David Summers, Laura Armour, and their son relocated from the United Kingdom to Fundão in August 2018, seeking to escape the urban hustle. "In contrast to the United Kingdom, in Portugal, we can afford to live with more space and a lower cost of living. It's possible to enjoy a relatively good life despite lower salaries," reflects David.
Retired after a 35-year career in the automotive sector, he found Portugal to be greener than expected during a holiday in Albufeira, Algarve. "This area is fantastic, especially for retired Brits. It's a beautiful place and quite affordable for us," remarks Summers. They dismissed Spain due to the influx of British expatriates, preferring not to relocate from "England to Little Britain because, in recent years, many British people have decided to move their residence there".
"We fell in love with the country and decided to explore the interior of Portugal. We initially considered land in Pedrógão Grande, but we discovered that Fundão was more budget-friendly, so we settled here," explains David Summers.
Educating their child proved challenging, with the British family needing help to learn Portuguese. "We opted for public school over English-language education so our son could learn Portuguese and make friends. While it was initially challenging, it will benefit him in the future," he adds. However, "communication is not overly complicated, as English is widely spoken. English is the second most spoken language in Portugal. You can hear it everywhere, even on television," Summers notes.
Summers highlights bureaucratic hurdles and high electricity prices as drawbacks. "Electricity prices are exorbitant; we even installed solar panels to reduce costs," he reveals. He also emphasises the need for more precise information regarding tax benefits.
The family envisions their future in Portugal, with no plans to return to the United Kingdom and highlights the increase in crime and insecurity in the UK. He is not afraid of the effects of Brexit because "Portugal and the United Kingdom have a historical relationship." Reflecting on their life in Fundão, he remarks, "Living in this area, it feels like I've gone back several decades, and I'm in 1980s England, and I see that as something beautiful. We can leave the doors open, and the people in this community are relaxed," he concludes.
