Starting a family

Roshni Ward, 30, and Louis Hunt, 33, were fed up with the UK and high living costs

A British couple, fed up with the UK’s “poor work-life balance” and cost of living, have found their own paradise where their water bill is a few pounds and a meal out costs a fraction of what it does at home. They say that, in Thailand, they save a whopping £1,000 a month on rent and pay just £2.76 for water bills.

Roshni Ward, 30, and her fiancé Louis Hunt, 33, were exhausted from working 11-hour days and overtime in their flat in Rye, East Sussex, and yearned for a “slower pace of life”. The pair decided to pack their bags and move to Chiang Mai, Thailand, last September.

They were instantly smitten with the laid-back lifestyle, friendly locals, balmy 30C weather, and breathtaking architecture. Their monthly rent is now a mere £300, which includes access to a gym and pool, while water bills are only £2.76, taxis cost £1.50, and takeaways are just £2. This has resulted in savings of over £1,000 compared to their previous UK rent of £1,350.

Roshni, who now works as a content creator, said: “We always wanted to move abroad and had toyed with the idea of it. The UK didn’t feel safe and a poor work-life balance meant we were too burnt out to enjoy life.

“Since moving, we love the slower pace of life, as well as the weather, the rich culture and the welcoming locals. And the cost of everything is so much lower, which was a shock to the system – in a good way! If we can help it, we won’t come back to the UK.”

Roshni and Louis began earnestly considering an overseas relocation following their return from a Thai getaway in December 2024. Roshni was employed full-time as a corporate team leader in broadband sales and revealed she’d frequently find herself putting in extra hours at weekends, preventing her from unwinding and savouring her leisure time.

Louis was employed full-time as a carpenter, enduring 11-hour shifts including his commute, and would become physically drained as well.

Roshni said: “There was a poor work-life balance. When we got to the weekend, we were so burnt out that we didn’t want to do anything.”

They also felt insecure in the UK, especially Roshni as a woman, owing to crime rates, and recalled from their December break that they felt considerably safer in Thailand. So the moment their lease on their rented property in Rye expired, they started searching for rental properties in Thailand and relocated to Chiang Mai on September 3.

Roshni and Louis both quit their UK positions – with Roshni becoming a full-time content creator and Louis becoming an online fitness coach. She said the residents were all incredibly friendly and everyone was prepared to assist you if you were struggling.

There is a substantial community of international expats, providing plenty of chances to encounter fresh faces and mingle. The pair love exploring stunning temples, elephant sanctuaries, Thai eateries and waterfalls.

Roshni said: “There’s something for everyone in Chiang Mai.”

The couple have discovered that swapping the UK for Thailand has slashed their living costs dramatically. Despite both working remotely for international clients and earning UK wages, they’ve found life in Thailand to be a fraction of the cost.

Their stylish condo, just a ten-minute drive from the city centre and boasting a gym, swimming pool and co-working area, sets them back a mere £300 per month. This is a stark contrast to their previous flat in the UK which cost them a hefty £1,350 each month.

Utility bills are also significantly cheaper, with water costing a mere £2.76 compared to the UK’s steep £76. Even getting around is a bargain – a 20-minute taxi ride in Thailand will only set you back £1.50.

Electricity bills are another area where they’re making huge savings, paying just £44 compared to the UK’s whopping £300. And because taxis are so affordable, they’ve ditched owning a car or bike, saving even more on fuel and maintenance costs.

Eating out is also a steal, with takeaways costing between £1.50 and £2, and a full meal and drinks at a restaurant coming in at just £8 – a far cry from the UK, where it would be around £60. Roshni added that pints of beer are “no more than £2”.

The only item they’ve found to be pricier in Thailand is Bisto gravy granules, setting them back around £5 due to import costs. But despite the financial benefits, what they love most about their new home is the slower pace of life and the rich culture.

Roshni said: “In the mornings we can get lie-ins, go to the gym, have a swim and then start work. In the UK, everyone starts early and is asleep by 11pm, here, you could finish work at 10pm and everything is still open. Louis has some UK clients – he can have a business call at 11pm and we can still go out for a meal after.”

They are smitten with the culture – the opportunity to visit stunning temples, elephant sanctuaries and tours – as well as the tranquil and friendly locals.

She said: “Anyone will stop and help you if you need it. In the UK, if someone foreign came up to you asking for help, most people wouldn’t stop.”

Despite their short stay in Thailand, they are so enamoured that they can’t envision returning to the UK.

Roshni revealed: “We would like to stay permanently. We’d be more open to starting a family here than in the UK because it’s so much safer. We’ve just fallen in love.”

Costs: UK vs Thailand

Monthly rent: £1,350 vs £300

Monthly water bills: £76 vs £2.76

Monthly electric: £300 vs £44

Monthly transport: £95 for car costs vs £30 for taxi

Meal out: £60 vs £8

Pint of lager: £5.50 vs £2

Personal trainer Elbi Henshaw, 23, decided to move to Dubai with financial help from her parents after she began to find the United Kingdom “depressing”, but was in for a nasty surprise

A personal trainer, fed up with the “miserable” UK lifestyle, relocated to Dubai only to find herself working six days a week to afford life in the UAE city.

Elbi Henshaw, 23, made the move in January after holidaying there and realising how “depressing” her life was back in the UK.

Having previously worked in Saudi Arabia, Elbi, from Barnet, North London, she decided to give Dubai a try. With financial assistance from her parents, she secured full-time work at a gym.

Despite being settled and thriving in Dubai – a hotspot for British influencers due to its beautiful weather, stunning views and luxury nightlife – she admits missing UK pubs and pub culture eight months into her move.

Living in Dubai comes with its own challenges, including the high cost of living, with yoghurt costing £12 and coffee starting from £7. Elbi describes it as a “dog eat dog” lifestyle where people work six-day weeks and take on extra work to make ends meet, reports the Manchester Evening News.

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While Elbi now loves her location, she admits she “didn’t like it at first” as it can feel “lonely” trying to establish a social circle in such a high-intensity environment.

Reflecting on her decision, Elbi said: “In the UK, I was so depressed and miserable and everyone is so sedentary – I wanted a more active lifestyle. Out here, everyone is happier and active and they all want to be the best versions of themselves.

“I work full time but it’s hard not to just spend all your money – you’d need about £5k a month here to live comfortably. But you can pick up extra work quite quickly – at the moment I work six days but I’ll probably end up working seven. Paying no tax is a perk but the cost of living out here is so expensive that it ends up the same as in the UK. But here, you get the sun and a much better lifestyle – although I miss the pubs.”

Elbi relocated to Dubai in January – initially residing in a studio flat before moving into shared accommodation with two other young women. After joining a local running club, she struck up a conversation with someone who put her in touch with a gym manager and landed her first Dubai role as a personal trainer.

She was instantly bowled over by the sheer amount the city had to offer – from fine dining at upmarket restaurants to browsing the renowned Dubai Mall. Given she was making the move solo, Elbi admitted the initial months proved challenging whilst getting established and sorting out the necessary paperwork and banking arrangements.

She quickly recognised the “fast paced and non-stop lifestyle” – with residents frequently clocking up lengthy working weeks to afford living in the glamorous destination beloved by A-listers.

Elbi explained: “The rent is more expensive than the UK and you have to pay big deposits on things like apartments and cars. Clothing is more expensive too – and coffee is like £7 minimum, sometimes as much as £10 a cup. I’d say the average salary for a normal person here is like £3,000 a month but you want more like £5,000 to live comfortably if you want to go out for meals, and buy new clothes.

“I try to work, work, work so that I can enjoy Dubai – there’s lots of group chats and apps for companies to advertise weekend work.” However, she revealed it doesn’t amount to significantly more in total than life in the UK – where you pay taxes – apart from Dubai’s incredible views and climate.

Eight months on, she’s absolutely adoring her new life there, grafting as a personal trainer at an upmarket gym frequented by “high end clients”. Now she’s established friendships and has no immediate intentions to head back.

She explained: “You have to put your ego aside and put yourself out there – I messaged other women out of the blue inviting them for coffee.”

Elbi revealed she adores Dubai’s pristine condition – as “everywhere is spotless” and “it makes you realise how dirty the UK is.” During her downtime from work, Elbi enjoys strolling around the air-conditioned shopping centre and visiting Dubai’s incredibly luxurious cinemas.

She fills her leisure time at the pool – beach clubs including Summersalt, adored by celebrities like Molly-Mae Hague and Kady McDermott, plus Twiggy club, favoured by Paris Hilton.

Yet she admitted Dubai can be challenging as there’s less of a “sense of community” for young people – making romance difficult without relying on dating apps. She explained: “It’s so hard to meet guys, because there’s no authentic meet-ups.

“People don’t stand in the streets around pubs – you have to schedule it in. And it’s hard to date as everyone is so busy 24/7 that you never find the time. I do miss the sense of community and pubs in the UK.

“I love it but I can’t really imagine meeting someone out here and it becoming serious. People come out here who already have a partner or family, and the ones that are single are never looking for anything serious.

“I could see myself building a life here but if I get to 27 and I’m not in a relationship, I’ll move back to the UK as I want to start a family.”

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Elbi Henshaw, 23, decided to move from London to Dubai after visiting the UAE city for a holiday and falling in love with the lifestyle

A Brit who was fed up with the “miserable” and “sedentary” life in the UK decided to move to Dubai, despite having to work six days a week to afford the “luxurious” lifestyle where a glass of wine costs a minimum of £20. Elbi Henshaw, 23, relocated to Dubai in January after holidaying there and realising how “miserable” life is in the UK.

Having previously worked in Saudi Arabia, she decided to give the famously opulent city in the UAE a go, seeking a change in lifestyle. The personal trainer, originally from Barnet, North London, moved to Dubai with financial assistance from her parents and secured full-time employment at a gym.

Eight months later, she’s settled and thriving in the city, which is a magnet for British influencers due to its beautiful weather, stunning views and luxury nightlife. However, she admits to missing UK pubs and pub culture.

Elbi revealed that it’s not all fun and games as everything is so pricey – with yoghurt costing £12 and coffee starting from £7 – that it becomes a “dog-eat-dog” lifestyle with people working six-day weeks and taking on extra work to make ends meet. Elbi is now fond of her location, but confesses she “didn’t like it at first” because it can feel “lonely” trying to establish a circle of friends in such a high-pressure environment.

Elbi stated: “In the UK, I was so depressed and miserable and everyone is so sedentary – I wanted a more active lifestyle. Out here, everyone is happier and active and they all want to be the best versions of themselves.

“I work full time, but it’s hard not to just spend all your money – you’d need about £5,000 a month here to live comfortably. But you can pick up extra work quite quickly – at the moment I work six days, but I’ll probably end up working seven.

“Paying no tax is a perk, but the cost of living out here is so expensive that it ends up the same as in the UK. But here, you get the sun and a much better lifestyle – although I miss the pubs.”

Elbi relocated to Dubai in January – initially residing in a studio flat before moving into shared accommodation with two other young women. After joining a local running club, she struck up a conversation with someone who put her in touch with a gym manager and landed her first Dubai role as a personal trainer.

She was instantly struck by the sheer amount of activities and attractions the city had to offer – from fine dining at upmarket restaurants to browsing the renowned Dubai Mall. Since she was relocating solo, Elbi admitted the initial months proved challenging whilst getting established and sorting out the necessary paperwork and banking arrangements. She quickly recognised the “fast-paced and non-stop lifestyle”, with residents frequently clocking up lengthy working weeks to fund life in the glamorous destination beloved by A-listers.

Elbi explained: “The rent is more expensive than the UK and you have to pay big deposits on things like apartments and cars. Clothing is more expensive too – and coffee is like £7 minimum, sometimes as much as £10 a cup.

“I’d say the average salary for a normal person here is like £3,000 a month, but you want more like £5,000 to live comfortably if you want to go out for meals and buy new clothes. I try to work, work, work so that I can enjoy Dubai – there are lots of group chats and apps for companies to advertise weekend work.”

However, she revealed it doesn’t amount to significantly more than life in Britain – where you’re liable for taxes – apart from Dubai’s breathtaking scenery and climate. Eight months on, she’s absolutely adoring her existence there, grafting as a personal trainer at an upmarket gymnasium frequented by “high-end clients”. She’s built friendships and has no immediate intentions of returning home.

She explained: “You have to put your ego aside and put yourself out there – I messaged other women out of the blue, inviting them for coffee.”

Elbi expressed her admiration for Dubai’s pristine conditions – as “everywhere is spotless” and “it makes you realise how dirty the UK is”. During her downtime, Elbi enjoys strolling through the air-conditioned shopping centres and visiting Dubai’s incredibly lavish cinemas.

She fills her leisure hours at the swimming pool – exclusive beach clubs like Summersalt, adored by celebrities including Molly-Mae Hague and Kady McDermott, plus Twiggy club, favoured by Paris Hilton.

Nevertheless, she acknowledged Dubai can be challenging as there’s reduced “sense of community” for young people, making romance difficult without relying on dating applications.

She said: “It’s so hard to meet guys, because there are no authentic meet-ups. People don’t stand in the streets around pubs – you have to schedule it in.

“And it’s hard to date as everyone is so busy 24/7 that you never find the time. I do miss the sense of community and pubs in the UK.

“I love it, but I can’t really imagine meeting someone out here and it becoming serious. People come out here who already have a partner or family, and the ones who are single are never looking for anything serious. I could see myself building a life here, but if I get to 27 and I’m not in a relationship, I’ll move back to the UK as I want to start a family.”

Costs in Dubai

Cappuccino 34dh – £6.86

Mince meat 25dh – £5

Strawberries 30/40dh – £6-£8

Fage yoghurt 1L 60dh – £12

Cheapest thing in Zara 130/150dh – £26/30

Glass of wine when out minimum 99dh – £20

The One Show star Roman Kemp has opened up about his desire to have a family and how he believes it will be the moment he finds “true happiness”

The One Show’s Roman Kemp has confessed that he believes he hasn’t yet found “true happiness”. The 32 year old star has opened up about his longing to start a family one day.

Roman, who is famously close with his parents, Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp and former Wham! singer Shirlie Holliman, has often spoken about their unique parenting style. During an appearance on Loose Women in 2019, Martin revealed that he and Shirlie chose to raise Roman and his sister Harley more like “friends” than children.

Roman has described this approach as a “best friend thing”, admitting it made it easier for him to confide in his parents.

Now, the former Capital Breakfast host has shared his hopes of having a family of his own, believing that it will bring him a “sense of true happiness”. He made this revelation while discussing the concept of success with pop star and good mate Tom Grennan, reports the Express.

Roman elaborated: “I don’t think I’ll ever have that feeling of success until I have kids I can look at and go, ‘We did alright’. My parents never, ever said to us, ‘You need to be this, you’ve got to do that job, all my parents ever asked is, ‘Are you happy?’ All of those types of things and that, I think, would define success for me over anything.”

When asked by Tom if he was happy, Roman replied: “Sometimes, but you’re not human if you’re happy all the time. It’s working out work-life balance and that’s what I’ve tried to do ever since I left Capital. That’s one of the reasons that I left because I didn’t have that, I didn’t have a work-life balance, I didn’t understand it.

“You’ll know, when I send you a picture of a scan, or something like that, or when I tell you my child has been born, when I send you that text, you’ll know f*****g hell, he’s happy. Because I don’t think I’ve had that yet, that sense of true happiness.”

The star, who often shares the screen with his dad on shows like Celebrity Gogglebox, Martin and Roman’s Weekend Best! and Bromans, revealed his hopes for his future children to see their bond.

In an interview with Hello! magazine, he shared: “My dad and I get to work with each other all the time and I’m so lucky for that. The reason we work together is because I know how much I’m going to love my kids and my family watching that footage of me and their grandad working together – and that’s just our relationship.”

This comes as Roman is rumoured to be engaged to model Carmen Gaggero. As reported by WalesOnline, the couple have been an item since last year and made their relationship public last summer after being seen leaving Le Petit Maison in Mayfair.

Speculation about an engagement started when Carmen was spotted with a ring on her engagement finger during a night out in London. According to the publication, pals reckon Roman is prepared to “settle down”.

Roman will be returning to screens on The One Show from 7pm on BBC One tonight alongside co-host Clara Amfo. The pair will be joined by Gemma Arterton and Thomas Brodie-Sangster who will be discussing the film Grand Prix of Europe.