| has been written about this subject already. So why | | | | indeed correct. |
| do I spend my time and write another one? Well, | | | | Coming to Portugal today, believing that it will not be |
| one of the reasons I have in doing so, is that I do | | | | a problem finding well paid employment can not be |
| know Portugal well and feel that I can write with | | | | further from the truth. It will be tough and that is the |
| some authority on this very subject. | | | | reality. I have seen many foreigners come and go, |
| One other reason I have, is that by reading what has | | | | not being able to make ends meet. Not speaking the |
| been said and written about moving to Portugal does | | | | language does not help and will always be a major |
| not reflect the whole spectrum. | | | | obstacle which is not easy to overcome. |
| There are two different and principle issues | | | | If one would like to have a serious desire to succeed |
| concerning this topic. A. moving to Portugal for | | | | in working in Portugal, or even starting a business |
| retirement, and B. moving to Portugal whilst still in | | | | here the language is priority. |
| need of employment and the need to make a living. | | | | Not speaking the language will narrow your |
| Too much emphasis in the articles I have read is put | | | | opportunities, and you will be restricted to working |
| on the sun, the beaches and the wonderful life in a | | | | within your own ex pat community. Another reason I |
| country where the pace of life is slower, the | | | | have identified over the years being responsible for |
| environment healthier and life in general is wonderful | | | | failure and early return to the country they left with |
| and easy. Well you may not like what I have to say, | | | | so much hope and expectations was the inability to |
| but I believe that such views are slightly removed | | | | adapt to a very different way of life. If children are |
| from reality. | | | | involved in a move abroad, and depending on their |
| Let me tell you, that I am an extremely optimistic | | | | ages, the education issues can add additional |
| person and to look at life in a pessimistic way is not | | | | pressure. Not everyone has the money to pay for |
| part of my make up but I very much dislike that | | | | the education in private schools of their own |
| people who are seriously thinking about moving to | | | | nationality. Many parents have to send their kids to |
| Portugal are getting sold only half the story. | | | | Portuguese schools which can prove difficult for the |
| I have a sneaky suspicion, that some of the authors | | | | children. But that really depends on their ages. The |
| have had a very personal and vested interest in | | | | younger they are the better it is, and the less |
| painting a very colourful and glowing picture. | | | | problems parents will encounter. |
| Let my get more specific about it all and cover the | | | | So when we are talking about younger people |
| retirement angle first. | | | | coming to live in Portugal, the key issue is without |
| To retire in a country with better climate and | | | | any doubt whatsoever financial stability and the |
| hopefully with a lower cost of living is a positive step | | | | capacity to earn money in a new country. An |
| which more and more people take. After a lifetime of | | | | amazing amount of people underestimating the |
| work and with a pension to secure this new chapter | | | | differences in the way things work in Portugal. Even |
| in their life’s there are very little risks in | | | | people with good skills in their respective professions |
| moving away from your home country. After all | | | | need to learn how to apply their skills within a new, |
| Portugal is less than 3 hours away. Faro International | | | | and at the beginning strange environment. |
| airport has excellent connections to the UK in | | | | Starting a business in the sun is the dream of many, |
| particular, with many operators offering low cost | | | | but unfortunately quite often not enough time is |
| fairs. | | | | spend on research, evaluating potential markets and |
| The vast majority of retired couples will keep their | | | | opportunities. I don’t like to say it, but the |
| home in their respective country and spend a few | | | | dream of buying a bar or restaurant is mostly short |
| months at a time in the sun, returning to their home | | | | lived. Very few foreigners, having bought a bar or |
| country whenever they feel like. Others do live | | | | restaurant earn enough money to keep a family. I |
| abroad all year round. Both these groups have one | | | | deliberately said foreigners. The Portuguese bars and |
| thing in common. A regular income. | | | | restaurants are different and a foreigner will in most |
| With a secure and steady form of income from | | | | cases not be able to compete. When I decided to |
| whatever source, you truly can enjoy the country, | | | | write this article, I promised myself to be honest and |
| its people, the sun, and the beaches, the food, in | | | | to portray things as they really are. |
| short a great way of life. That’s wonderful. | | | | Please don’t misunderstand I am not saying |
| You deserve it. | | | | that you can’t earn money in Portugal. What |
| Now let me turn to the second group of people who | | | | I say is this: Don’t repeat the mistakes |
| are looking to move to Portugal but are in need of a | | | | countless others have made before you. Take advice |
| job and income. | | | | from qualified sources and act upon that advice. |
| I have met and spoken over the past 20 years with | | | | Portugal in my belief has a lot of opportunities to |
| many clients and given my views and advice on | | | | offer if you can see them and know how to exploit |
| moving to a different country. I have also met and | | | | them and make them work for you. |
| spoken to many people after they have moved and | | | | If you come with the attitude to do your |
| heard their stories and learned of their problems. | | | | “thing” in the same way you have |
| In almost every case where problems developed, it | | | | always done it you have a great chance of |
| was due to the fact that they relied on information | | | | “not making it”. Don’t let that |
| they were given and not taken the precaution to | | | | happen. |
| double check, if what they have been told was | | | | |