'We quit our jobs and sold our house to travel the world with the kids'

In a remarkable decision, the Hutchinson family from the UK made a life-changing choice to leave their jobs and sell their home in order to travel the world together. This adventurous family, consisting of Chris, Tamira, and their three daughters, Olivia, Scarlett, and Bella, embarked on their journey in May 2023. They have expressed that this bold move has significantly strengthened their bond as a family. Prior to their departure, Chris and Tamira were caught in a cycle of working tirelessly just to make ends meet, which left them with little time to spend together or with their children. After selling their three-bedroom house, they headed straight to the airport to begin their new life. Chris reflected on their previous struggles, stating, 'As a family, we were pretty much broken. But now we are living our dream. ' The Hutchinsons felt that their time in the UK was filled with stress and a lack of quality family moments, as both parents were busy with their jobs. Chris worked as a personal trainer, while Tamira was a swimming instructor. Despite their hard work, they found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the rising cost of living. Tamira shared, 'We went down to one car, we got rid of Sky TV, we didn't go on holiday but the bills kept going up and up. ' They only managed to have family meals together once a month due to their hectic schedules. It was during the Covid pandemic that they began to seriously consider selling their home and traveling the world. Chris explained, 'We had a chance to breathe and we realized we didn't want to go back to the life we were living. ' They listed their house for sale in 2022, but the process took longer than they had anticipated, leading them to almost abandon their travel plans. However, when their house finally sold in May 2023, they wasted no time and headed to a hotel near Heathrow Airport to book their flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Chris admitted, 'It was a huge risk. We thought it might not work and we might want to go home, but we've never looked back. ' The family quickly gained popularity in China after sharing their travel experiences on social media. Chris took the initiative to learn videography to document their adventures, which has now become a significant source of income for them. Initially, they had around 7,000 subscribers on YouTube, but that number has skyrocketed to 100,000. Their TikTok following also grew from 12,000 to an impressive 250,000. After exploring Malaysia, they continued their travels to various countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Qatar. The Hutchinsons had always dreamed of visiting the Great Wall of China, and during their time there, their social media presence exploded. One of their videos showcasing drinks being delivered by a drone garnered an astonishing eight million views on TikTok. They also amassed over one million followers on Chinese social media platforms, with their videos reaching tens of millions of views. However, their journey has not been without its challenges. Tamira contracted dengue fever while in Thailand, and they faced issues such as losing their family credit card in Vietnam. They even experienced a frightening moment when they got lost in China, wandering around with all their belongings in the early hours of the morning when their phone maps failed them. Tamira recounted, 'We were walking round with all our possessions in the early hours of the morning and our phone maps didn't work. But we eventually found our hotel and we can laugh about it now. ' For the past few months, they have been based on the Malaysian island of Penang, where their daughters are being homeschooled by Tamira. Chris noted, 'They are learning about different cultures, currencies, languages, and how to get around. ' The girls have been fully supportive of this adventure, but Chris and Tamira have assured them that if they ever wish to return home, they will listen to their desires. Looking ahead, the Hutchinsons have exciting plans for the next five years, including trips to Dubai, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. While they may visit the UK briefly, they have no intention of returning permanently, as they believe their quality of life has improved significantly. Tamira encouraged others by saying, 'It's not flowers all the time but if you're a person who enjoys a challenge and enjoys spending time with your family, go for it. You will never know until you try. ' Chris added, 'It was a dream and we made it happen. ' They hope to inspire other families to embrace the idea of traveling and creating lasting memories together.