Latest news with #EXPATESCAPE
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
We ditched the UK for Cyprus & now get year-long sun, bills are so cheap, we work half as much & have even bought a home
EXPAT ESCAPE We ditched the UK for Cyprus & now get year-long sun, bills are so cheap, we work half as much & have even bought a home A MUM has revealed why she packed up her life in the UK for sunny Cyprus. The mum-of-two took to social media to share how they moved to the country after Brexit. Advertisement 3 The Manns family ditched the UK for sunny Cyprus Credit: tiktok/@themannsofficial 3 The pair say life is much easier now and it's cheap too Credit: tiktok/@themannsofficial 3 The couple spend their time off exploring the island and don't plan to leave Credit: Getty In one clip, shared on The Mann's TikTok account, she and her partner said their plan A was to stay in England. Describing her life pre-Cyprus, she said it was a comfortable life and they could go on one to two holidays a year. But she said the limited hot weather and 'overworked' culture was something they wanted to ditch. They then decided they wanted more and headed to the sunny island to live out their dream. Advertisement Now, they get hot weather all year round and no longer need to go on holiday abroad as there's so much to do on the island. She said they also had a better quality of life out there which was more slow-paced. The mum was also happy to say that her two children, who are in primary school, are now going to a local Greek school and have become bilingual. The mum revealed that they rent out properties in the UK to make income and she also works as a wedding planner in Cyprus. Advertisement She revealed you need to earn £36,000 a year to live in Cyprus and you can work in the country if you are self-employed. The family have gone on to buy a house there to make it their forever home, and she says bills are super cheap too. All the free activities Cyprus has to offer For electricity, they spend around £87 a month, £17 on water, £13 on gas and £100 on council tax in a single year. Before buying their own property, she said rent for a two-bed villa with a pool was around £1,300 a month. Advertisement The mum said that their 'plan B' for life has been going very well for them, and they don't see themselves heading back to the UK anytime soon. She said: "It's such a massive decision to leave your 'normal', weighing up all the options, writing down lists of pros and cons (we actually did this). "But we didn't want to live with any regrets and we always knew that the UK isn't going anywhere. If it didn't work out, at least we tried! Luckily it has!" The clip was posted to their TikTok account @themannsofficial and went viral with over 138k views and 3,200 likes. Advertisement Moving house hacks 1. Declutter Before You Pack Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load. 2. Create an Inventory Make a list of all your items. This helps keep track of everything and ensures nothing gets lost in the move. 3. Use Quality Packing Materials Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. This will protect your belongings during the move. 4. Label Everything Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much easier and more organized. 5. Pack a 'First Day' Box Include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes on your first day. 6. Take Photos of Electronics Setup Before unplugging your electronics, take photos of the wiring setup. This will make it easier to reconnect everything at your new place. 7. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury. 8. Colour-Code Your Boxes Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home. People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments. One person wrote: "This is so helpful! The price on council tax, water and gas, pennies compared to the UK!" Another commented: "I used to work in Rhodes and would love to go back! Since Brexit, I thought it would not be possible. This gives me hope, so thank you!" "Currently in the process of Plan B! Writing this from Cyprus on a house hunt," penned a third. Advertisement Meanwhile a fourth said: " ,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I moved to a Spanish city where beer is just £1.50 – now I don't waste my evenings away watching EastEnders
EXPAT ESCAPE I moved to a Spanish city where beer is just £1.50 – now I don't waste my evenings away watching EastEnders A YOUNG woman who was sick of her 'miserable' life decided to ditch her hometown for a sunny Spanish city. Tori Clinton, from Dublin, says her life did a 180 once she moved to Spain and shared her favourite parts of the lifestyle there. Advertisement 3 Tori clinto says she ditched her miserable life in dublin for a sunny city in Spain Credit: Jam Press/@thetoridiaries 3 Now, she gets time to enjoy a cheap beer everyday and tan in the sun Credit: Jam Press/@thetoridiaries The 30-year-old has spent the last two years living abroad and said her favourite part was the £1.50 beers on offer. Now in the popular city of Malaga, she said the culture change has drastically improved her life and changed her mindset on booze. Now, she visits her local every day to soak up the sun with a 'cheeky caña'. The small beer only costs £1.50 in Tori's favourite spots, while a pint costs just £2.17. In comparison, the average price of a pint in her hometown is now a whopping £6.42. Tori, who is a freelance worker, says having the odd tipple instead of binge drinking, and embracing a culture where work isn't the be-all and end-all, has allowed her to 'become the best version' of herself. Advertisement 'I was miserable back home. I look back and wonder how I survived so long in my past life,' Tori told Luxury Travel Daily. 'It is so normal to do things on evenings after work, not just go home like back home and watch EastEnders. 'Going to my local is my favourite time of the day - it's time for me to catch up on some life admin and work, but also check in with myself and journal my thoughts. 'I mean, who doesn't want to be sat out in the evening sun with a cheeky caña, thinking 'how is this my life?' Advertisement 'In Spain, there is no binge drinking, and you never see people super drunk or messy. 'They sip their alcohol and pace themselves. 3 tori says there's no pressure to work hard in the sun Credit: Jam Press/@thetoridiaries Benidorm 'becoming too POSH' as dejected expat complains of empty beaches & buzz-free bars after Brits 'priced out' 'Being Irish, our favourite thing to say is 'shall we get another?' when in fact there is no need for that other drink. Advertisement 'This is something you would never hear people here say, and it has taken time to shift to this mindset. 'Everything feels so much cheaper as the prices are so different in comparison to Ireland and England. Work and career are a lower priority here - it's all about living and enjoying, rather than chasing work pressures. Tori Clinton 'When I go back there to visit family, it can be quite a shock - even when getting a coffee.' Tori quit her job and travelled to Malaga, a place she often visited as a child with her family, in 2023. Advertisement After falling in love with her new life, she decided to settle down in the Spanish coastal city. She added: 'Work and career are a lower priority here - it's all about living and enjoying, rather than chasing work pressures. 'There are, however, some cultural aspects that have been hard to grasp and still grind my gears. 'As everything is slower paced here, so too is paperwork and getting things done without over complicating everything, but look - we can't have it all. Advertisement 'It can also be like being on a rollercoaster with your emotions as you're trying to build a life and a home in a country where you're not fluent in their language.'
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I ditched the boring UK for a busy European city on my own – it's sunny 300 days of the year & I made friends so easily
Read on for tips on moving house EXPAT ESCAPE I ditched the boring UK for a busy European city on my own – it's sunny 300 days of the year & I made friends so easily A YOUNG woman has revealed how she ditched the boring UK to live in a bustling European city. Gabby Elisa moved to Barcelona, Spain, and has no plans to come back to the UK, and it's easy to see why. 3 Gabby Elisa left the UK for Barcelona all on her own Credit: 3 She said the bustling city made it easy to make friends Credit: 3 The city is often sunny and has stunning views Credit: Getty Taking to social media, she shared that she works for herself, making the move easy to do all on her own. She said: "Why moving to Barcelona was the best decision I ever made." Not only is the city filled with beautiful views and surrounded by a beach, she said it was also sunny 300 days of the year. "Winter isn't even cold," she added. Gabby also found it super easy to make friends in the city despite moving out there alone. There's plenty of places for the friends to meet up as well as she said the food scene was unreal with lots of restaurants to try out. Gabby said there was always something to do in the city as events are a weekly occurrence. Not only was the city fun to live in, she said the workout culture was also big out there meaning there's no excuse to skip a gym day. To top it off, it was easy to hire a car and make your way around Spain as well. Gabby also revealed she had an e-guide on what to know before moving abroad to make it easier if you fancy ditching the UK too. Spanish city with £15 flights from the UK The clip went viral on her TikTok account @gabbyelisa with over 36k views and 2,200 likes. People were quick to take to the comments in awe of her lifestyle. One person wrote: "Best city to live in!" Another commented: '1 week living here and love it sooo much already!" Moving house hacks 1. Declutter Before You Pack Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load. 2. Create an Inventory Make a list of all your items. This helps keep track of everything and ensures nothing gets lost in the move. 3. Use Quality Packing Materials Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. This will protect your belongings during the move. 4. Label Everything Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much easier and more organized. 5. Pack a 'First Day' Box Include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes on your first day. 6. Take Photos of Electronics Setup Before unplugging your electronics, take photos of the wiring setup. This will make it easier to reconnect everything at your new place. 7. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury. 8. Colour-Code Your Boxes Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home. "Been here for 8 years! Love it still. Except for all the construction," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "I want to move to Barcelona so much!" Someone else added: 'I would love to move there, I think I felt very safe. It just felt like my home city." Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@ and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I ditched the UK for sunny Spain – the process took less than three months, I bought my dream home & get paid to tan
Read on for tips on moving houses EXPAT ESCAPE I ditched the UK for sunny Spain – the process took less than three months, I bought my dream home & get paid to tan Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOMAN who was fed up with living in the UK has shared how different life is in Spain. Georgia currently lives in Malaga and hasn't looked back since ditching her life in the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Georgia moved from the UK to Spain five years ago Credit: Tiktok/@geoinspain 3 Now she has bought her dream house with views of the ocean Credit: Tiktok/@geoinspain 3 She also said she gets paid to tan Credit: geoinspain Now, Georgia has her dream house overlooking the sea and gets paid to tan. Taking to social media, she revealed the new house included three bedrooms, a giant rooftop area, a pool, and scenic views of the ocean. Georgia has lived in Spain for five years but it took her just three months to buy her dream home. And that's not all, she also revealed her bills were significantly cheaper too. In the summer, where she typically uses aircon for her house throughout the day, she revealed her energy bills cost just £50 a month. The UK in comparison, is an average payment of £150 a month. And that's not all, her water bill came to just £20 for two months of usage - and that was with filling up her swimming pool. Georgia also revealed that she got paid to tan and work out while in Spain. In another clip, she showed herself at work on a rooftop moving furniture about as she enjoyed the views. "How do I explain to an English person I get paid to do this," she said. I ditched my retail job in the UK for island paradise…rent is just £225, dinner costs £2 & our poolside office has a spa "Is it classed as a job? "I've seen worse working days. I class it as getting a tan & free gym." The clip of her new house has gone viral on her TikTok account @geoinspain with over 2 million views and over 100k likes. People were quick to congratulate Georgia on her new life in the sun. Moving house hacks 1. Declutter Before You Pack Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load. 2. Create an Inventory Make a list of all your items. This helps keep track of everything and ensures nothing gets lost in the move. 3. Use Quality Packing Materials Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. This will protect your belongings during the move. 4. Label Everything Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much easier and more organized. 5. Pack a 'First Day' Box Include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes on your first day. 6. Take Photos of Electronics Setup Before unplugging your electronics, take photos of the wiring setup. This will make it easier to reconnect everything at your new place. 7. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury. 8. Colour-Code Your Boxes Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home. One person wrote: "This is beautiful, congratulations." Another commented: 'Congratulations. It's my dream to move to Spain and leave the noisy New York.' "Congratulations Geo, it is gorgeous! I bet all your friends from the UK are going to visit you this year," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Congrats on your beautiful home, those views are insane." "Amazing! I'm planning to do the same soon,' claimed a fifth. Someone else added: 'Absolutely stunning, it's a dream to have that sea view." Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@ and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.
Scottish Sun
29-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
I spent £2.5k buying a grotty caravan in Benidorm – it needs some TLC but comes with FREE pool access & other perks
Thinking of ditching the UK? Read on for our top moving house tips EXPAT ESCAPE I spent £2.5k buying a grotty caravan in Benidorm – it needs some TLC but comes with FREE pool access & other perks A COUPLE have revealed they have ditched the UK to live in a grotty caravan in Benidorm, Gemma and Nicky took to social media to share their journey moving to sunny Spain and transforming the rundown home on wheels. Advertisement 4 Gemma and Nicky decided to give up the UK to live in Benidorm Credit: @ 4 The pair spent £2.5k buying a rundown caravan to turn into their dream home Credit: @ 4 While the caravan may not look like much, the couple gets access to pools on the site Credit: The pair bought the caravan for just £2,500 and it's clear why the price was so cheap. From the look of the caravan, it appeared it hadn't been cleaned in years as it was covered in dirt and algae on the outside. Inside, the couple's new home wasn't much better, and the previous tenants had left many of their belongings inside. The inside hadn't been decorated in years as Gemma joked, 'Inside was like a time capsule.' Advertisement But despite the initial look of the caravan, the pair were prepared to invest and transform it into a dream home at the Villamar camping site. Currently, the pair plans to use the caravan as a vacation home and hopes to come out at least once a month. But Gemma revealed they were currently applying for Spanish residency so they could stay in the caravan full time. Currently, you can travel to Benidorm for up to 90 days in any 180 days without a visa. Advertisement If you want to stay for longer or work, you will need to apply for a visa or residency, the latter of which Gemma and ~Nicky are in the process of doing. The pair is paying an additional £5,000 a year for site fees to use the amenities. I ditched my 'depressing' concrete council house to live on a permanent caravan pitch and now rent is just £90 a week 4 The site boasts an indoor and outdoor pool, bar and restaurant Credit: While the grubby caravan may not be to everyone's taste, the camping site's amenities are. Advertisement The Villamar site the pair have purchased their caravan includes an indoor pool as well as an outside heated pool. And for those wanting to get out of the site you can make your way to Levante beach in just a quick walk. The site also boasts a bar and lounge area around the pool, a restaurant and lots of kid activities to keep the whole family entertained. Moving house hacks 1. Declutter Before You Pack Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load. 2. Create an Inventory Make a list of all your items. This helps keep track of everything and ensures nothing gets lost in the move. 3. Use Quality Packing Materials Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. This will protect your belongings during the move. 4. Label Everything Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much easier and more organized. 5. Pack a 'First Day' Box Include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes on your first day. 6. Take Photos of Electronics Setup Before unplugging your electronics, take photos of the wiring setup. This will make it easier to reconnect everything at your new place. 7. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury. 8. Colour-Code Your Boxes Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home. The clip has since gone viral on their joint TikTok account @ with over 306k views and 3,600 likes. Advertisement People were quick to take to the comments One person wrote: "£3k is nothing, looks like there's plenty of space. Soon get it looking nice." Another commented: 'I'd buy it! You're buying the lifestyle as well, bit of elbow grease and you'll have it how you want it, you're living the life a lot of us want, enjoy!" "I did the same, I live here on the site over the road from Villamar," penned a third. Advertisement Meanwhile a fourth said: "Very nice, sure it will be lovely. Enjoy." Someone else added: '100% would buy one and do it up as and when I had spare cash." Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@ and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.
