Family sells home to travel the world on $35 a day

A Family's Journey to a Life of Travel and Simplicity

For many people, the idea of traveling the world is just a dream that gets pushed aside by daily responsibilities. But for one family from Sheffield, England, that dream has become a reality. Josh and Katie, both 33 years old, decided to take a bold step by selling their home and moving abroad with their two children—aged seven and three—on a full-time travel adventure.

The couple first got the travel bug during a year they spent in Australia in 2015, before they had kids. However, it wasn’t until this January, while on vacation in Mexico, that they realized they could live a more fulfilling life with less money. They were inspired by the idea of stretching their budget further in places like Southeast Asia, where the cost of living is significantly lower.

At the time, they considered moving to Australia on a sponsored visa, but the long hours required for Katie’s work as a hairdresser made them reconsider. “I didn’t want to work five days a week and not see the kids,” she said. Instead, they chose a simpler lifestyle that allowed them to spend quality time together as a family.

In April, the couple listed their three-bedroom house for sale and managed to sell it within 24 hours. After selling most of their belongings, they left the UK behind and headed to Thailand on August 22—with no plans to return. “We’re taking four backpacks and that’s literally it,” Josh said. “Everything we own we sold.”

The family estimates that they will spend between £1,500 to £2,000 per month on their new way of life. This includes about £500 per month for accommodation and a daily budget of around £35 for food, activities, and other expenses. In contrast, their monthly expenses back in the UK were close to £4,000—nearly double what they are spending now.

So far, the family hasn’t set a specific route for their travels. Katie, who is “pretty chill” about their next destination, said, “It’s the unknown to us all, but that’s what excites us.” While she missed her loved ones back home, especially her mother, she felt at peace once they boarded the plane. “If I could pick them up and take them with me, I would,” she admitted.

When it comes to their children’s education, the couple has a plan. They share videos of their travels on TikTok under the handle @4backpacksmanymemories and have created a hybrid learning model. They follow Oakwood Academy, which provides online resources, and also have a private tutor check in with the kids weekly. “I’ve actually got a friend who’s done this kind of thing before,” Josh explained. “They were spending £1,500 to £2,000 per month including accommodation, food, and activities, which is considerably cheaper than what we pay now.”

According to Katie, the children are thriving in their new routine. “It just feels surreal and it’s an adventure,” she said. “Even now, we don’t feel like we’re thousands of miles away. It’s like ‘god, we’ve done it, we’re here.’”

The family is scheduled to move to their next destination in Southeast Asia on September 29, but for now, they are enjoying the freedom of their current location without any bookings. “We know that as long as we have each other, we can conquer anything,” Katie added.

This family’s journey is a testament to the power of dreams, sacrifice, and the pursuit of a life filled with experiences rather than material possessions. Their story shows that sometimes, the best adventures begin with a simple decision to take a leap of faith.