A quite astonishing letter sent to us from Steve Hall who runs the popular website www.thisisspain.info – this is the completely brutal, down-to-earth truth about moving to Spain and what it REALLY takes to survive.
Why Expats Struggle in Spain
Why Retirement is a Terrible Idea (What to Do Instead)...
For 30 years, I built businesses with one goal in mind: the finish line. Like many, I pictured the classic dream—moving to Spain, soaking up the sun, and finally switching off. But now that I’m here, I’ve started questioning everything.Watch the video below and let me know in the comments: are you ready to retire or reinvent instead?
This is a reply I gave to “Ronny” many years ago on an expats forum but my thoughts remain the same. It was referring to Torrevieja but in truth it applies to any expat area in Spain ……and probably anywhere else where expats are trying to start a new life.
“Hi everybody. Every week on the various forums relating to Spain there is a question from hopeful couples in their thirties, often with a child or two asking about jobs and schools in Spain. Do any of these families make a proper go of it or do they just end up hand-to-mouth.
I ask because the more I see of Spain the more I think my fate is in the UK. I have a UK income. Ronny”
Now, that’s what I call an interesting question. I get perhaps 15/20 people every month asking me questions like:
1) Will I get a job as a bowling alley technician? 2) Would you tell me everything you know about Spain? 3) Will I like Spain? 4) What’s the best part of Spain to live in? 5) How little Spanish can I get by on? Is English enough?
Many of them start with “Hi, my name’s X and I’m thinking perhaps, maybe, possibly, at some time in the future of moving to Spain or maybe Malta, Florida, Greece or ….if………. I send them a list of URLs, advise them to join expat forums and do some SERIOUS preparation.
A lot of them have children and many have absolutely no idea whatsoever re education, Spanish, Spain itself, job opportunities etc etc. I usually also tell them the FACTS. There are very few employed (as opposed to self-employed) opportunities.
If you do not speak Spanish the opportunities at getting much above the minimum wage are extremely limited. You only need to see the vacancies section in the English language papers to recognise that. Nevertheless thousands come every year looking for a land of milk and honey. Whilst the grass maybe greener here in Spain (figuratively at least!) it most definitely needs cutting.
I have now had some 700 people who work with me / for me so I meet up with a lot of these types of people. Ronny, you are 100% correct in your underlying assumption that many do not make a fist of it. I can give many reasons.
1) Firstly and most importantly they have not done enough, if any, homework. They have absolutely no comprehension that for example someone who was, say, a dental receptionist in the UK is going to find it almost impossible to get the same job over here.
2) They have absolutely no comprehension of how expensive Spain is. I am sure I speak for many when I say that I find Spain is now only marginally less expensive than the UK for many things.
3) They make very little effort to learn any Spanish. A hobby-horse of mine so I won’t continue. NOWHERE in Spain is English universally spoken. Even in Benidorm, Torremolinos, Marbella or Torrevieja, Spanish is still the official language. NOT speaking Spanish will massively harm your chances of getting work. FACT.
4) They quite bluntly do not have a work appetite. Somehow they expect to work