A mother of three who left the UK in 2023 says her family now enjoys a simpler, more affordable life in Bali, Indonesia, where she can fill her moped for just £4.
Why They Left
Lucy Richardson shared a video on TikTok explaining that rising costs in the UK were a major factor in her family's decision to move abroad. She, her husband, and their three children relocated nearly three years ago.
She said: "The cost of living in the UK was completely out of control, and that's why we left. We left nearly three years ago because two full-time working parents were not enough for us to sustain the life that we had in the UK."
From Surviving to Living
Lucy described their situation before moving as "surviving" rather than "living." She explained: "We just felt like we were constantly chasing our tail and constantly paying stuff out. Then we had this tiny little pot left over to actually enjoy ourselves and do things that we wanted to do. Then, because there wasn't enough money, we would put it on a credit card, and then we were in this massive circle of debt."
The mother feared her family would remain trapped in this cycle for years, potentially never enjoying life until retirement, when they might be "too ill or too old" to do so. She also felt she was missing out on her children's childhood while working full-time.
A Cheaper Life in Bali
Now in Bali, the family has a much simpler lifestyle. Lucy said: "Today, we just filled up our moped for £4. The same petrol that you have in the UK, and that's a full tank that's going to last me for two weeks. Four quid. It's absolutely crazy."
She added: "Now, we have a much simpler life. We don't have to go to a nine-to-five [job], and I get to see my kids' childhoods. So I know what I would rather pick, and that's why we left the UK. So many people ask, and it's the cost of living. It was just too high."
Reactions Online
Many commenters on her video praised her decision. One wrote: "Well done, you, for taking that step and leaving the UK to better your lives. We are a family of five and totally understand where you are coming from. We class ourselves as the working poor. Working but have nothing to show for it because everything goes on paying taxes and bills."
Another commented: "Agree totally, Britain is a rip off. You did right in getting out."
A third added: "Same here. We left six years ago for Spain and it's so liberating. Our relatives can't believe how much less we pay month to month here and can now appreciate why we left."
