A COUPLE who gave up their normal life to move into a tiny, remote cottage in the middle of nowhere have confessed they quickly regretted the decision — but at least they saved hundreds of pounds.
Alex and Beth, both in their early 30s, decided to leave behind their busy lives in their rented Oxfordshire home to relocate to a little, forgotten cottage in the heart of Pembrokeshire, Wales.
The savvy couple would be saving themselves a heft lump some.
The average private rent in Pembrokeshire, Wales was £609 per month in 2024, compared to Oxfordshire which was a staggering £1,676 per month – over double the cost.
For Alex, the move was also chance to live closer to family and fulfil his long-standing dream of a quieter, simpler life.
But the fairytale began to unravel as soon as they set foot in their new home.
The cottage, which had been empty for five years, was a bit of a horror show.
Beth said: “It was damp, a bit crumbly in places, and absolutely crawling with dead flies and snails.”
Not ones to be defeated by a few creepy crawlies, the couple set to work, flogging all the old furniture on Facebook Marketplace and throwing themselves into outdoor living.
The only highlight was the promise of regular BBQs, firepit gatherings, and evenings by their new pizza oven.
Beth said: “The first few days, we couldn’t even use the kitchen, so we cooked outside every night”
After a frantic summer of moving and working, Beth decided she needed a break from the world.
They also saved themselves a ton doing their own decorating.
Beth and Alex took on all the DIY, including painting the cottage and assembling all the furniture.
According to Rated People, the average hourly rate for a painter and decorator in the is between £20 and £50 per hour.
Beth began transforming the old cottage into their dream home at a fraction of the cost.
But after a couple of months, the couple felt like they’d rushed the move and Beth’s enthusiasm for decorating quickly dwindled.
The never-ending storms soon started to take their toll. Weeks of being cooped up left them feeling restless and frustrated.
Beth said: “We rarely ever saw the sun.
“We began to struggle with the isolation and the constant battle with the elements.”
They quickly discovered that rural life was far more challenging than expected as she said: “All my friends and family were 4-8 hours away.”
They admitted to swapping out friends for for field mice, cows, foxes, and owls – and even named a rabbit ‘Heath’.
But despite the hardships, the couple took time to explore their new surroundings, finally feeling a sense of belonging after a year in Pembrokeshire.
However, their first winter was far from cozy.
They said: “It was a hard winter” as Beth “got really sick from the damp and even developed asthma.”
Yet despite all the struggles, the couple remains surprisingly upbeat and claim to still love their “muddy life in the countryside”.
Beth has since taken to vlogging about their experiences in their remote new home.
She posted on her Youtube channel: “Last summer, we moved to a remote cottage in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
“It’s been a constant balance of freedom and isolation, but I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to live in this corner of the world.
“How far is your nearest supermarket – It takes us at least 20 minutes to drive to a shop, but that’s not too far at all, really. I’m trying to be more present, so you won’t see that side of things on my vlog.”
While their adventure into the wild may have begun with some immediate regrets, it seems that Alex and Beth have found a way to make it work – one damp day at a time.
Whilst the couple may have saved £100s out in the Welsh wilderness, it most certainly came with its own brand of challenges.
Meanwhile, they’re not the only couple going to extreme lengths to save some cash – a man has revealed how he’s saved over £1,000 a month after building a tiny home on a bike.
Elsewhere, another man has revealed that he no longer pays any rent or bills, after transforming a shed into a tiny home.
Tiny homes are getting increasingly popular in the UK, especially in the cost of living crisis when first-time buyers are struggling to get on the property ladder or current homeowners are having to pay ridiculous interest rates on mortgages.
But Rebecca Miller, Fabulous’ Associate Editor, has shared why living in a tiny home would be her idea of a nightmare.
“I’m currently in the process of selling my flat and buying a house, and as I pack up all my belongings, I’m worried where it is all going to go – there is so much stuff!
Fortunately, I’m very privileged to be buying a house with more square feet than my current flat.
But it got me wondering, could I ever live in a small space? And the answer is no.
Living with another person immediately cuts down on personal space, but remove several rooms, and I’d be left with only the bathroom as my sanctuary. I’m not sure I’d be able to cope!
I’m like a magpie, I like collecting pretty things, and I like my belongings to be organised. With limited storage space, I’d find it really hard to keep everything neat and tidy.
One of the joys of being an independent adult is being able to host – friends, family, overnight stays, and dinner parties. Where would I gather everyone for a Sunday lunch if my table only sat two? Not to mention, how would I cook a Sunday lunch?
Both as an individual, as part of a couple and also my hobbies, can be restricted by physical space. When I first moved into my flat, I was overjoyed at having my own balcony, and it has been a space where my love for gardening has grown. Five years on, my balcony is now overflowing with plants, and I’ve had to set up a mini propagator in the living room!
