Keypoints:
- Family leaves UK to escape cost-of-living grind
- Mum says life in Zimbabwe is calmer and cheaper
- Fresh food, warm weather and family time win them over
A BRITISH family has revealed how they left behind the long working hours and rising costs of life in the UK to start anew in Zimbabwe — and say they have finally found peace.
According to The Sun newspaper, Nat, a mother of two who shares her experiences on TikTok as @naturallyfakemum, said she and her husband were burnt out by the endless routine of work and childcare in Britain.
‘It was a stressful way of life,’ she explained in a video that has since gone viral. ‘I’d drop the kids off at school, rush to my bakery, and bring them back there after classes. I barely saw them.’
‘We were living to work, not working to live’
Nat and her husband spent years balancing jobs, bills, and housework while feeling trapped by the UK’s rising cost of living. ‘We were constantly working just to keep up,’ she said. ‘At one point, we realised that we were living to work, not working to live.’
Her husband, who grew up in Zimbabwe, often talked about his childhood there — the sunny days spent outdoors, close family ties and strong community spirit. Those stories inspired them to make a dramatic change.
‘He always said he had the best childhood,’ Nat recalled. ‘Playing outside every day, going to the lake, being surrounded by family and friends. I wanted that for our kids too.’
Leaving the UK behind
The decision to leave wasn’t easy. Nat sold her bakery business, the family said goodbye to what they thought was their forever home, and they relocated to Zimbabwe, where her husband’s extended family still live.
‘It was scary at first,’ she admitted. ‘You don’t know how such a big change will turn out. But it felt right. We wanted our children to grow up knowing their roots and living in a close-knit community.’
Eighteen months later, Nat says they have fully settled into their new lifestyle. ‘We’ve found balance again,’ she said. ‘The weather is beautiful, people are kind, and life moves at a calmer pace.’
Food, family and freedom
One of the first things Nat noticed was how much fresher the food is compared to the UK. ‘We buy from local markets,’ she said. ‘The fruit and vegetables are picked that morning. Everything tastes better — it’s natural, fresh and affordable.’
Her children are thriving too. ‘They spend most of their time outdoors, playing and exploring like my husband did when he was young,’ she said. ‘It’s exactly what we wanted — a childhood filled with nature, not screens.’
For the couple, the move also means more time together. ‘We’re not rushing around anymore,’ Nat said. ‘We eat together, go out as a family, and actually talk. Life feels lighter here.’
Online reaction divided
Nat’s story drew mixed reactions online. Some viewers couldn’t understand why anyone would leave the UK. ‘Is the UK not better than Zimbabwe?’ one commenter asked. ‘Why is everyone dying to move to the UK then?’
Others, however, praised the move and Zimbabwe’s relaxed way of life. ‘Food in Zimbabwe is fresh and organic,’ one user wrote. ‘The schools are great, and you don’t have to worry about safety or bullying. It’s peaceful and family-oriented.’
Another agreed: ‘Zimbabwe is beautiful. The lifestyle is unmatched. You can’t compare the warmth and friendliness to the rush of the UK.’
‘It’s not for everyone — but it’s for us’
For Nat, the move was about rediscovering joy in simplicity. ‘We didn’t move because life was awful,’ she said. ‘We moved because we wanted to slow down, spend time together, and live properly. It’s not for everyone — but it’s for us.’
Her story has resonated with thousands online, sparking a wider conversation about what truly defines a good life — wealth or wellbeing.
