Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

Why Retire to Spain?

2023-04-14T12:52:16

With warm weather, great cuisine, and a welcoming community of both locals and expats, it should come as little surprise that Spain is a top destination for retirees from Europe, the United States, and beyond. There are several reasons why people choose to retire to Spain.

Some of the most common reasons include:

Climate: Spain is known for its warm and sunny weather, which can be especially attractive for retirees looking to escape colder climates.
Lifestyle: Spain offers a relaxed lifestyle with a strong emphasis on family, community, and socializing. Retirees can enjoy a slower pace of life, delicious cuisine, and a vibrant culture.
Cost of living: Compared to many other European countries, the cost of living in Spain is relatively affordable. This can make it an attractive option for retirees who are looking to stretch their retirement savings.
Healthcare: Spain has a public healthcare system that is highly regarded for its quality of care. Many retirees appreciate the ease of access and affordability of healthcare in Spain.
Proximity to other countries: Spain is well-connected to other European countries, making it easy for retirees to travel and explore other parts of Europe.
Real estate: Spain's real estate market offers a variety of options for retirees, from apartments in bustling cities to villas in picturesque coastal towns. The relatively low cost of real estate can be attractive to retirees looking to purchase a second home or downsize.

Overall, Spain offers a high quality of life for retirees, with a warm and welcoming culture, affordable cost of living, and a range of lifestyle options to suit different preferences.

Which would be your number 1 reason for retiring to Spain?

...and if it's not there please comment

POLL:Do you think Spain's newly published Face Mask Law should be adopted across Europe?

2021-03-31T07:09:22

It does not matter if you are in a park, on a beach, in a swimming pool or on a boat. Masks are now officially compulsory everywhere. It is officially law.

Take note, as this is important: the rule that regulates the use of masks in Spain has now changed officially and now it will be mandatory to put them on in any public space, no matter how far you are from other people. It is also specified that they must be worn correctly. Until now, on the street or in outdoor spaces, it was mandatory to wear a mask but only when there was a distance of less than one and a half meters.

The Official State Gazette (BOE) published yesterday the new law, a measure that seeks to further curb the coronavirus. Law 2/2021 March 29 is a compendium of de-escalation measures that were already agreed on in June 2020, once the first state of emergency had expired.

The norm was originally approved as a decree-law - which raised a lot of controversy - and began to be applied, but then it was processed as law and now has come into force. The autonomous communities have been applying it more or less harshly, according to the number of cases of contagion.
It now states that "People six years of age and older are obliged to use masks (...) on public roads, in outdoor spaces and in any closed space for public use or that is open to the public,". That implies parks, beaches or swimming pools. It also states "all means of air, maritime, bus, or rail transport", as well as in "complementary public and private transport of passengers in vehicles with up to nine seats, including the driver, if the occupants of the tourism vehicles do not live at the same address”. In the case of passengers on ships and boats, it will not be necessary to use masks when they are inside their private cabin.

This new law is valid indefinitely because it will last until the health crisis is over. It states "Until the Government declares in a motivated manner and in accordance with scientific evidence the end of the health crisis situation caused by covid-19...".

Since last summer, when the state of alarm that had begun in March subsided, the autonomous communities adopted the use of masks based on the royal decree-law. The vast majority did it quickly but were able to adapt it depending on each communities unique situation thus considering some exceptions of different types, such as sunbathing on beaches or swimming pools.

Now, with the new law, the requirement to use a mask in outdoor spaces is applicable to all communities, which can no longer regulate their exceptions or adjust their application. There are now no exceptions anywhere, it is national law.

What is your opinion? Do you think the measure should be adopted across Europe by everyone?

Do you think Spain's newly published Face Mask Law should be adopted across Europe?

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POLL: Do you think the vaccination against covid or any other virus should be compulsory?

2021-02-24T12:21:39

Around Spain there has been little controversy over the voluntary nature of the vaccine against covid. Initially, before the European Union approved the first vaccine, the then Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, assured that the 'obligation to be vaccinated' could be studied if it were necessary to reach the wider population. But this option was soon scrapped. And the growing acceptance seemed to rule out this option: eight out of ten Spaniards are willing to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

But this Tuesday, Galicia has decided to carve its own path. Its Parliament, with the absolute majority of Alberto Núñez Feijóo's PP, has approved a reform of the Autonomous Health Law that allows sanctioning with fines of between 1,000 and 600,000 euros to be issued to people who unjustifiably refuse to be vaccinated against covid and against possible future viruses.

Do you think the vaccination against covid or any other virus should be compulsory? Please cast your vote...

Do you think the vaccination against covid or any other virus should be compulsory?

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Poll: Should smoking be banned on all beaches in Spain?

2021-02-18T18:54:44

Barcelona city council will ban smoking on four of its beaches in a pilot test this summer.

Between the end of May and mid-September, people will be barred from smoking on the beaches of Sant Miquel, Somorrostro, Nova Icària and Nova Mar Bella, four of the ten beaches in the Catalan capital.

The aim of this project is twofold: minimizing the number of cigarette butts that are left in the sand that eventually ends up in the sea, thus protecting the environment, as well as acting as a measure to protect the health of bathers on the beach.

The initiative led by the city council also aims to raise awareness about the impact of smoking.

The local councillor in charge of climate matters, Eloi Badia, explained that cigarette butts are some of the most damaging elements to beaches in terms of pollution, as they contain up to 4,000 chemicals, around 400 of which are toxic. In addition, they take between 10-12 years to disintegrate.

"The measure will allow us to somewhat curb environmental pollution and allow us to take a step forward in the protection of beaches," he said, citing Galicia’s smoke-free beaches as an example.

Authorities also explained that the ban’s aim is not focussed on punishing those who smoke on the beach - the ban won’t directly result in fines - but more about raising awareness.

Instances of non-compliance could be transferred to the Guardia Urbana local police who will be able to instruct people that smoking is banned in the area. However, if the beachgoer then still does not comply, the local police would then be able to hand out a fine, but the reason would be disrespecting authorities rather than breaking the smoking ban.

What do you think? Should smoking be banned on all beaches in Spain?

POLL: Should smoking be banned on all beaches in Spain?

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POLL: Do you think property in Spain is generally overvalued at the moment?

2021-01-28T19:20:52

House prices have risen considerably in recent years and the first signs of overvaluation are starting to appear in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, as well as some tourist spots. But the situation is very different in less urban areas, where the recovery in the real estate sector began later and is much slower. As a result, regional divergences in the price and affordability of housing are widening.

The gap between the price that homeowners are requesting and what buyers are willing to pay has grown in the last 12 months. According to the latest supply and demand report from piso.com. In 2020 sellers offered a standard apartment for an average price of 137,520 euros, while buyers had a budget of 97,500 euros. The difference was 40,020 euros, 640 euros more than the previous year.

According to the real estate portal, the distance between both parties has grown mainly due to the fact that what the 'future owner' is willing to pay has not changed from one year to the next, while on the other hand, the offering has become slightly more expensive. So, if the gap between the seller's price and that of the buyer was 40% in 2019, in 2020 it has climbed to 41%. This is the third-highest percentage difference since piso.com began this comparison (2009 - 55% and 2010 - 47%).

According to Ferran Font, director of research for piso.com, "the new 'normal' has allowed the real estate market to resume its dynamics, but the destruction of employment and 'cautious demand' have prevented it from returning to pre-crisis figures." He points out that “the cuts in house prices are being absorbed little by little, above all, because there is an important cushion of government aid that will be expanded thanks to European funds. This support will mitigate greater evils, which is why the distance that exists at this time between the market prices and what one is willing to pay has hardly changed ”. In any case, Font warns that "the confidence of the demand, greatly damaged by the pandemic, will be the one that sets the pace."

Two autonomous communities reduced their 'starting budget' when looking for a house to purchase (Madrid and Navarra) and another two raised theirs (the Balearic Islands and La Rioja). The highest starting price was in the Basque Country with an average of 247,500 euros. On the reverse side, buyers in Aragon, Asturias, Castilla-La Mancha, Valencian Community, Extremadura and Murcia searched for flats for 67,500 euros on average. The autonomous regions where supply and demand were closer were Navarra (-4%), Basque Country (0%) and Castilla-La Mancha (5%). The greatest imbalances occurred in the Canary Islands (63%), Asturias (54%), Madrid (51%) and the Valencian Community (51%).

So, do you feel property in Spain is generally overvalued still or not? Please cast your vote:

Do you think property in Spain is generally overvalued at the moment?

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POLL: How do you think second-home buyers and sellers will react to the current pandemic situation?

2021-01-19T16:59:01

Whilst Covid-19 is still casting a shadow of uncertainty over people's lives, the pandemic has pushed people to reassess how they might use a second home, and a trend towards longer stays in sunny climates combined with extended periods of remote working is emerging.

With vaccination now well underway across the globe, there is an air of cautious optimism surrounding the Spanish property market, with potential buyers making enquiries about homes both on the mainland and the Spanish islands.

The property portal thinkSPAIN has seen a 47% rise in buyer enquiries during the first five days of 2021 compared with 2020, with a 19% rise in UK/English language enquiries over the same period, following on from a 66% year-on-year increase in 2020.

How do you think second-home buyers and sellers will react to the current pandemic situation?

Please cast your vote and leave a comment:

If you were a second-home buyer in Spain, how would you react to the current pandemic?

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If you were a second-home seller in Spain, how would you react to the current pandemic?

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Poll - Are you worried which vaccine you get?

2021-01-08T16:51:02

A doctor has urged people to get one of the two coronavirus vaccines as soon as they possibly can. In response to a tweet by a colleague and former Labour MP Dr Paul Williams saying "Some local patients have turned down an offer this weekend of getting a Covid vaccine when they found out it was the Pfizer one. 'I'll wait for the English one'." It stated.

Dr Simon Stockley, from Stockton, said he did not think there was a difference between the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Oxford-AstraZeneca version. "The best vaccine as far as I can work out is the one that can be put into your arm soonest," he said.

The US/German Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was made available at the start of December, while the Oxford-AstraZeneca version was authorised on 30 December. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said both vaccines were safe.

The vast majority of people are still vulnerable to coronavirus. It's only the current restrictions that are preventing more people from dying. Vaccines teach our bodies to fight the infection by stopping us from catching coronavirus or at least making Covid less deadly. Having a vaccine, alongside better treatments, is "the" exit strategy.

The two vaccines being rolled out at the moment are the Pfizer- BioNtech and the Oxford-AstraZeneca. However, the Spanish government has signed agreements with six different vaccine manufacturers which will de deployed as and when they are ready and authorised.

Are you worried which one you will get? Please cast your vote:

Info about both vaccines:

Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine - USA/Germany
The big breakthrough came when Pfizer-BioNTech published its first results in November. They showed the vaccine is up to 95% effective.
The UK is due to get 40 million doses. It is given in two doses, three weeks apart.
The vaccine must be stored at a temperature of around -70C. It will be transported in a special box, packed in dry ice and installed with GPS trackers.
On 2 December, the UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use.

Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine - UK
The roll-out of the Oxford vaccine began on 5 January. It was approved late in 2020 after trials showed that it stopped 70% of people developing Covid symptoms.
The data also showed a strong immune response in older people.
There is also intriguing data that suggests perfecting the dose could increase protection up to 90%
The UK has ordered 100 million doses. It is given in two doses
This may be one of the easiest vaccines to distribute because it does not need to be stored at very cold temperatures.
It is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus from chimpanzees, that has been modified to not grow in humans.

Are you worried which vaccine you get?

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Notice : Old Polls not available

2021-01-08T15:58:22

Hi All,

For some reason, the website I was using previously to carry out all the polls has unexplainably disappeared without trace or notification. Extremely strange but Addpoll.com doesn't seem to be active anymore and thus all previous polls have become unavailable. I will be using a new service until I can recover the Addpoll service if it does actually return that is...

Regards to all.

Poll: Should Spain introduce a Vaccination card?

2020-12-30T21:43:09

The president of Andalusia's Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, has confirmed that he and his colleagues are looking into the possibility of issuing some kind of "certificate" of vaccination or "vaccine card" against covid-19 which will allow the holder to travel, go to football matches and other big event venues. However, he also stressed that vaccination will never be compulsory. Moreno made the comments to journalists during a press conference held in the Sierra Nevada ski resort in Granada, explaining that whilst vaccination will not be obligatory, a certificate of vaccination might well become compulsory in order to be able to travel or to take part in certain activities.

The regional president reiterated that the authorities could not make anyone have the vaccination against their will, but that it was a "moral obligation that we owe to ourselves and to others" and that it in no way infringed anyone's personal liberties.

He did, however, emphasise that in the near future, participation in some activities would require a vaccination certificate, the format of which is still being studied. It could be in the form of an identity card or a QR code, but it would prove "categorically" that the holder had been vaccinated.

As an example of restricted activities, Moreno mentioned football matches, concerts and other events where large crowds of people get together - none of which will be accessible without either this certificate or a negative PCR test carried out in the previous 72 hours.

"In short, it is a guarantee", he summarised, confirming that proof of vaccination would indeed become compulsory to attend this type of large-scale event. Something that will probably be introduced across Europe.

This begs the question if you create a vaccination card are you not effectively making vaccinations compulsory?

It's not that I am against vaccinations, anything but, however, if someone does decide not to be vaccinated does that mean they will effectively be sidelined as citizens not being able to access or uses public and even private services? Will you need a vaccination card to go on a bus, a plane or a train? Go into a cinema, restaurant or nightclub? Where will the line be drawn? If your freedom can be limited by a vaccination card is it the right thing to introduce or is general public safety more important than one's personal freedom?

Please leave your comments and cast your vote?

Should Spain introduce a Vaccination Card?

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The value of speaking a second language - How well do you speak Spanish?

2020-11-03T17:56:28

## ADDPOLL website is not working - POLLS not available at present ##

George Orwell wrote in 1938: "The only way I could get along was to carry everywhere a small dictionary which I whipped out of my pocket at moments of crisis. But I would sooner be a foreigner in Spain than in most countries. How easy it is to make friends in Spain!"

More than 70 years after the publication of Homage to Catalonia, hundreds of thousands of Orwell's fellow countrymen have followed his lead.

The global Spanish language standards entity, based in Madrid, revealed this week that as at the beginning of 2020, the national tongue of Spain and much of Latin America had a total of 585 million speakers.

They include those who have had to learn it, or whose main native language is not Spanish, as well as mother-tongue speakers – and, as has been the case for a very long time, the country with the most native Spanish speakers is the USA, a nation where it is not even the official language.

Of the 7.5% of the world's population who speak Spanish, a total of 489 million were born in a country where it is the official language, and the remaining 74 million are either learning it or are already fluent in it. So, as you can see Spanish is spreading quickly but there are more benefits to speaking Spanish than just communicating.

Research has shown, using Spanish in everyday situations and sticking to regular classes can help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, say, doctors.

Learning a foreign language could put back the first signs of dementia by at least five years,

Expatriates in Spain are at a particular advantage since those who regularly use the language they have learnt are even more likely to fight off Alzheimer's than those who have merely studied one and let it lay dormant. Whilst crosswords, sudokus and other 'thinking' puzzles have long been lauded as a tool for fighting off memory loss and confusion in old age, experts believe that those who speak two or more languages have even more chance of retaining their mental faculties.

They say learning a language is a more powerful type of mental exercise, and builds up a bank of 'spare' brainpower which helps the mind to keep working for longer and more effectively, slowing down the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's.

Medics behind the research, which took place at York University in Toronto, Canada, say this is rather like keeping a spare battery for your mobile phone or an emergency tank of petrol in your car.

"It means your brain can keep going for longer because there is more in the safety tank," they say.

The part of the brain that controls memory, decision-making, reasoning and expressing oneself in words is made stronger, more flexible and more resistant to damage by learning and using a foreign language.

Doctors claim the sooner a person starts to learn a language, the more beneficial it is for slowing down the process of dementia and age-related confusion.

Researchers found that the average Alzheimer's sufferer began to see the early symptoms of their condition in their mid-70s, or younger, where they only spoke one language.

But those who spoke two or more languages - or were actively learning one - tended to be in their 80s before they were diagnosed with dementia.

Additionally, the process of the mind breaking down - including loss of short-term memory - took hold much more rapidly in monolingual patients.

However, they warn that learning a language will not actually prevent Alzheimer's - it will simply slow down the associated mental deterioration and stop the condition from manifesting itself for much longer.

To help clarify some of the options :

"Fluent", I would describe as having no difficulty discussing any topic that you could discuss in your mother tongue. The odd grammatical mistake may happen, even as it does when using your mother tongue. We all make grammatical errors every day without realising it most of the time, but they normally go unnoticed. You would also have very good control of the phonological features of the language.

"Having a decent conversation" is basically being able to talk about most topics that you would in your mother tongue but you may be occasionally limited by vocabulary or grammar but most certainly able to communicate with a good degree of fluency although with some degree of hesitation. You would also have good control of the phonological features of the language.

"Enough to get by and be understood" would fall short of being able to produce well constructed and extended discourse, but you would be able to communicate and be understood. But your vocabulary is limited as would be your phonological control of the language.

So please cast your vote:

POLL- Would you be willing to have a COVID vaccine when they become available?

2020-10-27T18:57:08

## ADDPOLL website not working - POLLS not available at present ##

Typically, the creation and rigorous testing of a vaccine can take up to 15 years. However, since January academics and pharmaceutical companies have been working around the clock to complete a COVID vaccine in record time and many people are wary of the end result.

In a recent survey, 66% of adults said they would get a vaccine when one becomes available, with 15% opting not to. However, nearly a fifth (19%) were unsure of whether they would or not. Supposing that vaccines will not be compulsory... will you have one when they become available? Please cast your vote...

The tallest cross in the world - Should it be demolished?

2020-09-17T15:17:09

The Valley of the Fallen is a monumental complex located in the Madrid town of San Lorenzo del Escorial. One of its main elements is the Cross of the Valley of the Fallen. The complex has been part of the National Heritage since its opening, which took place on April 1, 1959.

Francisco Franco ordered its construction, and he was buried there next to José Antonio Primo de Rivera up until his exhumation last October. The burial place of Spain's fascist dictator General Francisco Franco had been the subject of fierce debate for decades. But the final chapter arrived on 24 October 2019. The government exhumed and moved Franco's remains to a cemetery in Madrid. But why were there calls for Franco's remains to be moved in the first place? And why has the issue proved so controversial?

Franco ruled Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975. He was buried in a mausoleum within the Valley of the Fallen, leading to the site becoming a shrine for the far-right and thus loathed by many Spaniards. Spain's socialist government wanted the Valley of the Fallen to become "a place of commemoration, remembrance and homage to the victims of the war". It saw the presence of Franco's remains there as an affront to a mature democracy.

Many descendants of Franco's victims supported the idea of burying his remains elsewhere. But the issue has largely split public opinion across Spain.
Last August, despite objections from his closest family and the right-wing parties, the government approved the exhumation. It wanted to find a more low-key burial place where the dictator's followers would find it harder to pay tribute but also distance the dictator from the bodies of so many fallen soldiers.

Now he is not there, the Government has taken a further step just this week. Their intention is to make the priests leave the priory and for it to become a civil burial ground. This now leads on to the next discussion, if they want the complex to be a civil burial ground what do you do with the cross? The debate has started and some are pushing for it to be demolished. The cross is without a doubt one of the most remarkable features of the Valley of the Fallen. It stands just above the Basilica. It is the highest Christian Cross in the world measuring 150m from the base. At the foot of the Cross, we can observe the statues of the four evangelists, as well as the symbols that correspond to each of them: Luke and the bull, Matthew and the winged man, John and the eagle, and Mark and the lion. As for the arms of the cross, they measure 46.40 meters each and it is possible to see it more than 40 kilometres away.

Inside there is an elevator that allows you to go up to the top. The Cross of the Fallen was made of reinforced concrete and covered with berrugo masonry and carved stone. To put its height into perspective, the Cross of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro is just 38m tall from the base, the Statue of Liberty is 93m from the base and St Paul's Cathedral is 111m to the tip of the main spire.

Given the magnitude of the construction and that it is a symbol of religious faith, do you think that it should be demolished because its construction was ordered by Franco? Please cast your vote.

How well do you handle Spain's Summer heat?

2020-09-04T11:25:38

The summer is pretty much coming to an end here but the heat is still on. I for one would happily head off to a cooler climate as I find the heat quite unbearable during July and August, especially the humidity in the Valencia region. But the heat keeps attracting people from all over Europe and many can't get enough of it, even though this year saw numbers drop considerably due to the current Covid-19 situation. But truthfully, can you all really handle this sweltering heat? Do you really like it, love it or hate it? Please cast your vote and leave a comment...

POLL - COVID 19 SPAIN - Do you feel comfortable.....?

2020-07-10T08:57:48

Now that all regions in Spain are now living the "new normal" apart from a handful of places that have been put back into quarantine, it is possible to start seeing how the general population is reacting to this new way of living. Certainly, the first couple of weeks after lockdown was lifted we noticed a large surge of people going to bars for a beer or a snack, now that restaurants are also open as well as cinemas and gyms, it begs the question, just how comfortable are we going to these places, especially when we see new cases popping up all over the country. That said it is to be expected until there is a vaccine. The coronavirus isn't just going to disappear overnight. So how do you feel about visiting certain places now? taking into consideration that all places are following hygiene guidelines, from what I have observed, and that social distancing, generally speaking, is being respected..Please cast your vote:

POLL - Have you enjoyed being at home during lockdown?

2020-06-09T19:52:05

Two months of confinement have helped Spaniards rediscover the benefits of being at home. A study carried out by ManoMano.es the leading DIY, home and garden marketplace, concluded that 80% of Spaniards claim to have enjoyed being at home during the coronavirus confinement. The reason? They have spent more time with their loved ones, and they have also taken advantage of their free time to carry out small renovations, tidy up and reorganise the house, and other tasks that previously, due to time, they could not have done.

By spending more time at home, it seems that the Spanish have come to love being at home more than before. The main reason participants enjoyed their homes so much during quarantine was being able to share more time with their loved ones, especially households with children (51%) compared to households without children (31%). 18% also felt more protected and safer at home while 15% said it was because they had more time to organise the house and redecorate it to their liking. How did you find lockdown? Please cast your vote and post your reason in the comments section below...

POLL - Do you think Spain's guaranteed minimum income scheme is a good idea?

2020-06-01T18:33:05

The Spanish government just approved a "guaranteed minimum income scheme" set to help 850,000 vulnerable families. It is not the first welfare program of its kind in Spain: there are already 17 different schemes in Spain run by each of the regional governments. But the distribution of this aid is very uneven and only reaches around 300,000 homes. The new scheme from the Social Security Ministry will nearly triple that figure.

Finance Minister María Jesús Montero called the guaranteed minimum income scheme “a giant step in the fight against inequality in our country.” The program aims to lift around 1.6 million people out of extreme poverty, a group that represents 12.4% of the population, compared with the EU average of 6.9%. And 26.1% of the population is at risk of poverty, meaning that they are living on less than 60% of the median income, or €8,871 a year.

The plan for a guaranteed minimum income dates back to December 2019, when the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Unidas Podemos struck a governing agreement after the inconclusive results of the November general election. In this deal, the parties agreed to create “a general mechanism to guarantee earnings for families with no or low income.”

The coronavirus crisis accelerated the plan and in April, the government released the first details of the minimum income scheme, which is set to cost the government €3 billion a year. Drafts of the welfare program have been seen by several ministries. However, these texts are not final, meaning some of the details may change when the royal decree is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). This is what is known so far about the minimum income scheme and how it will work.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible, claimants will have to be of legal age and under 65, given that above that age there are non-contributory pensions that pay out a minimum of €462 a month. If the beneficiaries live alone, they must have been emancipated for at least three years and be at least 23 years old.

In theory, the payment will be made out to a single individual but destined to the entire household. To be eligible, families must be in a vulnerable financial situation. A family is defined as vulnerable when their monthly income is €10 or more below the minimum income for their situation.

Are migrants eligible?

Yes, migrants who have been living legally in Spain for at least a year can apply for the guaranteed minimum income.

How much is the minimum income?

There is not a set amount, as payment depends on a family’s income and their overall situation. The lowest rate will be €462 a month for adults who live alone, and the highest €1,015. But the scheme will complete family income to those levels, rather than paying out that amount.

How is a family’s income calculated?

A family’s earnings are calculated based on their net income from the previous year. This does not include grants or rental assistance. Given that this method could leave out the economic victims of the coronavirus crisis, the latest draft of the scheme includes an additional provision which takes into account a claimant’s income from this year. This provision will be in place for all of 2020. The decree also considers setting conditions to assess an individual’s loss of income in a year so that they do not have to wait for the following year to claim the minimum income.

A family’s assets, such as property and savings, is also calculated toward their income. But this does not include the family home.

.How will it be funded?

The figures provided suggest that the program will cost around €3 billion a year, to be funded through government transfers to the Social Security system. How the government will fund it is still to be clarified...

Do you think this is a good idea? Please cast your vote...

POLL: Would you feel comfortable travelling to Spain this Summer?

2020-05-26T09:58:07

As air travel to and from the U.K. takes off, but threats of quarantine and travel bans lurk, summer trips abroad for British travellers are on hold, not over, though.

Even with the much-feared U.K. quarantine coming into effect June 8, summer holiday hopes are within view. There is still a possibility of future exemptions to the quarantine, the British government said in a statement on Friday. It will continue to look at the option of “air bridges”– similar to travel bubbles–between countries with low transmission rates. Together with bolstered screening measures, this would “remove the need for quarantine measures for incoming passengers.”

This could dramatically change holiday outlooks for Brits. For now, the quarantine will apply to all travellers, (bar the Irish). That includes returning British holidaymakers.

Supposing "air-bridges" are agreed between certain areas of Spain and the UK, how would you feel about visiting Spain this summer or in the coming months?

And if you are living in another country, Germany, France, Holland etc. Would you consider visiting Spain this summer?

Please cast your vote:

POLL - Will you start socialising with friends and family as soon as you can?

2020-05-13T17:24:40

About 51% of the population is now enjoying the extra freedom 'Phase 1' offers, although the metropolitan areas of Spain's largest three cities remain on 'Phase 0', along with Granada, the Costa del Sol, nearly all of Catalunya, and significant portions of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, and the Comunidad Valenciana.

The government has explained what those living in 'Phase 1' areas can and cannot do, and what those who are not may be able to do in a week or two, depending upon how the virus develops in their territory and the availability of healthcare facilities in reserve to cope with a hypothetical second outbreak.

Visiting friends and family

This is now permitted to some degree – either meeting in the street or in your or their homes – unless they have tested positive for Covid-19, are recovering and in the requisite 15-day home isolation period, or are showing symptoms compatible with the disease.

Anyone considered 'high-risk' due to pre-existing health problems – anything affecting the cardiovascular or respiratory system, anything that compromises their immune system such as being in treatment for cancer, or anything which means contracting Covid-19 would automatically be much more dangerous for them – cannot be visited or have visitors.

The elderly cannot have or make visits.

Those considered high-risk 'due to age' are not permitted to receive visitors, meet others on the street or go to other people's houses, although it is not clear where the cut-off point is. The immune system starts to weaken from around age 60 to 70, those aged 70 or over have specific time slots for going out walking or exercising unless they live in a town with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, and anyone aged 65 or over is given an exclusive or 'priority' slot for supermarket shopping, but people in this age bracket are not, these days, considered 'elderly', or even, necessarily, 'middle-aged'. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classes those aged 66 to 79 inclusive as 'middle-aged', and 'elderly' does not start until age 80; however, people of approximately State pension age are thought to be more vulnerable to Covid-19 and the average age of those who have died from the condition is over 73.

So it may be better not to meet up with anyone if you are 65 or more, nor to visit anyone or invite them round if they are in this segment of the population.

How many people can visit each other at once?

Maximum groups of 10 people are allowed in any one house, including members of the household – a person living alone can have nine visitors, but a couple with three children cannot have more than five.

This is also the case when people gather on the street to meet.

So when your region enters phase 1 or if you are already in phase 1, how do you feel about socialising at the moment?

Also, Do you think the Government's plan is sensible?

POLL: Which type of property are you most likely to choose as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis?

2020-04-23T16:18:44

Gardens or on everyone's mind at the moment, especially those who don't have one. Once the quarantine is over, gardens, terraces and balconies may be less urgent as occupants will then be able to go outside again and catch some fresh air and sunshine – but if this situation ever happens again, having a private outdoor space is likely to make it far less of an ordeal.

So, has this health crisis changed the way you'll choose your future residence, be it in Spain or any other country?

Residents on urbanisations or in apartment blocks are not allowed to use communal facilities such as swimming pools, gardens or terraces – only exits and entrances – meaning balconies have become hugely important for the latter, and private courtyards, gardens and pools for the former. Ultimately having a garden is to be able to do exercise and stretch your legs may be a decisive factor.

Filters on searches for properties with outdoor spaces, in general, have been applied 40% more than usual, although homes with gardens appear 128% more often than those with terraces or balconies, according to data from property portals across the board.

This begs the question... if you are looking to buy or rent in the future, how are you thinking?

Which type of property are you most likely to choose as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis?

Please cast your vote:

POLL: Which are your favourite white wines from Mercadona?

2020-04-17T17:42:19

Don't be fooled by the prices, Mercadona sells some excellent wine and not just 'for the price'. They are genuinely good wines, the thing that is quite unbelievable is the price they are able to sell them at. Thanks to the volume they sell you can get a top wine for next to nothing. Every year Mercadona's red wines seem to hit the headlines and receive excellent reviews, however, there is not so much press coverage of their white wines or any as a matter of fact. White wine sells a lot less in Spain and even more at this time of year, but white wine is extremely popular with the British and other nationalities and I know many of you are looking for some good value recommendations. So, who better to ask than the people buying it on a daily basis? All of you...

I have selected some of the best selling white wines in Mercadona for less than €5. Please take a look and select up to three of your favourites. Hopefully, this will help determine which are the most successful...If I have missed any gems please comment below!

POLL - Have your shopping habits changed since lockdown?

2020-04-02T16:24:32

Shoppers in Spain have been buying more alcohol since the Spanish government declared a state of alarm. The sale of beer rose by 77.65% with respect to the previous week, while wine jumped by 62.7% and alcoholic drinks by 36.58%, according to a study in the consumer magazine Inforetail, which is supported by the Spanish Association of Distributors, Self-Service Stores and Supermarkets (Asedas).

The study also shows that the large purchases seen in the lead up to the lockdown eased during the first two weeks of confinement. The peak of the shopping frenzy was reached between March 11 and 14, just before Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the state of alarm.

“In these two weeks, the number of visits made by each shopper has dropped and the size of each individual purchase has increased slightly, in accordance with the recommendations of the health authorities. These shopping purchases reflect the lockdown the Spanish population is under,” says Felipe Medina, the secretary-general of Asedas, which represents the main businesses in the supermarket sector as well as 19,100 establishments.

While the demand for toilet paper has stabilized, other products have seen a spectacular rise in sales, such as olives (+93.83%), potato chips (+87.13%), chocolate (+79.04%), ice cream (+76.19%) and anchovies (+60%). What’s more, according to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the sale of flour has shot up by 196% with respect to the previous week. It would appear that people have decided that the best way to cope with the lockdown conditions is to set up a bar and a cake shop at home.

But what is behind this change in shopping habits? Is there a sociological or psychological explanation for it?

According to Carmelo Vázquez, professor of psychopathology at Madrid’s Complutense University, “this reflects the ability to give ourselves rewards and treats in these times.” After the 2001 September 11 terrorist attack on New York and the 2004 Madrid train bombings, Vázquez completed numerous studies on the post-traumatic stress experienced by people in those cities in the aftermath of the attacks. According to the professor, these two events, in spite of the obvious differences, bear a certain similarity to what is currently happening.

“Despite the widespread thinking that everything is going badly, people are extraordinarily resilient,” says Vázquez. “Back then, the studies showed us that the level of post-traumatic stress did not reach 7%. Now there is a lot of preparatory alarm, but people are handling it very well. One of the phases is exactly that: drink beer, alcohol and eat potato chips. This has a therapeutic effect. The consumption of alcohol and candy increases endorphins, which happens in high moments of stress.”

Olga Castanyer is a specialist in clinical psychologist and author, she says she also “meets up to have some beers with friends on Skype.” According to Castanyer, demand for beer has soared in the past two weeks due to the high levels of stress about the coronavirus crisis. “You don’t eat steak when you are stressed. What the body wants is sugar and fat,” she explains. “When we are locked up, our brains ask us for a prize: like chocolate, candy or simply beer. We are used to living according to certain paradigms and we have never seen the one we are in. That’s why it’s good to continue the social customs of before: glass of wine at home, olives, the Mediterranean culture.”

It’s a theory that’s backed by Josep Lobera, a sociologist at the Autonomous University of Madrid. “You have to take a good look at the data. The consumption of lime flower tea and chocolate reduces anxiety. Others manage it with alcohol or video games. They are all different forms of escape,” he explains. Supermarket cashiers say they have also noticed that more people are buying alcohol.

Have your shopping habits changed?

Please tick up to 5 products that you are now buying more of...

POLL: Coronavirus

2020-03-26T14:43:26

Coronavirus has forced European governments into lockdown as they attempt to curb the spread of the deadly disease. Italy, France and Spain have all announced very tough measures to limit the movement of people.

Boris Johnson has stepped up the country’s lockdown measures but many in Europe fear that his actions have come too late. Paris has even warned that is it prepared to ban Britons from France after showing disapproval with the Prime Minister’s tactics. Italy’s Giuseppe Conte has urged governments to follow his lead and implement a complete shut down of their country before it is too late.

Under the new restrictions imposed by the Johnson administration, people can leave their homes only for very limited reasons such as going to supermarkets for vital supplies or for exercise once a day. The unprecedented peacetime restrictions, which will last at least three weeks, are intended to stop the state-run National Health Service (NHS) being overwhelmed.

But social media images showed London Underground railway trains were packed with commuters. There were also complaints that the advice was confusing or did not go far enough. Julia Harris, a London nurse, said her morning train to work was full. “I worry for my health more on my commute than actually being in the hospital," she said.

Many building sites remained open, with construction workers among those crowding onto early-morning subways.

Electrician Dan Dobson said construction workers felt “angry and unprotected”, but felt they had to keep working.

"None of them wants to go to work, everyone is worried about taking it home to their families,” he said. "But they still have bills to pay, they still have rent to pay, they still have to buy food.”

British Treasury chief Rishi Sunak defended keeping construction sites open, insisting it could be done safely. But London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: “I cannot say this more strongly: we must stop all non-essential use of public transport now. Employers: please support your staff to work from home unless it's absolutely necessary. Ignoring these rules means more lives lost.”

Many families were also confused by the new rules. After Johnson said people should not mingle outside of their household units, separated parents asked whether their children could still travel between their homes. In a series of television and radio interviews, Cabinet minister Michael Gove initially said children should not move between households, before clarifying that it was permitted.

Earlier advice for Britons to avoid gatherings was widely ignored, with people flocking to parks and beauty spots. Police will now break up gatherings of more than two people, and social events such as weddings - but not funerals - will be stopped.

Gove said stronger measures than 30-pound fines for people who flouted the new restrictions could be introduced. A snap YouGov poll found that 93 per cent of Britons supported the measures, but were split on whether fines would be a sufficient deterrent. The survey found 66 per cent thought the rules would be very easy or fairly easy to follow.

Supermarkets said they had begun limiting the number of shoppers in stores at any one time and installing screens at checkouts to protect staff.

Sports Direct, initially indicated it would defy the order to close but later said it had asked the government for permission to open stores. Gove said Sports Direct was not an essential shop and should close.

There was also ambiguity regarding what powers police had to enforce the new guidance. The government said police would have powers to break up illegal gatherings and fine people who flout the rules. But some expressed doubts about whether the lockdown could be enforced.

Britain has lost thousands of police officers during a decade of public spending and while Johnson has promised to recruit 20,000 more police officers, those efforts are still in the early stages. Unlike some other European countries, Britons do not carry ID cards, another factor complicating enforcement efforts.

Johnson has also warned that the National Health Service could be overwhelmed within weeks unless people took the lockdown seriously.

Britain's economy was now shrinking at a record pace, faster than during the 2008-09 financial crisis as businesses across the services sector are shut, according to a survey.

What do you think?

POLL : If you could, would you take out Spanish Citizenship?

2020-01-31T19:08:15

Growing numbers of Britons are taking official Spanish language exams in order to become citizens of Spain, motivated by fears about Brexit. Figures published by the Instituto Cervantes show a 21% increase since last year in the numbers taking Spanish as a foreign language diploma, which is a requirement for anyone wanting citizenship.

The institute, which is responsible for promoting the Spanish language and culture around the world, says more than 400 people in the UK will take the exams this year, compared with 227 in 2015. “Certainly this is related to Brexit and the desire to keep a European passport,” Ignacio Peyró Jiménez, its London director, said.
Since the Brexit vote, the applications by British residents in Spain to become residents has increased by 431% and this figure is expected to climb

Brits living in Spain had no real need to take Spanish citizenship since, other than being barred from voting in national and regional elections or standing for Parliament, their rights as expatriates were identical to those of any Spaniard.

Citizenship requirements changed in 2015, but are relatively within reach – the language test is set at level A2 or a good GCSE grade and two years’ worth of classes or home study is normally enough to achieve this standard.

A sociocultural and constitutional knowledge test must also be passed – 25 multiple choice questions to be answered in 45 minutes, of which 15 must be correct or 60%.

Successful applicants then must agree to renounce their nationality of birth and swear allegiance to the Spanish Constitution.

In practice, the UK doesn’t allow its native-born subjects to give up their British citizenship, even though joint nationality is not available to Brits living in Spain.

But for those concerned about future restrictions on movement between Spain and the UK, Spanish nationality may, strangely enough, make this procedure easier; a British-born subject is unlikely to be denied the right to spend an indefinite time in the UK as a visitor to, for example, care for family members in need, and with a Spanish passport, re-entry to Spain is guaranteed however long they have been away.

So what do you think?

Would you take out Spanish citizenship if you could? Please cast your vote...

POLL: Who needs the other more? The EU or The UK?

2019-10-08T15:46:51

Nearly two years ago data from a Eurotrack survey suggested that one third (33%) of Britons thought that the EU needed the UK more than the UK needed it. With a further 28% of Brits saying that the EU and UK needed each other equally, this meant that more than six in ten people thought that the EU needed the UK at least as much as the UK needed the EU.

On EOS the results weren't that different:

37.13% of EOS members said the EU needed the UK more then the UK needed the EU and 25.18% said they needed each other equally.....Now almost two years have passed and the situation is rather different. Do you think the UK still stands from a position of strength or has it weakened? Who needs the other more now?

What do you think? Please cast your vote...

POLL - Brexit: What do you think is most likely to happen?

2019-09-25T09:32:33

The most likely outcome of Brexit is that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union within weeks with no agreement in place on its future relationship, according to recent surveys.

Britain and Northern Ireland is set to leave the superstate trading bloc on October 31. It is the third deadline for the U.K.’s departure after previous extensions were granted in order to resolve how Britain would withdraw and conduct future trading with EU members.

Fears of no-deal have increased due to a new U.K. government ramping up planning for an abrupt exit while also reducing negotiations with the EU.

According to the latest CNBC Global CFO Council quarterly survey, 43.5% of chief financial officers now view no deal as the most likely scenario. Almost a third (32.3%) predict a deadline extension, 8.1% expect a deal can be struck by the end of October, 3.2% foresee a second referendum while the remainder (12.9%) are not sure.

What do you now think is most likely to happen regarding Brexit?

Please cast your vote: