½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

[QUOTE=Annie T]:eek: We hear a lot about the relative costs of living from those acquaintances who have houses in other European countries. Could those of you who live in Italy give us an idea of what the cost of living is in Italy compared to England? We understand that utilities are expensive but what does that mean exactly? To set the scene, we are in the process of buying a house in Italy and are now just having dinner, with a bottle of Rosso Pinero, discussing how long we would spend in Italy and would we consider living there permanently. From here, it sounds idyllic but what about when we are 64 and losing our hair, not many years from now? :confused:[/QUOTE]

Without going into great detail we have found that generally costs are currently about a third less than the UK. So go on take the plunge and spend as much time as you can out here. Life is much more relaxed than the UK.
We do not find all the utilities more expensive though tanked gas certainly is very expensive, phone call costs to UK very reasonable, electricity OK. Food and drink, you will eat fresher better quality food for less both from shops and in the reataurants. Need I go on!

[
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty
four?"[/QUOTE]

Yes.....

In answer to the original post, cost of living lower, quality of life, so much higher, and, if you ditch any notions of the dishwasher, extensive air conditioning etc., utility costs fair, councilt ax low, GET THAT VAN LOADED... COME ON... :D

Hi AnnieT
These are some websites I looked at when going through the same process.

[url]www.magicalmarche.com[/url] at the top of the page select 'economics' scroll down and you will find a pdf file with lots of comprehensive detail re cost of living.

[url]www.centralitalianhomes.com[/url] select 'running costs' at bottom of page. Their electric costs have the decimal point in the wrong position, see my previous post entitled 'electricity costs'

[url]www.expatsinitaly.com[/url] an American site but lots of useful info on costs of living and other information about living in Italy.

Hope this helps
Stribs

I just wanted to comment that my site is not an American site although we have more Americans there than here. We have people from all over, many from the UK but also from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, Jakarta, Spain, etc. I am American so my writing reflects that but the information on most things (unless it has to do specifically with Americans) is for all.

Thanks.

Sorry Cristina
Wrong assumption.
:o
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Thank you for the above comments and suggested web-sites. Are there any more mature forum contributers who could comment on living in Italy as opposed to Uk in their 60's, 70's? What is the health care like, for example?

Hi Annie T
With a combined age of 125yrs maybe we can be classed as mature in both senses of the word ;) we have our moments mind.
There are some websites you may be interested in
[url]www.agecorn.org.uk[/url] (no, I am not taking the mick) in the search box type - retiring abroad - information sheet 1 is useful.
[url]www.dh.gov.uk[/url] select - policy and guidance - there is a shortcut to International then overseas visitors.
[url]www.money.msn.co.uk[/url] select - planning - then - under life events you should find - moving abroad.
[url]www.direct.gov.uk[/url] search on - abroad - this will bring up a few options.

Hope this is of use.
Assuming that you will have E121 you will have the same health benefits as an ½ûÂþÌìÌà citizen.
Having said this, the best info will come from those who already live in Italy.

Stribs

[QUOTE=Annie T]Thank you for the above comments and suggested web-sites. Are there any more mature forum contributers who could comment on living in Italy as opposed to Uk in their 60's, 70's? What is the health care like, for example?[/QUOTE]

What is it that you are frightened of ? the quality of Health care in the UK isn't so wonderful these days, and seems to be getting worse by the minute, the services over here compare favourably and, in general they seem to be improving. In other areas, people care about older people, they even have post offices in small towns, because of the lifestyle and quality of food, there are more older people over here, what more can anyone tell you ??? I realise I am perhaps not mature enough, but, at 56 I am quite old. :) ;)

Our combined age is 138 ... and one is not all that well... but we are going. Never die wishing you had done something...You cant come back - well you can come back to UK but you never get the chance to live another life... give us a good luck message too. Janet

[QUOTE=McCarraher]Our combined age is 138 ... and one is not all that well... but we are going. Never die wishing you had done something...You cant come back - well you can come back to UK but you never get the chance to live another life... give us a good luck message too. Janet[/QUOTE]

Entirely agree, best of luck, as they say, you're a long time dead.

Old at 56? You are in the prime of life... and better, if your Forum contributions are anything to go by. What am I afraid of? Nothing really but what do you do now that you are in Italy? Yes, yes, wander to the piazza, sit in an old man's bar, wander back, sleep, eat, but what do you really do? How do you keep ze leetle grey cells active? And how do you get involved in village life? (I quite fancy being Signorina Marple).

LOL, it's not an old man's bar... It is a dream bar as a matter of fact :)
Well, there are the dogs to take care of, then spreading doom gloom and despondency around generally, errrm, ohh yes, well, there must be something else zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Ohh, yes, the cleaning, cooking, gardening, shopping, avoiding ironing, washing (clothes, me and the dogs) and sleeping.
You can get involved with village life by being there, my ½ûÂþÌìÌà being absolutely appaling makes it more difficult, but they've decided to teach everyone in francavilla to speak English so that's OK, I live a fair way outside the town though so make the trip in there regularly just to keep up to date, there are also the festa's (3 more this weekend)

Doesn't that Marple woman keep finding bodies everywhere she goes :confused:

If you think dead bodies are attracted to Ms Marple, check out any place beginning with Midsomer.....from a distance.... :eek: