1 Mum who Moved to Spain Says she would never Go Back to Ireland Or UK
Mark Centeno edited this page 2025-06-13 19:08:06 +08:00


A mother who emigrated to Spain with her family has exposed she will never return to Ireland or the UK since it is more affordable living abroad.
zenservicedapartments.com
Sandra Laurie loaded her bags along with her other half Warner and their two kids, Oliver, 12 and nine-year-old Abi, in 2017, and moved to Costa del Sol.

The household had actually been handing over nearly ₤ 1,700 a month on child care expenses alone while living in their native County Tipperary, Ireland.

But the continuous financial stress and poor quality of life ultimately showed too much, prompting the household to up sticks and head for a sunnier and less expensive way of living.

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

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

She stated: 'We satisfied other families already residing in the Costa del Sol, and their relaxed, outside way of life with the kids made us understand what we were missing out on.

Sandra Laurie, 38 and her spouse Warner (both imagined), 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 family (visualized) now live in a big Spanish vacation home they bought in 2022. Just minutes from the beach, the luxurious residential or commercial property even includes its own pool and stunning sea views

Prior to the relocation, the family had been forking out nearly ₤ 1,700 a month on child care expenses alone which Ms Laurie said was 'taking in the majority of our disposable income'

'We were on the aircraft home when we said, "It's now or never". The Costa del Sol provided sunlight, family life, and a healthier lifestyle.

'We had existed often times throughout the years on holidays and checking out, however something changed on the trip in 2016 - we actually started to assess and assess that there had to be a better method of life.'

At the time, Ms Laurie and her husband were investing triple their regular monthly mortgage expenses on childcare alone. That, coupled with the increasing expense of living across Ireland, was making 'life exceptionally challenging' for the couple.

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

'Our mortgage was just EUR600 (₤ 500) a month, but childcare was a staggering EUR1,857 (₤ 1,568) each month.

'It consumed most of our disposable income. We were basically working to spend for somebody else to raise our kids.'

As their son experiences severe asthma, the household were also handling substantial medical expenditures, paying for regular, expensive GP sees, alongside high prescription costs.

As their son suffers from extreme asthma, the couple were also dealing with significant medical expenditures, paying for regular, expensive GP check outs, together with high prescription expenses

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

Recognising that something frantically 'needed to change', 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 modification and pursue a realty company in Spain

Ms Laurie said that the 'tired' couple were frequently 'required' to pick between the cost of medication for their kids and bills, living day-to-day in a 'consistent cycle of tension'.

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

Recognising that something frantically 'needed to change', Ms Laurie quit her position as a contact centre director while her partner Warner, working as a sales leader, selected to make a vast career change and pursue a realty service 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 protect lease for their first year abroad.

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

Ms Laurie stated: 'The difference in our way of life was instant and extreme.

'Nursery fees can be heavily subsidised or totally free, primary school is totally free, and it begins at three years of age, and after-school care is heavily subsidised for working parents.

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

Given the vast amount of perks she cites as an outcome of the relocation, Ms Laurie (pictured) insists they have absolutely no plans to ever return home

Pictured: the back garden of their previous home in Ireland

No longer living pay cheque to pay cheque, Ms Laurie said the household relished in the 'family-centric' culture of Spain, as their children (envisioned), now bilingual, had the ability to remain up later for meals and socialise with their moms and dads

Ms Laurie and Warner established their real estate organization in 2018 before investing in property-buying, renovating and offering homes, which eventually enabled them to purchase their 'dream' home

'Our childcare expenses dropped to around EUR200 (₤ 170) monthly.'

The household likewise kept in mind a remarkable distinction in their everyday expenditures, pointing out more affordable consuming out expenses, while the warm and warm weather condition assisted in free, outdoor activities for the children.

No longer living pay cheque to pay cheque, Ms Laurie said the household relished in the 'family-centric' culture of Spain, as their kids, now bilingual, had the ability to remain up later for meals and socialise with their parents.

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

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

'They are unbiased and are utilized to communicating with several cultures due to the fact that the Costa Del Sol is a cultural melting pot.'

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

Citing the slower pace of life, family-friendly culture, less expensive expense of living and much better climate as just some of the reasons for their persistence on staying, Ms Laurie stated: 'We don't intend on ever moving back. Spain has adopted us, and it genuinely feels like home'

Pictured: the view from the family's back garden

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

Believing that their extraordinary success would not have been possible in Ireland, given 'the higher operating expenses and lack of versatility for working moms and dads', Ms Laurie now coaches other individuals interested in transferring to Spain in search of a 'much better life'.

And, given the huge quantity of advantages she mentions as an outcome of the move, Ms Laurie insists they have absolutely no strategies to return home.

Citing the slower rate of life, family-friendly culture, more affordable cost of living and much better climate as simply some of the factors for staying, Ms Laurie included: 'We do not plan on ever returning. Spain has actually embraced us, and it truly seems like home.

'Rising home expenses in the UK and Ireland would be an issue, making us truly question whether we might manage what we have in Spain in another nation - our swimming pool, a huge garden, area for visitors, and being within walking range to the beach.

'Living abroad, particularly in Spain, has provided us something we never ever had in Ireland: time. Time to delight in life, raise our kids, construct a company, and prosper, not just endure.

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

Believing that their extraordinary success would not have been possible in Ireland, given 'the greater operating costs and absence of flexibility for working moms and dads', Ms Laurie now coaches other individuals thinking about moving to Spain searching for a 'much better life'

Pictured: the beach now simply a few minutes ignore Ms Laurie's vast home

Spain continues to be one of the most popular locations for British expats. However, in a quote to deal with a growing housing crisis, the Spanish government are presently pressing ahead with a controversial plan to knock 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 facts of life

Spain continues to be among the most popular destinations for Brits searching for a place in the sun, with some 350,000 UK nationals formally as living in the nation, while more than 12,000 settle completely with their own residential or commercial property each year.

Despite UK federal government pledges to levy holiday homes and prioritise nationals, Brits are continually drawn to the attraction of sunlight, great food and a cheaper expense of living.

However, in a bid to tackle a growing housing crisis, the Spanish government are currently pushing ahead with a questionable strategy to slam Brits with a 100 per cent tax on holiday homes.

In May, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist celebration presented the strategy to the country's Parliament. Under such strategy, initially revealed in January, non-EU locals would need to pay double for residential or commercial properties in the country.

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

Brits are the biggest buyers of Spanish residential or commercial properties beyond native Spaniards, making up 8.2 percent of offers.

In 2023 alone, non-EU citizens purchased 27,000 residential or commercial properties in Spain.

Spain