12 Feb 2009 6:22 PM:

Hi Pat & Roy, nice to hear from you.

You know the saying "S**t happens".  I say "Don't wallow in it, use it to fertilize thing".

I've spent a lot of time checking out the cost of living in Spain and had a lot of good information and help from these forums.

I've included everything I could think of  in our budget and what was suggested by others. I hopefully erred on the conservative side with the costs and if I have missed anything then we should have enough leeway to manage.

If things will be tight at least we will have the sun for most of the year.

Thread: Is it cheaper to live in Spain?

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12 Feb 2009 2:31 PM:

Acky,

No apologies are needed.

We only come over a few times a year. Usually for 9/10 day in January. (This year we got stuck for an extra 2 days due to Luton being shut thru the snow).

Then for 8/9 days at Easter. 4 weeks in the summer and then 5/8 days in October. This makes it difficult to estimate bills.

In my budget for living there full time I've allocated an average of 160 euros a month for electric which should be plenty according to your figures. Looking at most of the figures for costs on this and other forums our income of about 1350 euros after taxes should be plenty and thats why we have decided that we will come to live in Spain.

We will be in the enviable position of not having to work to live.

We decided that we can't keep putting it off till things improve. Hopefully if they do improve we will be in an even better postion.

Thread: Is it cheaper to live in Spain?

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12 Feb 2009 12:38 PM:

Thanks Acky and Foxbat, but these are not my figures only what they told me. I think Roberto is just surprised that anyone would use that much electricity. I keep a watch on my electric usage as we are all electric but as I said we are not yet living there, but only coming over for holidays. Once we have lived there (hopefully starting in May/June) for 6 months or so we will have accurate figures.

Does anyone have accurate electric usage costs for different propertys so as to gauge the average cost? I know the usage would depend on how the property was used but at least it would give people some idea.

Thread: Is it cheaper to live in Spain?

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11 Feb 2009 8:00 PM:

Roberto,

"Friends of ours ...... normally pay 320 every 2 months" What the hell are they running???

Husband, wife 2 young kids and 1 teenager.

Aircon/heating on about 12-14+ hours a day during the winter. At least 2 washes a day and tumbledryer to dry the washing. Plasma tv and related equipment. Electric oven and hob, dishwasher and other usual kitchen stuff as there is no gas. Plus all the other equipment that you use.

Unfortunately they are allegic to oil fumes.

It does seem a lot but as my last bill was 12:20 euros and the biggest has been 34:41 euros (this was the summer period and we had been there for 5 weeks and rarely used the aircon) I can't say one way or another.

When we get there in May/June and have been there for a few months we will have a better idea.

Thread: Is it cheaper to live in Spain?

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11 Feb 2009 2:12 PM:

Glenni,

 Endesa elec is going up in July now and from January you will be billed monthly. Although they will only read the meter every 2 months as now. That means that every other bill will be estimated. This started in January (which was estimated) and is what has caused the big bills.

Friends of ours on our urbanisation (Costa Del Sol) in a 3 bed apartment paid 290euros in January when they normaly pay 320 every 2 months. They are only there half the day as they work. Another friend with a the same type of apartment paid 360 euros in January but they are there all day. These bills were estimated but as you can't get to the electric meter to check the reading we can't see how accurate they are. We cannot tell from our bills as we only use it for holidays at the moment.

Thread: Is it cheaper to live in Spain?

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