Job Discussion Forums

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

I'd be grateful for any comments you may have on the feasibility of the following ..

We're looking to settle in Italy in a few years time .. if everything goes to plan - but knowing the Gulf, where we are now and where we have been for quite some time, that's an important 'if' ..

.. to help me work out exactly how much longer we need to stay here, I'd be grateful if you could tell me how far you think Eu 2,500 per month would take a married couple with no kids who desired a modest but by no means shoe-string existence ..

That would be Eu 2,500/month (post tax) after health insurance and with us having our own home, hopefully in a small town around the Umbria/Toscana/Le Marche border area ... and with us having our own car ..

I'm assuming it would be enough to -

Eat out once or twice a week
Potter around in the car to make 2-3 trips a week to places of interest and beauty
Maintain a car and a home
Cover all bills (water, heating, phone, internet etc ..)
Buy the type of groceries that normal people buy
Drink plenty of vino (nostrano)
Have a 3-4 day holiday (in country) each month
Leave a little for some personal spending on books etc ..

I'm also assuming that should the need arise I could easily find 8-10 hours a week at a langauge school in the nearest city to bring in another Eu 500-600 each month ...

We would aim to have a substantial pot of funds for any extraordinary expenses, but I'd like to hear if you think our assumptions are realistic or not

Many thanks

[austeacher]

Stay where you are, don't go to Italy.









































Go to France.

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

[austeacher]

You are a real no brainer. It was intended to be contradictory. You obviously don't know what irony is. As if I care wether you go to Italy or France. DUH!

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Yes .. you're absolutely right

Now run along please .. and let someone with something useful to say get a word in

[iain]

For a couple with no kids to support you will manage fine on the budget you mention: a lot of Italian families scrape by on around half.

[Teacher in Rome]

A lot depends on whether or not you need to pay rent or a mortgage, or a car loan. If the sum you mention is completely tax-free, with no other major outgoings, it should be fine. But a couple of things to bear in mind:

- language schools don't pay a great deal, and the work isn't all going to be in one block. You may have two hours here, three hours there, and with travelling times you'll be looking at spending a disproportionate amount of your time to earn not very much. If you could clear say �15ph and worked ten hours a week, you could earn �600pm. But this would need to be "in nero".

- don't underestimate the cost of living in Italy. Car insurance for the first year will be expensive as you can't transfer your no-claims. Count on at least �1000 depending on how big / small the car is. Hotels are expensive too, so a three-day stay each month will set you back at least �150 before you factor in petrol etc.

[SueH]

You should be fine but any extra you can save in the Gulf would be a good idea as I'd second TiR's comments.

Even after 3 years NCB on my insurance it's a great deal more than I paid in the UK - and only for 3rd party (not even fire and theft!) unlike my comp before.

I get by OK but haven't yet really taken advantage of being in Italy yet, although I have sailed round it and got lots of local skiing in. As I get more work I hope to do so. Getting direct work with local state schools would be a better idea on the hourly rate although perhaps less flexible in terms of timetable, but the ones I do were quite amenable in when I did my hours.

You would be in a good position as you'd only have to adjust your budget by cutting out the occasional meal out or a short trip away. If you are going to be buying a house make sure it's fuel efficient as that is another high expense here, and finally... do budget to spend a reasonable amount on your bottle of wine! Cheap Italian wine can be OK but it helps to spend a little bit more. Fair enough I live in an area where the local wine is expensive (and I'm still exploring it:-) ) but as I get older I find it a necessary development. I'm wondering what the Cono Sur Gewurztraminer will be like which I bought for �2.89 on the way back from skiing today, but I normally spend more.

[Teacher in Rome]

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Yes .. thank you all very much for the info ..

Enjoy your coffee in the piazza .. without such pleasures, our petro-dollars are hard earned

[SueH]

Yeah, sorry about that, you can see where our priorities lie. Look on it as an apperitivo, something to look forward to as you slog your time out in the Gulf discussing who makes the best siddiqi, or whatever it's called. You'll appreciate it that much more when you do arrive.