selling

A young family decided to make a significant lifestyle change and move to Thailand, selling almost everything they owned to make the big move – and they have no regrets

Faced with Britain’s dreary weather and struggling to carve out precious family moments, one couple took radical steps, flogging all their possessions on Vinted to fund a dramatic relocation overseas.

Jasmine Riam and her partner made the courageous choice to abandon their UK existence with their two youngsters for a completely new beginning in Thailand. The pair relocated to Southeast Asia within just six months, though the decision wasn’t taken lightly, and they had compelling reasons for such a transformative leap.

“My husband and I had been talking for a long time about moving away to create a better life for ourselves and our young children – he works incredibly hard, yet by the end of each month, we were often left with little to nothing, and even less time to truly enjoy life together as a family,” Jasmine revealed to travel experts at Omio, the online booking platform.

“We had a nice life in the UK, but the weather, rising costs, and a growing sense that we wanted more began to weigh on us. The moment everything became clear was after praying and watching things align. My husband’s work began to slow down in the UK, and we both felt a deep sense of peace that this was the right next step for our family.”

READ MORE: You can currently book Spain and Portugal holidays for less than £150pp in 2026

Jasmine went on: “Being half Thai made the idea of moving feel more achievable, and slowly, the possibility turned into a real plan. I’ve always wanted to explore this side of my culture more deeply. Growing up in the UK, I had only ever experienced Thailand through holidays, so living here felt like something that had always been calling me. My husband also loves Thailand, which made the decision even easier.”

To turn their aspirations into reality, the pair took dramatic steps to raise additional funds and flogged nearly everything they owned. The mother-of-two revealed: “The relocation happened quickly – within six months, we had booked our flights and were actively moving forward.

“We already had some savings, but we also decided to fully commit by selling almost everything we owned – our car, many personal belongings and even our son’s quad bike. I sold clothes on Vinted, and we cleared out anything no longer needed. We also filled bags and bags for charity. After this, we had roughly between £5,000-£10,000 in savings.

“We truly sold everything, and surprisingly, it felt incredibly freeing. I had been holding onto things for years without realising how much they were weighing me down. Decluttering and moving toward a more minimal lifestyle felt so good – lighter, clearer, and more intentional.”

READ MORE: Best destinations where it’s hot and sunny in January, February and MarchREAD MORE: ‘I’ve visited more than 40 countries but there’s only one city I’d live in’

Having relocated at the end of this year, she noted: “There haven’t been any unexpected expenses so far, but when you first arrive, it’s easy to spend more than planned. Rent is usually the biggest cost, and day-to-day expenses can slowly add up if you’re not careful.”

Jasmine and her spouse have been adapting to their new lifestyle, with their daily routine undergoing significant changes. “Our wellness routine is amazing. We take turns to go to the gym each morning, go on long walks along the beach with the children, and make time for relaxing massages. We’ve had so much more quality time together as a family, and it’s been such a gift,” Jasmine revealed.

“It’s been really nice to slow down to wake up early, read the Bible, and pray together. We’re feeling refreshed, grounded, and grateful, and we’re really looking forward to connecting with a new church here as well.

“A slower-paced life and more time to spend with each other has been exactly what we needed. We’re no longer constantly in a rush, and instead feel more relaxed, present, and at ease. The mental load is finally starting to lift, and the sunshine is making us all happier too!”.

She further stated: “The people are incredibly friendly, life is far more affordable, the weather is beautiful, and there is so much for us to do and experience together as a family.”

READ MORE: Jet2 launches huge sale with £400 off all holidays and 20% discount on flights

However, they do miss their extended family back in the UK, but are eagerly anticipating their visit. Jasmine confessed: “The hardest part was leaving our family. We’re incredibly close to both sides, and saying goodbye was heartbreaking. We miss them more than we ever imagined, but we’re grateful that we can FaceTime regularly and stay connected. Their love and support has meant everything to us, and we already look forward to them coming to visit us.”

For those considering a similar move, Jasmine encouraged: “Go for it. Sometimes it takes actually moving away to realise that change really is possible. Change is the catalyst, and at times, you simply have to take that leap of faith. If it doesn’t work out, what’s the worst that can happen?”.

“Be wise and prepared, make sure you have enough savings and budget realistically. While Thailand is more affordable, costs can add up quickly if you’re not mindful. Stay humble, stay grounded, and enjoy the process. It’s also important to have the correct paperwork and visas in place.

“Respecting the culture and the Thai people is also vital – Thailand is a beautiful, calm place to live, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms.”

Got a travel tale to tell? Drop an email to webtravel@reachplc.com

Johnson was Tottenham‘s leading Premier League goalscorer last season with 11, and etched his name in Spurs folklore by scoring the winner in their Europa League final triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao, ending the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy.

But the departure of Ange Postecoglou and arrival of Thomas Frank as new head coach has meant Johnson has played more of a peripheral role this season.

Johnson, 24, has made only six top-flight starts under Frank this season.

As a result, a number of clubs have been alerted to his potential availability before the January transfer window.

Given his lack of action and the prospect of a World Cup on the horizon with Wales, a move away from Tottenham may suit Johnson next month.

Johnson joined Tottenham from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £47.5m in the summer of 2023 and has scored 27 goals for the club.

WHEN it comes to Christmas dinners, Brits take it very seriously, from getting the right amount of crunch on roast potatoes to whether Yorkshire puddings belong on the plate.

So when I found out that the luxury department store Harrods and the bargain pub chain Wetherspoons both offer festive dinners for the same price, I had to go out and see exactly which was better.

Each dinner costs £15, and I took everything into account from initial impressions to taste and texture to value for money.

I thought I’d start on a high, by heading to Harrods in the heart of London for the first of the two options in my Christmas dinner taste test.

I’d been teased by social media posts about just how good their Christmas Dinner Box is, seeing influencers tucking into thick slices of turkey crown with lashings of gravy and hot cauliflower cheese.

It’s Christmas time so naturally the shop was heaving with both tourists and the rich regular shoppers, so I make a swift beeline to the Food Hall.

SNOW WAY

All the best Xmas days out under £10 including FREE ice skating & Santa’s grotto

CHRIMBO WIN

Enter these travel comps before Xmas to win £2k holidays, ski trips & spa stays

Thankfully there’s an easy way to find the roast dinner – follow your nose and look for the spinning chickens on the Rotisserie Counter.

You’ll then see a suited and booted staff member whose job it is to gate-keep the long queue, which took 20 minutes to complete on my visit.

My meal was a tad sloppily-placed into a cardboard lunchbox. But you can’t deny that for just £15, it’s huge.

It comes with two thick turkey slices, three cuttings of ham, eight roast potatoes, one stuffing ball wrapped in bacon and sage, a long pig in a blanket, cauliflower cheese, cranberry sauce and a splash of meat gravy.

With a smile, I was handed over my weighty dinner, but it came with a new challenge; where to eat it.

Unlike Wetherspoons, Harrods offers no seating, so having to find somewhere to eat it before it got cold was slightly frustrating.

Faced with eating my lunch standing on a busy London street, I had to high-tail it back on the tub to my the office to dig in.

I started with the star of the show -the turkey. And I was very impressed with out moist it was , after all, we’ve all tucked into a home-cooked Christmas dinner that’s much too dry.

The marmalade-glazed ham was lovely too, although it was quite fatty along the side. But once that was cut away, the meat itself was soft, nicely flavoured and not too salty.

Of course no Christmas dinner is complete without roast potatoes and these had a great herby flavour.

They weren’t as crisp as I’d like, probably because they’d been sitting underneath the meat while I travelled o the tub, but you couldn’t argue with the fluffiness inside.

The stuffing ball was generously sized and, in my opinion, fancy. It came wrapped in bacon and a whole sage leaf; nothing like I’ve made from the Paxo box at home.

The cauliflower cheese is a great addition as everything sits on the creamy surface, not to mention it was delicious.

There wasn’t a lot of gravy, but I’m sure that if I’d asked for another ladle full they wouldn’t have said no.

And love it or hate it, I had cranberry sauce on my dinner. Not a lot, but enough for that sweet flavour and, as you might have guessed as it’s Harrods, was full of actual whole cranberries. 

However, how does it compare to its Wetherspoons rival, charging the same amount?

My next stop was to The Pommelers Rest Wetherspoons on Tower Bridge Road in London.

The standard price for ‘sliced turkey breast and winter vegetables’ Christmas dinner is £14.99 – however in London you pay an extra £1, so costs £15.99, including a soft drink.

It’s detailed as having four turkey slices, along with pork, sage and onion stuffing, roasted Chantenay carrots and parsnips, Maris Piper mash, two pigs-in-blankets, peas, cranberry sauce and gravy, as well as a soft drink.

It doesn’t sound too bad, right?

I will say, the huge portion on the classic Wetherspoons blue and white patterned plate was much bigger than the Harrods version, so it’s great if you have a hearty appetite.

But that’s where the positives ended. It had thin slices of turkey, of which I only counted three rather than the promised four.

Not only did the potato mash have a crusty skin on the top, but its a sacrilege to have mash rather than roasties.

There were two tiny pigs in blankets, two small carrots, some cubed parsnips (which together I doubt made one whole one) and a flurry of green peas.

Even the gravy was a let down, tasting like it was made from granules.

The cranberry sauce came in a pot on the side which I appreciated – but when it came to taste it was very artificial and packed with sugar.

Maybe it wouldn’t have felt too dissappointing if I hadn’t already tried the Harrods alternative.

But it didn’t feel like the usual great value for money that you get from Wetherspoons meal deals.

The only way Wetherspoons could trump Harrods is the fact that it has seating, and was a much bigger serving.

But I’d rather be standing on a busy London road, eating my lunch from a takeaway box than tucking into the festive dinner at a table in a warm pub.

For more on taste tests, Sun Travel checked out the UK’s best ice cream shop which serves Aperol, Pimms & cornflake scoops.

And Sun Travel also tasted the new viral Dubai chocolate ice cream served at a top London attraction – it was a huge disappointment.