This was probably the biggest (and scariest) decision I’ve ever made. I’m a super risk-averse person, and this was way outside my comfort zone. Even now, I still can’t believe we did it!
The choice to leave and rent out our home was both financial and emotional.
The Financial Side
Mortgages are expensive—and like many others in Australia, we weren’t immune to the interest rate hikes in the year leading up to our departure. We knew that if we wanted to truly give this lifestyle a proper go, we couldn’t afford to keep paying for something we weren’t using.
Keeping the house would have eaten through our savings so fast that within a year, we’d be forced back into the very work/spend lifestyle we were trying to escape.
The Emotional Side
Honestly, I needed the disconnect. I needed to not have a “home” to retreat to. I was scared that the first time things got hard, I’d fold—book a flight “home” and hide in the comfort of my old life.
We kept reminding ourselves:
It was our first home, not our forever home.
And home isn’t four walls. It’s the three of us—together—no matter where we are in the world.
So we shifted our mindset: the property was no longer our home, it was now an investment—something that could support this new, exciting, scary chapter.
How We Actually Did It
There were two key phases.
We made the decision in early 2023 while I was on maternity leave and Kaia was still a newborn. Jacob had just started a new job and was working away often, so we decided to hang on a few more months. He gave notice well in advance, and we focused on living simply, saving what we could on one income, and soaking up life with our baby girl.
There was a serious rental crisis in Perth at the time, so we assumed finding tenants wouldn’t be an issue. Initially, we had a verbal agreement to rent it to a friend’s parents—but that fell through last minute. So we went through a property agent instead.
It was stressful at the time, but in hindsight… it worked out better for us. The universe doing its thing, I guess.
Jacob finished work in August and took a full month to prepare the property. I didn’t think it would take that long—but hooley dooley, it did. You truly don’t realise how much stuff there is to deal with until you start.
We put in a lot of effort into the backyard (the home’s best feature) and did small touch-ups inside. Eventually, we had to draw a line in the sand and say, “That’s enough.” We could’ve spent a year perfecting it—but we were desperate to go, and our savings were dwindling with no income coming in.
The Final Push
By the time we booked our flight out of Australia, we were beyond exhausted. We worked up to the final days—tenants moving in just before we flew out.
It was full-on… but also incredibly relieving. We’d done it. The next chapter was officially beginning.
What We Did With All Our Stuff
We’re not hoarders, but ten years in a house adds up. We donated and gifted as much as we could via our local “Buy Nothing” group and to friends. We sold bigger items and essentials we no longer needed.
My family questioned us selling so much—but honestly, most of it was nearly a decade old. We’d outgrown that chapter and were ready to move on.
We kept a few essentials (fridge, washer, mattress, drawers) and stored them in a sea container on my parents’ property. Everything else? Let go.
The Payoff (and Perspective Shift)
The idea of someone else living in our home felt weird… but I chose to view it differently: we’re providing safe, secure housing to someone else. That shift made it easier.
So far, everything’s gone smoothly. A few minor issues, but nothing we haven’t been able to sort remotely.
And now—for the first time ever—we’re seeing money come in from our home, instead of watching it go out every week. Even with a small shortfall, it feels huge… especially when we currently have no other income.
It makes us feel a little less like two unemployed parents dragging a baby around the world—and a bit more like people with a plan.
So far, so good. The journey continues.
Til next time,
R
