A family from Essex has slashed their annual expenses by £26,000 after relocating to Portugal, primarily due to lower private school fees. Abbie Shone, 36, and her husband Michael, 38, moved from Buckhurst Hill to the Algarve in April 2022 with their three sons, aged 10 and six (twins). They had been paying for private education for their eldest in the UK and faced costs of around £48,000 to educate all three.
In Portugal, the family now spends approximately €25,000 per year on private school fees for all three children – less than half the UK equivalent. The decision was driven by the desire for a better outdoor lifestyle, improved weather, and a more relaxed childhood for their children. Abbie noted that in the UK, children 'grow up super quick' and rely heavily on technology, whereas in Portugal 'they treat children as children for a lot longer'.
The family also upgraded their housing, swapping a three-bedroom house with a 'small concrete garden' in Essex for a four-bedroom villa with a swimming pool, ample land, and a working fireplace. Their UK home sold for about £600,000, while the Portuguese property cost €700,000. Additional savings include no water bills thanks to a borehole and well, and electricity costs of just €180–200 per month.
Abbie, a virtual assistant, acknowledged some drawbacks, such as unpredictable school schedules and frequent strikes in public schools, which led them to opt for private education. However, she praised the curriculum's focus on maths and science. The family does not plan to return to the UK permanently, though they may consider moving closer to Lisbon, Porto, or even Copenhagen in the future.
