Couple Saves Thousands Monthly Traveling the World with Daughter as Home Costs Rise

A New Perspective on Budget Travel

Living at home has become so expensive that some people are choosing to travel abroad to save money. A couple from the UK who uprooted their lives to embark on a year-long world tour with their six-year-old daughter have found that this adventure is actually cheaper than staying at home.

Hayley Trow, 37, shared her experience with Jam Press, stating, “We’ve budgeted our travel costs to be less than our UK outgoings, traveling midrange, which is crazy – but completely puts into perspective UK living costs currently.” She and her husband Lewis, 45, set a budget of $2,530-$3,795, which allows them to visit dream destinations like Bali, Milan, Italy, and Disneyland in Paris, France.

While planning for their “gap year,” which began in July, they realized their stipend didn’t come close to what they spent at home, with expenses averaging $5,422-$6,778 per month. Around half of that was spent on living and rent in their hometown of Cheshire.

“It was a real eye-opener as to how much we were spending,” said Hayley, who is currently in Bali with her husband and daughter Nyla. “Household bills were £300 a month ($406), our food shop cost £200 ($271) a week, and a day out would cost around £100 ($135). In comparison, right now we have an apartment with a pool, including bills in Bali that cost us £500 ($675.69) a month.”

The Decision to Travel

Money didn’t originally factor into the trip at all; the family got the idea after catching the travel bug during a 2022 trip to Australia. They wanted their daughter, Nyla, to see the world.

“We’d both spent years climbing the ladder, working towards leadership roles, spending time in boardrooms and endless meetings – but it got to the point where we realized we were living for two holidays a year,” lamented Hayley, who worked in IT recruitment before her adventure. “We wanted more time together, more adventure, and more freedom for our daughter.”

She added, “So we traded boardrooms for Bali beaches – and it’s been the best decision we’ve ever made.”

Overcoming Challenges

Getting the idea off the ground wasn’t easy for Hayley and Lewis, who initially faced skeptical reactions from their family. “When you’ve followed the norms of society for so long, most people around you question why you would leave your well-paid jobs and a comfortable lifestyle,” said Hayley, who admitted the decision felt “daunting” for them as well.

They spent seven months planning their gap year, which required the couple to take a one-year sabbatical from their jobs. They also moved in with Lewis’ parents for a half-year to save as much money as possible. They had to inform Nyla’s school, who were “very supportive,” and arrange for her education while traveling. Nyla has been doing online tutoring that matches the UK curriculum while the family has been abroad, and they enrolled her temporarily at a multicultural school in Bali.

“We worked hard to completely strip back our lifestyle,” said Hayley. “It was a small sacrifice, the way we see it, for the opportunity to live differently.”

Exploring the World

After laying the foundation, the family embarked on their journey, starting with a trip to Disneyland in Paris for Nyla’s birthday. They then spent a month gallivanting around Italy, visiting Lake Como, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Puglia.

“We’ve been in awe of some of the places we’ve seen, and ticking off historic landmarks whilst experiencing the world through our little girl’s eyes has made it even more magical,” said Hayley.

From there, they flew to Bali, where they will remain until November, when they embark on a campervan tour of Australia. In the New Year, they will head to Singapore, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

The Value of Experiences

While it’s undeniably been difficult to be away from home for so long, Hayley believes it’s worth it as they’ll “never get this time back.” “We wanted to make memories now, not ‘one day,'” said the mother, who believes Nyla benefits from these international experiences.

“At Nyla’s age, we know it will have an impact on her life and future development as she grows, and we are so grateful to have this time together to reconnect and explore the world as a family,” she said. “When she looks back, she won’t remember us being stressed about work – she’ll remember chasing waterfalls in Bali.”

Advice for Other Families

Hayley recommends that any parents struggling with life — not to mention expenses — consider taking similar steps. “I’d recommend to any family that has similar aspirations to travel as a family to do it – don’t wait,” she said. “Don’t put it on hold until you’ve got the promotion or had the health scare, or lost a loved one. There’s no right timing – you’ve just got to be all in as a family.”

Support Services for Global Living

Embarking on a gap year might be easier said than done, but there are services that help facilitate families’ global getaways. Boundless Life, for example, offers fully furnished, family-friendly homes, vibrant coworking hubs, and a forward-thinking global education program. They currently offer schools in 7 countries around the world and growing, with the idea that families can travel the world in increments while still educating their kids.

Diana Blinks, a married Florida mom of three, discovered the service in Portugal while backpacking across the globe with the family. “The homeschooling hubs have been amazing,” said Diana. “It means the girls have peers like they would in a conventional school.” Not only do the hubs provide educational support, but they also serve as meetups where families can form lasting friendships. Despite this, Diana insists it doesn’t detract from their ability to experience the local culture, explaining, “We’re still able to make full use of culture immersion through cooking classes and historical tours.”