A single mother of three from Glasgow has revealed she saves £1,000 each month by living in a two-bedroom flat, allowing her to work just 20 hours a week and take her children on 10 holidays a year.
Emma Smith, 34, who works in finance, says her combined mortgage and household bills total just £557 a month—half what she would pay for a four-bedroom house in her area. Her mortgage is £322, gas and electricity £130, and council tax £105.
By keeping costs low, Emma can afford frequent trips abroad with her sons, aged three, four, and six, including visits to Rome, Copenhagen, and Brussels. She also spends more time with them and saves on childcare.
The three boys share one bedroom with bunk beds and a single bed, while Emma uses the other. She converted the original one-bedroom flat by turning the kitchen into a kitchen diner and the lounge into a second bedroom.
Emma says the flat's location near shops and transport, plus a large communal garden, are added benefits. She plans to move to a bigger home when her children are older but is happy with the financial freedom now.
