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Spanish Pensioner Turns to Excavator Work, Says He Bills Up to €3,500 a Month

The Telemadrid interview presents Spain’s “active retirement” as a lifeline for a retiree whose €850 pension was eclipsed by rent.

Overview

  • Ángel, a 77-year-old retiree, tells Telemadrid he now invoices €3,000–€3,500 monthly operating an excavator to supplement his income.
  • He previously lived on a €850 monthly pension, with €840 going to rent, leaving little for utilities and other essentials.
  • At about 73, he took out a loan and invested nearly €60,000 to buy an excavator and start taking jobs despite having no prior experience.
  • He says he received no formal training and learned on the job, highlighting financial and safety risks taken to reenter the labor market.
  • The case is reported as an example of Spain’s regulated “active retirement,” and the figures come from Ángel’s account aired by Telemadrid and echoed by regional outlets.