AS the weather starts to become a little bit more gloomy, many of us are dreaming about ditching the UK rain for soaking up the sun somewhere in Europe.
One British family have made that dream into reality – not only enjoying fabulous Spanish sunshine, but also saving an extra £1,600 every month, now that the rent and bills are cheaper.
Tired of the relentless grind in the UK, John Bird, 39, was fed up of clocking up a gruelling 14-hour workday just to make ends meet.
Together with his wife, who is from Spain, the pair regularly visited the sunny country where they visited relatives – and it was only a matter of time until they fell in love with the laid-back lifestyle.
The couple decided to take their one-year-old son and relocate to the tourist hotspot in hopes to find not only a sunnier place to live – but also to slash the costs.
According to John, who’s been sharing their adventures on TikTok, the expenses have dramatically dropped from a staggering £3.5k a month to a more purse-friendly £844.
The father said: John said: “The work-life balance [in Spain] is better, I saw people enjoying more freedom to spend time with family and friends.
”Spanish people actually enjoy their country and it’s much more affordable in comparison to the UK.
”I am now living a healthier lifestyle and have more time, as well as money, to enjoy day-to-day life.
”It’s like being on holiday all year, it’s paradise.”
John and his wife began buying properties in Alicante back in 2015 and rented them out to rake in.
Three years later, the family moved into one of their apartments while renovating a stunning villa and funded it by selling a business – and just a month on, they were living the ultimate dream.
Now, encouraging fellow Brits to follow suit, John shares tips on social media and works as a relocation consultant.
The dad continued: “I never understood how much of a rip-off it was living in the UK until I left.”
Some of the clips also showcase the family’s property, which features vegetable fields and a pool – which John claimed costs him less than 3000 euros, or £2.5k, a year to fund.
It’s all about finally being able to enjoy being alive
John Bird
The cash-savvy dad advised those who own a property with a little bit of equity, or who have a business to sell, to take the plunge.
“I have absolutely no regrets,” he said – although the 39-year-old did admit Spain had a tough job market and feeling homesick is not uncommon.
He added: “I made a few videos explaining life and what is possible for people who may want to live in Spain and people demanded my help.”
Explaining his top tip, John said: “Plan your exit from the UK to be tax efficient using a regulated tax advisor.
Ditching the gloomy UK weather to live in Spain sounds pretty dreamy - but is it as easy as just booking a flight?
According to Advance Moves, those considering moving to Spain from UK in 2025 ”will need to obtain a visa in order to be able to live in Spain after Brexit”’.
Currently you can only stay in Spain for up to 90 days in any 180 day period, before you have to leave the EU zone.
You can then return again once the rest of the 180 day period has ended.
Although this may be ok for living in a holiday home over the colder winter months, anything more permanent will require a visa, the experts warned.
”You can book a one-to-one consultation with me, and use a BAR associated immigration lawyer for a visa.”
He went on to add: “Rent a property here before buying and lastly, make sure to have a good time when you’re here.
”I wish I had done a bit more research, as I could have possibly done the move for cheaper.”
John concluded: “Spain has a slower pace of life, and adjusting to this can take a while.
”Yes the UK allows more money to be earned, but that’s where it stops with Spain – it’s all about finally being able to enjoy being alive.
