Five questions to ask yourself if you’re dreaming of moving to Spain

Spain’s attractions are obvious, but have you asked yourself whether you’re ready to live there?

Upping sticks and jetting off to start a new life in Spain is no longer as easy as it once was. The recent economic crash has put paid – possibly for good – to the idea that a life in the Costa del Sol sun could be anyone’s, provided they had a one-way ticket, a suitcase of summer clothing and a head full of dreams.

That such opportunities were once possible seems astounding now. The Costa del Sol is a very different place to what it was even a decade ago, while the ‘heady days’ of the ‘80s and ‘90s are long gone.

But maybe that is a good thing…

Spain has had to mature and endure some painful lessons since 2007: it has had to liberalise its labour laws, end nepotistic employment practices, introduce a greater level of taxation and transparency, and essentially overhaul a way of governing that had been too eager to turn a blind eye.

The results have been slow to materialise, but there are signs that the economy is returning to growth, job creation is expanding and foreign investors are pouring capital into the country’s infrastructure once more.

So how does this reshuffled landscape affect Brits hoping to follow in the footsteps of thousands of their forebears and make a new life for themselves in Spain? Well, it means that the initial hurdles may be more difficult to overcome, but it also means that those who are determined to make it work are entering a better, more structured country, one that is able to support anybody prepared to play by the rules.

The question is, though, are you ready to become that person? Here are five questions you should ask yourself before you make the move to Spain…

It really pays to know before you go.

1. Can I afford the little things?

The strength of the pound sterling against the euro makes Spain more affordable than ever for Brits. However, whether simply looking to spend the summer abroad or invest in a property, it pays to really know just how much you can afford to spend.

Ideally, you should book an initial return flight just in case things don’t work out – at least you then have an exit date pencilled in and paid for. Then there are the hidden costs – taxis, mobile roaming charges, bank account fees, utilities, currency fluctuations – that can nibble away at one’s savings surreptitiously. Eating out is cheaper than in the UK, but not dirt-cheap, and you are likely to dine out regularly at first, so do factor that in. Ditto drinking in bars.

2. Will I need to work?

Even retirees hoping to stretch their pension further under the Spanish sunshine may find themselves, at some point, facing the prospect of having to work. Fluctuations in currencies can leave UK pensioners a little exposed, so it pays to have at least some savings that you can dip into if you do decide to retire in Spain.

Whether for funds or fun, will you need to work in Spain?

For families and youngsters, moving to Spain is often predicated on whether work is available. Summer bar and restaurant jobs are relatively plentiful in the main Costa del Sol resorts, but the onset of autumn does see these tail off – often around the time that you are just starting to find your feet, which can seem doubly cruel. So if the Costa del Sol bug does strike over the summer, ensure you save enough cash to return home and, if so inclined, return to Spain in Spring the following year… learning Spanish during this period will help matters no end.

3. Will this be forever?

There is very little official data on the average time a British expat spends living in Spain. Some stay forever, others for just a matter of months. Anecdotally, the majority of expats can be evenly split into two camps – those who plan on never returning to the UK, and those that want to return as soon as the timing is right.

Often, however, external forces are more influential in dictating the duration of one’s stay than their own whims and wants. An illness, either in Spain or at home, can curtail life in Spain unexpectedly, whereas – on the other hand – a great job or new love interest can inject an extra spark into one’s Spain love affair.

Don’t look back in anger… many expats choose to leave Spain eventually.

Brits who retire to Spain will often think that this is it: their twilight years are going to be spent warmly under the Spanish sun. And they might well be, but even those of pensionable age should not rule out the possibility that they might wish to return to the UK at some point in the distant future.

4. Am I confident enough to make this work?

Shrinking violets do not make for great expats. Living in another country, another culture, yanks you from your comfort zone. The Costa del Sol is better than most regions in replicating the comforts of home, but it is still Spain and subject to the rhythms and rancour of Spanish life.

Dealing with shopkeepers, bakers, hairdressers, internet providers, taxi drivers, neighbours, passengers on the bus… it will all feel rather new and strange. At first. There are areas of the Costa del Sol where most services can be conducted either in English or even with fellow Brits. But that is not the case everywhere, so you will have to learn a few handy Spanish phrases or develop a thicker skin to get you through the occasionally uncomfortable clashes of culture that you will encounter.

It’s all great fun, though, and if you approach it with the right mindset then it can do wonders for your cultural horizons, social and love life, and general all-round enjoyment of what remains a brilliantly batty, warm, welcoming and passionate country.

5. Am I ready to cut ties to the UK?

If you can afford to, the best thing you can do for yourself when moving to Spain is to retain a place to live in the UK. Those lucky enough to be able to afford a Spanish property and a UK one are on an easier street than those that cannot, but moving abroad still poses a couple of internal wranglings even for the wealthy.

Despite the joys of the internet ensuring you’re never too culturally or communicatively cut-adrift from the UK, the fact remains that there will be days that you miss the little, often intangible, joys of living in the UK. Hopefully these will all be supplanted and succeeded by Spanish ones, but there is no guarantee of that.

So ask yourself: are you ready to swap chilly, cloudy, grey weather for warm, bright and blue weather? Check. Do you want to live in a country that treats you like an adult, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails? Check. Do you want mountains, sea, beaches, historic cities and beautiful tapas bars, infused with a smattering of British pubs and a sizeable expat population offering friendship networks, services and employment? Check, check, check.

Convinced yet? Spain is not for everyone, but it can most certainly work for most people – all you have to do is ask yourself the right questions…