We ditched the UK for Lanzarote with our 2 kids – life in Britain is Groundhog Day & we’re saving hundreds on bills
A COUPLE who moved their family from the UK to Lanzarote have shared their experience so far.
The pair, who hail from Belfast, were motivated to emigrate by sunnier weather and a cheaper lifestyle.
In her viral video, TikTok user Kathleen Burke (@kathb2024) took her followers along as she and her husband made the big move with their two sons.
She amassed 826,000 views as she chronicled the transition to the “chilled” Lanzarote life.
The mum-of-two explained that her family had holidayed on the island in the past and had enjoyed the “relaxed way of living”.
Kathleen revealed that she had grown sick of the “horrendous” weather at home, pointing out how expensive it was to entertain her children with indoor activities.
She described the repetitive nature of her life in Belfast as being like Groundhog Day.
They decided to seek out a sunnier location, where they could enjoy bike rides, beach days, walks, and trips to the park on a regular basis.
She explained how she and her husband were “very impulsive” after enjoying a sunny holiday in early 2024 and booked their family one way flights to Lanzarote in late June.
They chose Lanzarote as they were familiar with the island from previous trips and liked how “clean and chilled” it was.
Another huge draw for the family is the significantly cheaper cost of living.
“The bills are a lot cheaper than we’d pay back home,” Kathleen explained.
“Some of the bills you wouldn’t even pay that you would back home, like gas is just one of things because you do not have your heating on.”
Kathleen took a job in hospitality while her husband was offered a position as a delivery driver.
They enrolled their children in the local school, where they are learning to speak Spanish fluently.
And while the family are loving their experience right now, they aren’t opposed to the idea of returning to the North of Ireland.
Kathleen explained that they are just seeing how things go during their first year living abroad.
How easy is it to move abroad?
Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here's what you need to do at home before moving:
- Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
- Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
- Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
- If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre.
- You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
- If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
- If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools.
She revealed that they kept their home in Belfast and are in a long-term rental in Lanzarote.
TikTok users shared their thoughts on the family’s move in the comments section.
One impressed viewer praised the couple, telling them the move was “so brave of you both”.
“That’s great and you both got work out there, wishing you and your family a happy adventure,” said another follower.
“Good luck guys, it must be great to finally be there now. Enjoy the weather and the outdoors and just relaxing,” commented a third person.
“Looks amazing, best of luck your new adventure,” wrote another TikTok user.