A mum who moved her family to Spain says she would never return to Ireland or the UK – after finding she could save thousands of pounds on childcare and other costs abroad.
Sandra Laurie packed her bags along with her husband, Warner, and their two children, Oliver, 12 and nine-year-old Abi, in 2017.
The family had been forking out nearly £1,700 a month on childcare costs alone while living in their native County Tipperary prior to the move.
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The financial strain proved too much, along with a low quality of life, and they decided to up sticks and head for sunnier – and cheaper – climes.
Leaving their jobs and small housing estate behind, they now live in a large villa with its own swimming pool and sea views, just a short walk from the beach, which they bought in 2022.
For Sandra, 38, the idea of moving away came back when the family had visited the area to celebrate her 30th birthday.
“We had met other families already living in the Costa del Sol, and their relaxed, outdoor lifestyle with the kids made us realise what we were missing,” she told What’s The Jam.
“We were on the plane home when we said, ‘It’s now or never’.
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“The Costa del Sol offered sunshine, family life, and a healthier way of living.
“We had been there many times over the years on holidays and visiting, but something changed on the trip in 2016 – we really started to assess and evaluate that there had to be a better way of life.”
At the time, Sandra and her husband were spending triple their monthly mortgage costs on childcare alone.
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She said, “Despite good salaries, the cost of living in Ireland made life extremely difficult.
“Our mortgage was only €600 (£506) a month, but childcare was a staggering €1,857 (£1,568) per month.
“It consumed the majority of our disposable income.
“We were essentially working to pay for someone else to raise our children.”
They also had medical expenses, with their son suffering from severe asthma, which led to regular, costly GP visits and high prescription costs.
Sandra added, “Often we were forced to choose between medication and bills.
“We were exhausted and had no time as a couple, no family time, and [lived in] a constant cycle of stress.
“Everything had to be budgeted meticulously, which added a lot of stress to our relationship.
“We realised something had to change.”
That something proved to be a dramatic move, with them leaving the roles – with Sandra working as a contact centre director and Warner working as a sales team leader – to pursue a real estate business in Spain.
They had just €50,000 (£42,000) to their name, which was from the sale of their Ireland home, which they used to secure rent for their first year abroad.
But it was entirely worth the financial struggle.
Sandra said: “The difference [in our lifestyle] was immediate and drastic.
“Nursery fees can be heavily subsidised or free, primary school is free, and it starts at three years of age, and after-school care is heavily subsidised for working parents.
“Our childcare costs dropped to around €200 (£170) per month.
“We also noticed a huge difference in daily expenses – eating out is affordable, a coffee costs €1-2 versus €4 in Ireland, and the weather allows for free outdoor activities.
“We went from living paycheque to paycheque to finally being able to save and enjoy life with our family.
“Everything in Spain is family-centric, so not only did we benefit from the financial benefit, but we moved to a culture where you socialise with your family, and it’s perfectly normal to see families eating together in restaurants at 9 pm and 10 pm.”
Another huge perk has been getting to see their children grow up “happy, healthy and fluent in multiple languages”.
Sandra said: “It’s been incredible [for them].
“They spend more time outdoors, participate in sports, and have adjusted beautifully.
“The lifestyle is slower, safer, and more focused on family.
“They are open-minded and are used to interacting with multiple cultures because the Costa Del Sol is a cultural melting pot.”
Sandra and Warner established their real estate business in 2018 and started investing in property–buying, renovating and selling homes, which eventually allowed them to buy their “dream” home.
She said: “I don’t believe we could have had this level of success in Ireland, due to the higher operating costs and lack of flexibility and support for working parents.
“Spain gave us the opportunity to build a business and a better life.”
Sandra now helps coach other people who want to relocate to Spain and enjoy similar successes.
And, with all the perks they’ve cited from being there, she says they will never move back home.
She added, “We don’t plan on ever moving back.
“Spain has adopted us, and it truly feels like home.
“The slower pace of life, the family-friendly culture, the cost of living, and the better climate – these are just some of the reasons we plan to stay.
“Also, rising home costs in the UK and Ireland would be a concern, making us really question whether we could afford what we have in Spain in another country – our pool, a very large garden, space for guests, and being within walking distance to the beach.
“Living abroad, particularly in Spain, has given us something we never had in Ireland: time.
“Time to enjoy life, raise our kids, build a business, and thrive, not just survive.
“We are grateful every day for the life we have created here, and it’s a privilege to enjoy it.
“Ireland will always be in our hearts, but we have found our future here.”
