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How To Retire Without Money
By Bob Belmont
CHAPTER 9 SPAIN
Page 4 of 19
If you work for dollars either for some American concern with
a branch in Spain or for the American Armed Forces, no
permission is necessary for such jobs. As far as I know
they're the only jobs worth having in Spain.
Usually in opening a business, the American will take on a
Spanish partner in whose name the business will operate. It is
possible otherwise, but more difficult.
If you are the exception that proves the rule and do wish a
work permit so that you can take a Spanish job, paid in
pesetas, you apply first to the Ministerio de Informacion y
Turismo and eventually are put in the hands of the Ministerio
de Trabejo (Ministry of Labor). Address in both cases is
simply, Madrid.
PRICES. As we've stated above, Spain is currently the cheapest
country in Europe. It is still quite possible to live
comfortably on five hundred dollars a month—for a couple. A
single man or woman can make out on about $300. We know of
various people who are doing it on much less. Adding to this
amount, even just a little bit sends your standard of living
up very rapidly. Doubling it puts you in a living standard
group probably considerably higher than the average American's
what with a really large home and two or more servants. An
income of $1,200 a month in Spain is real wealth; you would
live like a Spanish Don and his Senorita. Let's break this
down into definite prices.
Rent, as always, is the largest single item on your budget.
When this writer lived on Majorca in 1985 he rented a rather
large villa in the town of Soller during the summer season
when rents are highest, for 750 pesetas a month which today
would be somewhat less than $15 but at that time was about
$17.50 due to the weakening of Spanish money. For this I had a
three bedroom house, one room of which I converted to a study.
I had a large living room, complete with fireplace, a dining
room, a kitchen with gigantic pantry, a balcony which
overlooked the town of Soller and the Mediterranean sea, a
patio, a sundeck and two gardens.
The gardens contained more than twenty rose bushes as well as
other flowers and also almond and fruit trees. A gardener's
assistance came free with the house. The house was completely
furnished including linens, dishes and kitchenware.
But this was in 1985 and prices have gone up since then
although little faster than the Spanish peseta has fallen in
the money markets of the world. Consequently, if your money is
in dollars, you find prices little higher than they were then.
>>> CHAPTER 9 SPAIN
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