Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

[lookingforward]

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.

I know this is an old post (just catching up) when you get a mo can you expand on this a bit please....thx and glad you're still having a great time

[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)

[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.

[nanna58]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

How wonderful xx

[cymruambyth]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

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

[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.

[nanna58]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

Any updates ? X

[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

[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

[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

[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.

[alland]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

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

[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.

[Pixie]

Re: Pepe2008 Heading for the Sun!

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

[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