A Cuban émigré in Spain shared on TikTok three financial decisions she does not regret since arriving in the country: buying her first home, creating a fully customized kitchen, and designing the bathroom in white to her taste.
The author of the video, identified on the platform as @belsisalbumdeunamedica —a username that suggests she is or was a doctor in Cuba— published the testimony on Monday, and in just a few days, it garnered nearly 2,100 views.
"I, when I arrived in Spain, had to work very hard to save every penny to buy my first house," he recounts in the video lasting just over a minute.
The house they purchased was, in her own words, "very old and very outdated." Alongside her husband, they practically renovated it by themselves because, after the purchase, the money had run out.
"Once we poured all our love into it and worked on it every day, today I am the happiest person on earth," he says.
The second decision she does not regret was investing in a completely custom kitchen, despite it being her first home and having no experience with such projects.
"I sought the guidance of a kitchen company, which is currently the one I've been working with for all my kitchens," she explains, acknowledging that professional advice made a significant difference.
The third point is the cleanliness: he designed it in white and to his liking, and he assures that "I wouldn't change it for absolutely anything."
Although the final outcome is positive, the Cuban admits that the strategy of buying an old property had its complications: "We initially thought that buying an old house was a much better option, but it ended up being a bit complicated."
Their experience adds to a documented trend among Cuban emigrants in Spain who choose run-down or low-cost housing to access the real estate market. A Cuban couple in Murcia bought a house that no one wanted due to its dilapidated condition and completely transformed it, with the husband dedicating himself full-time to the renovation.
Others take a different path: a Cuban woman identified as Yuris Latina bought her first house in cash after two years in Spain, with income generated through social media, while another Cuban emigrant managed to acquire her home a year and four months after arriving in the country.
The profile of Cuban emigrants adds an additional layer to the narrative. Health professionals who arrive in Spain must undergo a lengthy process of credential recognition that can take several years, during which they work in other sectors and save money. A Cuban doctor took four years to have her degree recognized in Spain before being able to practice again.
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