A woman has relocated her family from a financial struggle in Britain to an idyllic island where she pays only £99 per month for rent and enjoys complimentary olive oil. Renae Wasik, aged 43, along with her husband Pawel, made the move from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, to Lefkada with their two-year-old daughter Rocca in November.
The constant worry of monitoring their bank balance to stick to a budget is now a thing of the past for them. In Britain, high living costs and a £3,000 monthly rent confined them to their home most evenings, but in Lefkada, they now go out weekly.
At a local restaurant where movies are screened during dinner, a meal with a glass of wine costs £11.30 per person. The same amount covers a bus trip to Athens and two pork gyros with chips and drinks.
A cup of flat white at the café costs £2.18 for tourists like Renae, who pays even less as a local resident. A pint at the marina comes at an even lower price of £1.74. While supermarket prices for groceries are comparable, the local market offers fruits and vegetables at such low prices that £20 can cover three meals a day for a week.
Moreover, Renae receives freshly-pressed olive oil for free from a friend, and even if she were to buy, a nearby factory charges only 87p per liter. Renae expressed, “We spend less and live better – way, way better. I recently had dinner for both of us at £11 and three ice creams for £7. It felt unbelievably affordable.”
Renae, who heads the PR firm The Atticism, and Pawel, who operates a painting and decorating business, found the inspiration to move to their current island home during a vacation. After spotting a piece of land for sale, they impulsively made an offer that was promptly accepted, turning their dream into reality.
Currently residing in a two-bedroom flat while their permanent house is under construction, their monthly rent, including utilities, is just £430, providing them with more disposable income. Renae mentioned that the change in seasons also affects costs positively in Lefkada, with prices decreasing during the off-season.
As the family adjusts to their new lifestyle, Renae admitted missing the convenience of ordering food with the click of a button. However, she emphasized that the tranquility, space, and beauty they have gained are well worth the trade-off.
Their daughter Rocca will start preschool next year at no cost to the couple. Renae’s adult daughters, Kyah and Paris, still reside in the UK, but they maintain regular contact, with plans for family visits in the future.
Renae concluded by saying, “The kids have their lives and partners in the UK, so they are not keen on moving here. However, who knows what the future holds. My brother from Australia is enthusiastic about the idea!”