Quite
It always depends on the job, of course, but in general, unemployment is so high that if you complain about anything, you're fired. People would kill each other for staff positions, but companies only want contracts, so they can fire you when they want. You get paid 1000€/month and you call yourself lucky. And you're expected to work overtime and weekends for free.

Not very good.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:27, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Is the minimum wage a lot lower in Spain?
(And if it is, does the cost of living reflect that?)
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:28, Reply)

I think it's 800€/month or less
food and going out is cheaper than here, but houses aren't. People share flats or live with their parents until they're well in their 30s. Mortages are tipically for at least 50 years, but usually it's more than that.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:33, Reply)

The average wage is something dreadful like E750/mo
I half-arsedly thought about moving there once. Food is a bit cheaper, I guess, and alcohol is. Petrol is the same. Can't say about rent. Either way, it doesn't sound so great over there to be honest.
(berk, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:34, Reply)

Rent in Madrid
is more expensive than Manchester, cheaper than London. My sister was paying 400€/month for a room in a flat shared with another 4 people (1 bathroom, 1 little kitchen) in Barcelona. At the end of the contract they were kicked out as the landlord could get 4 times the money but renting the flat to 4 FAMILIES.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:37, Reply)

so it really is a case of those already rich or with property can
price people out of the market and create slum conditions for people trying to do an honest days work?

Are you keen to move back?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:49, Reply)

It's what a newspaper had in an article recently
The parents of the baby-boom are making a hell for their own children. The fact that my parents generation could buy flats almost for free and that prices have gone up massively is making things very complicated for my generation.

I'll only move back if the conditions are good. I would go for a little lower salary than what I have here, but not much; and I'd do it because I know that if it doesn't work, I can always come back here.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:57, Reply)

It's as well a bit of a problem with Europe
Your salaries are much higher than theirs, so you (British, German, Scandinavian...) go there and buy a house without problems, making it more difficult for the locals, and putting prices up.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:59, Reply)

Which is very similar to people who buy second properties in places like Cornwall
As (and i don't know if the rules have changed), you only had to pay 50% council tax on a second home, meaning there was a lack on investment in public services down that way.

Is it getting increasingly popular for kids to Spain to want to work overseas?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:09, Reply)

No
People in Spain like to live as close as possible to their parents and never move away. They'll say no to better jobs because they're more than 20miles away from their village and therefore can't see their parents every day. That's another good thing for the employers.

I don't know about council taxes, I know that you get tax reduction in Spain if you're buying a house.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:19, Reply)

Whilst the sense of family is to be applauded
Surely you aren't alone in wanting to challenge yourself in a different country.

So do you think in English or Spanish these days?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:21, Reply)

I was asked that same question by the taxi driver today :)
Are you a taxi driver who wants to move to Turkey?

It depends. If it's work, English; I don't know half of the words in Spanish, and it sounds forced and unnatural. If I'm thinking of a conversation with an English person, usually English as well.

I hate the fact that I find myself thinking and swearing more and more in English, rather than in Spanish, specially if I'm drunk. It shouldn't happen. I'm looking forward to 4 months of Spanish only live.

And one of the things I hate most about most Spaniards (mainly old, but a lot of the young ones too) is how they believe that they live in the best place in the world (their little village, not the country) and would refuse to travel at all, as well, there's nothing better than this, is there? Stupid.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:29, Reply)

I'm sure if you had our weather it would be a bit different!
I'm not a cabbie who wants to move to Turkey sadly.

I've got a couple of French mates who after 3 or 4 years said that not only did they think in English, they also dreamt in English too.

How was your decision to relocate met? Were they 'don't go Aber' banners all over your village?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:33, Reply)

Hahaha
I imagine so, but even with good weather, English usually aren't affraid to travel their own country, and Spanish are.

I'm glad you're not him, he's a bit of a prick (you know, the British type who wants a house in sunny Turkey, but not learn the language or mix with the locals or anything...)

I've had a few dreams in English too. Since I broke up with my ex boyfriend I can spend days not speaking Spanish at all.

My friends and family didn't want me to go, but they thought it'd be for 6 months only. When I decided to stay, my friends took it as a betrayal (But, but... Tenerife is the best place in the world!!) so most of them don't talk to me anymore.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:37, Reply)

We are an island though.
So that limited where you can go without actually 'travelling'.

Plus there was that whole empire we used to have, the world is geared up for the British!

Shame your friends saw you having an exciting new life as a betrayal, have they been over to the UK to visit you?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:40, Reply)

Not once
That's why I stopped caring when they'd meet me and tell me how bad I was being for different things (like not going to some of their parties and things like that)

Tenerife is just a tiny island. You can drive round it in 2h. There are plenty of things to do for a couple of months, as it's quite different and exciting, but that's about it. Telling me that it's the best place in the world without trying anything else is a bit silly.

We had a big empire as well... that doesn't seem to help them travel.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:45, Reply)

I've been to Tenerife a few times
Just on those god-awful package holidays, but what I've seen of it, it does look nice.

Maybe your friends are scared of what the alternatives are and don't want to challenge themselves?

Are your parents proud of you for having the balls to relocate?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:49, Reply)

My parents are proud that I've got the job I've got
and that I already earn more money than them... but parents are always proud,aren't them? They'd like me to come back, but try not to put too much pressure there.

My friends... they honestly believe what they say. I've seen it so many times. They get a lot of turists to tell them what a wonderful place Tenerife is, and they believe it, which is good, and don't feel like trying anything else. Then, if they get someone (like me) saying that yes, it's very nice, but there is this other place where... then I'm just jealous.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:56, Reply)

So is the grand plan to earn a good salary here and then buy a place in Tenerife
Just to prove a point?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 17:59, Reply)

Hahaha
I suppose I could do that, and then go only in winter, like all the tourists :)

No, not really. I stopped trying to convince them until a stupid conversation, in which I was describing all the beautiful things I was discovering in England: the lakes, the seasons, the green everywhere, the cows and sheeps running almost free. I said I loved the place, and it was just a pity that I couldn't see the sea from where I was, as I love it. Their answer to all my monologue about the beauties of England? "Yes, I know, you don't realise the good things in your life until you lose them"... WTF?

I'm going home now. It was lovely talking to you! Read you tomorrow!
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 18:06, Reply)

I thought one of the points of the EU was to help countries clamp down on this sort of thing
Clearly not...
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:28, Reply)

What can the EU do?
We have more than 25% unemployment. If your boss is awful and you complain, when your contract is over, you're off. Maybe in 2 or 3 years you'll win in the court, in the meantime, you have no money (which usually means you can't take them to court anyway)

My goverment is useless and base all the economy in turism... how is that ever going to work?
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 15 Nov 2010, 16:35, Reply)