By Phoebe Jobling SWNSEllieFawcett Ellie Fawcett
A young woman has ditched the UK for a life in Asia and says she is living the dream for ‘half the price’. Casey Pickup, 26, became so fed up with the UK’s ‘gloomy weather’ that she left her role as a sales manager, boarded a one-way flight to Thailand and started a new life.
Feeling ‘unfulfilled’ by her routine lifestyle in Britain, Casey left for warmer climates in Thailand and Bali and has since not looked back.
In an adventurous move, Casey took to TikTok in March 2023 to announce her travel plans, extending an invitation to fellow solo travellers.
The response led to forming a travelling troupe of seven people who were eager to experience Thailand’s rich culture together over six weeks.
It was during this journey that Casey met her boyfriend Taylor Barker, 26, who works in marketing, and the pair have since travelled to 15 countries together.
Casey now earns more than 拢5k a month and says that living abroad is ‘better’ thanks to Asia’s more affordable living costs.
Casey says she is able to live her ‘dream lifestyle’ where for around 拢2,000 a month she lives in luxury accommodation, dines out for every meal, and has regular beauty and pampering sessions three to four times a week – all together which would cost at least double the price in the UK.
Casey says she has no intention of returning home and is now funding her travel and lifestyle through content creation – partnering with brands who pay her to visit and showcase breath-taking locations around the world.
Originally from Chorley, Lancashire, Casey said: “I’ve always loved to travel and whenever I’d come home to rainy England after a holiday, I always felt a bit depressed.
“The main reasons I left the UK is because every day feels the same, it’s dark and it’s gloomy. I used to hate going to work in the dark, and coming home in the dark.
“The lifestyle in the UK just wasn’t very fulfilling.”
Casey described life in England as monotonous and pressured, saying that she felt trapped in an endless cycle.
“Life in England felt a lot more routine and rushed – like I was always in a cycle of work, grey weather, and waiting for the weekend,” she said.
“My lifestyle in Asia is so much more fulfilling. I’ve built a life that allows me to wake up by the beach, work on creative projects I care about, and explore beautiful places.
“I feel a sense of freedom that I never felt in the UK.
“Travelling Asia is a no brainer considering the difference in cost of living – and it’s beautiful. I’ve never looked back. There is no down side, it’s all just been amazing.
“I love the lifestyle and the sun, I’d never move back.”
Before moving to Asia, Casey lived with her mother, artist Helen, in Chorley and cycled through several unfulfilling jobs such as waitressing, bar tending, and sales.
In a bid to fund her travels, she began creating promotional content for brands such as Santander and My Protein, soon realising her monthly earnings had soared to over 拢5k.
While residing in Thailand, Casey rented a stunning two-story fully furnished flat for 拢560 per month, sharing the cost with her partner. The apartment complex boasted an infinity pool and gym.
“You could stay in a really beautiful villa or hotel for 拢10 to 拢30 a night,” Casey said.
“Local food is roughly 拢1 or 拢2 per meal, and Western food like pasta or pizza is 拢4 or 拢5. The sort of lifestyle that would cost 拢4k or 拢5k a month in Europe is only 拢2k in Asia.
“And if you’re on more of a budget, you could definitely get by on 拢1,200 a month.”
Over the past two years, Casey has travelled to approximately 15 countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Morocco, and Central America.
She hopes her experiences will encourage others to “follow their dreams” of travelling and working abroad.
Casey advised: “If you’re not happy in your job, go after your dreams. Moving back to the UK is never going to happen.
“If I have children in the future, I’d move to Australia to raise a family.
“I never thought it would be possible to travel the world full time, but here I am now.
“I am so grateful every day for staying consistent and going after what I really wanted in life. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
You can follow Casey’s adventures on Instagram @howtotravelfulltime.