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  • Freddy Alves
  • tammrealestate
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  • #2

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Created Jun 13, 2025 by Freddy Alves@freddyalves88Maintainer

Mum who Moved to Spain Says she would never Return to Ireland Or UK


A mom who emigrated to Spain with her household has exposed she will never ever go back to Ireland or the UK since it is cheaper living abroad.
nla.gov.au
Sandra Laurie loaded her bags along with her spouse Warner and their two children, Oliver, 12 and nine-year-old Abi, in 2017, and transferred to Costa del Sol.

The household had been handing over nearly ₤ 1,700 a month on childcare costs alone while residing in their native County Tipperary, Ireland.

But the ongoing monetary strain and poor quality of life ultimately showed too much, triggering the family to up sticks and head for a sunnier and cheaper way of living.

They now reside in a big Spanish vacation home they acquired in 2022 simply minutes from the beach which has its own swimming pool and picturesque sea views.

Ms Laurie, 38, stated that the concept of emigrating to the Spanish coast first happened when the household visited the area to celebrate her 30th birthday.

She said: 'We met other households already living in the Costa del Sol, and their relaxed, outdoor way of life with the kids made us realise what we were missing out on.

Sandra Laurie, 38 and her husband Warner (both visualized), of County Tipperary, Ireland, loaded their bags and moved to sunny Costa del Sol in 2017

Having left their tasks and small housing estate behind, the household (envisioned) now reside in a big Spanish villa they acquired in 2022. Just minutes from the beach, the luxurious residential or commercial property even includes its own swimming pool and attractive sea views

Prior to the move, the household had actually been forking out nearly ₤ 1,700 a month on childcare expenses alone which Ms Laurie said was 'consuming the bulk of our disposable income'

'We were on the aircraft home when we stated, "It's now or never". The Costa del Sol offered sunlight, household life, and a much healthier method of living.

'We had been there lot of times over the years on vacations and going to, however something changed on the trip in 2016 - we actually began to examine and evaluate that there needed to be a better way of living.'

At the time, Ms Laurie and her husband were spending triple their monthly mortgage costs on childcare alone. That, paired with the increasing expense of living throughout Ireland, was making 'life extremely challenging' for the couple.

Adding that childcare costs were 'consuming most of our disposable earnings', she stated: 'Despite good wages, the expense of living in Ireland made life exceptionally difficult.

'Our mortgage was only EUR600 (₤ 500) a month, however childcare was an incredible EUR1,857 (₤ 1,568) per month.

'It took in most of our disposable earnings. We were basically working to pay for another person to raise our kids.'

As their son suffers from serious asthma, the family were likewise handling substantial medical expenses, spending for routine, pricey GP visits, along with high prescription costs.

As their son struggles with severe asthma, the couple were likewise handling substantial medical costs, paying for regular, pricey GP sees, along with high prescription costs

Pictured: the couple's residential or commercial property they bought in 2022

Recognising that something desperately 'needed to alter', Ms Laurie stopped her position as a contact centre director while her partner Warner, working as a sales leader, picked to make a large profession change and pursue a realty business in Spain

Ms Laurie stated that the 'exhausted' couple were often 'forced' to select in between the cost of medication for their children and bills, living everyday in a 'consistent cycle of stress'.

The mother-of-two also confessed that the precise budgeting required was including terrific pressure to their relationship.

Recognising that something frantically 'needed to alter', Ms Laurie stopped her position as a contact centre director while her other half Warner, working as a sales leader, picked to make a large profession change and pursue a realty organization in Spain.

At the time, the set had just EUR50,000 (₤ 42,000) to their name, made from from the sale of their home in Ireland, which they utilized to secure lease for their very first year abroad.

But, it was entirely worth the short-term monetary struggle.

Ms Laurie said: 'The distinction in our lifestyle was instant and drastic.

'Nursery fees can be greatly subsidised or complimentary, primary school is complimentary, and it starts at 3 years of age, and after-school care is heavily subsidised for working moms and dads.

Pictured: the couple's former home in Ireland. At the time of their relocation to the Spanish coast, the pair had just EUR50,000 (₤ 42,000) to their name, made from from the sale of the residential or commercial property

Given the huge amount of perks she mentions as a result of the move, Ms Laurie (pictured) insists they have no plans to ever return home

Pictured: the back garden of their former home in Ireland

No longer living pay cheque to pay cheque, Ms Laurie stated the household enjoyed in the 'family-centric' culture of Spain, as their children (pictured), now bilingual, had the ability to stay up later for meals and hang out with their parents

Ms Laurie and Warner established their real estate service in 2018 before purchasing property-buying, renovating and selling homes, which ultimately allowed them to purchase their 'dream' home

'Our child care expenses dropped to around EUR200 (₤ 170) each month.'

The household also kept in mind an impressive difference in their daily expenses, citing cheaper eating in restaurants costs, while the warm and sunny weather helped with totally free, outside activities for the children.

No longer living pay cheque to pay cheque, Ms Laurie said the household enjoyed in the 'family-centric' culture of Spain, as their kids, now bilingual, were able to remain up later for meals and hang out with their parents.

Insisting that the relocation has had an 'unbelievable' influence on her kids, Ms Laurie said: 'They spend more time outdoors, participate in sports, and have actually changed magnificently.

'The lifestyle is slower, more secure, and more concentrated on household.

'They are unbiased and are used to communicating with numerous cultures because the Costa Del Sol is a cultural melting pot.'

Ms Laurie and Warner developed their real estate service in 2018 before investing in property-buying, remodeling and selling homes, which eventually allowed them to purchase their 'dream' home.

Citing the slower pace of life, family-friendly culture, cheaper cost of living and much better climate as simply some of the factors for their persistence on staying, Ms Laurie stated: 'We do not plan on ever returning. Spain has adopted us, and it genuinely feels like home'

Pictured: the view from the family's back garden

Spain continues to be one of the most popular locations for Brits searching for a location in the sun, with some 350,000 UK nationals officially signed up as living in the nation, while more than 12,000 settle completely with their own residential or commercial property each year

Believing that their incredible success would not have been possible in Ireland, offered 'the higher operating expenses and lack of flexibility for working parents', Ms Laurie now coaches other individuals thinking about moving to Spain looking for a 'better life'.

And, offered the vast quantity of advantages she mentions as a result of the relocation, Ms Laurie insists they have no strategies to return home.

Citing the slower speed of life, family-friendly culture, cheaper expense of living and better climate as simply some of the factors for staying, Ms Laurie added: 'We do not intend on ever returning. Spain has embraced us, and it genuinely seems like home.

'Rising home expenses in the UK and Ireland would be a concern, making us actually question whether we could afford what we have in Spain in another nation - our swimming pool, a very large garden, area for visitors, and being within strolling range to the beach.

'Living abroad, especially in Spain, has actually offered us something we never ever had in Ireland: time. Time to enjoy life, raise our kids, develop a business, and prosper, not simply survive.

'Ireland will always be in our hearts, however we have found our future here.'

Believing that their amazing success would not have been possible in Ireland, offered 'the higher operating costs and absence of versatility for working parents', Ms Laurie now coaches other individuals thinking about transferring to Spain searching for a 'better life'

Pictured: the beach now just a couple of minutes ignore Ms Laurie's vast home

Spain continues to be one of the most popular destinations for British expats. However, in a quote to tackle a growing housing crisis, the Spanish federal government are presently pushing ahead with a questionable strategy to slam Brits with a 100 percent tax on vacation homes

The Brits who left for a dream life in Spain ... however were left homeless by altering truths of life

Spain continues to be one of the most popular locations for Brits trying to find a location in the sun, with some 350,000 UK nationals formally registered as living in the country, while more than 12,000 settle completely with their own residential or commercial property each year.

Despite UK government pledges to levy holiday homes and prioritise nationals, Brits are continuously drawn to the allure of sunlight, good food and a more affordable cost of living.

However, in a quote to take on a growing housing crisis, the Spanish federal government are presently pressing ahead with a questionable plan to knock Brits with a 100 percent tax on holiday homes.

In May, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist party presented the strategy to the nation's Parliament. Under such plan, first announced in January, non-EU would need to pay double for residential or commercial properties in the nation.

The bill aims to promote 'procedures that allow access to housing, considering that we are dealing with one of the largest issues our society is currently confronted with', according to a copy of the draft legislation seen by Bloomberg.

Brits are the greatest purchasers of Spanish residential or commercial properties beyond native Spaniards, making up 8.2 per cent of offers.
providentialproperties.ae
In 2023 alone, non-EU citizens bought 27,000 residential or commercial properties in Spain.

Spain

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