Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
buymeacoffee.com/howardsportugal
youtube.com/channel/UC3QktroBFFqgH1bHay63kFQ
Thinking about moving to Portugal?
Before you pack up your life and chase the sun, this video is for you.
In this longer-form episode, we talk honestly about what we wish we had known before moving to Portugal.
Through conversations with three people — Rob & Mandy from @PlanitPortugal, and musician @SpencerMaybe (INSTA @spencer.maybe) we explore the realities behind the dream and some of the things that often don’t get mentioned in relocation videos.
Alongside the interviews, everyday life on the quinta continues: winter work outdoors, tree pruning, progress on our tiny house, and even a visit underground to a Roman mine!
It’s not a highlight reel — it’s real life in rural Portugal, including the colder months that surprise many people dreaming of sunnier climes.
This video is aimed at anyone sitting at home in winter, wondering whether Portugal could be the answer — and whether the lifestyle lives up to the expectation.
We talk about:
- what surprised us most after moving
- the pros and cons of life in Portugal
- winter realities versus the sunny dream
- what we’d do differently if we started again
If you’re considering a move to Portugal, or just curious about what life here is actually like beyond the postcard images, we hope this helps you make a more informed decision.
Feel free to share your own questions or experiences in the comments — especially if Portugal is on your mind!
Thanks so much for your support, your comments, and for subscribing. Sending love to you & yours.
🌱 More videos on farming, homesteading, and rural Portugal:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL8CJ3rWYGW5jncAHU0IKu_-gmA8oIWbu
👍 Like & subscribe to follow all our adventures, from off-grid living and fruit growing to beekeeping and eco-friendly homesteading.
We’re planning to plant more fruit trees in the future. If you’d like to help and dedicate a tree, visit
buymeacoffee.com/HowardsPortugal
and leave a note saying who you’d like the tree dedicated to & get a shout-out!
🔔 SUBSCRIBE & join our journey as we build a new life in rural Portugal.
We focus on self-sufficiency, sustainable living, and homesteading, learning new skills while embracing the beautiful Serra da Estrela region.
Our adventures include farm visits, off-grid living, fruit and vegetable cultivation, and beekeeping — sharing practical tips and real-life experiences along the way.
📚 Want to support the channel? Buy my book "Diary Of A Psychopath" by Stephen Howard — available on Amazon:
tinyurl.com/4zknd7uh
People love it, so judge for yourself!
🔔 JOIN the Channel:
youtube.com/channel/UC3QktroBFFqgH1bHay63kFQ/join
to see the latest videos first and access extra features. Become part of the community!
After much planning, we sold up in England in 2021 and moved to rural Portugal to start a new life. Living off the land, learning new skills, and becoming more sustainable has been challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Homesteading in Portugal isn’t always easy, but the experience has been amazing.
Thanks for watching #HowardsPortugal — and a huge shout-out to all our channel members, subscribers, and viewers. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
#HowardsPortugal #RuralPortugal #Homesteading #SustainableLiving #OffGridLife #Beekeeping #FruitGrowing #PortugalLifestyle #MovingToPortugal #LifeInPortugal #PortugalProsAndCons
moving to portugal
life in portugal
portugal pros and cons
living in portugal winter
rural portugal life
expats in portugal
moving abroad reality
quitting winter for portugal
portugal lifestyle
0:00 Intro
0:30 Tiny House
1:35 Rob & Mandy Pt1
2:49 Roman Mine
5:20 Rob & Mandy Pt2
14:34 Winter Work
17:11 Spencer Maybe
27:14 Back to the Quinta
buymeacoffee.com/howardsportugal
youtube.com/channel/UC3QktroBFFqgH1bHay63kFQ
Thinking about moving to Portugal?
Before you pack up your life and chase the sun, this video is for you.
In this longer-form episode, we talk honestly about what we wish we had known before moving to Portugal.
Through conversations with three people — Rob & Mandy from @PlanitPortugal, and musician @SpencerMaybe (INSTA @spencer.maybe) we explore the realities behind the dream and some of the things that often don’t get mentioned in relocation videos.
Alongside the interviews, everyday life on the quinta continues: winter work outdoors, tree pruning, progress on our tiny house, and even a visit underground to a Roman mine!
It’s not a highlight reel — it’s real life in rural Portugal, including the colder months that surprise many people dreaming of sunnier climes.
This video is aimed at anyone sitting at home in winter, wondering whether Portugal could be the answer — and whether the lifestyle lives up to the expectation.
We talk about:
- what surprised us most after moving
- the pros and cons of life in Portugal
- winter realities versus the sunny dream
- what we’d do differently if we started again
If you’re considering a move to Portugal, or just curious about what life here is actually like beyond the postcard images, we hope this helps you make a more informed decision.
Feel free to share your own questions or experiences in the comments — especially if Portugal is on your mind!
Thanks so much for your support, your comments, and for subscribing. Sending love to you & yours.
🌱 More videos on farming, homesteading, and rural Portugal:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL8CJ3rWYGW5jncAHU0IKu_-gmA8oIWbu
👍 Like & subscribe to follow all our adventures, from off-grid living and fruit growing to beekeeping and eco-friendly homesteading.
We’re planning to plant more fruit trees in the future. If you’d like to help and dedicate a tree, visit
buymeacoffee.com/HowardsPortugal
and leave a note saying who you’d like the tree dedicated to & get a shout-out!
🔔 SUBSCRIBE & join our journey as we build a new life in rural Portugal.
We focus on self-sufficiency, sustainable living, and homesteading, learning new skills while embracing the beautiful Serra da Estrela region.
Our adventures include farm visits, off-grid living, fruit and vegetable cultivation, and beekeeping — sharing practical tips and real-life experiences along the way.
📚 Want to support the channel? Buy my book "Diary Of A Psychopath" by Stephen Howard — available on Amazon:
tinyurl.com/4zknd7uh
People love it, so judge for yourself!
🔔 JOIN the Channel:
youtube.com/channel/UC3QktroBFFqgH1bHay63kFQ/join
to see the latest videos first and access extra features. Become part of the community!
After much planning, we sold up in England in 2021 and moved to rural Portugal to start a new life. Living off the land, learning new skills, and becoming more sustainable has been challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Homesteading in Portugal isn’t always easy, but the experience has been amazing.
Thanks for watching #HowardsPortugal — and a huge shout-out to all our channel members, subscribers, and viewers. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
#HowardsPortugal #RuralPortugal #Homesteading #SustainableLiving #OffGridLife #Beekeeping #FruitGrowing #PortugalLifestyle #MovingToPortugal #LifeInPortugal #PortugalProsAndCons
moving to portugal
life in portugal
portugal pros and cons
living in portugal winter
rural portugal life
expats in portugal
moving abroad reality
quitting winter for portugal
portugal lifestyle
0:00 Intro
0:30 Tiny House
1:35 Rob & Mandy Pt1
2:49 Roman Mine
5:20 Rob & Mandy Pt2
14:34 Winter Work
17:11 Spencer Maybe
27:14 Back to the Quinta
