A family of six from the UK has relocated to Poland, securing a home more than twice as large as their previous residence, with views of woodland and a whole family evening meal costing just £12.60.
Brittany Balinski, 35, her husband, 44, and their four children made the transition in July 2026, exchanging their semi-detached house with three bedrooms in northern Warwickshire for a dwelling in Gdańsk offering six bedrooms across three floors.
After conversing with and visiting acquaintances who had emigrated and were thriving, Brittany also observed her husband’s wellbeing declining after years of overnight shifts as a heavy goods vehicle driver.
Brittany recognised that her work-from-home employment and enterprise enabled her to provide for the family from any global location.
With her husband being a Polish citizen and all four children possessing dual nationality, Brittany could submit an application for a D visa, permitting her to stay in the country for 12 months, with the possibility of seeking residency subsequently.
Having divested her business, a retail outlet, in December 2025, the couple also disposed of their northern Warwickshire residence for £275,000 in a single day.
To prevent disturbing their offspring’s academic year, they occupied a friend’s accommodation for £2,700 during the concluding 11 weeks in Britain before departing in July.
The family now remits merely £1,400 monthly for their new six-bedroom dwelling.
Brittany expressed how much she loves how the property accommodates her sizeable family, in contrast to the £850 monthly mortgage payments they had been meeting in Britain. Brittany, a content creator who declines to specify her precise Warwickshire location, explained that she had never really thought she would make a particularly good emigrant, considering herself thoroughly British. Her husband had worked nights throughout his time living in the UK. After their fourth child arrived and the mayhem of four offspring, like a nursery, he was exerting himself considerably and she detected a modest deterioration in his wellbeing. Several factors contributed to the decision, including her husband’s declining wellbeing, her companions departing, and a friend who had established herself in Sweden, prompting her to reconsider and think this could be them. They travel to Poland several times annually, no fewer than twice or as many as five. Their children are nine, eight, six and almost four, and when she inquired whether they would like to reside in Poland, she did not even complete her statement before all the youngsters responded with an immediate yes.
The family inspected Gdańsk in December 2025 for a three-night stay, judging it comfortable, safe and manageable while also locating an educational establishment that appealed to all four youngsters.
Their Warwickshire residence sold within a day of being advertised in January 2026, prompting the family to spend 11 weeks in a leased cottage. Brittany’s husband engaged a £500 van to transport some of their bulkier furnishings to Gdańsk.
A relative returned the van while Brittany’s husband proceeded in a new motor vehicle he had obtained in Poland. They allocated £1,500 to a courier service for supplementary parcels, while Brittany’s husband undertook the drive to Poland in July 2026 accompanied by their eldest offspring and the family canine.
Brittany subsequently departed by air with their three younger children for £700.
She noted that they accomplished the move for under £3,000.
She explained that the British residence they had inhabited for a decade had been focused on family life and raising the children, and she was not particularly sentimental about it. They lacked any prized furniture items, which she considers the advantage of residing in Poland now. Although they are renting and the property is secured for a year, she already feels more established and at home in this dwelling than she ever did in her own. Simply because she has never felt more at ease and has genuinely made the correct choice for her children, she supposes.
According to Brittany, Polish remuneration is comparatively lower than British earnings, and while automobiles can be pricey, diesel costs approximately 35-40p less per litre than in the Midlands.
She explained that it is give and take really, and they decide where to allocate their funds. Excursions are costly. They visited IKEA on Monday and dined six of them for £12.60 at the restaurant whereas it would be nearer £24 in Britain. Poland operates in a traditional manner regarding utilities. In Britain it involves telephoning every provider and stating they have moved to this address and are the incoming resident. In Poland, no, the property owner must personally accompany the new resident to the office and transfer the documentation.
Brittany has registered for a Polish language programme at a local college, attending three sessions weekly, and anticipates the experience will assist her in conquering her apprehension about operating a left-hand drive automobile on the right side of the carriageway, something she describes as terrifying.
She is already delighted with how secluded their new residence proves.
She observed that she has resided in countryside locations all her life yet there is no traffic sound, no automobile sound. The dwellings are positioned so distantly from one another that nothing is audible. It overlooks a pleasant stretch of woodland, all the pine trees are visible in the distance and solely birdsong can be heard, and she describes it as charming. Their domestic property and garden were extremely confined so it is pleasant to be able to enjoy the natural surroundings outside. Yesterday they travelled 20 minutes and reached the seaside. It resembled a vacation but it is not, this is existence now. There is no extended strategy and nothing predetermined but already it feels as though they have unquestionably made the correct choice.
Subsequent to sharing updates regarding the move on social platforms, she has encountered a reaction that has been overwhelmingly affirmative.
Brittany remarked that several remarks became unpleasant regarding politics which she has had to disregard as it became excessive. She explained that it bears no relation to anything transpiring globally in political or cultural spheres. It has genuinely astounded her the level of interest the remarks have attracted regarding their rationale and intentions. The motivations are profoundly private. This transition suits them and is achievable solely because her husband holds Polish nationality. She can appreciate it would be challenging for an entirely British family with no connections to Poland. Individuals inquire why Poland, and it is simply because they have the means to do so. There are not alternative nations you can relocate to so swiftly and inexpensively.
Cost breakdown.
United Kingdom.
Mortgage: £850 monthly.
Council tax: £200.
Water: £100.
Gas and electricity: £200.
Provisions: £230 weekly.
Restaurant meal for family: £80-£100.
Veterinary consultation and medication: £80.
Litre of milk: £1.20.
Butter (100g): £0.80.
Poland.
Rent: £1,400.
Outgoings: To be confirmed though projected at £350 monthly.
Provisions: £170 weekly.
Restaurant meal for family: £45-£60.
Veterinary consultation and medication: £30.
Litre of milk: £0.68.
Butter (100g): £0.50.