British Family Cuts Private School Costs by Over Half with Portugal Move
A British family has achieved significant financial savings by relocating to Portugal, where they now pay less than half the price for private education compared to the United Kingdom. Abbie Shone, 36, and her husband Michael, 38, moved from Buckhurst Hill in Epping Forest to the Algarve region in April 2022 with their three sons—a ten-year-old and six-year-old twins.
Substantial Savings on Education Expenses
The family's annual school fees for all three children total just €25,000 (approximately £21,600), whereas equivalent private education in the UK would have cost them around £48,000 per year. This represents a remarkable saving of £26,400 annually. Abbie explained that covering UK fees would have required significant financial strain, likely eliminating family holidays entirely.
"We pay around 25,000 euros for the year," said Abbie, who now works as a virtual assistant near Vilamoura. "In the UK the private school for all three of my children per year would have been around £48,000."
Lifestyle and Educational Motivations
The decision to relocate was driven by multiple factors beyond financial considerations. The couple sought a more outdoor-oriented lifestyle that would reduce their children's screen time and exposure to technology. They were particularly drawn to Portugal's educational approach, which they believe allows children to maintain their childhood longer.
"We wanted to keep our children children longer," Abbie explained. "Children in the UK are growing up super quick and spend a lot of time using quick tech like an iPad, because they're inside a lot. It becomes the third parent. Whereas in Portugal they treat the children as children for a lot longer and we liked that bit."
Property Upgrade and Cost Comparisons
The family traded their three-bedroom Essex property for a spacious four-bedroom Portuguese villa with a swimming pool, extensive land, and a working fireplace. They sold their UK home for approximately £600,000 and purchased their Portuguese property for €700,000.
Monthly expenses demonstrate further savings:
- Mortgage: €1,800 in Portugal versus £2,500 in the UK
- Electricity: €180-€200 monthly in Portugal versus £125 in the UK
- Water: €0 in Portugal (due to borehole water supply) versus £40 in the UK
- Council tax: €125 every six months in Portugal versus £296 monthly in the UK
- Food shopping: €250 weekly in Portugal versus £250 weekly in the UK
- Eating out: €80-€100 for five people in Portugal versus £150-£200 in the UK
Educational System Considerations
The family chose private education in Portugal partly due to concerns about the public school system, where teachers rotate every four years and strikes occur frequently without advance notice. Abbie emphasized the importance of predictability for working parents.
"It was a big factor for us as to why we put the kids in private school," she said. "We both work and it's important to have that predictability in the week with the children."
While the school day structure differs from the UK system—sometimes running from 8:30 AM to 1 PM with no afternoon classes—the curriculum places strong emphasis on mathematics and science throughout primary education. Abbie's eldest son follows the British curriculum, while her twins will join the Portuguese national curriculum after attending local nursery school. All three children have become fluent in Portuguese.
Enhanced Quality of Life
The family now enjoys a significantly different daily routine, spending evenings and weekends at the beach, hosting barbecues with friends from the international expat community, and engaging in outdoor activities. Abbie has transitioned from her previous role as head of operations for a retail company—where she managed over 200 staff and worked 50-hour weeks—to remote work that allows better work-life balance.
"The Algarve is such a good place to raise young children," she said. "We can go for long walks together, jump in the pool and the kids can jump around the land and climb trees."
Future Plans and Reflections
While the family enjoys visiting loved ones in the UK, they have no plans to return permanently. Future considerations might include moving closer to Lisbon, Porto, or Copenhagen as the children grow older, but for now, Portugal remains their home.
The Shone family's experience highlights how strategic relocation can dramatically reduce educational expenses while simultaneously improving quality of life through better weather, outdoor access, and community integration.
