How do you manage, and what do you do when you feel homesick?  Do you look at photos of the family, or perhaps watch a DVD showing memories?  Whatever you do to ease these feelings they will gradually pass the longer you live in your new country.  You won’t ever forget your family, but different memories will take their place.  You will have memories of them coming to visit you in your new home, and of when you go back to see them in the UK.

After the initial excitement of moving, there may be a lull which is when problems of homesickness can suddenly surface.  As long as you accept that they are temporary feelings which will change from day to day things will soon start to improve.

Now could be the ideal time to begin a new hobby.  Now whether you fancy the idea of making cards, sewing, knitting or having golf lessons there is a wide variety of different activities which can be useful, not only in learning something new, but because of the likelihood of meeting other people who may introduce you to other pastimes and people.

You will never really settle until all financial matters have been sorted, including bank accounts, savings and investments, and the ideal people to help you regarding this are the consultants at Trafalgar International.  They have considerable experience with helping people in a similar position to you, and it can be a comfort to know that everything finance related has been resolved.

In a few short weeks you’ll feel as if you have lived there for years, perhaps have picked up a new hobby, and made some friends.  Even better, some family members are coming to visit you.

You’ve settled in, made a few friends, family are coming to stay in a few weeks, and everything is fine.  Now that you’re actually living in the area, and have your home as you want it, what do you do to pass the time?

It’s good to go out once or twice a week, and maybe when it’s out of the tourist season, you venture down to the beach, because you can actually see the sand, rather than the multi-coloured pieces of material perched on ever-reddening bodies!

By this time you’ve probably discussed with the helpful consultants at Trafalgar International the most efficient methods of dealing with pensions and investments.  Everything is great and you have enough money for a rainy day.

Even if you have family living locally, there will be some time which is available.  You obviously have made time for your hobbies, golf, reading, sewing and other similar pursuits, but there are a couple of half days which could be utilised if necessary.

Have you considered the possibility of doing a little voluntary work in your local community? Depending on which country you now live in there may be a choice of help which you could give, either in your own village, or perhaps in the next town.  If you can speak a little of the language that will always assist you and it may even help you to improve your understanding and vocabulary.

Chat to your neighbours and someone will be sure to know where volunteers are required.  It could even be that new people from the UK moving to the area could do with a friendly face; someone to tell them where they can buy specific items, who is the local doctor and maybe introduce them to the village playgroup.

These little things, although they won’t need much effort, can mean a lot to someone who is new to the area.

Now that you’ve definitely made the decision to retire to Spain or maybe France, whereabouts do you actually want to live?  Do you prefer coastal living, near to a beach, or would you prefer the relative tranquillity of living a little further inland?

Only you and your partner can make this choice, as it is personal to you.  There may be a specific reason for looking to move to a specific area or town within in a country.  Coastal properties will, almost always, be more expensive to purchase than properties which are in a quieter location away from the sea and the tourist areas.

There are advantages and disadvantages attached to both coastal and inland living and it is down to personal preference as to where you would like to spend your time.  Before making any decisions do contact Trafalgar International and the team will be able to give some good advice both regarding finances and savings.  They will also be able discuss pensions and bank accounts and will ensure that you are receiving the best interest rates.

If you are looking to purchase a small villa, by looking inland your budget will stretch further, and there may be a pool already in the garden.  If not, your budget may allow for a small pool to be built in the garden.  Although this may appear to be a luxury item, there will be additional benefits attributed to the pool as swimming is an excellent exercise which can continue indefinitely regardless of age.

Another benefit from buying an inland property includes learning the language quicker – as many local residents away from the tourist areas won’t speak as much English this will be an excellent opportunity to brush up on the language, and you will also find that you are also more likely to be accepted into the local community.

Are you due to retire?  Which country do you think you will move to?  It may well be that you have had a property in France or Spain for some years, and that you have been planning this time since you bought the property.

It is vitally important to remember that when you have been to the property on holiday it is totally different than when you actually live there on a permanent basis.  Having said that, for the first few weeks it will still feel as though you are there on a normal holiday.  It is only when you would usually be returning back to the UK after two or three weeks there, and you suddenly realise that you’re not going back.

Any little items which haven’t been sorted out whilst you were in “holiday mode” should probably be arranged first.  As you already own a property you will probably have a bank account in that country.  It would be beneficial to speak to the guys at Trafalgar International as they will be able to help you regarding pensions and investments.

Once the little bits of business have been resolved, perhaps it would be a good time to invite a few close family members for a short holiday so that they can see how you’ve settled in.  Don’t forget that although you may be having a wonderful time, any children and grandchildren who are in the UK will be missing you, particularly if they used to live close enough to visit on a regular basis.

Once they can see for themselves how well you’ve integrated into your new surroundings they will feel considerably happier, and they can then look forward to their next visit.

No matter which country you live in when you are working, when the time comes to retire it’s a totally different ball game.  You’ve been used to getting up at a specific time and going out to work at a set time.  In fact, if you really think about it, for many years everyone does the same thing, day in and day out, five days out of every seven.

Once you retire of course, all of the day’s routine disappears.  There isn’t any necessity to be up at the crack of dawn, have a quick shower, half a cup of coffee and then rush out of the door.

Once retirement kicks in, there is a need to fill the day otherwise there isn’t a reason to get up.  It is all too easy to decide that you won’t go out this particular day, as the shopping can be left for another day later in the week.

For those people who have a partner who has also retired, it is somewhat easier as the two of you can make plans together.  To take the decision to move to another country, perhaps where there are some family members can make all the difference.

Before taking any huge decisions it is important to have discussions with the experienced consultants at Trafalgar International as they will be able to advise you regarding pensions and investments, and in fact, everything related to finances.

After receiving advice then obviously there is much to be done regarding planning.  If it is possible, take a few weeks away at your chosen destination, and get a feel for the place.  Find out about property prices, and even think about renting a house for a few months whilst you chose an area to buy, and rent out your home in the UK.  In that way if circumstances change, you will be able to return back to the UK if absolutely necessary.

Those people who are lucky enough to be thinking of retiring to Spain, or have already moved there, must agree that the improved weather in Spain would have been a major factor in the decision making process.

Another big thing is the cost of living.  Well, that is certainly less than in the UK.  Overall, the living expenses in Spain are just over fifty percent of those currently being paid in the UK.  It’s not just food costs which are less – as this includes all utility bills, you can imagine the level of savings which can be made each month.  Regarding pensions, and income, the best people to speak with are the experts at Trafalgar International, and they’ll be delighted to give you current information.

Security is another concern for all ages, but particularly for those of us who are a little older.  In the centre of the tourists hotspots, where there are lots of teenagers, and groups in their twenties, there will always be a little more rowdiness, and the likelihood of having a purse or wallet stolen will be relatively higher; however many builders with developments in Spain, are building retirement apartments and villages and within these communities it is perfectly safe for people to wander around.  Obviously, take normal precautions and don’t leave a purse in an open bag where it can be seen.  Safety and security is a major worry for some people, but don’t let it overtake the enjoyment of day to day living.  Be sensible, and everything will be fine.

As with everything, when you move abroad, plan carefully, and don’t rush into buying a property.  If you already have a holiday home in the area then you won’t need another property.  In that case, if you have another house in the UK, rather than selling at present when the housing market is still depressed, you may be better advised to find a tenant.

It is easy to understand why many older folk would decide to up-sticks and choose to retire in Spain.  A major contributing factor must be the weather with its much gentler winters than those experienced in the UK.  While in Britain there now appears to be much more certainty of snow than previously known, the winters of the past few years have, in general, been miserable.

In mainland Spain the winter weather dips to a balmy 50 degrees whereas in the UK we have been shivering at minus figures.  The roads are treacherous and the public transport – well, least said, soonest mended!  Those of you in Spain are quite justified at laughing at the way the UK grinds to a complete standstill for days on end whilst in Spain the retired community can wander down to the beach, or even on the warmer days which do happen in Spain, the opportunity of having a barbeque.  We know that on some days that you do get rain, and the temperature isn’t as warm as you’d like; however it is considerably warmer and drier than in the UK.

The medical facilities are extremely impressive in Spain and prescription charges are considerably lower than in the UK.  The cost of living is lower in Spain and, in fact, is probably in the region of about half of UK prices.  Speak with the consultants at Trafalgar International and they will be able to give excellent advice regarding pensions and investments.

Remember, though, that if planning to retire abroad that a considerable income will be necessary.  Make all your plans before you go, and enjoy yourselves when you’re there!