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How to Move to Spain with No Money

Are you thinking about moving to Spain but don’t really have any savings to get yourself set up? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Moving abroad can be really expensive, and it can often feel like an unobtainable goal.

However, there are ways to move abroad if you don’t have a huge chunk of money lying around. So, here’s how to move to Spain with no money.

Basic Costs

Okay, so when I say no money, I mean limited funds. Some of these options include international flights, and some don’t, so you might need to save up a little bit for these pathways. You also need to factor in any visa costs if they’re not included or sponsored by the company that you’re moving to Spain with. 

As I said, these are really cost-effective ways to move to Spain, but some of the budget-friendly options include more extras than others, so you need to be prepared to spend some money to set up your new life in the sunshine!

Workaway

One of the best ways to live in another country on a budget is to sign up for a Workaway program. These can range from helping to build schools and farms to running hostels to language exchanges to marketing gigs for small businesses. Honestly, you can even work in a vineyard which sounds dreamy.

With Workaway, you’ll get your accommodation for free in return for a few hours of work a week. A lot of the time, the hosts will also throw in family-style meals for their Workawayers, and some even pay a little bit of money on top of all of that. 

Remember to vet the program carefully before you travel. You can see reviews from previous Workawayers to help ease your mind, or you can check out how many Workawayers they allow at once, as some might allow a few at any given time. This is also a great way to meet fellow budget travelers. 

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Trusted Housesitters

If you’re looking for an easy way to get free accommodation in Spain and sometimes even get paid at the same time? Join Trusted Housesitters and you’ll find a whole host of great places to stay while the owners are out of town. 

Of course, you’ll need to be flexible about location and time of year, depending on what housesitting gigs are available, but there are hundreds available at any one time. For this budget-friendly Spanish gig, you’ll still be responsible for your flights and your expenses while you’re in the country, but taking care of the accommodation is a huge cost saving!

Teaching English

This is a classic way to live and work abroad on a budget, and Spain offers both state-sponsored and private teaching English programs to overseas, native speakers. The great thing about teaching English in Spain is that most of the time, everything is included. 

a man standing in front of the children

Many teaching English and a foreign language (TEFL) or teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) programs will not only supply you with a paid teaching position, but they’ll also pay for your flights and sort out a work visa for you.

Some will help you find housing in the local area, or point you in the right direction. All in all, this is one of the best options if you’re looking to work and live in Spain with basically no money. It’s one of the only roles that comes with a wage, and a visa, and includes international flights, so it’s a super popular path for budget-friendly living abroad! 

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Work as an Au Pair

Enjoy working with children and want to live abroad in Spain? Au Pair culture in Europe is still going strong with many families employing childcare support to live with them on a full-time basis. As an Au Pair, you’ll live with your host family and be provided with meals, a small wage, and sometimes even access to the family car.

Depending on the Au Pair agency that you work with, you may also receive international flights and visa support as part of the experience, but this isn’t guaranteed. In return, you’ll look after the children, help them with their English skills, and do basic housework while the children are at school. You’ll get dedicated days off each week, but on the whole, you’re a live-in home helper. 

It’s also worth noting that the pay isn’t that much for Au Pair work and normally clocks in at around 800 Euros a month. That being said, you have pretty much no expenses so you’re able to save a lot of money while working as an Au Pair in Spain.

Seasonal Work

Finally, if you only want to live in Spain for the summer or winter season, you can get a seasonal role at a resort or at a summer camp. Although there aren’t a ton of ski resorts in Spain, there are a few in the Pyrenees on the border with France and Andorra, so you can always apply for seasonal work there. 

people walking

Whether you’re a qualified ski guide or want to work in a chalet or resort bar, these seasonal jobs usually come with sponsored visas and accommodation assistance. Flights aren’t normally included, so you need to factor this into your budget. 

If you’re more of a summer person, there are so many island resorts and holiday parks that need guides and tour operators during the busy summer season. Work as a resort guide in Ibiza or a kayaking instructor in Mallorca! 

You can apply for these jobs and normally you can live in the resort or in designated seasonal accommodation. In addition to an hourly rate, you can often get discounts at the resorts, and make plenty of friends who also work at the resort or in the local area. 

Be prepared to party though!  Being a summer seasonal worker on the Spanish islands can often feel like a 24/7 party job!

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