EXCLUSIVE The British pensioners who live in Spain's 'zombieland' airport after Airbnb boom priced them out of retirement abroad
John Brownwood is getting ready to go to sleep for the night, finishing the chapter of the book he's reading and repositioning his pillow for heightened comfort.
The only unusual aspect of this otherwise mundane routine is that the 69-year-old retiree is not at home in bed but on a bench in the departure lounge of Malaga's Pablo Picasso airport.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
44 minutes ago
- Times
Why a mid-retirement MoT can keep you on track
You get your car checked every year, and even the boiler gets a regular service — but when was the last time you gave yourself a money MoT? People are living longer than ever, and while this is a welcome development, it also presents a significant financial challenge: ensuring your pension pot can comfortably last the distance. For many people in their seventies, a mid-retirement MoT has become an essential part of managing their finances. By this stage, people tend to have settled into retirement and have a clear picture of their lifestyle and outgoings. This makes it easier to work out a sustainable rate at which to take money from their pension pot. Only 48 per cent of people aged between 65 and 75 are confident their savings will last their lifetime, according to a report by the insurance company Aviva and the charity Age UK. That's despite the fact that many people underestimate how long they will live. Many people assume that their spending patterns will be consistent through retirement, the survey of 1,000 people found. That's wrong — it is usually 'U-shaped', say experts, with higher initial outgoings, a potential decline in the middle years, and then a resurgence in later life, particularly if there are care costs. Romi Savova from the pension firm PensionBee said: 'Just as regular pension check-ins are essential before retirement, it is important to assess your income and spending once you're in retirement, and especially around the halfway point. 'A mid-retirement MoT is a good way to make sure your savings remain on track, particularly as your lifestyle, spending and health needs may have changed over time.' John Ford has planned meticulously. Ford, 73, has an inflation-linked defined benefit pension — which pays a guaranteed income — and a state pension, which together give him an annual income of about £36,000. He also has £340,000 in a defined contribution (DC) pension — which gives him a retirement income based on how well his investments perform — which he has barely touched. 'I am keeping it for emergencies and future medical bills,' Ford said. 'Last year I paid about £7,000 to remove cataracts at a private clinic as I didn't want to wait for a slot on the NHS. I also need some money to make some repairs to my property near Bristol.' Ford retired from his job as a surveyor in the construction industry in 2017, when he was 65. His wife, Carole, 70, retired four years ago and gets a state pension plus a small defined benefit pension, giving her an annual income of about £15,800. • Flip-flopping is chipping away at our faith in pensions Ford said: 'Luckily we have enough to live a decent lifestyle and our spending has not really changed much since we retired. However, we know we may need money later in life for care bills, which is what the DC pot is for.' Reviewing your finances once a year can help you to identify whether you need to rebalance your investments or make any adjustments to the amount that you are withdrawing, and to check that you are on track with your financial goals. Lucie Spencer from the wealth manager Evelyn Partners said: 'The early years of retirement are usually where most of the non-essential spending happens. For many people this is the first time they have had a substantial pot of money and total freedom to spend it as they wish. 'However, many do not plan for their later years. What will happen if they go into a care home or need support at home? Who will pay the bills if all their funds are spent? Will the state pension be enough to live on if they've exhausted all their savings? Such questions tend to become more pressing from the mid-seventies.' Withdrawing money from your pension is a fine balance — it needs to be enough to provide the lifestyle you want, without depleting your pot so fast that it runs out. A common guideline suggested by experts is to withdraw money at a rate of 4 per cent of the value of your pot per year. The idea is that since the rest is still invested, it should be able to replenish itself in time for the next withdrawal. Fidelity International, the wealth manager, analysed what happened to a £100,000 pension pot after ten years of withdrawals starting at 4 per cent a year and rising by 2 per cent each year to factor in inflation. Its analysis looked at withdrawals starting each year from 1994 to 2014 to see how much the pot would be worth after a decade. Based on a typical portfolio of 60 per cent global shares and 40 per cent in bonds, there were only three years (1999, 2000, and 2001) in which someone could have started taking annual income and been left with a pot worth less after a decade — in all other years the pot's value would have increased, even after ten years of withdrawals. For example, if someone had started making withdrawals of 4 per cent a year in January 2014, the value of their £100,000 pot would have grown to about £154,000 by January 2024. However, if they had started withdrawing in January 2000, the value of their pot would have fallen to £81,319 by January 2010, according to Fidelity's analysis. • Are you on track for your dream retirement? It is important to bear in mind that managing withdrawals can become problematic at times of stock market turmoil. When the market falls, so too does the value of your pot, as many savers experienced during the recent Trump tariff upheaval. Spencer said it was best to avoid withdrawing money at such times as it could mean locking in losses, and make it harder for the value of your pot to recover: 'During retirement if you are drawing down on your pension after a market shock, you could be selling investments at impaired values and that can deliver a serious blow to the longevity of your pot.' It is recommended that you have about a year's worth of spending, including bills, saved in cash which you can use instead during such times, allowing your investments to recover. An alternative to leaving your pot invested is to use some or all of it to buy an annuity, which provides a guaranteed income for life in exchange for a lump sum. Tom Selby from the investment platform AJ Bell said: 'Once you reach your seventies, you may start to consider whether drawdown is still the right option, or if using some of your fund for an annuity could be a good choice.' Life expectancy directly affects annuity rates — the longer you are expected to live, the lower the rate, because the income will have to paid out for a longer period. This means that if you buy an annuity later in life, you could get a higher income. A healthy 75-year-old with a £100,000 lump sum could secure an income of about £10,129 a year, according to the pension firm Just Group. That is about 30 per cent more than the £7,813 a 65-year-old is likely to get. Disclosing health or lifestyle factors that might reduce life expectancy, such as smoking or diabetes, could also mean you get a better rate. Shopping around for the best deal is always advised. Annuities do have drawbacks. The level of income is fixed so you may find it is not enough if your circumstances change, such as needing more money for care costs. You also forgo potential long-term investment growth, and unless you choose a policy that pays out to a surviving spouse, the income dies with you. A concern for older people in retirement is cognitive decline and the associated anxiety with technology, digital accounts, and a general loss of confidence in managing money, especially investments. It is important to arrange for someone to manage your money if you aren't able to do it yourself. 'I recommend all clients have a power of attorney in place in case they do start to lose mental capacity,' Spencer said. • Do I need to update my power of attorney? A lasting power of attorney is an official document that gives someone the authority to manage your financial and medical interests if you are no longer capable. There are two types of power of attorney — ordinary and lasting. The first is used as a temporary measure, for example if you are overseas and cannot do it yourself. The lasting power of attorney comes in two forms — health and welfare, and property and finance. One allows someone to make medical decisions on your behalf, while the other covers your money. It is usually advisable to have both. You can apply for both at the same time and must have them in place while you still have the mental capacity to give someone the authority to act for you. The forms can be downloaded from and each costs £82. You get a 50 per cent discount if your pre-tax income is less than £12,000 a year.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
If you love musicals, you'll adore this sun-drenched singing retreat in Spain
STANDING in front of a West End musical director, a professional vocal coach and a class full of singing enthusiasts, I begin to question all the life choices I've made that have got me here. I don't often get nervous, but I'm now expected to start singing – aloud, and in a room full of people! 7 7 I'm on a Sing, Eat, Retreat break, where each escape focuses on a different showstopping show. I love musicals – I've seen Jersey Boys, Moulin Rouge, Six, Wicked and countless others multiple times – and the retreat I've signed up for is themed around one of my favourite films, The Greatest Showman, in the stunning surroundings of Tarifa on the most southern tip of Spain. As a sound therapist, I know that belting out your favourite songs releases feel-good endorphins that can help to boost your immunity and lower stress levels, and that singing in a group amplifies these benefits. But, even with that knowledge, I've never actually sung in public, not even karaoke. Joining the cast This six-night retreat is hosted at a sprawling mansion-style villa, Huerta Belinda, complete with an A-lister-worthy pool, intricately tiled courtyards and views of Morocco. Stepping in, I feel like I've made it to the judges' houses on The X Factor, and that either Nicole Scherzinger or Simon Cowell will walk through the door any minute. Once we're past introductions, musical director Steve Moss of Les Misérables and Mary Poppins fame, informs our group of 21 that he's going to treat us 'like a West End cast'. And after a welcome dinner and drinks, we quickly settle into a routine. Our days are filled with vocal warm-ups, ensemble singing, smaller group vocal tech sessions, where we learn about things like breath control and posture, and one-to-ones to improve individually. A performance director also chats to us about staging and 'acting through song'. Each day of vocal work starts at 10am, ends in the early evening and also features group rehearsals for the live public concert we're working towards. There's some downtime to sit by the pool and soak up the sunshine, have a massage (for an additional cost) or use the sauna, but most of us end up using the time to try to memorise the lyrics. The idea is to be 'off book' for the show. Of course, all that singing builds up quite the appetite and, luckily, all meals (except one when we go to a quaint local hotel for dinner) are included. Think continental breakfasts with eggs in the morning, mezze-style buffets at lunch and huge, hearty paellas, casseroles and roast chicken with veg for dinner. There's also an endless supply of crisps, biscuits and cakes to snack on throughout the day, as well as sliced ginger, lemon and hot water on tap for throat-soothing teas. Sing for your supper Like any good ensemble cast, we are made up of a wide range of people – men and women, aged from 23 to 50-plus, with a doctor and teacher in the mix. More than a handful have sung at previous retreats – one lady is on her fifth visit – and inevitably, there's an open-mic session in the main living room after dinner each evening to show off what we've learned each day. 7 7 This place is a karaoke fan's dream come true! If I'm honest, my first one-to-one session feels like an extreme version of rejection therapy. Luckily, Steve happens to be one of the most charming people I've ever met, so I'm not even offended when, in between kind words and gentle encouragement, he tells me I need about 20 more lessons to become a half-decent singer! Still, I leave the session feeling in awe that I'm learning from an industry leader at the top of their craft, and I'm excited to see where this experience will take me. As the week goes on, we're also treated to an outstanding guest masterclass with West End star and vocal wizard Luke Bayer. After the session, everyone is left buzzing with energy from his tips and direction, especially when he ends it with a bonus private performance of Dear Bill from the musical Operation Mincemeat. This is Me It's soon Friday night, the soundchecks have been done, the lights are up and the glass-walled garden room of the villa is teeming with locals. MD Steve becomes our conductor, a round of applause welcomes us to the stage and, fuelled by adrenalin, everyone pulls it out of the bag as we perform several hits from the film, as well as an encore of Someone In The Crowd from La La Land, which is by the same songwriters as The Greatest Showman. 7 7 The four strongest singers also perform solos. I'm so proud of myself and my new pals that, under the bright lights, I resolve to join a choir so I can continue singing when I get home. That night's open-mic session is even more jubilant. Emboldened by my time on stage, I agree to be a backing singer for guest tutor Luke as he belts out And You Don't Even Know It from Everybody's Talking About Jamie. We have so much fun and I can't believe I've gone from never singing in public to sharing a mic with a West End stage lead. I've been to many retreats, but this one has helped me to connect with myself in a way I didn't realise I was even seeking. From now on, I'm going to embrace my singing voice – even if I'm not yet ready for the stage! 7
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
British travellers to face fingerprint scans on every trip to EU
British citizens will be required to have their fingerprints scanned whenever they go to the European Union due to delays in the development of digital biometrics software. Every UK passenger entering the Schengen area will need to exit their car to be photographed and fingerprinted individually. A spokesperson for the Port of Dover, which facilitates transit and trade with countries like France and the Netherlands, told The Independent the plans will be rolled out in the autumn. This is because a new biometric entry-check system for non-EU citizens was expected to be implemented last year, but this has been postponed. The Independent initially reported on the delay to the new system at the end of 2024, with suggestions that the demand for fingerprints may quietly be dropped. Doug Bannister, the port's chief executive, told The Guardian it will be 'business as usual' this summer but said 'a big change' in travel will be phased in from November. An individual's fingerprint or a picture of their face will be checked alongside their passport number on every trip. The technology is being utilised to eliminate "wet stamping" of passports and enable an automated recording of the duration of visitors' stays in mainland Europe. In time, an app installed on UK Border Force tablets is intended to be passed into the car to verify each person's fingerprints. However, Mr Bannister said the app, which has been developed by the EU's border agency Frontex, 'won't be ready any time before November, but hopefully it could come swiftly after that'. Frontex said it was up to each member state to implement its use. Mr Bannister admitted 'second, third, fourth time travellers still need to have a biometric captured at the border'. This means that passengers will still be required to step out of their vehicles every time until the app is ready. There will be significant infrastructure improvements in Kent in an effort to reduce disruptions to cross-border transport. To accommodate passengers getting off cars and buses, the Port of Dover is reclaiming 13 hectares of land. In a solution supported by the UK and French governments, the port said it will create a virtual system around 1.5 miles across the port's surrounding area for checks. Mr Bannister is certain that the upcoming inspections at the port, which handles up to 10,000 trucks and 15,000 passenger cars every day during the summer, will require only an extra six minutes to each trip.
