From UK Hustle to Island Bliss: My Journey as a Stay-at-Home Mum in Mauritius

A couple made the daring decision to leave the UK behind and embark on a sun-kissed adventure in Mauritius, after they discovered that their dreams of a picturesque life were, sadly, nothing more than mirages in the financial desert that is Britain. Annabel Fenwick Elliott, aged 37, packed her bags, saying goodbye to rain-soaked days for what she affectionately calls a "better lifestyle." She’s now reveling in the dream of being a stay-at-home mum—something that felt utterly unattainable back in the UK.

Once hesitant to drop her two-year-old son, Jasper, off at daycare, Annabel now finds herself basking in the joy of spending quality time with him, thanks to the serendipitous twist of fate that led their family on this epic relocation. Her husband, Julius Scholtes, 31, originally from Germany, hit an unexpected snag with UK visa issues, effectively unshackling them from their dreary English existence. The allure of the Mauritian way of life swept them off their feet, leading them to seal the deal on a spacious four-bedroom home with a pool—a tantalizing upgrade from Annabel's "tiny" London studio that made her feel like a sardine in a can.

Now based in Poste de Flacq and working as a freelance journalist, Annabel has embraced the freedom to work from the cozy confines of her luxurious new abode, declaring emphatically: "I do not live in the UK because I want to be a stay-at-home mum, and I could never afford that if I lived in the UK." If only the UK’s cost of living cared to lower its subscription rates! She pointedly noted, “You need so much to live in a decent house. I’d have to win the lottery to move back.” Who knew that a lottery ticket could be the ultimate ticket to freedom?

Before taking the plunge into freelancing after the pandemic, Annabel lived in the expensive squeeze of London where she was coughing up a staggering £1,200 a month just to keep a roof over her head and bills from taking over her life. Once passionate about her career, she candidly reminisced, “I did love my job.” Yet, her aspirations to juggle work and motherhood simmered away, underscoring her desire to "work from home and have a kid"—a lovely dream gone awry in the land of inflated costs.

Post-Jasper's arrival, Annabel briefly camped out with a friend in Essex, nurturing the hope of settling down in the UK, that is, until a plot twist more gripping than a soap opera plot turned their lives upside down. When Julius’s work as a helicopter pilot was grounded by UK visa woes, despite the presence of their British-born son, Annabel resolved to seek a better lifestyle. They first found themselves in the quaint expanse of Iceland in 2022, only to road trip their way to Mauritius in September 2023 when a new job opportunity danced into view for Julius. And just like that, they were captivated by the local lifestyle, elevating to a swanky four-bedroom house complete with panoramic sea views and even a touch of domestic help—all at prices that make London’s rents look like a cruel joke.

Annabel couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s a big, big house! I never thought I’d be able to live somewhere like this. In England, this would be more than a £1 million house. Everything is so much cheaper!” It appears that moving to Mauritius was not just a lifestyle change but a financial resurrection. Renting a charming 900-square-foot pad in a fancy expat neighborhood would only set one back about £800 monthly, or you could cozy up with the locals for an astonishingly low £490. If it weren’t already clear, living in paradise allowed Annabel the joy of being a stay-at-home mum to little Jasper, all while running a business from home and profiting from her London flat that was still earning its keep.

With a heart full of gratitude, she expressed, “I didn’t want to have to put Jasper in daycare. All my friends had to put their babies in daycare at nine or ten months old. The idea of working full-time just to afford to bring your baby up while wishing you were with them feels downright wrong. I would have had such mum guilt.” Oh, the eternal tug-of-war of a mother's heart.

In this lush island escapade, nursery fees have become a welcome breeze, costing a mere £150 a month, a stark contrast to the UK's average weekly nightmare of £290.77 for full-time nursery care. Annabel and Jasper now enjoy the great outdoors, living each day as if they were on an eternal holiday. “It’s always warm. We go to the beach every day. We have a pool— which is so insane!” The weather is not the only thing that has taken a sunny turn; the cost of living is equally kind. Locally sourced food is economical, petrol prices sit comfortably at £1 a litre, unlimited monthly phone data is a steal at £6, and cleaning services come in at the jaw-dropping price of just £3 per hour.

In a world where many parents feel the crushing weight of financial pressures, Annabel fervently believes that affording to raise a child should not be a luxury only available to the wealthy. “I don’t see how we could have a good lifestyle in the UK. I feel so lucky.” And lucky she is, living proof that sometimes, the grass is not only greener—it’s downright dazzlingly lush.