A resourceful couple hailing from Manchester decided to sell their home and belongings in pursuit of a financially free lifestyle on the idyllic island of Bali. Matt Dearing, 36, and Carlie Donnelley, 35, were exhausted from the monotony of working to live, and sought a change. Without hesitation, they sold their three-bedroom house for a generous sum of £365,000 and traded their lives burdened by bills for a year-round paradise boasting vibrant tourism and tropical weather.
The relocation to their spacious three-bedroom rental in Ubud, which costs a mere £2,000 per year, presented the perfect opportunity for the parents to spend ample quality time with their three children: Lincoln, Delilah, and Adelaide. Choosing adventure over convention, they committed to one-way tickets to Bali in November of last year, despite skeptics among their relatives. Matt and Carlie at Manchester airport with their children Lincoln, Delilah, and Adelaide
With the money saved from rent, the couple now plans to construct their own dream home, inspired by a luxurious villa. This investment will save them an astounding £236,000 overall. Carlie shared their story on TikTok, where the family’s current rental home, complete with three bedrooms and a “field,” was showcased.
Matt, a skilled joiner, expressed, “This is something we have wanted to do for years. During our trips to Spain, I would often search for cave houses as I longed to be off the grid. In the UK, I was unable to spend enough time with my children. I would only have about an hour with them before bedtime. I was constantly chasing bills and working long hours, sometimes seven days a week. After thorough research, I discovered that Bali offers year-round tourism and fantastic weather. It was finally time to escape the rat race.”
After extensive research, the couple found a three-bedroom house in Bali to rent for a mere £2,000 per year. Additionally, they purchased a 1,200 square meter plot of land for £100,000. The duo intends to construct two four or five-bedroom villas on the land, while residing in the existing three-bedroom house during the building process. Carlie Donnelley and Matt Dearing with their children Lincoln, Delilah, and Adelaide at a temple in Bali
Matt beams with enthusiasm as he proclaims, “The return on investment here is remarkable. We sold our house in the UK, which we were in the midst of renovating, for £365,000. With that money, we were able to acquire a spacious plot of land and initiate the construction of two villas. We have truly struck gold, as this lifestyle provides us with the freedom to do whatever we desire with our kids, unlike our previous relentless work schedules. I have always envisioned being able to drop off my children at school and pick them up, and I can do that here. The people in Bali are incredibly kind and grateful. This place ticks all the boxes for us.”
Carlie, a skilled beautician, acknowledges that their new routine in Bali is significantly different but describes it as thrilling. She enthuses, “I am now able to spend more time with the kids while Matt is at work. We were missing out on having him around. Life is absolutely amazing here, with gorgeous weather and endless opportunities for exploration. We truly enjoy being outdoors and experiencing new things.” Matt shares that his children are reveling in their new lives, indulging in outdoor play, frequent swims, and visits to picturesque rice fields. The family now has more leisure time for fun activities, such as jungle excursions, in contrast to Matt’s grueling 10-hour workdays in the UK.
At the age of 24, Matt dreamed of achieving financial stability along with sufficient savings and investments to lead a comfortable life. By age 36, reality had set in, and although the ambitious father owned an impressive five houses in Manchester, he realized he was far from his desired level of success. He reflects, “At the time, I owned five houses in Manchester and came to the realization that I would need ten houses in order to achieve financial freedom. I wanted to expedite the process. I was working tirelessly, sacrificing my social life, and consuming my time with the sole purpose of attaining financial freedom. This had been my goal for the past decade. Thanks to the lower cost of living in Bali, I believe we will achieve it much faster.”
When Matt and Carlie initially informed their family of their plans to move, they were met with skepticism and discouragement. Undeterred, the couple persisted, insisting that every weekend would be a family weekend once they embarked on their new journey. Matt recalls their relatives labeling them as “mad.” He describes his motivation, saying, “The world is vast, and life is fleeting. It saddens me when children are confined to indoor spaces for prolonged periods. As a child, I reveled in the freedom to explore the outdoors. Every weekend now feels like a family adventure. We visit various beaches and waterfalls, feeling as though we have struck gold. Unlike our life in Manchester, where I was hesitant to let my kids leave the confines of our backyard, they now have the freedom to play outdoors and immerse themselves in the beauty of rice fields, an entirely new experience for them.”
Upon their arrival in Bali, the family embarked on a three-month journey of exploration, visiting sights such as Canggu and Lovina Beach, before ultimately settling down in Ubud. Matt reflects on the decision to pull his children out of school for their new life, stating, “One of the reasons we left when we did is that my oldest child is now seven, while the others are four and one. I feared that if we waited any longer, they would form strong bonds with friends, making it difficult to uproot them in the future. We have been extraordinarily fortunate. The people here are incredible, my children are enjoying school, and we have made wonderful friends.”
However, Matt admits that living in a foreign country comes with its share of challenges. The absence of a support network weighs on them. Nevertheless, the family remains united, and they plan to navigate this hurdle by having their extended family visit Bali while also returning to the UK for extended periods of two to three months. The couple documents their inspiring journey on TikTok under the handle @serenitylivingbali, hoping to motivate others to embark on their own transformative adventures.
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