Unhappy with rising living costs in their home country which they claimed left them “crippled”, a couple made the huge decision to move from the United Kingdom (UK) to Kuala Lumpur along with their four kids.
Since making the move, the family has never been happier as they find life in Malaysia to be way more manageable in terms of finances and work-life balance.
Unhappy with life in the UK
Speaking to Daily Express, Phoebe Wilson, a content creator, said she found the cost of living in the UK to be “difficult”, with childcare fees being the straw which broke the camel’s back.
“The price of living in the UK was just very difficult for us. Childcare is what pushed us over the edge, we were crippled by childcare.
“We were paying £2,700 (approx. RM14,700) for two children a month. Furthermore, we relied on British childcare as we lost some grandparents and it was really expensive.
“After paying for childcare, food, just living your basic life, there was no time to enjoy these other things,” she said.
Lower costs in KL
Not wanting to put up with their “miserable” lives, Phoebe and her entire family moved to KL on July 24 and saw a drastic drop in living expenses.
For starters, Phoebe now only pays £400 (approx. RM2,100) per month in childcare fees, which is a 148% decrease from what she paid previously.
On top of that, she also pays less for food, where she has fork out only £40 (approx. RM218) per week instead of £200 (approx. RM1,091).
As for accommodation, Phoebe’s family lives in a gated community condo complete with a pool and gym for £800 (approx. RM4,300) a month with no mortgages.
Settled into new life well
Phoebe admitted that she initially was worried that her children would find it difficult adjusting to their new lives in KL, but she was happy to be proven wrong.
She also praised KL’s work-life balance, adding:
There are a lot more holidays in the year, time to travel and do things. Everything is so much cheaper, so we have so much more disposable income. The weather is good all year round too.”
Despite a difficult transition, Phoebe said she had no regrets starting anew in Malaysia.
“It was definitely worth it. It’s crazy that more people aren’t doing it because it’s such a better way of life.
“You’ve got to think outside the box and think about what is best for you and your family. I want my kids to be world thinkers and spend more time outside.
“My older kids had a great childhood but spent a lot of time indoors on Xbox or PlayStation. It’s a whole other way to do life. It’s just amazing, we can’t even believe this is our real life.”
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