That way if everything goes wrong, and you've got to go back, you've not lost everything.
If you sell up, go through all the money (easy to do) and you have to go back, you'll arrive back in the UK homeless, penniless and status-less.
You'll never recover from it.
I have to agree with Sharon on this! What I can never understand is why people pay out as much in rent as they would pay for a mortgage! then live off their income from the sale of their house in Uk! I'm baffled that some English people I know here on my complex are still renting (paying 700€ a month!!!) after 3-4 years with nothing to show for it! I just can't work out their logic???
If people carry on paying their contributions in the UK they are entitled to the same as any other UK citizen surely? Who's to know how long they have been out of the country? Bit confused???
cainaries
11-03-2012, 15:41
Somehow this thread seems a little to me like signing a 'pre-nup' before getting married. That's always struck me like saying that you probably love your OH enough to marry them but you're not quite sure. So, opposite to what most of you are saying, if you always know you can go back to the UK, would you really try to make your business/life work in Tenerife?
(Sssh, don't tell Suej but we have just got a dog.)
Tom & Sharon
11-03-2012, 15:58
Somehow this thread seems a little to me like signing a 'pre-nup' before getting married. That's always struck me like saying that you probably love your OH enough to marry them but you're not quite sure. So, opposite to what most of you are saying, if you always know you can go back to the UK, would you really try to make your business/life work in Tenerife?
(Sssh, don't tell Suej but we have just got a dog.)
I don't think it's about having a "get out" Cainaries though. It's about not chucking your whole life down the pan, chasing a dream.
I don't think for a minute that people wouldn't try hard enough, just because they had some kind of insurance. There must be hundreds (thousands?) of people who've arrived in Tenerife to make a new life, some with forethought, some without, who've given it their all and still failed. I'm sure everyone on here knows someone like that. I can also think of others who've sold up and arrived, and were making a go of it, and then realised it wasn't what they wanted in the first place. Or as has already been mentioned, missed children, grandchildren or even the rain!
If you come to Tenerife to make a new life, hold on to the old one till you're sure.
golf birdie
11-03-2012, 16:00
I have to agree with Sharon on this! What I can never understand is why people pay out as much in rent as they would pay for a mortgage! then live off their income from the sale of their house in Uk! I'm baffled that some English people I know here on my complex are still renting (paying 700€ a month!!!) after 3-4 years with nothing to show for it! I just can't work out their logic???
If people carry on paying their contributions in the UK they are entitled to the same as any other UK citizen surely? Who's to know how long they have been out of the country? Bit confused???
if you return to the UK and fail to say you have lived in Tenerife whilst applying for benefits or using the NHS you are committing fraud.
Santiago
11-03-2012, 16:03
Somehow this thread seems a little to me like signing a 'pre-nup' before getting married. That's always struck me like saying that you probably love your OH enough to marry them but you're not quite sure. So, opposite to what most of you are saying, if you always know you can go back to the UK, would you really try to make your business/life work in Tenerife?
(Sssh, don't tell Suej but we have just got a dog.)
That's a good point, cainaries! But surely whatever you do is a risk and sometimes it's nice to have a back-up or even, maybe, it's essential in this recessionary time. As others have said - Do your homework first and make sure that you have thought everything through before you take a final step.
I'll get some dog food in!
tracy hampshire
11-03-2012, 16:05
cainaries, whats your dog like ??? , i won't tell suej lol, when i came over here i had no ties, apart from family, i mean no house or kids, i came over to be with my boyfriend and thankfully things have worked out, we are still together after 3 years, but we have had it very hard, the 2 of us living off 600euros a month, with a rent of 340, but i suppose i never came here to fulfill a dream of a life in the sun, just to be with someone i loved, wherever it maybe, unfourtunately my mum passed away last year, but out of the money i got left 80% of it has stayed tied up in the uk, i have learned how hard tenerife can be, giving it a little more time, then if things don't pick up , it's pastures new for us, both in our 40's so, plenty of time to earn a few bob, then come back to this beautiful island .
Tom & Sharon
11-03-2012, 16:11
if you return to the UK and fail to say you have lived in Tenerife whilst applying for benefits or using the NHS you are committing fraud.
I think you'll find the minute you return to the UK, you are entitled to use the NHS.
Benefits are a different matter I'm sure, and rightly so.
golf birdie
11-03-2012, 16:12
I think you'll find the minute you return to the UK, you are entitled to use the NHS.
Benefits are a different matter I'm sure, and rightly so.
you are entitled to emergency care only.
if you return to the UK and fail to say you have lived in Tenerife whilst applying for benefits or using the NHS you are committing fraud.
I pay contributions and UK taxes (which I elected to do) though gb. I don't claim benefits! Never claimed a penny in my life! Come to think of it I've not used the NHS either since living here!
Tom & Sharon
11-03-2012, 16:15
you are entitled to emergency care only.
Not if you move back, only if you're visiting.
The minute you move back, you can use the NHS.
Blimey Sharon have you seen how many views this thread has had? Over 4000!!! I'm sure it must be really useful for so many people!:wink:
timmylish
11-03-2012, 17:20
you are entitled to emergency care only.
From what I know I think you are mistaken (does that sound better than "you,re wrong?). After all, if on any form of State Benefits then surely payment of your NI contributions are deemed to have been paid and therefor you would be entitled to the full State systems. (I think)
Added after 12 minutes:
Sharon. I,ve read and re-read your comments on my posting (which you so eagerly awaited and I kept you waiting, sorry!) and all I want to stress that I had no intention of this becoming a dispute or anything similar. You asked for my opinion and I gave it. The fact that it is a complete contradiction of your lifestyle that does not matter, certainly, to me. My Mrs. T. does eat western food when she fancies (I do most of the cooking) but where I was coming from is highlight of the stupidity of using Iceland ONLY when shopping! Coke, beans, peas (mushy or otherwise), pastas and quite a lot of frozen foods can all be bought from places like Mercadona for substantially less than shops like Iceland. The point being is people say that they cannot suffer living on a shoestring here but that need not be by simply opening minds into shopping elsewhere. If I,m correct then somewhere in the order of 30%, absolute minimum, could be saved on a weekly shop. Apply that principal across the board and hey, ho! You,ve (they,ve) got a few €,s more in their pockets which gives that feeling of wellbeing, no matter how small. I was in Iceland yesterday and watched as two families (not on holiday) had trollies full of "hard" items and their bill was over 80€,s and 120€,s respectively. No-one can tell me that this makes sense, surely?
Anyway, I,m off to do some house-work, much against the wishes of others, saving the necessity of employing a house-keeper! Probably good-night.
tracy hampshire
11-03-2012, 17:37
i payed into the system for 25 years before coming here , only claiming for the final 2 months of my time in england, so by what i've paid in i would think i should get some benefits if i were to return ?
cainaries
11-03-2012, 18:12
i payed into the system for 25 years before coming here , only claiming for the final 2 months of my time in england, so by what i've paid in i would think i should get some benefits if i were to return ?
They will certainly count towards your State Pension. A few years ago - and the rules do change a lot - I was very firmly told that all other benefits related to your previous year's contributions so if you haven't contributed in the previous tax year you aren't entitled to claim any benefits. And I'd paid in for 39 years! As far as health care is concerned, I think you can take a Spanish EHIC with you (assuming you're entitled to that) which would cover you for most treatment. The EHIC used to be for emergency cover only but I recently read the webpages again and they seem to cover a lot more than that now.
(The dog is very small - more like a guinea pig - we didn't want to frighten the cats. Yes, some puppy 'piensos' would be great, Santiago, thanks)
Tom & Sharon
11-03-2012, 18:35
From what I know I think you are mistaken (does that sound better than "you,re wrong?). After all, if on any form of State Benefits then surely payment of your NI contributions are deemed to have been paid and therefor you would be entitled to the full State systems. (I think)
Added after 12 minutes:
Sharon. I,ve read and re-read your comments on my posting (which you so eagerly awaited and I kept you waiting, sorry!) and all I want to stress that I had no intention of this becoming a dispute or anything similar. You asked for my opinion and I gave it. The fact that it is a complete contradiction of your lifestyle that does not matter, certainly, to me. My Mrs. T. does eat western food when she fancies (I do most of the cooking) but where I was coming from is highlight of the stupidity of using Iceland ONLY when shopping! Coke, beans, peas (mushy or otherwise), pastas and quite a lot of frozen foods can all be bought from places like Mercadona for substantially less than shops like Iceland. The point being is people say that they cannot suffer living on a shoestring here but that need not be by simply opening minds into shopping elsewhere. If I,m correct then somewhere in the order of 30%, absolute minimum, could be saved on a weekly shop. Apply that principal across the board and hey, ho! You,ve (they,ve) got a few €,s more in their pockets which gives that feeling of wellbeing, no matter how small. I was in Iceland yesterday and watched as two families (not on holiday) had trollies full of "hard" items and their bill was over 80€,s and 120€,s respectively. No-one can tell me that this makes sense, surely?
Anyway, I,m off to do some house-work, much against the wishes of others, saving the necessity of employing a house-keeper! Probably good-night.
Timmy, you've mis-read what I put. I don't want a dispute - far from it. All I meant was that we are probably more like the typical ex-pat than you are (and that's not a self compliment!) You are fully integrated into the local way of life, and that's brilliant. My point is that most don't integrate, or want to for that matter, and that's why you have to think so carefully about a move.
You are right about saving 30% or so on shopping if necessary. Actually, I'm a pretty canny shopper, and everything isn't cheaper in Mercadona, but that's another thread.
The point is, that if there's no way to earn money, it doesn't matter how much you can save. And if you have to scrimp and save for every penny, is that living the dream?
You're one of the success stories. How many tragic ones are there? Too many I feel.
ps. I only eat mushy peas because I'm a Northern girl. It's the Southern Jessies who eat garden peas! ;) ;)
cainaries
11-03-2012, 18:43
When we moved out I swore I was going to live like the Spanish do! That didn't last long. Every Saturday morning my neighbour is out sweeping our street clean - even when it is clean - and she expects me to help. I drew that line extremely quickly and then realised I was going to live like an ex-pat. We get on fine with our neighbours though the street-cleaning niggle still persists.
tracy hampshire
11-03-2012, 18:46
here,here sharon, i'm a northern girl too, living fully in the spanish society, english bar maybe once a month, but you can take the girl out of and all that, still need my HP brown sauce, & bisto ( not the granuals) so never mind how much you live the spanish life, some of us still need a taste of home .
I would want to Live in a mixed environment with a fair ratio of Spanish.
The only English requirement is Tea-Bags, which I'm sure would wear off.
We used to Holiday in that sort of Area on the Peninsula, and made friends
As Tracy says, a few Hours occasionally in Emglish type surroundings wouls be nice, but not essential.
Where do I live,? The U.K., because unlike Tom and Sharron, I cant afford tohave two Homes.
So I live in Hope (a village too) and do the Lottery.
One Day maybe. The Plans are ready.......
I have to agree with Sharon on this! What I can never understand is why people pay out as much in rent as they would pay for a mortgage! then live off their income from the sale of their house in Uk! I'm baffled that some English people I know here on my complex are still renting (paying 700€ a month!!!) after 3-4 years with nothing to show for it! I just can't work out their logic???
The market has collapsed, if they'd have bought they'd be deep in negative equity costing them far more than what they paid in rent. When prices are falling its cheaper to rent.
Or maybe they have income from investments that pay their rent, and don't want to transfer into property because it's not as good an investment and is difficult to get out of.
Lots of reasons to rent rather than buy.
Easier said than done, although a lot can be done by intuition.
I worked out "abre fácil" like that.
"Abre" I think means "open" ...... so basic deduction leads one to the conclusion that "facil" means "impossible without tools".
Absolute fantastic comments again - wow obermoron you are really doing well!
The market has collapsed, if they'd have bought they'd be deep in negative equity costing them far more than what they paid in rent. When prices are falling its cheaper to rent.
Or maybe they have income from investments that pay their rent, and don't want to transfer into property because it's not as good an investment and is difficult to get out of.
Hi Palm! I bought my house about 7 years ago I would have to take less than I paid but the shortfall would be nowhere near what I would have paid out in rent over the 7 years which would be in excess of 58K! From what I know of sales on my complex I would at least break out even if I sold now. I do agree that that there are all sorts of reasons for renting not buying but to squander life savings or the proceeds from property on renting long term! where's any sort of return there?
Hi Palm! I bought my house about 7 years ago I would have to take less than I paid but the shortfall would be nowhere near what I would have paid out in rent over the 7 years which would be in excess of 58K! From what I know of sales on my complex I would at least break out even if I sold now. I do agree that that there are all sorts of reasons for renting not buying but to squander life savings or the proceeds from property on renting long term! where's any sort of return there?
Hi!
Don't forget if you bought with a mortgage you would have paid interest as part of your repayments, general rule of thumb is that for every £1 your borrow you have to pay back £2, so its not as simple as house value now minus house price paid when you purchased versus money spent on renting.
For people with savings who could buy outright without a mortgage, they can choose to buy a place to live or invest the money. An investment will give them a return, and if that is enough to pay rent with they aren't reducing the capital, which is a safer way to preserve that money than tying it up in property - Which is difficult to release if you need to (and certainly not cost free to do so).
So it depends - paying rent isn't automatically a waste of money, there is a 'cost of living' in both cases. And it can be cheaper to rent, even long term.
Santiago
11-03-2012, 23:27
The market has collapsed, if they'd have bought they'd be deep in negative equity costing them far more than what they paid in rent. When prices are falling its cheaper to rent.
Or maybe they have income from investments that pay their rent, and don't want to transfer into property because it's not as good an investment and is difficult to get out of.
Lots of reasons to rent rather than buy.
Yes, there are. And there are even more reasons to buy! If you rent you end up with nothing. If you buy and then don't want to stay you can always rent out until you need to sell - or until the prices go up as they will eventually. If you buy and have to then sell, even with negative equity, you may still be able to transfer any of the o/s balance to a new mortgage as long as you have made all your payments on time. But each to his own!!
timmylish
12-03-2012, 01:23
Yes, there are. And there are even more reasons to buy! If you rent you end up with nothing. If you buy and then don't want to stay you can always rent out until you need to sell - or until the prices go up as they will eventually. If you buy and have to then sell, even with negative equity, you may still be able to transfer any of the o/s balance to a new mortgage as long as you have made all your payments on time. But each to his own!!
Oh! I really did not want to get further into this as I believe that both Sharon and myself are entirely happy with our own individual positions howevr, on the subject of to buy or not. Again, my stand is simple. Choose the size of home you wish and then location, not the other way around. (This will again go against Sharon,s perspective I,m afraid but say it I must). By choosing a home say Cabo Blanco, to be near to LC, us in San Isidro, near to Medano etc etc. The actual start of purchase price is different. Mrs. T. bought our apt. and we moved in 18 months ago at, possibly THE worst time to do so. Having said that we moved from a similar apt. nearer to town at an average monthly spend of 450€,s. She is currently paying, with every consideration such as mortgage, phone, internet, water, leccy, grounds fees, communidad so on and so forth the total su, of 435€,s a month. Not much difference as you will see but, it is hers to alter (within reason) can make decisions of her own, leave it to her family in Moldova (eventually and hopefully not for many years) and, should she decide to do so, sell. Even is she takes a hit, anything above the money due to the lender is hers or her familys. Rent and she has nowt. Could be thrown out at any time decided upon by a third party. Again I repeat time and again. It all depends on a number of factors but pricipally, watch the pp, the interest payable and anything (other than money) which would prevent a sale in later years.
I really do think I,m over and out and I imagine that Sharon may feel the same!!!!!!!!!
If you rent you end up with nothing.
But flexibility during the term, the ability to walk away easily, the opportunity to invest cash in other asset classes other than property, no danger of being trapped due to negative equity ; there are pros and cons. Buying recently has clearly been a mistake when you look at how prices have come down, and in my opinion there is further to go, especially if you bought in spain/canaries. It would have been better to have rented and then bought when prices were at a more sensible level surely. So a clear case there of when renting is better.
If you buy and then don't want to stay you can always rent out until you need to sell
At market rates, which may or may not cover the mortgage. And you have periods when it is empty, how many empty rental properties are there in some of these overdeveloped areas, I certainly wouldn't want to be an owner of a property I couldn't sell due to negative equity and I couldn't rent out because all the neighbouring properties are doing the same. And such hassle! Tenants can be a real problem. It's not as easy as that.
- or until the prices go up as they will eventually.
I think that is based on hope rather than anything else! In any of our lifetimes? Im not so sure. This financial crisis is unprecedented.
If you buy and have to then sell, even with negative equity, you may still be able to transfer any of the o/s balance to a new mortgage as long as you have made all your payments on time.
'May' being the operative word, try it, see how easy it is!
But each to his own!!
Yes. Hey good luck guys if you're in the property hole, but wishful thinking won't fix it, and be careful about advising people that buying is always a good idea. It's not, renting can be cheaper. See my previous reply.
This is now way OT, sorry!
Nice one Tom and Sharon. We purchased our apartment through "the dreaded" timeshare in 2001. It was the best thing we have done with our money. It gives us something to look forward to every year (sometimes twice a year) brilliant weather , brilliant atmosphere, brilliant people. We also would love to sell up and move out there once the kids have flown the nest. It gives us something to dream about that might actually become a reality.
Davship
For me buying and owning my own property is my long term security. I would not consider lining someone else's pockets and as Santiago says walk away with nothing! Once off the property ladder it is now impossible to get back on. Renting imo is for short term only.
Not too OT Palm it's just something else to consider when selling up in the UK and moving over.:wink:
For me buying and owning my own property is my long term security. I would not consider lining someone else's pockets and as Santiago says walk away with nothing! Once off the property ladder it is now impossible to get back on. Renting imo is for short term only.
Not too OT Palm it's just something else to consider when selling up in the UK and moving over.:wink:
Ok final word from me on this, it's mostly off topic! Long term security is a good reason, BUT if you're coming over now and considering buying I would recommend renting. Regarding lining other peoples pockets... when you buy you are paying interest on the mortgage, lining the banks pockets! And walking away with nothing is better than not being able to walk away at all because of your negative equity, or if you do sell, walking away with a substantial loss! Plus I disagree that getting off the ladder means you wont get back on... first of all, at the moment, its a snake not a ladder... and if you sell now and rent for a while you can buy back in at a lower price.
Prices are falling and will continue to fall for some time to come, in these circumstances if you are moving to tenerife you will be better off by first renting and then buying at a later date for a lower amount. Don't forget, borrowing money on a mortgage means you have to repay DOUBLE the amount you borrow.
I simply suggest that people take note that prices are falling and do their sums before making a decision. 'Property prices only ever go up' seems to have become a mantra enforced over the ten years before the crisis hit (which by the way was mostly caused by that idea), it is not true!
Also bear in mind, potential future purchasers, how the euro crisis may unfold. Spain is right up there with Greece & Portugal with regard to the uncertainty of their financial future. If Spain leaves the euro and devalues the replacement currency you are looking at large asset price falls overnight. I personally believe we ain't seen nothing yet so I would recommend caution.
Good luck folks.
I didn't actually mention a mortgage. I would think that anyone selling up in UK would come over here with the proceeds of their sale after their mortgage has been paid off (assuming they had one) Life is a risk and it's up to the individual to weigh up their own and come to a financially viable decision.:wink:
golf birdie
12-03-2012, 14:29
I simply suggest that people take note that prices are falling and do their sums before making a decision. 'Property prices only ever go up' seems to have become a mantra enforced over the ten years before the crisis hit (which by the way was mostly caused by that idea), it is not true!
.
I have yet to meet anyone who lost on a long term property investment (20-25 years)
I have yet to meet anyone who lost on a long term property investment (20-25 years)
All babyboomers who had a good job/business . The generations after them will never posess or earn the same money to invest , get loans and buy property like it was in the past .
There are always exeptions , im talking generaly .
Times have changed.
Sent using Tapatalk.
Tom & Sharon
12-03-2012, 16:36
It's kind of gone off topic, yes, so just to bring it back round.....The point was not about the pros and cons of buying versus renting, because that's a completely different discussion.
The point was that it is a mistake to sell up in the UK, rent in Tenerife, and live off the equity. If you do this, and have to return, you will have nothing to return to. Financial pros and cons of renting v. buying aside, the big difference is that home owning gives you status, but you have to have the status in the first place to become a home owner. A bit chicken and egg really.
Palm's argument that you could sell up in the UK, move to Tenerife and rent, and then buy later is absolute rubbish, in this climate more than ever. To buy, you have to have status. CIM can come on and correct me if I'm wrong, but the best way to buy in Tenerife is to use your UK status to do it before you chuck the towel in in the UK. Once you have given up your good jobs and income in the UK who on earth is going to give you a mortgage? It takes years to establish status in any country, good enough to obtain a mortgage. The idea that you could move to Tenerife and rent for a bit, and then when you decide you like it buy a property is ridiculous. Wages in Tenerife are much lower, and job security is almost nil. Which lending institution is going to consider you a good risk then?
If you move over to rent, that is how you will stay. If you then have to move back to the UK, you will have no property to return to, and no status. You will have to start all over again building up a credit history, and saving for a deposit. Even with the recent slump in property prices, they are still (historically speaking) extremely high. How many people reading this, who've lived in their homes for 10 years or more, could actually afford to buy their own homes now, if they were starting over again? I bet I can count them on one hand.
Not everyone who owns their own home is in negative equity either. Only people who bought in the last 5 years with a high loan to value are. Everyone else is still sitting pretty on decent amounts of equity. Equity that over the next few years will rise again, and if it follows the pattern of the 90's recession, it will rise quite sharply.
If you were to sell up in the UK now, you would sell at the lowest level they've been for years. If you then used that money to fund a new life renting in Tenerife, and then it all went wrong, you would return with nothing. You would more than likely have almost no chance of getting back on the property ladder for years, and when you did it may not be at the level you were at before.
If however you put the money from your home in the UK, and bought in Tenerife, if things went wrong and you had to return, at least you would be able to rent it out until the world returned to normal and you could sell it and retrieve the money you put down.
Still on topic............................................
It's kind of gone off topic, yes, so just to bring it back round.....The point was not about the pros and cons of buying versus renting, because that's a completely different discussion.
The point was that it is a mistake to sell up in the UK, rent in Tenerife, and live off the equity. If you do this, and have to return, you will have nothing to return to. Financial pros and cons of renting v. buying aside, the big difference is that home owning gives you status, but you have to have the status in the first place to become a home owner. A bit chicken and egg really.
Palm's argument that you could sell up in the UK, move to Tenerife and rent, and then buy later is absolute rubbish, in this climate more than ever. To buy, you have to have status. CIM can come on and correct me if I'm wrong, but the best way to buy in Tenerife is to use your UK status to do it before you chuck the towel in in the UK. Once you have given up your good jobs and income in the UK who on earth is going to give you a mortgage? It takes years to establish status in any country, good enough to obtain a mortgage. The idea that you could move to Tenerife and rent for a bit, and then when you decide you like it buy a property is ridiculous. Wages in Tenerife are much lower, and job security is almost nil. Which lending institution is going to consider you a good risk then?
If you move over to rent, that is how you will stay. If you then have to move back to the UK, you will have no property to return to, and no status. You will have to start all over again building up a credit history, and saving for a deposit. Even with the recent slump in property prices, they are still (historically speaking) extremely high. How many people reading this, who've lived in their homes for 10 years or more, could actually afford to buy their own homes now, if they were starting over again? I bet I can count them on one hand.
Not everyone who owns their own home is in negative equity either. Only people who bought in the last 5 years with a high loan to value are. Everyone else is still sitting pretty on decent amounts of equity. Equity that over the next few years will rise again, and if it follows the pattern of the 90's recession, it will rise quite sharply.
If you were to sell up in the UK now, you would sell at the lowest level they've been for years. If you then used that money to fund a new life renting in Tenerife, and then it all went wrong, you would return with nothing. You would more than likely have almost no chance of getting back on the property ladder for years, and when you did it may not be at the level you were at before.
If however you put the money from your home in the UK, and bought in Tenerife, if things went wrong and you had to return, at least you would be able to rent it out until the world returned to normal and you could sell it and retrieve the money you put down.
Still on topic............................................
This was exactly the point I was trying to make but it started to go adrift a bit! LOL! :D
The problem with moving over and renting first is, as mentioned, that you will really struggle to get into a position where the banks will consider you for a mortgage once you live here.
I would recommend in 19 out of 20 cases, obtaining a Spanish mortgage (if you need one) based on your UK status. Residents have by far the highest fail rate when it comes to qualifying - salaries too low, no indefinido contract, paid in black etc.
If you have pension income and are moving over then you should be ok but income from a BTL portfolio or investments is unlikely to be accepted.
Palm's argument that you could sell up in the UK, move to Tenerife and rent, and then buy later is absolute rubbish, in this climate more than ever .... The idea that you could move to Tenerife and rent for a bit, and then when you decide you like it buy a property is ridiculous. Wages in Tenerife are much lower, and job security is almost nil. Which lending institution is going to consider you a good risk then?
Well I have to respond to this I guess!
If you sell up in the uk I assume you won't need a mortgage to buy in Tenerife. In that case biding your time and watching the continuing falls in prices is possible and sensible. Use the interest on the lump sum to pay your rent before piling it into a property, a perfectly sensible thing to do. Some people might want to stay that way, leaving their cash freely available and not putting all their eggs in one basket my allocating their entire wealth into a single asset class (property). This is a circumstance where renting in preference to buying is probably a good idea, depending on where you think the property market is going.
Even with the recent slump in property prices, they are still (historically speaking) extremely high. How many people reading this, who've lived in their homes for 10 years or more, could actually afford to buy their own homes now, if they were starting over again? I bet I can count them on one hand.
So what's wrong with this picture? Prices are too high. Unsustainably high now that the banks are going back to more responsible lending.
Not everyone who owns their own home is in negative equity either. Only people who bought in the last 5 years with a high loan to value are. Everyone else is still sitting pretty on decent amounts of equity. Equity that over the next few years will rise again, and if it follows the pattern of the 90's recession, it will rise quite sharply.
How can prices rise if no-one can afford to pay the current asking prices? You just said in the previous part I quoted that people couldn't buy their homes now if they were starting out.. so who is going to pay these prices? They will have to come down. How you can have that thought and at the same time believe that 'equity over the next few years will rise again' is quite muddled.
if things went wrong and you had to return, at least you would be able to rent it out until the world returned to normal and you could sell it and retrieve the money you put down.
This is normal. The lax irresponsible lending that fuelled the housing bubble was the abnormal bit, we won't be going back to that again in a hurry, it has bankrupt banks and now countries. 10x income multiples? 125% mortgages? Utter madness. Lower more responsible LTV is normal.. that we are going back to that means that prices are going back down. In the UK prices more than doubled in 10 years because of this, that is not a normal period.
Anyone considering buying should sit back and wait for prices to go back down to more affordable levels, renting whilst doing that is perfectly sensible.
Added after 9 minutes:
I didn't actually mention a mortgage.
Ok, I was just giving examples of circumstances where it can make more sense to rent rather than buy, even in the long term.
And actually as Ive mentioned already if you don't need a mortgage renting is sensible then too!
Tom & Sharon
12-03-2012, 21:12
Well I have to respond to this I guess!
If you sell up in the uk I assume you won't need a mortgage to buy in Tenerife. In that case biding your time and watching the continuing falls in prices is possible and sensible. Use the interest on the lump sum to pay your rent before piling it into a property, a perfectly sensible thing to do. Some people might want to stay that way, leaving their cash freely available and not putting all their eggs in one basket my allocating their entire wealth into a single asset class (property). This is a circumstance where renting in preference to buying is probably a good idea, depending on where you think the property market is going.
So what's wrong with this picture? Prices are too high. Unsustainably high now that the banks are going back to more responsible lending.
How can prices rise if no-one can afford to pay the current asking prices? You just said in the previous part I quoted that people couldn't buy their homes now if they were starting out.. so who is going to pay these prices? They will have to come down. How you can have that thought and at the same time believe that 'equity over the next few years will rise again' is quite muddled.
This is normal. The lax irresponsible lending that fuelled the housing bubble was the abnormal bit, we won't be going back to that again in a hurry, it has bankrupt banks and now countries. 10x income multiples? 125% mortgages? Utter madness. Lower more responsible LTV is normal.. that we are going back to that means that prices are going back down. In the UK prices more than doubled in 10 years because of this, that is not a normal period.
Anyone considering buying should sit back and wait for prices to go back down to more affordable levels, renting whilst doing that is perfectly sensible.
Added after 9 minutes:
Ok, I was just giving examples of circumstances where it can make more sense to rent rather than buy, even in the long term.
And actually as Ive mentioned already if you don't need a mortgage renting is sensible then too!
You're entitled to your opinion on all of that, even though I don't agree with you, and you're still missing the point of the thread.
The thread was about people of earning years, moving to Tenerife in the hope of earning a living and living the dream. This is normally people who have not paid for their houses, and still need a mortgage wherever they live.
The thread is not (generally) about people who have paid for their houses in full, and are moving out with a bucket load of cash. Again, generally speaking, they would be retired and have an income stream from their pension.
Can we stay on topic?
I respectfully suggest You ask for this Great Thread to be closed, before it is further watered down.
The point is NOT how to manage Money, it is to be aware of the risks BEFORE moving to "The promised Land"
and burning Your Boats in the process, with all the implications.
I understand all the points about percentages made, but think it has detracted from something which in itself was
dynamic in putting over some Commonsense Ideas, and in such a way to odjectively inform Those
Tempted to jump before knowing the Water's depth..
Tom & Sharon
12-03-2012, 22:02
I respectfully suggest You ask for this Great Thread to be closed, before it is further watered down.
The point is NOT how to manage Money, it is to be aware of the risks BEFORE moving to "The promised Land"
and burning Your Boats in the process, with all the implications.
I understand all the points about percentages made, but think it has detracted from something which in itself was
dynamic in putting over some Commonsense Ideas, and in such a way to odjectively inform Those
Tempted to jump before knowing the Water's depth..
Thanks Warbey. I think it would be a shame to close it, as some people have had some very good input.
I probably should learn not to bite when others take it off topic with irrelevances! :wink:
caroll72
12-03-2012, 22:25
you are entitled to emergency care only.
Sorry not true, when we returned to uk a year ago, we registered with a doctor & was accepted from day 1.
BUT
We'd kept our old uk medical cards from before we moved out to Tenerife.
And it was because of that we were accepted.
Yet another reason NOT to break all ties with uk.
Thanks Warbey. I think it would be a shame to close it, as some people have had some very good input.
I probably should learn not to bite when others take it off topic with irrelevances! :wink:
Please keep the thread open! Perhaps the best thing to do Sharon is to request removal of all the posts that are not relevant to the thread! I would not be offended if my original post regarding selling up in the UK and then renting here is removed or if you would prefer I will delete it. :respect:
I probably should learn not to bite when others take it off topic with irrelevances! :wink:
You also said
Still on topic............................................
Make your mind up!
You said my argument was 'absolute rubbish', so Ive tried to explain for the benefit of anyone interested an aspect of moving to Tenerife that may be relevant to others. I had actually said it was a bit Off Topic myself, and both you and Suej said it was still relevant!
It's ok to be wrong, learning is good! Taking it in good grace is character building!
Good Luck everyone.
:D
Tom & Sharon
12-03-2012, 23:02
Please keep the thread open! Perhaps the best thing to do Sharon is to request removal of all the posts that are not relevant to the thread! I would not be offended if my original post regarding selling up in the UK and then renting here is removed or if you would prefer I will delete it. :respect:
It's OK Sue, it was a relevant comment regarding selling up and leaving the UK. It's definitely a major point to consider in the context of what we were discussing.
cainaries
12-03-2012, 23:51
This is an excellent thread. I am happy to delete any of my irrelevant or mistaken posts. Please advise any and I will delete them. Tom and Sharon are in charge!
Only worry is if it gets too long new readers will be put off and miss all the seriously wise advice which has been posted. To me the main message is 'look before you leap.'
timmylish
13-03-2012, 00:09
No need for any abuse as well.
That,s why I come out of these discussions as invariably, should you have an opposing viewpoint, certain words/comments start flying aroun as opposed to accepting that there are more than your opinions relevant.
captain beefheart
13-03-2012, 00:27
Keep this thread open, one of the best since I've joined the forum. Great advice and information for me and many others thinking of making Tenerife our future destination. Well done .
slodgedad
13-03-2012, 01:22
Although I agree that a lot of the posts are slightly :offtopic: I feel they should left in place and the thread left open.
For someone reading this, looking for opinions and information, it is an eye opener. Very informative.
For what it's worth :eyebrows: I agree. The points raised are all excellent ones even when people disagree.
Sundowner
13-03-2012, 16:24
I think for those in the fortunate position of owning a UK property thinking of moving over to Tenerife, the best advice is to hang onto it, rent it out and use the income to either buy or rent in Tenerife. There will be plenty of time later to sell up if having settled in Tenerife you want to burn your bridges or if not you will have an asset to go back too should you wish too.
As to the property market in the U.K. or Tenerife, the experts don't know what will happen.......if we did for sure, we could make a fortune.
Tom and Sharon wisely kept their options open and I think if people are able to do that, it is the best course to take.
Tom & Sharon
13-03-2012, 18:10
I think for those in the fortunate position of owning a UK property thinking of moving over to Tenerife, the best advice is to hang onto it, rent it out and use the income to either buy or rent in Tenerife. There will be plenty of time later to sell up if having settled in Tenerife you want to burn your bridges or if not you will have an asset to go back too should you wish too.
As to the property market in the U.K. or Tenerife, the experts don't know what will happen.......if we did for sure, we could make a fortune.
Tom and Sharon wisely kept their options open and I think if people are able to do that, it is the best course to take.
This is exactly what I meant. In the time that we have been in Tenerife, we have come across couples who have sold everything in the UK, and moved to Tenerife to rent, and brought the equity from the house with them (as well as the kids and the family dog). This is what we saw.......
For the first few months everything is great. You wake up with blue skies and the sun shining, and spend the weekends at the beach. You spend your first full summer as a resident, and gloat about the holidaymakers who have a mere fortnight in the sun. You still kind of feel in extended holiday mode and eat out in nice restaurants on a Friday and Saturday night. You get a nice little job in a bar or a little shop, or do a bit of telesales. The men do a bit of odd-jobbing. If either of you are really lucky (??? ???) you might even get a job in Iceland!
Facebook status' to friends back in England show sunny days out on the beach, sitting in pavement cafes, cold beer in hand. They read "really enjoying our new life in the sun" and "best decision we ever made".
Then suddenly after 12 months, reality sets in. The capital you brought with you is nearly gone, because it has been supplementing your low wages and holiday lifestyle for a year. You bought a car when you came over out of it, maybe put the kids in Wingate, and signed up for an apartment to rent for €800/€1000 a month because the kids needed a swimming pool, and bought some new furniture because the stuff in the apartment was a bit basic. You've been through a Tenerife winter, and actually some days it was quite cold, even rained, and you needed a fleece on at night. The job's a bit crap really, nobody has many employment rights, people are getting sacked all the time and you have to try extra hard as you might be the next.
You realise that in a few months the bank account will be empty, and you will have to live on the meagre wages you earn, with nothing extra to draw on. All of a sudden you can't afford to go to a nice restaurant every Saturday night, the rent seems like a lot, and bills aren't as cheap as the bloke in the bar told you when you were first thinking of moving over. Not only that but you miss your friends and family and your best friend has just had a new baby you haven't seen, and you're not sure if you can justify spending the money on a flight.
You realise you want to go home. But all the money's gone. You've got no home and no job to return to. Your sister/brother/mother says you can stay with them till "you get back on your feet". That's the reality of what you've got to go back to - someone's spare room and job hunting. You drive past your old house you used to live in, and realise it'll be years (if ever) before you can afford to live somewhere like that again.........
Was your year in the sun worth it?
I know that's not what happens to everyone, some make a go of it. But I know of more people who the above applies to.
Think of this when people make comments like "You'll never know if you don't try" "Life's too short to wonder". Give it a go by all means, but make sure you have something to go back to. From what I've witnessed, people who don't make it and go home, do so fairly quickly. It won't hurt to rent your house out for the first few years, and after that time you'll be in a good position to make the right decision to cut your ties with the UK.
golf birdie
13-03-2012, 19:31
You realise you want to go home. But all the money's gone. You've got no home and no job to return to. Your sister/brother/mother says you can stay with them till "you get back on your feet". That's the reality of what you've got to go back to - someone's spare room and job hunting. You drive past your old house you used to live in, and realise it'll be years (if ever) before you can afford to live somewhere like that again.........
Was your year in the sun worth it?
I know that's not what happens to everyone, some make a go of it. But I know of more people who the above applies to.
.
don't forget a lot who do make it here and have been here for a while feel trapped as whilst they earn a decent wage here they are too old to start all over again job hunting/building a business back in the UK.
This is exactly what I meant. In the time that we have been in Tenerife, we have come across couples who have sold everything in the UK, and moved to Tenerife to rent, and brought the equity from the house with them (as well as the kids and the family dog). This is what we saw.......
For the first few months everything is great. You wake up with blue skies and the sun shining, and spend the weekends at the beach. You spend your first full summer as a resident, and gloat about the holidaymakers who have a mere fortnight in the sun. You still kind of feel in extended holiday mode and eat out in nice restaurants on a Friday and Saturday night. You get a nice little job in a bar or a little shop, or do a bit of telesales. The men do a bit of odd-jobbing. If either of you are really lucky (??? ???) you might even get a job in Iceland!
Facebook status' to friends back in England show sunny days out on the beach, sitting in pavement cafes, cold beer in hand. They read "really enjoying our new life in the sun" and "best decision we ever made".
Then suddenly after 12 months, reality sets in. The capital you brought with you is nearly gone, because it has been supplementing your low wages and holiday lifestyle for a year. You bought a car when you came over out of it, maybe put the kids in Wingate, and signed up for an apartment to rent for €800/€1000 a month because the kids needed a swimming pool, and bought some new furniture because the stuff in the apartment was a bit basic. You've been through a Tenerife winter, and actually some days it was quite cold, even rained, and you needed a fleece on at night. The job's a bit crap really, nobody has many employment rights, people are getting sacked all the time and you have to try extra hard as you might be the next.
You realise that in a few months the bank account will be empty, and you will have to live on the meagre wages you earn, with nothing extra to draw on. All of a sudden you can't afford to go to a nice restaurant every Saturday night, the rent seems like a lot, and bills aren't as cheap as the bloke in the bar told you when you were first thinking of moving over. Not only that but you miss your friends and family and your best friend has just had a new baby you haven't seen, and you're not sure if you can justify spending the money on a flight.
You realise you want to go home. But all the money's gone. You've got no home and no job to return to. Your sister/brother/mother says you can stay with them till "you get back on your feet". That's the reality of what you've got to go back to - someone's spare room and job hunting. You drive past your old house you used to live in, and realise it'll be years (if ever) before you can afford to live somewhere like that again.........
Was your year in the sun worth it?
I know that's not what happens to everyone, some make a go of it. But I know of more people who the above applies to.
Think of this when people make comments like "You'll never know if you don't try" "Life's too short to wonder". Give it a go by all means, but make sure you have something to go back to. From what I've witnessed, people who don't make it and go home, do so fairly quickly. It won't hurt to rent your house out for the first few years, and after that time you'll be in a good position to make the right decision to cut your ties with the UK.
I believe this Scenario could happen eight or ten |Years on too,
after Youve adapted to life and become a little distant from the
current U.K.
Recessions like the current one affect many People.
This is exactly what I meant. In the time that we have been in Tenerife, we have come across couples who have sold everything in the UK, and moved to Tenerife to rent, and brought the equity from the house with them (as well as the kids and the family dog). This is what we saw.......
What a story but is it a true one :P
WOW! Let say they sell a house for hundreds of thousands and then it is all gone within one year? WOW just WOW.
And all of this from wise people which wanted to live a dream, did everything to do so, carefully studied all cons and pros and they would do that??? What happened with job money, profits from money in saving account? They could be easily living from that, and don't touch anything from savings.
What kind of people would they have to be, (or which planet) and how they managed to buy their house in the first place when they are spending SOOO much all the time?
Or maybe they were never spending anything and now are on a crazy shopping in Tenerife. For all this years of saving every penny and to live a living dream of spending spending spending for a year!? Haha very funny!
Again, how can you spend hundreds of thousands a year when you earn only thousands? MATH PLEASE?
Ah yes I forget... Lottery :)
Comone.....
What a story but is it a true one :P
WOW! Let say they sell a house for hundreds of thousands....
But that is simply not always the case. I see people coming over (or planning to) with lump sums from 20,000€ to 300,000€+ and everything in between.
Relocation costs - 5,000€
Apartment rental - 9,600€ per year
New car - 10,000€
Spending per month on groceries/bills - 1,000€ (12,000€ per year)
School fees - 6,000€ a year
Enjoying themselves per month - 700€ (8,400€ per year)
So they arrive, spending around 15,000€ immediately and are then spending around 2,500€ per month (30,000€ a year) and after 12 or 18 months realise they have already burned through 60,000€ of their 100,000€ lump sum and have enough left for another 14 months.... By this time hubby hasn't found a decent job, mother has tried 4 or 5 naff commission jobs, none of which has worked out....
This happens a lot to a lot of people.
People come over and live the life of riley, the spend what they want, rent an apartment they really like etc before actually figuring out how they are going to derive an income and how much it is going to be in order to ascertain if they will actually enjoy living withing their means.
callao girl
14-03-2012, 09:31
ah yes who does not want to win the lottery
i have not had 1 number for months
but i'm still back on the rock next month can't wait !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But that is simply not always the case. I see people coming over (or planning to) with lump sums from 20,000€ to 300,000€+ and everything in between.
Relocation costs - 5,000€
Apartment rental - 9,600€ per year
New car - 10,000€
Spending per month on groceries/bills - 1,000€ (12,000€ per year)
School fees - 6,000€ a year
Enjoying themselves per month - 700€ (8,400€ per year)
So they arrive, spending around 15,000€ immediately and are then spending around 2,500€ per month (30,000€ a year) and after 12 or 18 months realise they have already burned through 60,000€ of their 100,000€ lump sum and have enough left for another 14 months.... By this time hubby hasn't found a decent job, mother has tried 4 or 5 naff commission jobs, none of which has worked out....
This happens a lot to a lot of people.
People come over and live the life of riley, the spend what they want, rent an apartment they really like etc before actually figuring out how they are going to derive an income and how much it is going to be in order to ascertain if they will actually enjoy living withing their means.
Seems a bit cheap to me. It's not just financial either. I have friends who have left who have no money worries at all. They just miss the UK lifestyle they left behind.
One thing seems to make life harder here and that is if you have to rely on Tenerife for your living. It's not impossible, look at people like Tonypub, young golfer etc (I know tony but not young golfer ...just my impression of him from on here). One thing these guys have in common though is that they are entrepreneurs. They make their own luck when it comes to making money. If you can't make your own money then it is an uphill challenge.
I think for those in the fortunate position of owning a UK property thinking of moving over to Tenerife, the best advice is to hang onto it, rent it out and use the income to either buy or rent in Tenerife. There will be plenty of time later to sell up if having settled in Tenerife you want to burn your bridges or if not you will have an asset to go back too should you wish too.
As to the property market in the U.K. or Tenerife, the experts don't know what will happen.......if we did for sure, we could make a fortune.
Tom and Sharon wisely kept their options open and I think if people are able to do that, it is the best course to take.
This is just what i have done, now some people think im strange after living here for 9 years and still renting, but thats the way i want it, to me its just like swapping houses, the money from my house in England pays my rent here. so to me im in a win win situation, i could just move back to the uk at any time and still have a house without the hassle of waiting to sell property here. I dont make millions here but i live the way i want to. Happy days.... for now.
YOUNG GOLFER
14-03-2012, 12:21
Seems a bit cheap to me. It's not just financial either. I have friends who have left who have no money worries at all. They just miss the UK lifestyle they left behind.
One thing seems to make life harder here and that is if you have to rely on Tenerife for your living. It's not impossible, look at people like Tonypub, young golfer etc (I know tony but not young golfer ...just my impression of him from on here). One thing these guys have in common though is that they are entrepreneurs. They make their own luck when it comes to making money. If you can't make your own money then it is an uphill challenge.
Tonypub and myself have been around for many years and i am sure he will agree it can be very very tough at times but looking at his bar he has got it right but he has worked hard to make it what it is today.
Myself it's not been easy and it can be really hard at times and i have been lucky to have been given help from friends when i needed it...but you can make it in Tenerife but you have to fight to make it happen i am in my office most nights til 8.30-9pm but i love it people see that you are willing to work hard put in the hours and the rewards are there.
Tenerife is not for most people we all know that and over the years i have seem 100s go back home.
But there are a few other people i know just off the forum who seem to be doing ok Andy0210 i have got to know him a bit over the last year or two hes seems on the ball another person who works hard and long hours.
DJD another person he has a good job again works a lot of hours not seen him for a bit but this guy is a good example of what it takes to live here and in the time he has been here his Spanish is very very good.
Heffalumpy a few people will know him on here a good guy always going out of his way to help other people someone who you can trust and again works long hours and weekends.
And CIM who i work with now and again now he takes some beating when it comes to work god knows how many hours a day he works and you won't see him take a day off if there's work to do.....i remember a few weeks back he got a sale on a Sunday because he went that little extra.
Ashro another guy that seems to have what it takes to make it in Tenerife provides a good service to his clients.
I am sure there are others i can think of just of the Tenerife Forum alone.
So guys there are people over here who can make it and like the examples above there seems to be a pattern with them all......they are all hard workers and they like me have the will to want to make it work here.
You get out of life what you put in some people might say we are lucky but i like to think the harder you work the luckier you get.
Just like to add one more important fact that having a partner here with you who thinks along the same lines as you will make living in Tenerife a hell of a lot easier.;)
This is exactly what I meant. In the time that we have been in Tenerife, we have come across couples who have sold everything in the UK, and moved to Tenerife to rent, and brought the equity from the house with them (as well as the kids and the family dog). This is what we saw.......
For the first few months everything is great. You wake up with blue skies and the sun shining, and spend the weekends at the beach. You spend your first full summer as a resident, and gloat about the holidaymakers who have a mere fortnight in the sun. You still kind of feel in extended holiday mode and eat out in nice restaurants on a Friday and Saturday night. You get a nice little job in a bar or a little shop, or do a bit of telesales. The men do a bit of odd-jobbing. If either of you are really lucky (??? ???) you might even get a job in Iceland!
Facebook status' to friends back in England show sunny days out on the beach, sitting in pavement cafes, cold beer in hand. They read "really enjoying our new life in the sun" and "best decision we ever made".
Then suddenly after 12 months, reality sets in. The capital you brought with you is nearly gone, because it has been supplementing your low wages and holiday lifestyle for a year. You bought a car when you came over out of it, maybe put the kids in Wingate, and signed up for an apartment to rent for €800/€1000 a month because the kids needed a swimming pool, and bought some new furniture because the stuff in the apartment was a bit basic. You've been through a Tenerife winter, and actually some days it was quite cold, even rained, and you needed a fleece on at night. The job's a bit crap really, nobody has many employment rights, people are getting sacked all the time and you have to try extra hard as you might be the next.
You realise that in a few months the bank account will be empty, and you will have to live on the meagre wages you earn, with nothing extra to draw on. All of a sudden you can't afford to go to a nice restaurant every Saturday night, the rent seems like a lot, and bills aren't as cheap as the bloke in the bar told you when you were first thinking of moving over. Not only that but you miss your friends and family and your best friend has just had a new baby you haven't seen, and you're not sure if you can justify spending the money on a flight.
You realise you want to go home. But all the money's gone. You've got no home and no job to return to. Your sister/brother/mother says you can stay with them till "you get back on your feet". That's the reality of what you've got to go back to - someone's spare room and job hunting. You drive past your old house you used to live in, and realise it'll be years (if ever) before you can afford to live somewhere like that again.........
Was your year in the sun worth it?
I know that's not what happens to everyone, some make a go of it. But I know of more people who the above applies to.
Think of this when people make comments like "You'll never know if you don't try" "Life's too short to wonder". Give it a go by all means, but make sure you have something to go back to. From what I've witnessed, people who don't make it and go home, do so fairly quickly. It won't hurt to rent your house out for the first few years, and after that time you'll be in a good position to make the right decision to cut your ties with the UK.
That's fair cheered me up this morning ! :D
Tonypub and myself have been around for many years and i am sure he will agree it can be very very tough at times but looking at his bar he has got it right but he has worked hard to make it what it is today.
Myself it's not been easy and it can be really hard at times and i have been lucky to have been given help from friends when i needed it...but you can make it in Tenerife but you have to fight to make it happen i am in my office most nights til 8.30-9pm but i love it people see that you are willing to work hard put in the hours and the rewards are there.
Tenerife is not for most people we all know that and over the years i have seem 100s go back home.
But there are a few other people i know just off the forum who seem to be doing ok Andy0210 i have got to know him a bit over the last year or two hes seems on the ball another person who works hard and long hours.
DJD another person he has a good job again works a lot of hours not seen him for a bit but this guy is a good example of what it takes to live here and in the time he has been here his Spanish is very very good.
Heffalumpy a few people will know him on here a good guy always going out of his way to help other people someone who you can trust and again works long hours and weekends.
And CIM who i work with now and again now he takes some beating when it comes to work god knows how many hours a day he works and you won't see him take a day off if there's work to do.....i remember a few weeks back he got a sale on a Sunday because he went that little extra.
Ashro another guy that seems to have what it takes to make it in Tenerife provides a good service to his clients.
I am sure there are others i can think of just of the Tenerife Forum alone.
So guys there are people over here who can make it and like the examples above there seems to be a pattern with them all......they are all hard workers and they like me have the will to want to make it work here.
You get out of life what you put in some people might say we are lucky but i like to think the harder you work the luckier you get.
Just like to add one more important fact that having a partner here with you who thinks along the same lines as you will make living in Tenerife a hell of a lot easier.;)
Trouble is YG that this work! work! work! lifestyle is often something people want to get away from in the UK in order to live a more stress free life! Oh dear what a misconception!:crazy:
YOUNG GOLFER
14-03-2012, 13:11
Trouble is YG that this work! work! work! lifestyle is often something people want to get away from in the UK in order to live a more stress free life! Oh dear what a misconception!:crazy:
True i guess Sue but then it depends on your age none of the above i mentioned are ready to put their feet up lol
don't forget a lot who do make it here and have been here for a while feel trapped as whilst they earn a decent wage here they are too old to start all over again job hunting/building a business back in the UK.
There is the other side of the coin though golf birdie there are millions in the UK who have lost their jobs in long term employment and are in their mid 50's they face the same problem of being a bit long in the tooth to start again or retrain for alternative work so they are still trapped.:wink:
Sundowner
14-03-2012, 16:23
I think Sharon should write a book about her time in Tenerife! Along the lines of Peter Mayle's "A year in Provence"
"3 Years in Tenerife"
Tom & Sharon
14-03-2012, 17:44
I think Sharon should write a book about her time in Tenerife! Along the lines of Peter Mayle's "A year in Provence"
"3 Years in Tenerife"
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't encourage her :doh: :pray::pray::pray::pray:
Tom :D
3 yrs today since we bought here......The reality!
Yes reality but only yours.
I just want to point out a few things in your comments:
"Tom is a skilled engineer"... "It didn't take him very long to realise that there are no "proper" jobs for a skilled man in Tenerife."
How can you except to get a proper job in Spanish speaking country when your knowledge of the Spanish is poor, and at the same time understanding reality, every day of life in Spain/Canaries. You did no want to integrate in to the society where the language is the first thing to do. Or maybe you where thinking that he will do some job for the small Britain community? THIS IS TENERIFE, 90% people here speak: yes you guess it SPANISH!
Yes, there is no "proper" job for a skilled man in Tenerife without "proper" SPANISH.
You say that you were preparing for this for years and was thinking of moving here permanently.
How can you said that without taking all the necessary steps. Learning Spanish to perfection and in case of Tom, learning very hard technical Spanish which he would need for his dreamt skilled work, then research about exactly which job are on offer and which don't. And this is exactly the one most important thing which you did not do, the one thing which should be the one advice for people thinking of moving here: If you do want to have any hope of being successful and make decent living in Tenerife LEARN SPANISH HARD. Imagine very, very good Spanish professional which comes to Britain without English, what hopes of getting a good job in his profession would he have? Nill....
Upon your arrival here (after all this years of preparations) you are telling people things like:
After trying 4(jobs), I decided I wasn't going to try any more - they are all rubbish.
Do you actually know how many people have you offended by this comment, people which are struggling, people which wish they could be in your place, but you have taken their job for the time being and then coming here and saying how all the jobs are rubbish. Little respect please!
If you've been used to a good salary/job/standard of living, complete with pension scheme in the UK., then stay there unless you can work remotely.
"I cannot see the point in living in Tenerife unless you have the money to enjoy it. From what I've seen, an awful lot haven't!
I cannot see the point of living in Britain with all this money and have nothing to do with them (weather) apart from buying new cars, tvs and kitchen either. And of course ever thinking about next trip to Tenerife.
In Tenerife you don't need all this bags of money to be really happy, you adjust very quickly thanks to all well know SUN. You can be rich in the rain or live normal live in the sun, the choice is yours.
You seems to be on top of everything but at the same time you failed miserably of making all important steps of actually being successful in Tenerife and living here permanently. Do you really want us to believe that living apart from loved one, flying back and forth all the time, wasting time is what you really want? It is like living a dream and hell at the same time. I think all of this negative comments where just for you to feel better for circumstances you are in, and other less fortunate to feel even worse("I don't have to work approach, because all are rubbish").
If you did what you should than you might, just might be thinking of living a real dream all year round in the sun with all your restaurant trips, shopping's,..etc...
So to end this, THIS IS THE REALITY, the whole story. I know it's hard to accept but nevertheless is there, so maybe people which are REALLY doing everything to live a dream won't be put of by coming here.
cainaries
14-03-2012, 18:13
I know we've looked at the moving to the Canaries from the aspects of the Brits but there are other people from, for example, Latin America, who have moved here for the better life as well. Obviously many of them are highly qualified and they've got no language problems at all but they also don't necessarily find the kind of work they expected or permanent jobs. Or perhaps quite the life they expected either. So it's not just we Brits.
Tom & Sharon
14-03-2012, 18:14
Yes reality but only yours.
I just want to point out a few things in your comments:
How can you except to get a proper job in Spanish speaking country when your knowledge of the Spanish is poor, and at the same time understanding reality, every day of life in Spain/Canaries. You did no want to integrate in to the society where the language is the first thing to do. Or maybe you where thinking that he will do some job for the small Britain community? THIS IS TENERIFE, 90% people here speak: yes you guess it SPANISH!
Yes, there is no "proper" job for a skilled man in Tenerife without "proper" SPANISH.
You say that you were preparing for this for years and was thinking of moving here permanently.
How can you said that without taking all the necessary steps. Learning Spanish to perfection and in case of Tom, learning very hard technical Spanish which he would need for his dreamt skilled work, then research about exactly which job are on offer and which don't. And this is exactly the one most important thing which you did not do, the one thing which should be the one advice for people thinking of moving here: If you do want to have any hope of being successful and make decent living in Tenerife LEARN SPANISH HARD. Imagine very, very good Spanish professional which comes to Britain without English, what hopes of getting a good job in his profession would he have? Nill....
Upon your arrival here (after all this years of preparations) you are telling people things like:
Do you actually know how many people have you offended by this comment, people which are struggling, people which wish they could be in your place, but you have taken their job for the time being and then coming here and saying how all the jobs are rubbish. Little respect please!
I cannot see the point of living in Britain with all this money and have nothing to do with them (weather) apart from buying new cars, tvs and kitchen either. And of course ever thinking about next trip to Tenerife.
In Tenerife you don't need all this bags of money to be really happy, you adjust very quickly thanks to all well know SUN. You can be rich in the rain or live normal live in the sun, the choice is yours.
You seems to be on top of everything but at the same time you failed miserably of making all important steps of actually being successful in Tenerife and living here permanently. Do you really want us to believe that living apart from loved one, flying back and forth all the time, wasting time is what you really want? It is like living a dream and hell at the same time. I think all of this negative comments where just for you to feel better for circumstances you are in, and other less fortunate to feel even worse("I don't have to work approach, because all are rubbish").
If you did what you should than you might, just might be thinking of living a real dream all year round in the sun with all your restaurant trips, shopping's,..etc...
So to end this, THIS IS THE REALITY, the whole story. I know it's hard to accept but nevertheless is there, so maybe people which are REALLY doing everything to live a dream won't be put of by coming here.
Some fair points there. However unemployment in Tenerife is over 30% and that includes native Spanish speakers.
So what chance has an English ex-pat got, unless it's amongst the British ex-pat community? If there was no unemployment amongst the Spanish I would agree with you about speaking Spanish being the answer, but unfortunately it isn't.
The reality, because that's what I'm talking about, is that most British move to Tenerife with no or a smattering of Spanish, and expect to gain employment or start a business amongst the ex-pat community.
Tom would also like to point out that several of the power stations in England which he works on (for he is a high pressure gas engineer) are owned by Iberdrola, and that a lot of the engineers he liaises with on a regular basis are Spanish, and some speak hardly any English at all. It does not however, as you state, preclude them from employment in Britain.
I'm not trying to put people off coming to Tenerife to live, just trying to say that there is much more to it than might meet the eye.
I know we've looked at the moving to the Canaries from the aspects of the Brits but there are other people from, for example, Latin America, who have moved here for the better life as well. Obviously many of them are highly qualified and they've got no language problems at all but they also don't necessarily find the kind of work they expected or permanent jobs. Or perhaps quite the life they expected either. So it's not just we Brits.
I'm not British, I have wrote this regarding post in here. Of course this can apply to the whole world round.
People from Latin America are coming here as you say "prepared" with skills and language, and even they have difficulties to find a decent job. So why not come here prepared as well as they, and have equal chances of being employed rather then grumble that, there are no jobs instead of thinking there are (more people are working than not) you might be one of them, but not if you don't make a necessary effort. Yes, unemployment is high but if you don't do what it takes, then your chance of finding a good job falls to almost nothing compared to skilled and language ready future candidates, why cut your tongue and be silent.
cainaries
14-03-2012, 18:43
I'm not British, I have wrote this regarding post in here. Of course this can apply to the whole world round.
People from Latin America are coming here as you say "prepared" with skills and language, and even they have difficulties to find a decent job. So why not come here prepared as well as they, and have equal chances of being employed rather then grumble that, there are no jobs instead of thinking there are (more people are working than not) you might be one of them, but not if you don't make an necessary effort. Yes, unemployment is high but if you don't do what it takes, then your chance of finding a good job falls to almost nothing compared to skilled and language ready future candidates, why cut your tongue and be silent.
I am British and my understanding of the message behind most of the posts on this thread is that there are quite a few Brits who come to Tenerife (mainly) somewhat ill-prepared for the reality here (on which I think we almost all agree) and that this the fault of the people who don't do their research and not, in any way, a criticism of Tenerife, the Canary Islands or Spain. It is interesting to me to see that you may have perceived the messages differently.
And, I have to ask, are you from La Palma (which is where I live)?
I am British and my understanding of the message behind most of the posts on this thread is that there are quite a few Brits who come to Tenerife (mainly) somewhat ill-prepared for the reality here (on which I think we almost all agree) and that this the fault of the people who don't do their research and not, in any way, a criticism of Tenerife, the Canary Islands or Spain. It is interesting to me to see that you may have perceived the messages differently.
And, I have to ask, are you from La Palma (which is where I live)?
No no, there is no misunderstanding here I just wanted to say that I'm not, if someone wonder ;)
The story could easily came from different country, but the conclusion would be the same. "Don't learn, don't come"
And no I am not, I live in Tenerife :)
If you ever go to an English hospital you can speak to doctors and nurses that don't speak enough English to work there. That's Europe for you :)
cainaries
14-03-2012, 20:35
No no, there is no misunderstanding here I just wanted to say that I'm not, if someone wonder ;)
The story could easily came from different country, but the conclusion would be the same. "Don't learn, don't come"
And no I am not, I live in Tenerife :)
I suppose the story could come from anywhere in fact. I completely agree with you about learning the language. Whenever I meet anyone face to face who says they want to move to Spain I ask how long they've been learning Spanish .... usually they haven't even thought about it. Then, if they do think about it, they decide they'll learn it on the hoof after they've got here. Hmmm.
A lot think English is spoken wherever They may be.
I feel bad, because My Spanish helps a lot, but isnt as spoken.
In full time Work with a Family doesnt leave much time to learn.
I did a course at Night-School some Years ago, of basic Spanish.
Eleven Months later that was forgotten.. Who do You practice with.?
The Older You get, the harder it is, so I have every sympathy with a Person who says They will pick it up..
As Young Golfer says, You make Your own luck.
I agree about the Spanish Warbey. I have never taken a single class, nor have I ever had the time to commit to lessons. The last thing I want to do after 14 or 15 hours of working is put my headphones on and start learning Spanish.
Generally I think the practicalities / finding the time prevent a lot of people (certainly prevented me and my other half is a native Spanish speaker!) But I have picked up a sufficient amount for conversations and I rarely have problems. For business I have a few multi lingual translators who I pay per hour so I´m covered and happy to give them work.
I have built a relatively successful business without ever truly learning the local language.
caroll72
15-03-2012, 00:00
If you ever go to an English hospital you can speak to doctors and nurses that don't speak enough English to work there. That's Europe for you :)
A lot of them speak more english than what they let on.
They just expect you to speak their language, unfortunatley.
slodgedad
15-03-2012, 01:22
A lot of them speak more english than what they let on.
They just expect you to speak their language, unfortunatley.
And everyone in Britain speaks Polish, secretly, I suppose.
Why do we expect foreigners in Britain to speak English? By your reckoning we should all speak their language
Put half a dozen people or more of mixed origin and immediately you will find that as a group they will communicate in english
as far as we are concerned what language should we learn french german eastern european scandanavian all are spoken by relatively small groups
spanish is a possibility as it can cover south america portugal italy to a degree Well chinese is another possibility however many chinese dialects are incomprehensibly in many parts of china and again you will find english is the common denominator
So what language should we learn????????????????
slodgedad
15-03-2012, 03:05
Put half a dozen people or more of mixed origin and immediately you will find that as a group they will communicate in english
as far as we are concerned what language should we learn french german eastern european scandanavian all are spoken by relatively small groups
spanish is a possibility as it can cover south america portugal italy to a degree Well chinese is another possibility however many chinese dialects are incomprehensibly in many parts of china and again you will find english is the common denominator
So what language should we learn????????????????
Spanish is more widely spoken in the world than English´.
delderek
15-03-2012, 09:56
Spanish is more widely spoken in the world than English´.
Not quite correct.
Spanish has more Native speakers
English total speakers outnumber Spanish 2 to 1
Native Speakers
1. Chinese (1.1 billion)
2. Hindi (360 million)
3. Spanish (340 million)
4. English (322 million)
5. Arabic (206 million)
6. Bengali (180 million)
7. Portuguese (180 million)
8. Russian (167 million)
9. Japanese (127 million)
10. German (95 million)
Total Speakers
1. Chinese (1.5 billion)
2. English (1+ billion)
3. Spanish (500 million)
4. Hindustani (460 million)
5. Arabic (452 million)
6. Russian (278 million)
7. French (265 million)
8. Portuguese (215 million)
9. Bengali (211 million)
10. German (150 million)
11. Japanese (130 million)
i think this has gone of the original thread but i was in turkey a number of years ago a bar man i got friendly with spoke 5 different languages perfectly i think we in the uk have got to think every one should speak english i think we are the lazy ones my self included
To succeed in Life needs Communication skills nearly always
To succeed in Spanish speaking Territory needs a grasp of the Spanish Language.
To be a good Waiter may need a grasp of Spanish English French German and Nordic.
Also various Russian now too
Each visit shows more Chinese quietly taking over Businesses too.
All may be optional Extras but Spanish is a must, as stated by Tom and Sharon earlier.
Is the Britannia school still open? i thought it had closed?
jilly,
Welcome to the forum. I think you should start a new thread for this post.
caroll72
15-03-2012, 22:23
And everyone in Britain speaks Polish, secretly, I suppose.
Why do we expect foreigners in Britain to speak English? By your reckoning we should all speak their language
Think you may have misunderstood what i meant.
Despite the fact that a lot of spanish doctors speak english, they expected us to speak to them in spanish, which was difficult considering we only spoke spanglish :cheeky:
Yet in the uk, with so many different cultures & languages, there always seems to be foreign doctors who will speak whatever language is needed
cainaries
15-03-2012, 22:58
Think you may have misunderstood what i meant.
Despite the fact that a lot of spanish doctors speak english, they expected us to speak to them in spanish, which was difficult considering we only spoke spanglish :cheeky:
Yet in the uk, with so many different cultures & languages, there always seems to be foreign doctors who will speak whatever language is needed
Personally, still confused by your posts on this topic. In Spain, if you see a non-Spanish-nationality doctor s/he will still speak Spanish ... Yes? In UK, if you see a non-UK-nationality doctor s/he will still speak English? As a patient in Spain you have to speak Spanish, if a patient in UK you have to speak English? Honestly don't mean to be snide, I just don't quite follow what you mean.
OH and I have just been to the Podologo. OH speaks a lot of Spanish and spoke to the guy in Spanish. When I went in I said in Spanish, I'm sorry I don't speak a lot of Spanish but OH can translate and the guy immediately tried to talk to me in English. I suspect my Spanish is better than his English (which isn't saying much) but I really appreciated his effort. Especially as he's saved me a trip back to the chiropodist in England.
wendylongster
16-03-2012, 14:11
I have found this post EXTREMELY useful and its exactly what we wanted to read! It s easy to look at the positives when planning a move but to focus on the negatives is essential too. We wont be making the move for at least 2 1/2 years as thats when the building we currently rent our tattooists is being pulled down we have to decide whether to sign a new 5 year lease on the new complex or to up sticks and give it a shot in Tenerife! Our youngest will be 17 at that point and will stay in England to attend uni and come over during holidays, our older kids can decide for themselves they re alreadt adults. We will research the feasibility of opening a tattooists in Tenerife as there were quite a few in Los Christianos when we visited (although not as many as bars and restaraunts) so we need to find a good location, find out all the regulations there a quite rightly loads in England and i would imagine there ll be loads of totally different ones in Tenerife!! I currently make one of a kind leather bags that a couple of local retailers in the uk stock so would want to carry this on also sell them in Tenerife if i can find a retailer to stock them, we need to learn Spanish or we could run into problems understanding what folk want tattooing (could be interesting) all in all loads to do!! So thanks for all input,it s greatly appreciated!
Think you may have misunderstood what i meant.
Despite the fact that a lot of spanish doctors speak english, they expected us to speak to them in spanish, which was difficult considering we only spoke spanglish :cheeky:
Yet in the uk, with so many different cultures & languages, there always seems to be foreign doctors who will speak whatever language is needed
I understand what you are saying Carol and I was of the same impression that despite what nationality you are medical staff will only speak in Spanish and you are always advised to take a translator with you. However, when OH went to the hospital last year it was something minor and we thought we would be able to cope, the nurse came to us said English, wait there and a few minutes later a translator turned up. Totally unexpected and a nice surprise.
I understand what you are saying Carol and I was of the same impression that despite what nationality you are medical staff will only speak in Spanish and you are always advised to take a translator with you. However, when OH went to the hospital last year it was something minor and we thought we would be able to cope, the nurse came to us said English, wait there and a few minutes later a translator turned up. Totally unexpected and a nice surprise.
The Green hospital in Las Americas also have and supply a translator.
The Green hospital in Las Americas also have and supply a translator.
Is that only for insured patients Simon?.......
Tom & Sharon
16-03-2012, 18:05
Is that only for insured patients Simon?.......
Really going off topic now, but no it's not.
They brought a translator round with the doctor to me when I was in recently, and I was being treated on my EH111.
When I was transferred to Candelaria, they also brought one. She introduced herself as being "public relations". Impressed me no end!
TenerifeTeddy
16-03-2012, 21:25
I have been following this thread with interest, it has bought up a lot of very valid and valuable information.
Tom & Sharon have made some very valid points and have shared their valuable experiences. I don't agree with all their conclusions, but that is how they see things and that is fine.
Palmero has also made a very strong case for making sure if you want to be successful here that you at least make a good go of learning the language. I couldn't deal with my suppliers in Santa Cruz if I hadn't learnt the technical Spanish I need to order my equipment or query orders, deliveries etc.
As Young Golfer said, it is possible to make a success of it here. It Isn't easy, and as he says, it take long hours, hard work, and proper planning, but it can be done. We are in our 7th year at Witzend (http://www.witzend-tenerife.biz) and well established, and the computer side particularly just gets busier and busier. We have also just opened up Callao Learning Centre (http://www.callaolearning.org) as a small British school, so to say it is not possible to succeed here simply isn´t true. We legally employ 6 people, and will never make a fortune, but that was never our aim. We wanted to earn sufficient to mantain a decent lifestyle out here, and that is what we have achieved. We have never regretted the move, though have been pretty frustrated at times, particularly with the Bureaucracy. However I have to say things were much improved when we set up CLC.
If all the negativity puts off everyone from trying, then what is that but a self-fulfulling prophesy. Many new businesses fail wherever they are set up, for any number of reasons. I think the number in the UK used to be around 1/3 failing within 12 months. Port that failure rate to a foreign country, where if you don´t know the language, customs, administrative procedures, don´t do your homework, listen to the wrong advice, and buy that perfect little quiet bar. Then you are even more bound to fail.:(
I have always advocated that people should give it a go, if that is what their lifes dream is. That is exactly what we did :). However as has been pointed out in this thread pretty forcefully, please, please make sure you plan it all properly and come fully prepared for all eventualities.
Angusjim
18-03-2012, 10:51
Great post:c2::c2: but I bet CIM is a bit concerned about this where will he eat & drink when you are not in Tenerife ( YG is your larder & fridge well stocked ?? ) :lol::wow:
Just joined the forum and this was the very first thread that I read, what a lovely refreshing and truthful post,
We have travelled to lots of places where Brits try to make a life for themselves "in the sun" and most would never admit that things can be very tough indeed for ex pats, some would rather try and stick it out for as long as possible in total misery than admit they had made a mistake and return home to make amends,
I admire you both for the realistic aproach you have taken and hope you both have a long and happy life together no matter where you are you both deserve it
golf birdie
19-03-2012, 14:56
If all the negativity puts off everyone from trying, then what is that but a self-fulfulling prophesy. Many new businesses fail wherever they are set up, for any number of reasons. I think the number in the UK used to be around 1/3 failing within 12 months. Port that failure rate to a foreign country, where if you don´t know the language, customs, administrative procedures, don´t do your homework, listen to the wrong advice, and buy that perfect little quiet bar. Then you are even more bound to fail.:(
.
This is spot on. I have been looking for premises to open a new business (non bar) for over 4 years and now and only now do I think I have found the right place. Looked at loads but something was always not quite right. Even now after taking so long it does not mean it will be a success, it will still take a lot of hours, hard work and money. How can some decide in two weeks???
This is spot on. I have been looking for premises to open a new business (non bar) for over 4 years and now and only now do I think I have found the right place. Looked at loads but something was always not quite right. Even now after taking so long it does not mean it will be a success, it will still take a lot of hours, hard work and money. How can some decide in two weeks???
Because they are spoon fed bull**** by the agent selling it!
I have not gone down the business sales route for this reason - so far as I have seen you would have to tell some real porky pies to get most of the "businesses" that are for sale actually sold.
pbasonuk
19-03-2012, 17:31
I have posted about this recently but here is my view.
I am just shy of turning 40 and I married with 2 kids aged 3 and 5. I have started a business which can be worked from home very easily with just a phone and computer and I work worldwide. I am in a very fortunate position where I can set this up anywhere in the world. I dont need an office, or buy any stock or to employ anyone else.
My wife lived in Tenerife for 6 years, she was working as a kid club rep in the Paradise complex near Torviscas and loved it, but she was young and the constant partying got too much in the end and moved back to the UK. That was 9 yrs ago, I met here on her return to the UK and we have now been married 3 yrs.
Her parents bought an apartment up the top of Del Conde and we have been going back there a few times a year for the past 8 years and last year we decided that we need to be in Tenerife full time, maybe coming back to the UK for a couple of months in the Summer and stay at her parents (luckily rather large) house.
The UK for me now I just dont identify with. For any kind of quality of life, you both need to be earning at least £60k plus EACH but then the cost of petrol, insurance, gas, electric, water, council tax, food etc etc etc is just ridiculous now. I do alright but I have no money left now after 2 weeks into the month, thats why I decided to start my own business and its doing well but I still resent paying out 3 times the amount other countries in Europe are paying. I was in Tenerife last week, it was 85 cents for a litre of petrol, I couldnt believe it!!
Then there is entertaining the kids on the weekends. It costs a fortune in the UK to do this in the Winter, it really does, then in the weather is good in the summer, what is there to do? sit in the park? whoopee doo. In tenerife they will have beaches, mountains and waterparks on their doorsteps. (The same for me too) ;).
So for us, it really is no competition, we have to move to Tenerife. We love the place. We dont need to find jobs out there and we have a circle of friends out their wating for us.
However. I would NEVER move to Tenerife if I had to find a job there. That would be crazy! I wouldnt even buy a bar or restaurant these days if i had the money to spare. All that competition to get a handfull of people to eat / drink there. No way, not for me and I would advise anyone the same.
Because they are spoon fed bull**** by the agent selling it!
I have not gone down the business sales route for this reason - so far as I have seen you would have to tell some real porky pies to get most of the "businesses" that are for sale actually sold.
I would suggest the key to all this is possibly not the hard work you need to do in Tenerife but the hard work you have done prior to that in the UK. Obviously this applies more to people of a certain age but generally speaking if you have accumulated some form of nest egg/reserves or whatever you want to call it then life in the sun is gonna be easier its not rocket science.
We after going to Tenefe for almost 30 years and for about 16 going more than once a year knew many years ago it was for us. We however at that time had kids that are an akward age (teenagers) as it would be my belief is you have to take them very young when they have to do what they are told (haha) or do it after they have flown the nest, we are now in the latter position.
Me being a grumpy sod also realised that a bar or pub or restaurant would not be for me unless I wanted the quietest bar on the island or thick skinned regulars. So that was ruled out although the Mrs still thinks she COULD run a bar but my frequent reality checks keep her away from that hapless venture.
My dad always said to me that if both parties in a couple were 100% convinced then it was a great bonus as he never got the full support of my mum. He lives most of the year in mainland Spain (Javea) but comes back especially in the heat of July and August as my mother is a pale redhead and cant stand the heat at that time. For that reason my old dad never gets his wish of living in Spain full time. The other reason is grandchildren and on this issue I am keen to re locate before I get the same problem.
I genuinely think almost everyone will have differant circumstances which will cover finance,work, family and many other issues and you do have to do lots of homework. I need to work not just for money but to be active and one of my greatest fears about moving would be bored and tempted to have too many beers. We have all seen it and its been stated on this thread but alas its true people with good intent slip into the usual ex pat holiday mode and you cant live life like one big holiday.
Anyway we have a plan and I think it will work, business here going on the market and all being well it wont be too long til we are over. Having the place in Tenerife for over 10 years has helped too and if you cannot learn many lessons on how not to live you life on the rock by watching people over that period then you are gonna come unstuck.
I have many people who I class as friends who have moved over and are in the typical situation mentioned, God I have even encountered people who live hand to mouth while signing on in the UK and claiming all sorts of benefit including medical prescriptions. How they do it and get away with it is beyond me but it goes on.
Its not for everyone and not everyone makes the same choices but if you keep a sensible head and make sensible decisions I have no doubt it can be wonderful while qualifying it by saying as I have not done it full time yet I have no idea if I will last but I certainly hope so
golf birdie
19-03-2012, 19:41
I was in Tenerife last week, it was 85 cents for a litre of petrol, I couldnt believe it!!
.
nor can I.
I agree with everything the OP has stated and wish them luck for the coming future.
Unfortunately I made the same mistake and gave it all up along with a good safe job12 years ago to live and work here.I had a legitimate job all organised before I came but that all went pear shaped some years ago
The working conditions now are abominable,archaic and exploitation is worsening by the day if that is at all possible,whilst wages are getting even lower.If your one of the very lucky ones to get a full work contact for a year,it wont be renewed at the end of it and if you get 1000 Euros per month for it your doing very well.The all new Rajoy government has recently clobbered the already poor and a general strike is planned for this month.Many people who choose to strike will be instantly fired.What's all that about!!!
I’d like to pay some of these employers the same rates and treat them the way they treat the staff and once again I speak from experience.
Health care once your 2 years maximum unemployment benefits finish will also end so you will be paying out stupid sums of money for private cover.Even if you never need to use it its a must not do without.
I wont even get on the subject of property,suffice to say everything I ploughed into a tinpot noisy apartment on a complex(makes the likes of Colditz look good) is all but lost thanks to the latest property crisis and all the pathetic rules/regs and taxes that go with it.Not forgetting the non community fee payers that will bring any complex to its knees.
Yes,I made a huge mistake all those years ago and now I’d like to be able to do as the OP is doing ,get out and return to what I’d term as some sort of normality in blighty where at least I might regain a little of the confidence I once had before it was all taken away here.Unfortunately I have responsibilities that make it impossible to walk away from but for how much longer I don’t know.
This country has a lot to answer for and lets not forget,they don’t follow the rules that most other European counties have to abide by.
So,before anyone decides to take the plunge I’d seriously urge you to think again.
Easier said than done, although a lot can be done by intuition.
I worked out "abre fácil" like that.
"Abre" I think means "open" ...... so basic deduction leads one to the conclusion that "facil" means "impossible without tools".
Wow the fairy strikes again - what next, you try and close this thread down?
cainaries
20-03-2012, 22:50
In addition to a 'thanks' button, this thread needs a 'goodness sorry for your problems' button ... for sleepy and for a few others. Good that sleepy was honest and posted as s/he did. Let's hope others are fortunate enough to learn from it. Each year OH and I say to ourselves, OK, made it through another year with no real problems and let's hope there's nothing dire round the corner.
who are you refering to a lot of them speak english
There is a strong hint of truth to Sleepy's Post. Just reading it three times made Me think.
The remarks about an Apartment Complex have been reflected more than once lately. on this Forum
It cant have been easy writing that either.
Good Luck, and thanks.
Sundowner
28-06-2015, 11:47
How time flies, it's 3 years today since we completed on the purchase of our apartment - our own little bit of paradise!
I thought I would post this, just in case anyone's vaguely interested, and also for newbies planning on "upping sticks" and moving to Tenerife.
We bought our apartment "off plan" and actually signed to buy it in August 2006, but it took 2 1/2 years to build. It was part of a long term plan, and long held dream to live in Tenerife that we'd had since our first visit in 1984 at the tender age of 21. We fell in love with it then, and even though we were so young at the time, said what a lovely place it would be to retire to. In 2006, we decided "what are we waiting for?" and took the plunge.
Shortly after we signed, the world plunged into recession and onto its head! The reality of doing what we had started became very difficult. When we first signed the exchange rate was 1.48, and by the time we actually completed it had fallen to 1.08. Obviously on the size of the purchase, this made a substantial difference to the sums. Anyway, although at times it was quite stressful, we survived it and bought our apartment.
It had always been our intention to leave the UK at some stage and live completely in Tenerife. Tom had done 31 years with National Grid, and redundancies were doing the rounds. We both believed that we would be able to earn a living in Tenerife. Tom is a skilled engineer, and for the past 15 years since the children were small, I had worked in restaurants. Surely Tom would be able to possibly work for himself, and I would get a job in a restaurant? Our eldest son was at University and settled, and the younger one would live in Tenerife with us, and finish his schooling.
In August 2009, I arrived in Tenerife with our youngest son who was going to attend Britannia School, and the dog, all on a "one way ticket". Tom was still working at NGrid, but was in talks about redundancy. We were the advance party as we wanted to make the start of the school year. Josh started school in the September, and I started looking for a job. Over the next few months I actually tried 4 jobs, but none of them were for me. I had only had 2 jobs in the previous 15 years, but jobs and employers are nothing like they are in the UK. After trying 4, I decided I wasn't going to try any more - they are all rubbish.
In February 2010, Tom was made redundant from Ngrid. He arrived in Tenerife in March to assess what we were going to do with the rest of our lives. It didn't take him very long to realise that there are no "proper" jobs for a skilled man in Tenerife. There are more odd-job men than I've had hot dinners, and most of them are robbing a living. There are hundreds of builders/plumbers/electricians/gardeners/decorators who are in reality no such thing, all scratching around for a living, and all competing with each other. He very quickly decided that wouldn't be for him. He made a few phone calls back to the UK, and almost immediately returned to do a 3 month contract with a consultancy firm, while I stayed in Tenerife.
This is how our life has now evolved. Tom set up his own UK Company doing consultancy/engineering work on a contractor basis. This means he can work as and when he wishes. If he wants to take a month or two off, and spend them in Tenerife, he does. We both fly back and to, with him spending a few months at a time in the UK working, and me spending the majority of my time in Tenerife, and returning to the UK for a few days every month or so. We have the best of both worlds. We have a UK income, but can spend long periods of time in Tenerife.
Even though Tom gets his pension next year at 50, he has decided he still wishes to continue working. He is too young to retire, and there is nothing for him employment wise in Tenerife. We have both realised we will never both live in Tenerife 52 weeks a year. Tom wants to work, and I miss the smart shops, restaurants and bars of the UK. Life for us is still evolving, but we would like to aim for basically spending the summer months in the UK with Tom working, and spending the winter months in Tenerife although Tom would probably get bored and need to nip back to do a small job here and there. We are planning to relocate in the UK next year from the north to the south, probably the Kent coast, as most of Tom's work is down there, and the weather is better. We'll see what next year brings.......................
Our youngest son completed his last year of schooling at Britannia school which he enjoyed very much. He made lots of friends in Tenerife, but work for teenagers is very scarce (unless you want to be a PR) and he decided he wanted to return to the UK for some proper training. This he did and has been doing a Govt. apprenticeship for the last 9 months. He has lots of friends in Tenerife still, but I doubt for him it will ever be more than a holiday home.
I am posting this in the hope that the never ending stream of people who come on here, selling up in the UK, leaving behind good jobs, for a dream life in the sun may read it. How glad we are that we never cut our ties with the UK. Whilst I was working, I came across people who had no money for food or rent, but had nothing to return to either. If I'd not seen them with my own eyes, I would never have believed it, no matter how many times I'd read it on this forum. If you're reading this from the UK, and planning on leaving, please believe me it's true. I also see many people who live in Tenerife hand-to-mouth. If they can pay their rent they're lucky, but they can't afford to go out to restaurants, or live the way that they did when they simply used to come for holidays. The reality for many is completely different. I also see women who are about 70, cleaning apartments and washing huge mountains of bedding just to keep their heads above water and "live the dream". What are they thinking? It's about as far removed from a dream as you can get!
Anyway, that's our story so far. We wouldn't change the fact that we bought our apartment ever. We love it, and love the time we spend there. Our life has evolved in a way we didn't envisage when we first bought it, and is still evolving now. How glad we are that we didn't just sell up, sever all ties and move to Tenerife to live the dream. If we had, I don't know what would have happened. I cringe when people come on here and say that's what they are doing. I cringe even more so when I read comments like "I'd rather be skint in the sun".
It's all worked out for us, but differently to how we had imagined. We've also both realised that we could never live in Tenerife 52 weeks a year. There actually are things we miss. If you're thinking of selling up and heading to Tenerife, I hope our experiences help.
It is 3 years since you posted this wonderful post!
Any chance of an update?
callao girl
08-07-2015, 18:34
It is 3 years since you posted this wonderful post!
Any chance of an update?
hi i know just what you mean
when we were younger we always said we would live in tenerife
bought an apartment in 2003, then as our time for moving over got nearer we bought a villa in a village
time crept up on us and hubby was not ready to give up the company so we go every 6 weeks for anything from 10 days to a month
i just wanted to up sticks and move, he says we are not ready to retire, he speaks for himself lol
and we have noticed some people work more hours over there than they did when they were in the uk what is the point of that
but i came round to his way of thinking just spending more and more time there
so were of for a month next week. maybe he will change his mind you never know never say never
princessmonika
08-07-2015, 19:02
yes for a holiday home == it is perfect to live in tenerife --thats what i like , to have the best of both worlds thats me
Tom & Sharon
13-08-2015, 13:43
It is 3 years since you posted this wonderful post!
Any chance of an update?
I've been meaning to get around to this request for a few weeks now. Anybody who's not interested in our reality of relocation and life in Tenerife, scroll past quickly! So here goes.......
The bottom line is, 3 1/2 years later, life still evolves, and we are still between Tenerife and UK.
We still have our apartment in Tenerife, but we still don't live there. Tom has been on his private pension now for 2 1/2 years, and also has a contract to work for 9 months of the year which gives us the opportunity to spend 3 months a year in Tenerife if we wish. We still live in Cheshire, we never did relocate to the South of England as Tom works everywhere in the UK now, so we are more central here. Our eldest son is now 25 and has bounced back from University. He works in Manchester and lives back at home with us. Our youngest son is 22 and has now been in the Royal Navy for over 2 years, and is away travelling the world at the moment, although he does come home fairly often, so still has his bedroom at home.
We are in the position where Tom could retire completely and we could relocate permanently to Tenerife tomorrow, but still we don't. We would even have more money if we did live in Tenerife than UK because we could rent our UK house out and our tax burden would be less. But still we don't. Why? A lot of people would say we're crazy. It seems to be so many people's dream to give up work and move to Tenerife. The reasons -
First and foremost it's probably our children. Even though they are young adults, they have needed quite a lot of support to get them to where they are today. It's not that easy to up sticks and cut them free the day after they turn 18. You might think you can, or should be able to, but you might find that's not the reality. It's actually easier in the University years as they are away, but these days kids tend to bounce back home from University for a few years because of house prices. Something to consider if you're thinking of disappearing to Tenerife once your kids are at University. Ours are actually reaching the stage now where they might not need a bedroom in the family home any more, but only just.
We still talk all the time about what we want to do. One week we say we'll come to Tenerife permanently, the next we say we won't. Our feelings that Tenerife doesn't have enough for us 12 months of the year is still true. Tom would miss his hobbies too much, and I would miss the shops. At 52 I think we're still too young to just put our feet up and do nothing in the sunshine. It might sound idyllic, but I'm just not sure that it is. Tom's main hobby is motor racing, and if they ever build the circuit at Granadilla they've been promising for years, that might change the picture slightly for him.
My personal opinion is that the swallows have it completely right. To spend the winter in Tenerife and the summer in UK. This I think will be our ultimate aim. The winter in Tenerife is far nicer than the UK. It's warm but not too hot, walking, cycling and outdoor activities are pleasant and the days are longer. However, the summers are more pleasant in UK than Tenerife. We find the heat in Tenerife week after week to be unpleasant, the dust, sand, calimas, Mosquitos all get on our nerves and when we are there mid summer we find ourselves hiding indoors a fair amount. You also can't beat an English pub beer garden on a warm summer's day!
That's about it really. I'd like to think that if I write another update in 1,2 or 3 years, that that's what we'll be doing. That we'd load up our car, complete with dog at the end of September, drive to Tenerife and stay there till early April and then come back to the UK for the summer. But who knows?
Leam_Lin
13-08-2015, 14:26
Thanks Sharon for the update, I agree with all you say. When we bought our apartment OH said he could live in Tenerife, I always said NO, he now agrees with me & we go out 4/5 times a year which suits us fine. Wait until you have grandchildren!
Sundowner
13-08-2015, 14:54
I've been meaning to get around to this request for a few weeks now. Anybody who's not interested in our reality of relocation and life in Tenerife, scroll past quickly! So here goes.......
The bottom line is, 3 1/2 years later, life still evolves, and we are still between Tenerife and UK.
We still have our apartment in Tenerife, but we still don't live there. Tom has been on his private pension now for 2 1/2 years, and also has a contract to work for 9 months of the year which gives us the opportunity to spend 3 months a year in Tenerife if we wish. We still live in Cheshire, we never did relocate to the South of England as Tom works everywhere in the UK now, so we are more central here. Our eldest son is now 25 and has bounced back from University. He works in Manchester and lives back at home with us. Our youngest son is 22 and has now been in the Royal Navy for over 2 years, and is away travelling the world at the moment, although he does come home fairly often, so still has his bedroom at home.
We are in the position where Tom could retire completely and we could relocate permanently to Tenerife tomorrow, but still we don't. We would even have more money if we did live in Tenerife than UK because we could rent our UK house out and our tax burden would be less. But still we don't. Why? A lot of people would say we're crazy. It seems to be so many people's dream to give up work and move to Tenerife. The reasons -
First and foremost it's probably our children. Even though they are young adults, they have needed quite a lot of support to get them to where they are today. It's not that easy to up sticks and cut them free the day after they turn 18. You might think you can, or should be able to, but you might find that's not the reality. It's actually easier in the University years as they are away, but these days kids tend to bounce back home from University for a few years because of house prices. Something to consider if you're thinking of disappearing to Tenerife once your kids are at University. Ours are actually reaching the stage now where they might not need a bedroom in the family home any more, but only just.
We still talk all the time about what we want to do. One week we say we'll come to Tenerife permanently, the next we say we won't. Our feelings that Tenerife doesn't have enough for us 12 months of the year is still true. Tom would miss his hobbies too much, and I would miss the shops. At 52 I think we're still too young to just put our feet up and do nothing in the sunshine. It might sound idyllic, but I'm just not sure that it is. Tom's main hobby is motor racing, and if they ever build the circuit at Granadilla they've been promising for years, that might change the picture slightly for him.
My personal opinion is that the swallows have it completely right. To spend the winter in Tenerife and the summer in UK. This I think will be our ultimate aim. The winter in Tenerife is far nicer than the UK. It's warm but not too hot, walking, cycling and outdoor activities are pleasant and the days are longer. However, the summers are more pleasant in UK than Tenerife. We find the heat in Tenerife week after week to be unpleasant, the dust, sand, calimas, Mosquitos all get on our nerves and when we are there mid summer we find ourselves hiding indoors a fair amount. You also can't beat an English pub beer garden on a warm summer's day!
That's about it really. I'd like to think that if I write another update in 1,2 or 3 years, that that's what we'll be doing. That we'd load up our car, complete with dog at the end of September, drive to Tenerife and stay there till early April and then come back to the UK for the summer. But who knows?
Thank you for the update! I am glad that things are going well for you and your family.
I know what you mean about the will we won't we; we have been there,done that a thousand timesrolleyes2: It used to worry me that I could not make my mind up until I spoke to friends in the same boat and realised they also did not have a clue what to do either.
We are now on plan 1652 which will hopefully be the final plan for our retirement;)
princessmonika
13-08-2015, 15:29
sharon thats what i do summers in ireland and winters in tenerife so the best of both worlds but i am 74 and love every moment of my life now long may it last may see you some day when you are in tenerife and have breakfast together like we did before talk soon best regards monika
Tom & Sharon
13-08-2015, 15:34
Thanks Sharon for the update, I agree with all you say. When we bought our apartment OH said he could live in Tenerife, I always said NO, he now agrees with me & we go out 4/5 times a year which suits us fine. Wait until you have grandchildren!
Yes, grandchildren will be next to put a spanner in our plans haha. They'd probably spur Tom on to move out completely though lol!
Thank you for the update! I am glad that things are going well for you and your family.
I know what you mean about the will we won't we; we have been there,done that a thousand timesrolleyes2: It used to worry me that I could not make my mind up until I spoke to friends in the same boat and realised they also did not have a clue what to do either.
We are now on plan 1652 which will hopefully be the final plan for our retirement;)
I'm glad you've said that. There's so many people on the Facebook Tenerife pages that go on and on about "how it's their dream, they'd be gone tomorrow if they could afford it" blah....blah.......
I thought it was just us that were odd, because we can afford it, but still keep dragging our feet.
sharon thats what i do summers in ireland and winters in tenerife so the best of both worlds but i am 74 and love every moment of my life now long may it last may see you some day when you are in tenerife and have breakfast together like we did before talk soon best regards monika
We're back 30th Aug Monika if you're there?
princessmonika
13-08-2015, 20:29
sharon no i will be back on the rock the 27th september but maybe you be there again love to catch up
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