Still Drinking Spanish Wine

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022Melissa

A lot has changed since leaving Spain in May of 2022.

The end of an era. I came to Spain in 2015 with a couple grand in my (virtual) pocket, and by the time I was leaving, partner and toddler in tow, I had about the same. Did I make zero progress? Absolutely not. What used to support one was now supporting three. And the experience of living in Spain for nearly 7 years was priceless.

I really love the time that I spent as a language assistant in Andalucia and the Basque Country. Those two years reinforced how to budget and be frugal. The 4 years I spent at a language academy in Caceres, Extremadura taught me about self study and advancement. And finally, the year as a Director of Studies in a small town in Andalucia allowed me to thrive professionally in an environment that was also great for my then two year old daughter.

One of the hardest things about readjusting to life in the US after living abroad for so long is the sticker shock. I once wrote about spending $80 a month on groceries. In Arlington, VA, I found myself spending that in one shopping trip.

So how do you overcome such a shock when you repatriate? One trick is to convert prices into percentages. If you find that the bottle of Spanish wine you’ve grown accustomed to is now 3 times what you used to pay for it in Spain, is it still a good deal? It is if you’re earning 3 times the salary. Through this perspective, that bottle of Spanish wine was actually cheaper for me than it was when I bought it in Spain.

It’s easy to get carried away with spending when you start earning more. A lot of people fall victim to the Diderot Effect, where one nice new thing leads you to replacing your other things to match the higher quality. It often makes financial sense to buy higher quality products, as they are likely to last longer. But it’s important not to replace things before their time just to feel the high from upgrading.

I bought new shoes for work for 3 times what I would have been willing to spend in Spain. But the replacement was necessary, and a quality shoe will last a lot more miles. At the same time, I still have the same hiking shoe that I bought in 2017. I don’t plan to buy new hiking shoes just because my work shoes are a nicer quality.

This is one of the ways I stay frugal with a higher income. What are some of yours?

Aux Interviews – Caceres

January 5, 2021January 5, 2021Melissa

Kylie is a 3rd year Auxilar in Caceres, Extremadura. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she was working as a museum curator and teaching at her university, when funding for another year fell through. She decided that teaching in Spain sounded new and exciting. And she was right! In January of 2021, she is starting her PhD at the University of Extremadura while juggling the last 5 months of her Auxilar contract.

Chosing a community in spain - airports in spain

Airports in Spain by Autonomous Community

December 10, 2017January 19, 2018Melissa

It’s that time of year again. The holidays? Yes. But rather than a white Christmas, I’m dreaming of airports in Spain. Why? Because it’s time to start thinking about renewal as an auxiliar de conversacion. Or maybe next year will be your first year, and you’re not quite sure how to choose a region.

Since the application period will open just after the holiday season, it’s a good idea to start planning where you’d like to go now. Maybe you want to go to where the auxiliar income is the highest compared to the local residents. This is a great plan for living your day-to-day life in Spain, but what about our international adventure seeking readers?

For those of you who want to see as much as possible in a relatively short amount of time, it may be a good idea to make your regional choices based on which communities have the best access to airports.

Creating a Budget When You Don’t Know Your Expenses

September 14, 2017January 19, 2018Melissa

Creating a Budget

Creating a budget can be very overwhelming – especially when you’ve just moved and you don’t know what your expenses will be. I’ve definitely been there. When I arrived in Spain in 2015, I came with $2000 as my starter budget, but without a plan in place, I blew through over half of it before receiving my first paycheck. If I could do it again, what would I do differently? This is what I recommend for incoming auxiliares de conversacion.

I would begin by creating a budget using the 50/20/30 Rule. Here’s how it breaks down:

50% of your income goes to cover your NEEDS – Things like rent, food, electricity, transportation, internet, etc. These are the absolute basics you will pay for every month.
20% of your income goes to SAVINGS – You may need to buy a plane ticket at the end of the year. Or, if you’re staying in Spain over the summer, you’ll need a summer fund for when other opportunities dry up.
30% of your income can go to WANTS – things that you could do without in a pinch, but make life more enjoyable: eating out, drinks, travel, new clothes, etc. These things are likely the reason you are here.

Creating a Budget with the Auxiliar Income

So how would it look for an auxiliar creating a budget based on this plan?

Average Income in Spain

September 1, 2017December 7, 2020Melissa

Average Income: Why it Matters

Updated on December 7, 2020

The average income of a population is often overlooked when people prepare to teach abroad. We usually want to know how much we can make, and that information isn’t difficult to find. According to Go Overseas, the average income for an English teacher in Spain is between 700 and 1800 euros. As an auxiliar de conversacion, you know that your income will be between 700 and 1000 euros a month, depending on where you’re assigned to teach.

What may be more important than your actual salary, however, is how it compares to the average salary where you will live. This will determine how comfortably you will live compared to other people in your city on your auxilar income alone.

Teach Travel Budget

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