HELP ME RONDA

 



 

• Online at the DGT website (Direccion General de Tráfico)
• At any post office – Correos
• At selected car parts distributors – in Ronda at Sierra Sur Recambios Ronda in Calle Río Guadalteba in the Polígono Industrial.  

Saturday, March 19, 2022

• Ficha técnica reducida €110
• Change of headlights €380
• ITV €150
• Import tax €600
• Gestora fee €80

By The Crazy Guy

Saturday, November 27, 2021

• VALLE: It is the cheapest period and includes the night-time hours with lower electricity consumption, from 00:00 am to 8:00 am AND AT WEEKENDS AND ON BANK HOLIDAYS.
• PUNTA: It is the most expensive period and is from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
• LLANO: This period has an intermediate price and is from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm and from 10:00 pm to 12:00 am

Obvious things to change include:

• using off-peak power for washing machines, driers and dishwashers.
• If you have a pool, let the pump run in the early hours.
• If you have a watering system for the garden, why not run it in the early hours?
• Other tips to save energy consumption include reducing the temperature setting on your fridge to 5ᵒC (what? – ours is set to 3ᵒC, which is more than adequate, even in summer!)
• An iron uses lots of power. If you do your ironing before 8.00 am you could save 36€ a year.
• Reduce the thermostat on your central heating to 20 in winter and 25 in summer.
• Use the ECO setting on appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and tumble driers.
• Watch less TV. Televisions are notoriously expensive to run, so having yours on in the background with nobody really watching it is costing you big-style.
• Leaving devices and appliances on standby also consumes electricity. Unplug every time.

Making adjustments


IBERDROLA (we've recently switched to them to get a 14% discount)

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

When The Crazy Guy was nearing completion of the reforma of an old house in a mountain village 690 metres above sea level, he realised how cold it was in the house, so what to do?

I bought an old village house in Montejaque , near Ronda in October 2020. 12 months later it was ready for a trial rental. Good friends from the UK tested the house and gave very useful feedback.

In February and March 2022, friends from Germany stayed in the house free of charge in exchange for their labour, mainly joinery jobs.

However, this period of time coincided with the coldest start to a year for a long while in this part of Andalucía and they were cold in this draughty house dating from the 19th century. All they had for heating was a gas fire in the living area and electric radiators in the bedrooms.

So, what did I do?

Firstly, I installed a pellet stove in the living area. We took the flue up through the ceiling and through one of the bedrooms, before exiting at eaves level.

Secondly, I ordered new double glazed windows with built-in shutters for the front of the house, and a new entrance door.

Thirdly, I installed a wall heater in each of the bathrooms.

What a difference!

The downstairs (open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen) is now as warm as toast.

The second bedroom is nicely warmed by the stove pipe passing through it.

It is no longer an ordeal to go to the loo or take a bath or shower.

The main bedroom is easily kept warm with the existing electric radiator.

The thick stone walls of the house ensure that the heat stays in.

And in the summer, these same walls will ensure that the heat stays out.

What a great result!

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

In the midst of the cost-of-living crisis currently raging through Spain, Europe and the world, The Crazy Guy recommends the following 13 money-saving tips. Maybe he's not so crazy after all?

Air conditioning

Avoid using it. There are other ways to keep your house cool in the summer. Click here to find out how.

Air conditioning in your car increases fuel consumption. Open your window instead.

Airport water


Once through baggage control, most outlets at Málaga Airport charge 2.40€ for half-a-litre. At the newsagents FOYER you can get two bottles for 2.90€. All rather expensive.

TIP 1: After you have gone through passport control you only need to pay 1€. The dispensing machines are clearly marked.

TIP 2: If you take an empty plastic bottle through the baggage control (permitted) you can fill up for free.

Banks

TIP: Shop around for the best deal. You should NOT be paying maintenance charges. Check this article here.

After carrying out this research I switched to CaixaBank where the criteria for free banking are easier to meet. In fact, we both switched from Unicaja Banco, who had started charging, to CaixaBank and are each saving 240€ per year.

Car use

TIP 1: Use public transport instead, especially for long trips. With a tarjeta sesentycinco you get 50% off the fare.

TIP 2: For airport runs consider parking at the airport, which saves two legs over somebody taking you by car.

Electricity

TIP 1: Shop around for a better deal, We just switched to IBERDROLA where we are guaranteed 14% saving on the bills from our previous supplier.

TIP 2: Use the cheapest tariff, typically from 00.00 to 08.00, for certain devices, eg washing machine and tumble drier, dishwasher, ironing, pool pump and irrigation system.

TIP 3: Install solar panels – there is currently still a 40% discount available, but hurry!

TIP 4: Install LED bulbs.

TIP 5: Don’t leave devices like TVs, computers, charging cables, etc on standby.

TIP 6: If you have electric heating, turn it down or off and put on warmer clothes.

Firewood

TIP: Cancel your logs order. Scavenge wood from the tip, eg pallets, and saw or chop it up. Sure, it burns quickly, but at least it’s free.

Flying

TIP 1: If you can fly midweek and/or at unsocial hours, you can save a fortune.

TIP 2: Travel light, if possible with just the small carry-on bag (free). It’s surprising what you can fit into a small mochila.

TIP 3: Avoid buying food and drink on the plane. Take your own food from home or buy a meal deal at the airport (eg WH Smith). Buy 1€ water at the airport or fill up an empty bottle free-of-charge (see above).

Fuel

TIP 1: Shop around for the best price in your area. Avoid the big chains like BP, Cepsa, Esso, Galp, Repsol and Shell. AGLA (Asociacion de Gasolineras Libres de Andalucía) are often the cheapest.


TIP 2: Consider going by public transport, eg bus or train. We recently went to Sevilla by bus and it only cost us about 26€ return for both of us (with a tarjeta sesentycinco, a discount card for over 65s). Way cheaper than fuel and parking charges.

Haircut

TIP 1: Go to Vicky’s, C/ Pozo, 6, 29400 Ronda. After 6.00 pm every evening gents can get a free haircut. Your barnet will be cut by a trainee, but to save at least 10€, why not?

TIP 2: Let your hair grow, like I am.

Hotels

TIP: Carry out your research on, say booking.com, then contact the hotel of your choice direct for an even better deal. We’ve done it three times recently in Chiclana, Malaga and Sevilla and saved money.

Insurance

TIP: Shop around at renewal time. We recently saved a load on our monthly private healthcare insurance premium by switching from DKV to Sanitas.

Our current car insurer still offers us the cheapest premium, so we stayed put. CASER via Abbeygate.

Shopping

TIP 1: Shop at ALDI, Día, LIDL, Supeco, and Super Carmela  instead of at Al Campo, Carrefour, Hipercor and Mercadona.


TIP 2: Buy marcas blancas (own-brand goods).

TIP 3: Shop late in the day – perishable goods are often marked down in price.

Water

TIP 1: Shower instead of having a bath.

TIP 2: Don’t leave the tap running , eg when cleaning your teeth.

With energy, food and transport costs soaring, not to mention services like banking and insurance, it pays to make savings where one can.

Good luck!

© The Crazy Guy

By The Crazy Guy

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Cheque (sic) your Spanish bank account

Friday, November 19, 2021

Monday, March 7, 2022








© Paul Whitelock

It’s time to think about doing your income tax return, the IRPF (Impuesto sobre Renta de Personas Físicas). You can do it yourself online, but The Crazy Guy much prefers to use a gestor. For a token charge, say 50€, a qualified gestor will do it with you in 20-30 minutes. 

Here’s more from The Crazy Guy.

 



Basically, if you are tax resident in Spain, ie you reside here for more than 183 days per year, you are required to make an annual personal declaration of your worldwide income.

This can, of course, be either a source of dread or excitement, depending upon your situation.

If you've overpaid in the calendar year of 2022, you'll be due something back, but if you've underpaid, you'll need to hand over the difference.

Who is required to make a Declaración de la Renta?

What is classed as income?

HOW TO ..... pay less tax in Spain? (eyeonspain.com)
HOW TO ….. Dodge the Tax Man (or not): Catastral Values and Tax in Spain (eyeonspain.com)
The taxmen are after you! - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Foreigners who pay tax in Spain stand to cash in from next year (eyeonspain.com)

Thursday, May 26, 2022



Further reading:
My God, what have we done?
The Story of El Rincón
How We Found Our Dream Home
A Building Project Nears Completion
The Crazy Guy gets his house finished just in time
The Houses That Jack Built
Was It Something I said?

By The Crazy Guy

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

• All rooms must have direct ventilation to the exterior or to inside patios and a system of darkening the windows (either blinds or shutters)
• The property must be adequately furnished and equipped with the appliances, fixtures and fittings required for immediate use and according to the number of beds offered
• First aid kit available in the property
• Smoke and CO alarms
• All guests should be provided with tourist information about the location, leisure areas, restaurants, grocery stores, closest parking facilities, medical services, transportation, as well as maps of the city and entertainment guides.
• All guests should be provided with contact details of the owner or operator for any incidents
• All guests should have at their disposal clear information and instructions on the usage of appliances and installations, as well as internal regulations and restrictions if any 
• Availability of Claims and Complaints forms and a clearly positioned sign informing guests of their availablity 
• Cleaning service on arrival and departure of each new guest. 
• Linen, towels and household articles in proportion to the offered accommodation capacity, as well as a replacement set

• Air-con: Air-conditioning is NOT an official requirement
• LPO: Because of the legal status of houses in the countryside in practice the License of First Occupation isn´t checked by most inspectors. However, you can expect that in time the DAFO certificate will be the standard for the VTAR license. Unfortunately of course no-one can predict yet if this would also apply for licenses that already have been granted. 
• Maximum 3 months: With the VTAR license you are only allowed to rent out for a maximum of 3 months (90 days) in total per year.
• Vivienda Rural sign: You are obliged to have a standard entrance sign which says Vivienda Rural, your registration number, the official name of the house and the logo of the Junta de Andalucía. 

Thursday, June 9, 2022

1. First step is to make a denuncia to report the loss. You do this at the Comisaría de la Policía Nacional if you live in a town or city; at the Guardia Civil if you live in a village.
2. Book a cita previa at your local Extranjería, which is usually in the Comisaría de la Policía Nacional. Do this online at https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/pagina/index/directorio/icpplus
3. Go to https://www.immigrationspain.es/en/duplicate-nie-if-lost-or-stolen/#3_Request_a_duplicate_at_your_closes_immigration_office, and fill in form EX-17 and print it off.
4. Go to  https://www.immigrationspain.es/en/duplicate-nie-if-lost-or-stolen/#3_Request_a_duplicate_at_your_closes_immigration_office, and complete modelo 790 and print it off.
5. Go to any bank with the denuncia report and modelo 790 and pay the fee of 12 euros.
6. Take the following to your appointment with Extranjería:

• Form EX-17
• Modelo 790
• Denuncia report
• Passport and one fotocopy of it
• 3 passport photos (although they didn’t take mine, as my photo is stored on their system.
• They will take your fingerprints (huellas)
• They will give you a resguardo, a chit stating that you have applied for a new TIE, should you be asked for it.

Sunday, December 11, 2022

By The Crazy Guy

• Permanent telephone support from the Andalusian region 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• 50% discount on interurban bus tickets
• 30 – 55% discount on spectacles, frames and varifocals
• 30 - 35% discount on hearing aids
• Discounts on cultural and leisure events
• Free legal consultation
• Luncheon vouchers
• Domestic grants

• over 65
• resident in Andalucía
• empadronado (on the electoral roll)

• you apply at your local town hall.
• You have to provide a recent passport photo and copies of an identity document, residence (NIE or TIE) and padrón certificate.
• The card is free and lasts five years at which point you can renew for free.