cost of living

We moved from the UK to Brazil for sun & freedom – the dream life is not as glamorous as we thought it was going to be

A COUPLE who ditched their life in the UK to become milk farmers in rural Brazil, have revealed that it’s not quite what they expected.

Angel Bulut, 25, and her partner left their home in Bracknell in October 2022 and flew 6,000 miles to Parana, a state in southern Brazil.

Woman horseback riding with dog.
SWNS

Angel hated Brazil when she first moved there[/caption]

Woman sitting on a cow in a field.
SWNS

She had to wake up at 5am to feed the cows[/caption]

Woman sitting with two dogs and a cat on a farm.
SWNS

Angel has now adapted to a simpler life[/caption]

They moved out of a one-bed flat, and on to a two and a half acre farm, and are now responsible for 30 cows, pigs, fish and chickens.

Back home, Angel was earning £2,300 a month as a restaurant manager, but she now earns more than 60% less, taking home just £887 a month.

Unfortunately, her monthly spending didn’t decrease as much as her wages, as she soon found out that “everything costs more”, and she now has to dig in to her savings for “luxurious things”.

Angel revealed that her first year in her new home was “one of the biggest struggles of my life”.

The couple have to wake up at 5am every morning to milk the cows, and she says she works “harder than I ever expected to”.

She added that her new home is much more dangerous than the UK, and she misses being able to go for a walk on her own at night.

“Here I kid you not I cannot leave the house alone without the protection of my dog.

“You can’t be out at night time”.

When Angel first moved to Brazil, friends and family back home, as well as locals told her they thought she wouldn’t “last a month” and they thought she wouldn’t get her hands dirty.

“I didn’t speak any Portuguese. I was just this blonde UK city girl that came into the farm.”

After just six months, she was preparing to relocate back to the UK, but she has now grown to love her life in Brazil.

“It’s not been an easy process. We’re living a life but without the pleasures of living in the UK.

“I’m accustomed to having less now. I’m falling in love with things after the anger left. We have so much space.”

After adapting to a simpler way of life, Angel realised that she was never happy in the UK, and much prefers being in the hot sun.

How easy is it to move abroad?

Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here’s what you need to do at home before moving:

  • Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
  • Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
  • Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
  • If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre.
  • You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
  • If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
  • If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools. 

“I have the sun, I have my animals that have all the space they want, and I don’t have a boss”, she said.

“You don’t have the things you want and then just look around and see all the things you do have”.

She is now picking up the language, and has grown to love the hard slog of caring for her animals.

“My health is good because I’m not cold, I’m getting my vitamin D. In my opinion private healthcare is more affordable here,” she said.

“The people here are friendlier, compared to the Brazilian culture England is a very cold, cruel culture.

“I hated [Brazil] for so many reasons, but now I love it.”

Woman horseback riding in a Brazilian farm.
SWNS

Angel earns far less in Brazil than she did in the UK[/caption]

Woman holding a piglet.
SWNS

Angel with one of her pigs[/caption]

August 27, 2025
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I ditched ‘miserable’ UK for sunny Croatia – bills are 33% less & I rent a posh villa for same price as 2-bed back home

A MAN has quit the “miserable” UK for Croatia, and is on a mission to encourage others to do the same.

Scott McClure, from Scotland, made the decision to up-sticks and relocate to the Balkans nation six months ago, and has no regrets about his decision.

Man explaining why he moved to Croatia.
Scott revealed his bills are so much cheaper in Croatia
TIKTOK
Man explains why he moved to Croatia.
He said he feels so much safer at night
TIKTOK

He revealed that the sunny country is “so much safer” than Britain, claiming that the crime rate is “double” back home.

“You feel way safer when walking home at night”, he said, in a TikTok video, posted to his account @thecreatoroperator.

“Whereas when you’re in the UK, you don’t know what could happen”.

The cost of living is another reason why Scott is head over heels for Croatia with his bills costing 33% less than they did in the UK.

“You can rent villas like this for the same price as a two bedroom flat in the UK”, he beamed, proudly showing off his posh pad.

Of course, the baking heat was also a major factor in Scott’s move, with the content creator stating that “you’re guaranteed 30 degrees plus in the summer.

“In the UK, it’s miserable all year around.”

Another of Scott’s qualms with his home country is that it is “run terribly.”

“And it’s only going to get worst”, he said.

He added that people don’t treat the country with respect, citing the example of people throwing litter out of their cars.

“You don’t see this in Croatia!”, he claimed.

Scott’s video has likely left many people intrigued as it has gone viral, racking up 30,000 views and hundreds of likes and comments.

TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts on Scott’s move abroad.

One person said: “Whoa! You had me at the villa rentals!

How easy is it to move abroad?

Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here’s what you need to do at home before moving:

  • Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
  • Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
  • Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
  • If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre.
  • You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
  • If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
  • If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools. 

“Great breakdown. I arrive next week and I’m thinking of getting a Croatia digital nomad visa!”

A second person said: “It’s the best place to live!”

A third added: “I’ve looked at going to Croatia to work.

“The authentic living culture is more attractive than the UK.”

August 20, 2025
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I ditched the UK for Australia & I’d never return – I work less hours for more money & see dolphins on my morning walk

A MAN has revealed that he will likely never return to the UK, after upping sticks and moving to Australia.

In February, Lewy and his partner made the bold decision to relocate to Adelaide, after becoming sick of the “miserable weather and negative people”.

Man on beach says he moved from the UK to Australia.
Tiktok.com/@lewyp23

Lewy ditched the UK for sunny Australia[/caption]

Woman walking her dog on a beach.
Tiktok.com/@lewyp23

He now lives a three minute walk from the beach[/caption]

The couple describe themselves as “normal people” without much money, said they were able to move to a “stunning” neighbourhood, that “wasn’t expensive”.

Lewy said that it had been their dream for 10 years to live in Aus, and added that his and his partner’s life has greatly improved since ditching the British Isles.

“It’s highly likely that we will never live in the UK again because it cannot offer us the life we’ve got now”, he said in a video posted to his TiKTok channel @lewyp23.

Lewy revealed that he is no longer “overworked” and “stressed” and is paid more for his job in Australia than he was in the UK.

He added that the cost of living in Adelaide is much cheaper than it was for him back home, and that the people seem so much happier and fulfilled.

The TikToker claims that he would have to earn a whopping £150,000 a year to have the same quality of life in the UK as he does in Adelaide on his “average” wage, and added that he wouldn’t even move back to the UK if someone gave him £50,000.

Lewy now lives just three minutes walks from the beach, and as soon as they finish work, he and his partner take their dog out for sunny seaside walks.

He has even spotted pods of dolphins during his beach walks, which he said always leave him in “disbelief”.

Even in winter, the weather in Adelaide is warm and sunny, meaning that Lewy and his partner can have year round fun, without spending a penny.

“You don’t realise how much the weather affects you until you move to a nice place”, he said.

“We’re happier, it’s just fantastic.”

Another thing that Lewy loves about his life in Adelaide is the lack of crime.

“It’s safer her in Australia, you see a lot less nastiness.”

He added that he and his partner now do lots more on the weekends, and are able to be so much more social, as they are no longer stressed.

How easy is it to move abroad?

Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here’s what you need to do at home before moving:

  • Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
  • Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
  • Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
  • If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre.
  • You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
  • If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
  • If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools. 

He described the supermarkets, which are packed full of fresh fruit and veg as being “incredible” and said that older people look much more youthful and full of life.

Lewy is urging others to follow in his footsteps and ditch the “miserable” UK.

He said that anyone under 35 can easily get a working holiday visa, and added that the country is especially looking for tradesmen.

He said: “Why are you waiting to get out of that horrible place when you’ve got this waiting for you?

“The people are really lovely and you’ve got a life waiting for you with way less stress.”

“You get one go at life, you have to take risks”

August 5, 2025
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I ditched the UK & now I only need to work 13 hours a week – my food shop costs just £10 too

A WOMAN has ditched the UK to move 5,000 miles away, and now only has to work 13 hours a week.

Emily Severn, 24, made the “life-changing” decision to leave her home in Nottingham for a new life overseas in June 2024, and says her weekly food shop now costs just £10.

Woman makes peace sign with monkeys behind her.
Emily ditched the UK to live in China
SWNS
A young woman in a traditional Chinese-style outfit stands near a dragon statue.
She said her rent and bills are now much cheaper
SWNS
Woman in traditional Chinese clothing making a peace sign by a canal.
SWNS

Her weekly food shop is now just £10[/caption]

The Brit now lives in Suzhou in the Jiangsu Province of Eastern China, where her monthly rent is just £323, a massive saving on the £850 she was paying back home.

Working as an teacher in both kindergarten and junior high schools, Emily normally works just 13 hours every week – teaching English to Chinese students – and is paid £20 per hour.

Noticing a huge difference in the amount she spends, Emily said that as well as cheaper rent and bills, the cost of days out is much cheaper too.

Discussing her decision to move to China, she said: “I think what drew me to it is it’s so different to rainy England.

“In Manchester the rent for a one-bed apartment, as my university accommodation, was £850 per month.

“The rent every month here has been costing me 2,200 yuan which at the moment is about £323 pounds.

“You can go to the market here and literally buy a full food shop for £5 and that can last you a few days.”

And bills are much cheaper now for Emily than they were in the UK.

“The utilities in China are 100 yen for the electricity per month and in British pounds that’s about £10.15, that was costing me £37 in the UK”, she explained.

“My water bill is 100 yuan but we only really have to pay it every three months, so £10.15 every three months – compared to £37 in the UK.”

Emily first began learning Chinese alongside her masters degree in Journalism – where she also met boyfriend Wei, 30.

After securing a job in Suzhou whilst completing her TESOL qualification – which stands for Teaching English to Speaker of Other Languages- the couple moved out to China together, where they now live in a one-bed apartment.

She said: “It was actually my Chinese teacher’s old boss that was hiring teachers in China.

How easy is it to move abroad?

Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here’s what you need to do at home before moving:

  • Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
  • Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
  • Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
  • If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre.
  • You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
  • If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
  • If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools. 

“Once I had my TESOL certificate they could start giving me my contract and work permit.

“Personally within the company I work in there is more of a work life balance.

“There’s more flexibility than in the UK.

“I think I wanted to move to explore and see something new because a lot of the time in the UK there’s not a lot that goes on.

“In summer in China there are a lot of light shows and concerts at parks.

“There’s a hustle and bustle and a lot going on.

Emily explains most attractions – like water towns including Mudu, Nanxun and Zhouzhuang – cost as little as £1 for entry, and says she spends a lot of her time walking in the different parks on offer in her area.

Teaching a mixture of class based and one-to-one sessions, Emily is paid around £20 an hour, and estimates she earns £10,145 over the year.

Living in a one-bed apartment with a kitchen, bathroom, living area and mezzanine floor for their bedroom, the couple spend their weekends travelling to local “ancient towns”.

Despite loving life in Suzhou, Emily can see herself returning to the UK at some point.

“I think it’s more wanting to come back to family,” she said.

“When you’re in China you kind of value family a lot more because everyone places a big value on family.”

A young woman stands under a clear umbrella in a Chinese town, giving a peace sign.
SWNS

Emily teaches English and works just 13 hours a week[/caption]

Woman in a denim jacket making a peace sign in a field of yellow flowers.
SWNS

She plans to move back to the UK eventually[/caption]

July 29, 2025
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Brits can buy a home for €1 in French town that’s set in a majestic natural park & gets 300 sunny days a year

A FRENCH town is offering Brits the chance to up sticks and purchase a house for just one euro.

The quaint village, located in Auverne, central France is struggling with a declining population, so is offering the bargain properties in a bid to entice newcomers in to the area.

Street scene in Ambert, France, showing buildings, cars, and a church tower in the background.
Alamy

The quaint village is struggling with a declining population[/caption]

Mountain village of Saint-Martin-Vésubie, France.
Getty

Just 6,500 people currently live in Ambert[/caption]

Timber-framed house in Ambert, France.
Alamy

The town is famous for the Forme d’Ambert cheese[/caption]

Italy launched a similar scheme back in 2017, with thousands relocating to idyllic Italian properties purchased for as little as 86p.

Declining population

Just 6,500 people currently live in Ambert, with locals hoping that the scheme will help to boost the population.

The town, which is famous for the Forme d’Ambert cheese, has revealed a five year plan to improve the number of residents, with 60 percent of properties left vacant in one suburb.

The wider scheme appears to have proven successful so far, as an extra class was added to the local school two years ago.

Two one euro homes are currently on the market, both of which need significant renovations doing to them.

Situated within a natural park

Those who choose to purchase the homes will find themselves living within the surroundings of the stunning Natural Regional Park of Livradois-Forez.

The natural park features rolling hills, deer, beautiful landscapes and plenty of quaint towns and villages to explore.

In Ambert itself, you can find the Museum of Cheese, dedicated to Fourme d’Ambert, a blue cheese which dates back to Roman times.

The town also has a paper mill, and a circular town hall called La Mairie.

Plus, residents bask in 300 days of sunshine a year.

Homes come with strict terms and conditions

Although the homes may seem like an absolute bargain, they come with their fair share of terms and conditions.

To start with, anyone looking for a second-home is prohibited from snapping up the one euro properties.

Plus, although the initial cost is extremely low, the two homes will be expensive to renovate.

Once the houses have been made habitable, the owners are required to live in them for at least three years.

Four cheap home renovation tricks

YOU don’t have to spend loads to give a room a new look. Here are five other home renovation tricks you can try.

Kitchen cupboards

One way to give your kitchen a complete transformation for less is to change the look of the kitchen cupboards. There are loads of different vinyl coverings out there to choose from, and it’s a quick and easy way to update your home.

Handles

Another thing you can try that won’t break the bank is to change up the handles. You can pick up relatively cheap handles in DIY stores, or even in the charity shop. Adding new ones to your kitchen cupboards, or doors in your house, can be extremely effective.

Leftovers

Most of us have old half-used tins of paint in the garage, but they’re often forgotten about. However, there may be enough in the pot to paint a feature wall in another room, and you won’t have to spend a penny.

Freebies

It’s worth checking your local Facebook Marketplace, or Freecycle, to see what other people are getting rid of. As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. And if someone’s planning to revamp a room, they might want to get rid of a sofa, or a coffee table, which you could use to give a lounge a new look.

If they do not, hefty fines could be given out, including paying back any government grants given out for refurbishment.

If you’re looking for a job once you’ve moved to Ambert, the town’s historic chamber of commerce and industry building is currently undergoing renovations.

Once it reopens in 2026, it will bring lots of new jobs for locals.

You will of course, have to brush up on your French though.

One Brit who previously bought one of Italy’s one euro homes, told how it hardly cost anything to renovate.

Another revealed that hundreds are now desperate to pay to rent his one euro home.

Church of Saint-Jean d'Ambert in Ambert, France.
Alamy

The Church of Saint-Jean d’Ambert in the town centre[/caption]

Stone building with a wooden addition, the Musée Historique du Papier.
Alamy

The town’s paper mill[/caption]

July 8, 2025
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