{"id":887,"date":"2026-01-14T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/?p=887"},"modified":"2026-01-15T17:07:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T15:07:18","slug":"neujahrsvorsaetze-sonnenuntergaenge-und-die-sache-mit-dem-auswandern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/2026\/01\/14\/neujahrsvorsaetze-sonnenuntergaenge-und-die-sache-mit-dem-auswandern\/","title":{"rendered":"New Year's resolutions, sunsets and the matter of emigrating"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

New Year's resolutions, sunsets and the matter of emigrating<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Home<\/a> > Blog<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Why M\u00e1laga is a great idea \u2013 and why Google & co. still aren't enough<\/strong><\/p>

The turn of the year is a magical time. Fireworks explode, champagne corks pop, and somewhere between raclette, lead pouring and the desperate attempt to call everyone at midnight, they reappear: New Year's resolutions<\/strong>.<\/p>

More exercise. Less stress. Healthier eating. More time for yourself.
And then, for the particularly brave:
\u2018This year, I'm emigrating.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>

This thought usually occurs around 10:47 p.m., after the second glass of sparkling wine, when there is slush outside, the heating is gurgling, and one wonders why one voluntarily lives in January at minus three degrees.<\/p>

At the latest when you look at Facebook, Instagram and TikTok \u2013 somewhere between palm trees, the sea and people who are obviously not<\/em> freeze \u2013 then it falls:<\/p>


The decision to go to M\u00e1laga.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

M\u00e1laga \u2013 the New Year's resolution with vitamin D<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The province of M\u00e1laga has everything a classic New Year's resolution needs:<\/span><\/p>

\u2022 Sunshine instead of winter depression
Tapas instead of frozen pizza
Joie de vivre instead of to-do lists
And the reassuring feeling that you're finally doing everything right<\/p>

\u2018Everything is more relaxed in Spain,\u2019 they say.
\u2018You live healthier there,\u2019 you read.
\u2018Life is cheaper there,\u2019 claims a YouTube video from 2019.<\/p>

So you google it. You google it a lot.
Emigrating to M\u00e1laga Tips
Living in Spain explained simply
Dealing with the authorities in Spain quickly<\/p>

Spoiler: None of it is quick.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

When Google is more optimistic than Spanish bureaucracy<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Online, emigrating often reads like an Ikea shelf:<\/p>

  1. NIE number<\/li>
  2. NIE number<\/li>
  3. Bank account<\/li>
  4. Done<\/li><\/ol>

    In reality, it's more like an escape room with Spanish opening hours.<\/p>

    Because suddenly there are:<\/p>

    • Forms that are only accepted on Tuesdays between 9:00 and 9:07 a.m.<\/li>
    • Appointments that you are supposed to book online, even though the system has been \u2018temporarily unavailable\u2019 since 2016<\/li>
    • Three different information from three different officials<\/li>
    • And the realisation that \u2018ma\u00f1ana\u2019 is not a concrete term of time \u201ema\u00f1ana\u201c kein konkreter Zeitbegriff ist<\/b><\/li><\/ul>

      At this point, at the latest, New Year's resolutions part ways with New Year's dreams.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      \u2018But that's not what it said on the internet!\u2019<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Yes, it did. And somewhere it also says that you can get rich with two clicks.<\/span>
      Online information is helpful \u2013 no question about it. <\/span>
      Aber sie sind: <\/span><\/p>

      \u2022 oft veraltet <\/span><\/p>

      \u2022 selten vollst\u00e4ndig <\/span><\/p>

      \u2022 manchmal schlicht falsch <\/span><\/p>

      \u2022 und fast nie auf deine pers\u00f6nliche Situation zugeschnitten <\/span>

      <\/span><\/p>

      Denn ob du: <\/span><\/p>

      \u2022 selbstst\u00e4ndig bist oder angestellt <\/span><\/p>

      \u2022 Familie hast oder alleine kommst <\/span><\/p>

      \u2022 dauerhaft oder erstmal testweise auswandern willst <\/span><\/p>

      \u2022 in der Stadt oder auf dem Land leben m\u00f6chtest <\/span>

      <\/span><\/p>

      makes a huge difference in Spain. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      The romantic idea of provincial life<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Many people don't dream of the big city of M\u00e1laga or the Costa del Sol, but of the province:<\/p>

      white villages, olive groves, peace and quiet, sea views, a caf\u00e9 where you are \u2018the foreigner\u2019 \u2013 but in a positive sense.<\/p>

      And yes, it is beautiful.<\/p>

      Until you:
      need an internet connection
      have to register a car
      are looking for a tradesman
      or find out that \u2018just around the corner\u2019 means a 35-minute drive<\/p>

      In the province of M\u00e1laga, many things are not digital, but rather:
      personal
      via contacts
      via recommendations
      via people who know someone who knows someone<\/p>

      And this is precisely where the crucial point comes in.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Why a personal contact is worth its weight in gold<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      A local contact is not a luxury.<\/p>

      Er ist kein \u201eNice-to-have\u201c.<\/p>

      It is not a \u2018nice-to-have\u2019.
      It is the difference between: \u2018We are living our dream\u2019
      and
      \u2018Why are we shouting at each other over a form?\u2019<\/p>

      A good contact person:
      knows the local authorities
      knows which information is correct \u2013 and which is outdated
      speaks the language (and also understands what is left unsaid)
      knows which shortcuts work \u2013 and which don't
      and tells you honestly when something is not a good idea<\/p>

      Because not everything that \u2018worked great\u2019 on the internet will also work:
      . in your case
      - this year
      - in your village<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Support saves nerves \u2013 and often money too<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Many people try to do everything on their own.<\/p>

      On principle. Or to save money.<\/p>

      Ironically, this often costs:
      more money
      more time
      more sleepless nights<\/p>

      Incorrectly submitted documents, wasted trips, unnecessary penalties, months of delays \u2013 all of this can be avoided if you have someone who knows the way.<\/p>

      And honestly:<\/p>

      if you're emigrating to have less stress, why would you voluntarily fight your way through a bureaucratic minefield?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Emigrating is not a tutorial \u2013 it's a process<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      The biggest misconception about emigrating is the assumption that you can \u2018work through\u2019 everything in advance.<\/p>

      In reality, emigrating is:<\/p>

      • a process<\/li>
      • an adjustment<\/li>
      • a learning curve<\/li>
      • sometimes even a culture shock with sunshine<\/li><\/ul>

        \u00a0<\/p>

        There are questions that only arise once you're there. vor Ort<\/strong> auf.
        Problems you didn't know existed before.

        <\/p>

        And solutions you would never find online \u2013 but get immediately over a cup of coffee with the right person.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t

        New Year's resolutions need real support<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        New Year's resolutions rarely fail due to a lack of willpower.
        They fail due to a lack of structure.<\/p>\n

        This applies to:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • gym memberships<\/li>\n
        • healthy eating<\/li>\n
        • and especially to emigrating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n


          <\/p>

          Those who seek support have:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • more clarity<\/li>\n
          • \u2022realistic expectations<\/li>\n
          • a plan B (and C)<\/li>\n
          • and someone who says \"Don\u00b4t worry, that\u00b4s normal\"<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t

            Conclusion: Dream yes \u2013 but don't act alone<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

            The province of M\u00e1laga is a wonderful place for a new start.
            For sunshine
            For quality of life
            For a life that feels less like duty and more like living.<\/p>\n

            But:
            Google is no substitute for people.<\/strong>
            Forums are no substitute for experience.
            And checklists are no substitute for local reality.<\/p>\n

            Having a personal contact on the ground is not a sign of uncertainty
            but of intelligence.<\/p>\n

            Because emigrating is not a sprint.
            It's a marathon.
            And it's better not to run it alone \u2013 especially not in flip-flops on Spanish asphalt.<\/p>\n

            With this in mind:
            Here's to a new year.
            To courageous decisions.
            And to New Year's resolutions that don't end in February \u2013 but begin in the sun of M\u00e1laga <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

            \n\t\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t
            <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Warum M\u00e1laga eine gro\u00dfartige Idee ist \u2013 und Google trotzdem nicht reicht
            \nDer Jahreswechsel ist eine magische Zeit. Raketen explodieren, Sektkorken knallen und irgendwo zwischen Raclette, Bleigie\u00dfen und dem verzweifelten Versuch, um Mitternacht alle gleichzeitig anzurufen, entstehen sie wieder: die Neujahrsvors\u00e4tze.
            \nMore exercise. Less stress. Healthier eating. More time for yourself.
            \nAnd then, for the particularly brave:
            \n\u2018This year, I'm emigrating.\u2019<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-auswandern"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=887"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":905,"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/887\/revisions\/905"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbk-beratung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}