Carlie Donnelley and Matt Dearing, a British couple with three children, moved from Manchester to Bali, hoping for a better life. They sold their £365,000 house and rented a similar-sized home in Bali for just £2,000 a year. Their plan was to establish a construction firm, Serenity Living Bali, and build their own villa and rental properties.
However, their relationship ended after a year, leaving Carlie as a single mother of three in Bali. She openly shares her experiences on TikTok, detailing the challenges of raising her children thousands of miles from family. While acknowledging the difficulties, she emphasizes the positive aspects of life in Bali and remains optimistic about the future.
The move was driven by a desire for financial freedom. Matt, previously owning five houses in Manchester, felt he was working excessively. He hoped Bali's lower cost of living would accelerate their financial goals, allowing more time with their children.
Carlie continues to live in Bali, focusing on her children and sharing her experiences online. Matt's current whereabouts and involvement in the property development firm remain unclear. Carlie has created a new life focused on being a single mum in Bali, although she admits that life is a complex mix of intense hardship and paradise.
Despite the challenges, Carlie remains in Bali for her children's well-being and hopes to inspire other single mothers abroad. Family support is a factor she misses but continues to create a life for her children away from the familiar support structure of her relatives and friends back in Manchester. She has only returned once to visit her unwell grandfather, while her children have not yet left Bali.