Ryan Blackley, 35, and his wife Jess, 34, have moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand, with their sons Noah, six, and Bodhi, four, and now travel the world on a budget of £60 a day. The family, originally from Cambridge, say they became disillusioned with life in Britain and class themselves as 'retired' thanks to income from renting out their properties.
Why the family left the UK
The couple, who travelled together in 2016 before having children, say they knew their future would 'lie outside the UK'. They rent out two flats and the family home they still own, using the profits to fund their new lifestyle.
'We obviously had a good life in the UK, but it got to a point where I guess we felt that the UK wasn't the right place for us to live and bring up kids,' says Ryan. 'The cost of living is insane.'
Safety in Britain was also a key motivator. 'We've got two boys, and at some point, they are going to want to go out on their own, and we don't feel the UK is a safe country anymore because knife crime is massive.' In the year ending March 2025, there were around 53,000 offences involving a sharp instrument in England and Wales.
World-schooling and a new approach to life
The Blackleys do not plan to return to live in the UK and intend to continue world-schooling their sons, an alternative educational approach where children learn through travel, cultural immersion and real-world experiences rather than a traditional classroom. They claim their sons are 'thriving' in their new life.
'For us, the whole concept of life is backwards because you've got to go to school, work, and then enjoy life when you're 68-years-old,' Ryan explains. 'Who knows, one, if you'll be alive then and then two, health-wise, what that will be?'
'This way we're teaching the kids everything,' he adds. 'They know how to read, write, maths and English and then learn the skills they don't get taught at school.'
How they afford their travels
Jess bought her first flat at 20 years old for £120,000 and rented it out. The couple then bought a second flat for £145,000 after saving money while travelling and working abroad for two and a half years, visiting 27 countries. They sold it for £183,000, bought another two-bed flat for £190,000, and finally purchased their four-bed family home in 2021.
Renting them all out through Airbnb or private tenants brings in £2,500 per month. 'We both class ourselves as retired because the property work requires minimal upkeep and effort,' Ryan says.
Life in Asia
The family originally planned to move to Portugal, but changed their plans after realising the climate would be warmer in Asia during the winter months. They flew out in February to Chiang Mai, crossed the border to Laos after their 60-day tourist visa expired, and applied for the five-year Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which allows them to live and work remotely there.
Since then, they have travelled around Thailand, including visits to Chiang Rai, Bangkok, Udon Thani and Kanchanaburi. Currently in Koh Samui, they plan to visit Malaysia and Singapore next.
'The plan still is to travel the world, but having a base in Asia makes it easier,' Ryan explains. 'All we travel with is two large suitcases and a backpack each. It makes you realise you don't need much in life.'
The couple stay in a mix of Airbnbs, apartments and hotels, and usually book their next spot a few days in advance. They do not budget, but Ryan keeps a note of all spending, and they eat out for lunch and dinner. 'We're quite fine with the simple life, like eating Thai food,' he says. 'We don't drink alcohol or go to bars or fancy restaurants.'
The rolling average for the last five months is £1,800 per month for the family of four. Their costs in Thailand in July were £790 for accommodation, £350 for food, and £420 on average per month for days out, transport and miscellaneous expenses, totalling £1,560. In the UK, their monthly costs were £1,459 for the mortgage, £427 for bills, and £400 for food, totalling £2,296.
'We were everyday people, just a normal family who had a dream to get out and travel the world and give our kids a different life,' Ryan says. 'I can understand it can be scary because it's going into the unknown and going away from your family and friends, home comforts and everything. But if you don't try it out, how do you know you're not going to like it?'
