A couple claim they're 'living the dream' after ditching the UK for Spain and taking early retirement. Helen and Stephen Walker, from Cosby, Leicestershire, are now spending their mortgage-free days under the sun in Lanzarote , Spain. The duo decided to make the life-changing move after suffering a torrid year in which they lost three loved ones.
Realising that they no longer wanted to wait around for life to happen, they sold their property business and their three-bedroom semi-detached house in Cosby and relocated to Yaiza, a town in the Canary Islands. Now aged 56 and 55 respectively, Helen and Stephen enjoy financial freedom and spend their days exploring the island and relaxing. They believe that they would not have been able to retire at their current age if they were still in the UK due to the higher cost of living.
The couple, who were self-employed and rarely took holidays, fell in love with Lanzarote during one of their rare vacations. With Brexit underway, they had to act quickly to make their dream a reality, especially after the loss of three friends and family members in a single year. Helen shared: "We lost three people in that year.
We thought 'we need to do it now.' We can't think about the kids here, we're going before grandchildren. Otherwise we'd never do it.
" The couple found it challenging to leave their children behind, but their youngest daughter, Kate Walker, 22, made things easier by moving in with their son James Sorrell, who is 29. Helen continued:.
