Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 4:29pm
I have had a place in Seron Spain for many years. I have 5,000 sqm, I have a lot of trees there and if I lived there now I would keep chickens like the owners before, I have some free irrigation water etc. I did live there for one year in my thirties and we bottled tomatoes etc, dried a few other items, grew potatoes, spinach, cucumbers, peppers, garlic and so on. I have around 60 olive trees, similar with almond, cherry trees, plum, apple, my own pool, large garages, nice detached villa / bungalow. I am still in the phase of building up my pension and I have a son at uni for the next 5 or 6 years who is draining my bank balance quite well so I am battling on. I have a place on the coast as well, I do like the coast for the restaurants but I like the peace and quiet of inland more, space etc. We have a dish on the house for broadband, 16 mb, quick enough for netflix. The problem with inland for me is that I am out numbered by the others in my family who prefer the coast so for a couple of weeks use a year it is a bit expensive to have it sitting there.
I think I could live quite easily with €1,500 a month, but in the year I lived there many years ago I spent £35,000 in a year, purchased a cheap new car, carried out a few improvements etc. I was out in the restaurants a lot, I had a great year I must say but it was not realistic to stay there, my money would not have lasted as I was too young and the kids got a better education back in the UK. Now we have Brexit but I think you can still get a visa if you have enough money per month coming in.
If I lived there now full time I might think about a wind turbine and solar hot water but they take years to get your money back. Electric is more expensive there than UK, many will spend more on wood etc or gas to keep their houses warm. I have an open fire that heats up radiators via a back boiler but I think I would have similar system but with a pellet burner. For me in Spain you can spend €90 per month on electric and then €500 on wood in the winter. Council tax is much cheaper, my water is cheap in the country side as I don't have to pay for drainage. It is a good life there but I am staying in the UK for now.