A family of four who ‘escaped’ Britain to travel the world have revealed how they’ve saved £15,000 in just a year.
Billie Van Der Walt, along with her husband, Selwyn, and their two kids, left everything behind without knowing what the future would hold.
Since then, they’ve visited nine countries, including the Maldives, China and South Africa, where they’re currently spending the next month.
READ MORE: Mum takes kids on extreme day trip to Austria amid the rise of the ‘coolcation’
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But while exploring the world, they’ve learned one particular lesson – and it’s meant they will likely never live in the UK again.
It’s due to the cost of living, with the family-of-four estimating they’ve saved a whopping £15,000 over the last 12 months.
“We don’t see ourselves coming back to the UK full-time now after living life in other countries,” the mum-of-two, from Atherton, told What’s The Jam.
“With what we’ve saved, I don’t have to work and can be a stay-at-home mum on the move.
“I never thought this would be possible.
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“It definitely wouldn’t have been on UK soil.”
Their savings include £1,066-per-month on nursery fees and £120-a-week on their food shop, which has meant they’re able to have more days and meals out.
Billie, 36, says these cost between £5-£10, instead of at least £50 in the UK, and so they go out up to three times a week.
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Other costs include a full tank of fuel for just £50, rather than £85.
Since they source a chunk of their accommodation through housesitting, their household bills are next to nothing.
But when they’re back in the UK this summer to visit family for a few weeks, they’re having to shell out a whopping £3,000 on accommodation alone.
Billie said: “We could’ve easily saved so much more if we stuck to a budget.
“With the increased cost of living, if we were still in the UK, we’d probably have been looking at getting second jobs.
“And sacrificing more family time.
“We feel so grateful that we don’t have to do that now.”
Billie previously revealed her “heartbreak” after being unable to jet home for Christmas due to flight costs being out of reach for them.
They are coming home for their son, Bligh’s fifth birthday, to carry on the tradition of going to Center Parcs, at the aforementioned pricey cost.
She added: “I’ve already booked out flights to get out of the UK.
“We’ll be going to see Taiwan and China.
“We’re home educating the kids and they’re doing so well.
“They’re actually a few years ahead of where the UK curriculum would expect them to be.
“Bligh is having his artwork featured in an international book of young artists and they’re both learning Chinese.
“I can’t believe how escaping the UK was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to us.”
READ MORE: Brit mum BARRED from family holiday flight by EasyJet staff
