If you’re a retiree living abroad and your pension is paid in Sterling, you may need to cut back to avoid dipping into your savings.
Europe isn’t having it easy, either. Rising inflation is having its effect on prices.
In Spain, prices have almost doubled on some items since 2003. Then, petrol was EUR 0.67 a litre. Now it’s over EUR 1.30, still 20 percent cheaper than the UK, but a big increase all the same.
The Menu del Dia, (a 3 course meal with wine) has risen from an average of EUR 6 to around EUR 10 (GBP 8 or so). It’s still cheap, but it’s all relative.
So can you make changes without compromising the great lifestyle we enjoy here in Spain? Read on for tips on how to be thrifty-smart.
You may enjoy your English Newspaper, but could you live without it?
My friend Pat calculated that, if you buy a daily and Sunday newspaper, printed in Spain, every day for a year, it will set you back over EUR 800 euros. That’s well over GBP 600, and calculated on the cost of a Daily Mail or Daily Express. You could end up paying much more. Doesn’t seem so indispensable now, does it?
On the Costa Blanca, there are several free, English Language, weekly newspapers. Look out for Coast Rider, Costa Blanca Leader and Round Town News. They all have news, TV programmes, crosswords and sudokus. Why pay EUR 2 or more for a daily paper?
If you really miss your paper, log on to the online version. You can complete the puzzles online, or print them off to fill in as you sunbathe at the poolside.
We all enjoy eating out, and it’s so much cheaper than in the UK, but a little forward planning will pay dividends.
Keep out of the English bars – you will almost certainly pay more for your food and drinks. In our local village, two beers or wines in the English bar costs EUR 3. The same round in a Spanish bar is EUR 2.
That may not sound much of a difference, but think about it. If you buy ten rounds of drinks a week, that’s an extra EUR 10. Over the year, you’re at least EUR 500 down.
Don’t worry about the language problem; most bars on the Costas have at least one member of staff who speaks some English, so you should get what you ask for. Or you can practice your Spanish.
Go for Tapas and local wine or beer. If you can’t ask for what you want, you can point and smile, as it’s all on display. And the Menu del Dia is usually written in English as well as Spanish.
Recently, we took two friends out for lunch. We had lots to drink, and a selection of Tapas with bread. We ate so much, we didn’t need an evening meal. And it only cost EUR 18 for the lot.
At the local markets, you can sit down with a paella for EUR 4 per person. Roast chicken for 4 will set you back EUR 6.
Last week, we fancied a hot dog. They were enormous, with loads of onions, and they were just over EUR 1 each. There’s only one problem with eating at the local markets - you’ll have to queue, as the food is so good.
But you can always try out your Spanish on your neighbour in the queue. Be adventurous, and save money, while enjoying great food in a wonderful atmosphere. Buen Apetito!
The writer, Sandra Piddock, is originally from the UK. She moved from Cornwall to Costa Blanca five months ago, but says it feels like home already. She maintains a website in her spare time.
photos by Flickr contributors
Lazy B and
Anguskirk
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Sandra Piddock shows you the tips and tricks in making your euros go further.
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