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Hello

We are thinking of moving to spain at the end of the year, we were thinking of giving up our house as it is rented and finding a cheap site to live for a few months so that we can save money for our move, does that sound a good idea or a bad one, hubby would still be able to go to work, but as our son is 9 he will need a school that is within the area of the campsite.How would we go about registering him at a school when really we have no permant address.

Does anyone know anybody that has done this and what was their experiance of it

Thanks

Rimini

Hi Rimini

It is possible to register children at school under a temporary address, also for you all at a local Doctors surgery.

That answers your question...  But considering the effects on your son having to move and settle at a school for such a short time... Would it be at all possible for you to find a local campsite & your son to stay in his present school?

It may mean driving a few miles each day but believe me your son will benefit hugely from not having the upheaval.  If you don't drive or don't have access to a car perhaps you could arrange for him to go to an out of school hours club that might fit in with OH's work times?

I hope this helps in some way & wish you well   I'd love to move to Spain!

Kay

Hi

We're going to be doing similar.  House has just gone up for sale, fiance is an accountant and works from home so can work anywhere as long as he has internet access.  We are relocating to Kent area as soon as house is sold and want to buy a piece of land.  I have said that we will live in our tent until we have a house built to save cash.  Youngest son is 13 but we are going to home educate and use a tutor.

We lived in our tent for over 2 months about 3 years ago with the two youngest boys and had a fabulous time.  It did us all good to live more simply, we didn't have a TV just the laptop.  It was in the summer and in France though.

Just treat it as an adventure.  I personally can't wait to get rid of huge mortgage payments and all the bills that go with it.  I have four children at home at mo, all of varying ages but eldest is 24 and is going his own way, 19 year old is off to Uni and 17 year old is at college but has decided to come with us anyway and just change colleges.  Luckily they have been brought up to think that life should be interesting and are all really happy at the idea.

Go for it but you could probably find somewhere else to rent if you find it too tough.  As long as you have internet access you could always educate your son yourself for a while and arrange to meet up with other people in the area who are doing the same.

Regards

Irene and New Man

Hi

Thanks for that.

ibl2041 how long do you think you will be living like that,and how are you going to cope when the weather is cold.

kamakazekay, I never thought about doctors or dentists to be honest but it has made me think about that, as for school he will start a new school in sepetember so hopefully it will work out ok.

Thanks again

Hi

We've been camping in the Lakes in November so we can cope with the cold.  We also have an electric hook up.  We can also pop over to The Med area if it gets too cold here and deal with solicitors by email and fax.

Nothing is insurmountable.  Just enjoy not having large bills to pay, you will be able to save or spend as you please.

I'm willing to do it for about 6 months if necessary, I have also said that if any one feels that they can't cope at any time then we will rent somewhere short term.  We'll just cope with problems as they crop up.

Regards

Irene and New Man

We spend 6 weeks summer hols at a local site,I get school hols off work and hubby goes to work from site, great. But 2 years ago, we had building work done on the house, we opted to stay in the caravan for what should have been 2 weeks , turned into a 10 week long saga with the builders from hell.

We had done the 6 weeks hols and at start of september the builders started, so we thought it would be an extra couple of weeks holiday. When it dragged on for 10 weeks, we were almost put off camping for life. I don't drive, so we all had to get up an hour earlier so hubby could take me to work, (I work a few minutes walk from home) and take youngest to school.

we had electric hookup,light and heater so were not cold, but the comfort of home was missing.

we missed our own beds, bath, our own loo, even though the site had good shower and toilet facilities.

we missed our oven, no problem in the summer, but as the weather got colder we really missed proper cooked dinners. Too wet to bbq, and cooking smell lingering in van.

we were bored with being stuck in the van every night, got on each others nerves, no escape from each other so to speak.

 There was almost nobody else on site, rain nearly every day, only a few weekend campers and strangely enough, a family next to us who were there for 3 months while waiting to move into a new house.

The poor mother was ready for cracking up, 3 primary school age kids and 2 teenagers and her hubby working away, visiting every other weekend. She said the laundry situation was a real pain , the site laundrette was proving very costly, as the weather was no good for drying clothes,at least I could take mine to my daughter's house and use her machine and dry them, but that was something that got to be a pain, an extra journey every day.

She told me that she was going to sell the caravan when they got into their new house and NEVER EVER camp again.

Our kids were 18 and 21, and the youngest was 6, the 2 oldest boys had their own 12 berth tent, they travelled to work from site,  their girlfriends stayed with them and a couple of their mates would join them at weekends, but they were all cheesed off within a couple of weeks, They haven't camped since, and they both be would be off regularly before,  until the last bank hol, one of the boys went again. The oldest one still has,nt bothered .

the atmosphere was nothing like being on holiday, it's just not the same when the weather's miserable and you know you can't just pack up and go home when you want to.

It hasn't put me off, but hubby said never again.  I will be doing the 6 week camp this summer with my sister and her kids, but I don't think hubby will be joining me , maybe just for the odd weekend.