A family of five who felt "trapped in the matrix of the 9 to 5" ditched the UK for southeast Asia - and live off a £40 daily budget. "

Couple Amelia Wray, 31, and Billy Evans, 37, made the decision to sell up as they felt they had limited time to spend with their kids - Archie, four, Annie, two, and Albert, one.

They travelled to Thailand in July 2025 for seven weeks to see if they would be "prepared" to move permanently and after falling "in love" with life there, they put their five-bed "dream" house on the market."



Now they have begun their new life using funds from the house sale which was a quick process due to having a cash buyer.



Donating to local charities, selling on Vinted and putting some items in storage for £160 per month, the family set off from Heathrow Airport on November 4.



Amelia says they will spend £1,250 per month funding their new way of life and £550 per month on accommodation.



She estimates their spend back at home was £2,500 per month – £83 a day - double of what they are spending currently.



Amelia, a digital nomad, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said: "It all happened really quickly for us."



"In July we set off to Thailand for a ‘dip your toes in first' type of experience to see if it's something we'd be prepared to do and sell the house for."



"On our return we put the house up for sale."



"The main reason we're doing this is we were both feeling very trapped in the matrix of the nine to five."



"We felt like we only got one day a week as a family on a Sunday – it was just not cutting it."



"We wanted also to be able to show our kids they don't need to follow what society tells you to do."



"Of course it's a risk but it's also a risk if you stay in the same lane"."



In the UK, Amelia, a self-employed hairdresser, and Billy, who worked in telecommunications, were spending 108 hour every week at work.

Now, they're learning new skills online during their travels, with Amelia re-training as a life coach and Billy to follow soon after with his next venture.

Keeping a number of "sentimental" items in storage back at home, the family have taken just two backpacks and two suitcases with them on their travels."



Their kids will join "pop up hubs" that offer educational activities whilst they are out there, but will be home schooled as planned fully by their parents."



Amelia said: "Our first stop is Bangkok as we're wanting to spend a week there and go up to North Thailand like Chang Mai and come back down south to explore the islands."



"We'll do about three months there and move onto other places in southeast Asia."



"The kids are very excited"."

Amelia says the reaction from friends and family has been "a mixture"."



"Most people are supportive and are all for it."



"Of course you get a handful of people who say, ‘Are you crazy? Have you really thought about it?'"



"A lot of people think we shouldn't have sold the house."



"It's a lot for our immediate family to process as we're not on the doorstep anymore."



"This city [Bangkok] never sleeps – it's incredible you can do what you want any time of day."



"People have this perception that Thailand is for a certain type of men but it's so family oriented, the kids thrive here."



"It's all so affordable."



"We feel we can give them more of our time and be more present because it's more affordable to live a good life out here really"."



The family are all settled into their new life in Asia and are set to visit their next destination, Hua Hin, on November 26 for Christmas and New Year.

With "no definite plan" the family will move place to place and "go with the flow". "


UK
Food shop per week: £200
Mortgage: £1,200
Bills/utilities: £600
Family outings: minimum £200 per month
Total monthly spend: In excess of £2,500 with phone bills, car, insurance.

Thailand
Accommodation: £550/650 including bills
Eating out: Still allow £150/200 a week to eat out nearly every meal (3 x a day)
Recreation activities: Low cost/free activities like beaches, waterfalls, markets, temples, social meets.
Daily spend: £40
Total monthly spend: £1,250