I moved my family to Spain to save thousands on crazy childcare costs

Sitting on the beach, while he saw the waves against the coast crash in sunny Spain, Sandra Laurie could no longer feel relaxed.

But the mother-of-two does not enjoy a one-week outing, in fact she will not leave soon because she moved to the Med eight years ago with her family.

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And sangria and sunsets aside, Sandra says that the move left them richer than ever thanks to the soil costs abroad.

Sandra grabbed her bags with her husband, Warner, and their two children, Oliver, 12 and nine -year -old ABI in 2017.

The family had pronounced almost £ 1,700 a month alone on childcare while lived in their duration of birth County TipperaryIreland, prior to the move.

The financial tribe turned out to be too much, along with a low quality of life, and they decided to go up and go on their way to sunnier – and cheaper – climates.

If they are left behind their jobs and small housing home, they now live in a large villa with their own swimming pool and a sea view, a short walk from the beach – which they bought in 2022.

For Sandra, 38, the idea came to move there after the family visited the area to celebrate her 30th birthday.

“We had met other families who already lived in the Costa del Sol, and their relaxed, outdoor lifestyle with the children made us realize what we missed,” she says.

“We were on the plane home when we said,” It’s now or never. “

“The Costa del Sol offered sunshine, family life and a healthier way of life.

“We had been on vacation over the years and visits often, but something changed during the trip in 2016 – we really started to judge and evaluate that there should be a better way of life.”

At the time, Sandra and her husband only surrendered their monthly mortgage costs to childcare.

She says: “Despite good salaries, the costs of living in Ireland made life extremely difficult.

“Our mortgage was only € 600 (£ 506) per month, but childcare was no less than € 1,857 (£ 1,568) per month.

“It used the majority of our disposable income.

“We were essentially busy paying for someone else to raise our children.”

They also had medical costs, in which their son suffered from serious asthma, which led to regular precious general practitioners visits and high recipe costs.

Sandra adds: “We were often forced to choose between medication or bills.

“We were exhausted and had no time as a couple, no time time, and [lived in] A constant stress cycle.

“Everything had to be carefully estimated, this added a lot of stress to our relationship.

“We realized that something had to change.”

That something turned out to be a dramatic step, leaving their job behind – Sandra worked as director of Contact Center and Warner who worked as a sales team leader – to pursue a real estate company in Spain.

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They only won € 50,000 (£ 42,000), which came from the sale of their house, which they used to secure rent for their first year abroad.

But it was completely worth the financial struggle.

Sandra said: “The difference [in our lifestyle] Was immediately and drastic.

“Nursery costs can be heavily subsidized or free, primary school is free and it starts on three years old, and after -school care is heavily subsidized for working parents.

“Our childcare costs fell to around € 200 (£ 170) per month.

“We have also noticed a huge difference in daily expenditure outdoor eating is affordable, a coffee costs € 1-2 versus € 4 in Ireland, and the weather provides free outdoor activities.

Spain gave us the opportunity to build a company and a better life

Sandra Laurie

“We went from the living salary to PayCheck to finally able to save and enjoy life with our family.

“Everything in Spain is family -oriented, so we not only benefit financially, but we have moved to a culture in which you socialize with your family, and it is completely normal to see that families eat together in restaurants at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.”. “

Their children have seen another great advantage growing up “Happy, Healthy and Fluent in Multiple Languages”.

Sandra said: “It has been incredible [for them].

“They spend more time outdoors, participate in sports and have adapted beautifully.

“The lifestyle is slower, safer and more focused on family.

“They are open -minded and are used to communicate with multiple cultures because the Costa del Sol is a cultural melting pot.”

Sandra and Warner founded their real estate company in 2018 and started investing in real estate – buying, renovating and selling houses – so that they could eventually buy their ‘dream’ house.

She said: “I don’t believe we could have had this level of success in Ireland, because of the higher operating costs and lack of flexibility and support for working parents.

“Spain gave us the opportunity to build a company and a better life.”

Sandra now helps to coach other people who want to move to Spain and want to enjoy similar successes.

And with all the benefits they have cited to be there, she says they will never go home.

She added: “We are not going to go back ever.

“Spain has adopted us, and it really feels like home.

We are grateful every day for the life we ​​have created here and it is a privilege to enjoy it

Sandra Laurie

“The slower pace of life, the family-friendly culture, the costs of living and the better climate-this are just a few of the reasons why we intend to stay.

“The rising home costs in the UK and Ireland would also be a concern, so we really wonder if we could afford what we have in another country in Spain – our own swimming pool, a very large garden, space for guests and within walking distance of the beach.

“Living abroad, especially in Spain, has given us something that we have never had in Ireland: time.

“Time to enjoy life, raise our children, build a company and thrive, not just survive.

“We are grateful every day for the life we ​​have created here and it is a privilege to enjoy it.

“Ireland will always be in our hearts, but we have found our future here.”

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