Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

[pepe2008]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Dropped in for a little looky whilst being roasted in the heat here. it seems amazing that the DCA's keep banging the same old drum and I'm happy to see that, for the most, they keep failing miserably to actually achieve anything when presented with a reasonable and determined defence.
Long may that continue.
The few we have still sniffing around are following the same patterns over and over again and are firmly under our control as, as soon as we give them a contact address, they return the file to the Principal who won't take any action 'in-house' for such piddling amounts ( to them) as they have no system to do so.

We are still amazed at the simplicity of setting up a new life in a foreign Country and the, apparently, 'Oh well, they've gone' attitude of most Lenders. Long may it continue.
Here in Portugal, the cost of living ( away from the coastal areas) is incredibly cheap. There are many UK folk out here and those that have come here soon realise what they have left behind them and are able to finally relax a bit and enjoy life. Yes, some come to the opposite conclusion and crave the pace and consumerist hell that is the UK and go back but, hey ho, horses for course
We do keep an eye on what is happening in the UK and which Financial Institution/Lender is currently getting a kicking and enjoy it immensely when someone like Wonga gets caught with their trousers round their ankles....the 'pretend solicitor' thing was hilarious!

Anyway, keep up the good work AAD, the more people who realise just what can be done to stop the DCA's making money from fear and lies, the better.

Pool calling, it's 37C in the shade here at the moment and my fingers are sticking to the keys.

You don't need to put up with the stress of debt, you can pay it off, fight it off or .....off. It is all possible with the right information.

[IF]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Nice to hear from you Pepe, what a lovely post........you go back to the pool and I'm soooooo not jealous at all!!

Best wishes
IF

[Pixie]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Lovely to hear from you Pepe...and I'll admit I'm extremely jealous of you!

[pepe2008]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Budget changes to Pensions have meant that this life is more accessible/ achievable now. Anyone with a Private Pension/ Works Scheme is able to take an increased amount at 55, not just the 25% Tax Free, and basically do what they want with it. Used to get walloped by a great big tax bill if you were doing it on the present scheme without buying an Annuity. Now, if you play the Tax Codes properly you could get the whole lot out over a couple of years without paying tax.
I'm looking forward to April 2016.

With land very cheap, someone could buy a couple of acres and put a very nice 2nd hand American RV on it for less than £20,000. You can live like a King on 300€ a month. No Council Tax, an RV with solar power would mean ( like us) no electricity bill, no water bills, 30€ for the phone and internet. Sorted. We have a house on over an acre with an olive grove and vines.....less than £30,000 all in. Plenty of land around for less than 5000€.

It's achievable, affordable, cheap to fly back to UK out of season and the new Economie ferry service means you can get a return Spain/UK/Spain for less than £300 with the car. If anyone wants more specific advice, then we are happy to help.

[alland]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Well done Pepe. Living the dream, good on you sir . 👏

[pepe2008]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

If you're really nuts, you can buy half of Bulgaria for a few Magic Beans.
Seen prices of £950 for a house and land to live off.....yes, that is £950....no missing 0's.

[nightwatch]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Pepe, so nice to hear from you, was only thinking if emailing you to see how you are the other day, we are going to spain in october to see the retirement parks and make up or minds what to do, hopefully will be over there next year, you could visit for a holiday lol

[Pixie]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Budget changes to Pensions have meant that this life is more accessible/ achievable now. Anyone with a Private Pension/ Works Scheme is able to take an increased amount at 55, not just the 25% Tax Free, and basically do what they want with it. Used to get walloped by a great big tax bill if you were doing it on the present scheme without buying an Annuity. Now, if you play the Tax Codes properly you could get the whole lot out over a couple of years without paying tax.
I'm looking forward to April 2016.

With land very cheap, someone could buy a couple of acres and put a very nice 2nd hand American RV on it for less than £20,000. You can live like a King on 300€ a month. No Council Tax, an RV with solar power would mean ( like us) no electricity bill, no water bills, 30€ for the phone and internet. Sorted. We have a house on over an acre with an olive grove and vines.....less than £30,000 all in. Plenty of land around for less than 5000€.

It's achievable, affordable, cheap to fly back to UK out of season and the new Economie ferry service means you can get a return Spain/UK/Spain for less than £300 with the car. If anyone wants more specific advice, then we are happy to help.

Still way out of my reach I'm afraid...and no Private Pension/works scheme either

[lookingforward]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Budget changes to Pensions have meant that this life is more accessible/ achievable now. Anyone with a Private Pension/ Works Scheme is able to take an increased amount at 55, not just the 25% Tax Free, and basically do what they want with it. Used to get walloped by a great big tax bill if you were doing it on the present scheme without buying an Annuity. Now, if you play the Tax Codes properly you could get the whole lot out over a couple of years without paying tax.
I'm looking forward to April 2016.

With land very cheap, someone could buy a couple of acres and put a very nice 2nd hand American RV on it for less than £20,000. You can live like a King on 300€ a month. No Council Tax, an RV with solar power would mean ( like us) no electricity bill, no water bills, 30€ for the phone and internet. Sorted. We have a house on over an acre with an olive grove and vines.....less than £30,000 all in. Plenty of land around for less than 5000€.

It's achievable, affordable, cheap to fly back to UK out of season and the new Economie ferry service means you can get a return Spain/UK/Spain for less than £300 with the car. If anyone wants more specific advice, then we are happy to help.

Sadly took my chunk out a few years back @ 50 in a failed attempt to keep my business afloat, now stuck with a piddly £140.00 per month from the annuity, just wish I could get hold of the balance in one lump to use instead, would be much more use.

Glad you're still enjoying the good life, long may it continue

[nanna58]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Any updates ? X

[pepe2008]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Updates, good timing! Just sitting here dying from the 'grippe', very much like flu and just as 'orrible.
Yep, life is good but hard work, but at least we are doing it for ourselves.
Last year was a bumper year for wine and olives for us. Not for all though. Late rains set off the olive fly and, as the continued, the warm, wet air helped them hatch and start eating the fruit. Some mills didn't even open. I spent 10 days up the trees in the p-ing rain and got them picked.
The wine was a similar thing. We had some late summer rains and then a really hot August and that brought along the grape-ripening early where the vines were in the sun. We made ours in 3 batches....all the old boys down the village were still muttering that 'grapes get picked on 12th September', guess what?? It rained for a week. We got 200 litres of red ( our 2013 red won 4th place at a Regional Competition ) and then some friends that were unexpectedly returning to the UK said to go ahead and use their white grapes....result!!! 200 litres of white.

Still picking away at a few things from our past because we maintain some UK links to make life a bit easier, but it's all under control. No-one really has a clue what to do, they still try lying (and skimming through a few sites, that still seems to be the way.

My tip, do your best to lead them into a Complaint, it's easy to do.

[cymruambyth]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Good to hear that everything is still going well and that you are 'living the life'!

[nanna58]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

How wonderful xx

[pepe2008]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Just as a small aside. If anyone is nearing the point where Retirement is looming and the UK is looking flippin' expensive ( as it is), we took a serviced apartment in Quarteira last week. Never been there before. Very clean, the beach is separated from the apartments by a wide walkway and you can still get a good-sized 2 bed apartment ( not direct sea-facing) for under £80,000. 'Council Tax' is the equivalent of 1 months in the UK....for a year!
Also, they are currently building an extension to the proms to link Vilamoura ( orange-golfer-land) with Quarteira and this will push prices up.
Worth a think if you have some equity and don't fancy giving it all away in the UK to keep God knows how many pointless Officials in jobs.

[The Tech Clerk]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

council tax as you say is equal to one months here, same in the far east, then of course Home Insurance Buildings & Contents Here £130 + upwards and well above, Bigger property/more hazardous cover £27.00 per year incl accidental to self or employees (if you have any)