A Brit has ditched his career in construction and life in the dismal UK to attempt TikTok fame in his 40s – he now drinks £2 pints on the beach and saves thousands on bills.
Robert Hoadley decided to up sticks after realising he was stuck in a cycle of working long hours just to cover rising costs.
The 45-year-old had barely travelled and spent years grafting in construction before deciding enough was enough.
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Now he’s living more than 6,000 miles away in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to work as a content creator, and says life couldn’t be more different.
“I felt like I was just working to cover bills with no real freedom,” Robert, from Portsmouth, told What’s The Jam.
“The cost of living in the UK kept going up, and I wanted a different lifestyle – less stress and more control of my time.
“I got to a point where I didn’t want to wait until retirement to actually start living life, so I decided to take the leap, sell everything I owned, and move out here.
“It’s definitely been a big change, but the lifestyle and day-to-day life here feels a lot better.”
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Since relocating in 2025, Robert has been working online, creating content about the cost of living and relocating abroad.
He’s currently building various online income streams so he can work remotely.
His social media platform, Sea Turkey Adventures, already boasts over 6,000 followers with some of his clips racking up over 200,000 views.
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Robert says he’s happier, more active and finally enjoying a proper work-life balance.
And despite pints costing just £2, he insists he’s actually drinking less.
Robert said: “I enjoyed going out in the UK, but these days it’s more balanced.
“I drink socially now rather than out of habit.
“There are more lifestyle options here like gyms, cafés, pools and being outdoors.
“I’m much more focused on health and routine now.
“I wake up earlier, train regularly, spend more time outdoors, and I’m more conscious of how I spend my time and money.
“In the evenings I’m nearly always out doing something social, even if it’s just meeting people for food or coffee rather than drinking.”
The UK’s cost-of-living crunch was a major factor behind his move.
Robert says he was spending more than £3,000 a month back home but now lives comfortably on just £800.
He said: “That’s the biggest difference – you’re not constantly under financial pressure.
“A lot of people don’t realise how far your money can go abroad, and how different life can feel when you’re not constantly stressed about bills.
“I did look at other countries, but Thailand just made sense – good food, friendly people, strong expat community, and you can live well here for a fraction of UK costs.”
He also says the slower pace of life has made a huge difference.
He said: “In the UK, people can seem stressed, the weather can be grey for long periods, and it often feels like everyone is rushing through life.
“Here, the climate is better, the people are generally more relaxed, and there’s a friendlier vibe overall.
“A lot of people are either on holiday or choosing to be here, so the energy feels more positive.
“It just suits me more at this stage of life.”
But it’s not all perfect – and Robert admits he still misses some things from home.
He added: “I miss friends and family, obviously.
“Also the humour – that UK sarcasm and banter is hard to replace.
“I miss certain foods and the traditional pub atmosphere.
“Every country has things you appreciate once you leave.”
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