A family left “drowning in debt” have revealed how they ditched their UK home and sold their treasured belongings to travel the world as digital nomads – with no rent or bills.
Laura and David Helen now spend heir days house or pet sitting, while exploring with their two children, Tegan, 15 and Tyler, 12.
But the couple’s lives weren’t always like this – with the pair, aged 41 and 43, left in £54,000 worth of debt not too long ago.
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As they struggled to see a way out, they decided to up and ditch their old lives in the UK, sell their belongings, and are now living in “freedom” with no commitments.
“It was simple; we were living to work and working to live,” the author, from Cornwall, told What’s The Jam.
“And that wasn’t what I wanted for us.
“From the outside, our lives appeared successful and stable.
“But the reality was that we were in huge debt and every month, there seemed to be more days left than money.
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“The stress of this financial burden became overwhelming and it was clear that our current lifestyle was unsustainable.
“It was an exhausting and relentless cycle of sinking deeper into debt.
“Despite working so hard, we were close to bankruptcy and homelessness.
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“We realised that to make a change, we needed to drastically shift how we were living.”
Laura and David were left constantly borrowing from family and friends following adopting Tegan in July 2014, which cost them £54,000 in legal fees.
But after paying their rent and bills, totalling £3,000 per month, they were left with nothing.
And on top of that, each day was filled with chores, leaving little-to-no time for them to spend time with their children.
Faced with mounting debt, and a growing feeling of sadness, the family-of-four decided in 2017 to leave behind their traditional lives.
Whittling their belongings down to a suitcase each, they settled on becoming digital nomads.
She said: “The nomadic lifestyle was something I had always dreamed about – but I had no idea it was even possible, especially with children.
“I thought such a life was only achievable for those who were incredibly wealthy.
“It seemed like a distant fantasy, something that could never fit into our reality, but then we started thinking creatively.
“I worried how the kids would adjust and adapt – there was a lot of fear, but also a lot of excitement.
“If we had waited until everything was perfectly aligned and we felt financially ready, we would never have made the leap.
“We had nothing to lose; our situation was already dire – what was the worst that could happen?”
Laura says the start of the journey was an “emotional rollercoaster” – but was also “undeniably freeing” as they were letting go of everything they had ever known.
After selling their treasured items, such as her dream Lotus Elise car, their Disney collection, and their children’s favourite toys, they were ready to hit the road.
The family bought a one-way plane ticket to Spain and kept costs low through staying in cheap Airbnbs, as well as house and pet sitting.
They earned a living through their own side hustle running a book business, helping aspiring authors through the process.
Since then, they’ve travelled to Egypt, Italy, Venice, Romania, Hungary, France, Costa Rica, Los Angeles and road tripped from Miami to Las Vegas.
Some of their favourite memories include riding camels, climbing mountains, travelling by horse and cart, as well as experiencing how other cultures live.
Though they’ve suffered challenges along the way, such as fake Airbnbs that didn’t exist, flight delays and encounters with poisonous snakes; it’s all part of the experience.
After three years, their entire debt was cleared and currently, they’re in Spain – spending just £1,000 per month – with no plans of returning to their old lives any time soon.
In fact, they hope to challenge the norm with their way of life, which includes no television for the kids, experiences instead of presents, and not letting them go to school.
Laura aims to teach her children through worldschooling – as she’s coined it – meaning they learn through the world and immersion in different cultures, rather than a curriculum.
The approach is hands-on, involving building structures in nature, exploring historical sites and doing enriching activities, such as snorkelling.
They also learn about entrepreneurship, financial education, self-love, manifestation and love languages.
And it’s proved a success, as Tyler already has 45 books published, focusing on teaching core values and life lessons.
Even Tegan is an award-winning Amazon best-selling author of five books, three in different languages, centred on how to use money effectively, as well as general life topics.
She said: “I used to work in a school and a preschool, and I saw a lot I didn’t agree with.
“It felt like children were often treated as numbers in a system, rather than individuals with their own unique talents, dreams and creativity.
“I wanted to create an environment where they could thrive and become their authentic selves, without the constraints of a traditional educational system.
“It’s unconventional and sometimes controversial, but it aligns perfectly with our family’s values.
“Tegan has become more engaged, asking questions and has thrived in this environment, where learning feels natural and exciting.
“It’s about turning the world into our classroom.
“This approach has allowed both children to flourish and grow in ways we never imagined possible in a traditional setting.”
Now, their daily lives aren’t filled with chores that are never-ending; instead, they’re able to embrace hiking, reading and simply spending time with each other.
Though, not everyone agrees.
She said: “In the early days, one of the hardest things for me personally was dealing with the judgement and reactions from others, especially those closest to us.
“It was painful to hear the doubts and criticisms, as it felt like a lack of support from people we valued.
“A few years later, though, they’ve come around to see that we’re thriving in our new way of life.
“People see us as proof that it’s possible to take risks and pursue dreams, even when facing difficult challenges.
“We know our lives may seem a bit unconventional, weird, or wacky, but we are incredibly happy.”
In the future, they plan on continuing to explore the world and while their children may lead different paths, they hope to still share adventures together.
For now, though, the experience has “transformed” their lives for the better.
Laura added: “I experience a sense of freedom, purpose and fulfilment that I never had before.
“As a mum, I feel incredibly connected to my children.
“Clearing our debt in just three years lifted a huge weight off our shoulders and gave us breathing space, allowing us to live with more ease.
“The kids’ upbringing has given them a unique and enriched perspective, compared to children who follow a traditional path.
“They’re not just learning about the world; they engage with it directly.
“Despite the difficulties, we’ve grown closer as a family and developed the confidence to navigate whatever comes our way.
“If you’re thinking about this lifestyle, my advice is simple: jump all in.
“Don’t wait until the time feels right or until you can afford it because that moment will never come.
“It can be challenging at times, but the rewards are far greater than you can imagine.
“The memories you create with your family will last a lifetime, and not many families have that gift.
“It’s not been easy.
“But now, we’re living life on our terms – and that is what it’s all about.”
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