Overview

• Amy and Jerry Smerdon were denied UK mortgages over age and credit restrictions, driving them to explore cheaper overseas property
• In 2024 they bought a three-bed fixer-upper in Bulgaria for £7,000 as a holiday retreat before considering permanent relocation
• They spent €27,000 on a Popovo home with land and a warehouse in December 2024 and moved their family from Somerset in March 2025
• Monthly outgoings plunged from about £2,000 in the UK to £198.50 in Bulgaria, yielding roughly £1,801 in savings each month
• With a £10,000 refurbishment budget underway, the family says they feel liberated and expects to complete renovations by year’s end