If you’ve read my book, you’ll know this already: life gets a lot easier when you buy the right house in the right place.

But what is the right place?

You could buy a crumbling shed in the middle of nowhere and call it “simple living”… but give it six months. No convenience, no community, nothing to do. It stops being simple and starts being miserable.

The truth is, the “right location” depends entirely on what you actually need to be happy.

Most people never stop to figure that out.

So do this properly. Write a list of everything you think you need. Then come back to it tomorrow and be ruthless—what’s a real need, and what’s just a nice-to-have?

Get clear on that, and you’ll have something most people don’t: a filter.

And once you have that, finding the right place to live in the UK becomes a lot easier.

Housing costs make the biggest difference!

If you want a simpler life, focus on one thing first:

Your fixed costs.

Housing is the biggest one by a mile, and I’ve found to be the biggest killer of wealth and lifestyle for those who don’t realise it.

Cut down your housing costs, and so many doors fly open:

• You don’t need to earn as much
• You’re not constantly stressed about money
• You’ve got breathing room to actually enjoy life

Honestly, from freeing myself of big housing costs, my life has become exponentially better, and easier!

Where to live in the UK which is more affordable

I spent a great deal of time picking through various places in the UK where you can live more cheaply, yet still enjoy your life.

Hopefully these recommendations give you a starting point, but keep in mind they’re to get you thinking.

These are places where the numbers actually work, based on house prices, rent, or rental yield and so forth.

Middlesbrough – cheap, plain, effective

Let’s not dress it up – Middlesborough isn’t the Cotswolds.

But it is one of the cheapest places in the UK to live.

• Average house price: ~£140,000
• Rent: ~£600/month

That’s the kind of pricing that can really change your life.

Lower mortgage. Lower pressure. More options. Trust me.

Middlesbrough may not appeal if you want beauty or prestige, but if you can look past appearances, it’s one of the fastest ways to buy back your financial freedom.

You’ll also be near the coast, the North York Moors National Park, and so much more.

In fact, Middlesborough is arguably the most affordable UK town to live in.

Sunderland & Newcastle upon Tyne – the North East sweet spot

The North East is one of the few regions left where affordability still exists, and I know locals will hate me for saying this – it’s a hidden gem.

• Property prices around £190,000
• Rent around £650/month

And you’re not cut off from the world either.

Newcastle in particular gives you jobs, transport, and a proper city feel, as well as being close to the coast and the beautiful seaside town of Whitley Bay (which may also appeal if you have a bit more money and love the culture Whitley Bay offers).

It may not suit you if you’re tied to the South or chasing London energy, but if you’re flexible, this is one of the last places where life still feels affordable and balanced.

Leicester – balanced and sensible

Not everyone wants to go as cheap as possible, so Leicester sits in a comfortable middle ground.

Tucked away in what can feel like no mans land, halfway between Birmingham and Peterborough (neither of which I’d recommend you move to), Leicester is actually a beautiful area of the UK to live in.

• House prices: ~£235,000
• Rent: ~£900/month

With Leicester, you get a functioning city without extreme costs. Simply because many haven’t discovered it yet.

Ok, so Leicester may not excite you if you’re chasing dramatic scenery or a big lifestyle change, but if you want stability, convenience, and a manageable cost of living, it quietly ticks a lot of boxes.

Dundee – space, nature, breathing room

If your idea of a simple life includes space and a slower pace, Scotland starts to look very appealing.

In fact, Scotland is an amazing place to live if you love the outdoors and incredible scenery.

• House prices around £146,000
• Rent roughly £850–£900/month

Dundee gives you a lot of access to nature, including the Cairngorms National Park.

Dundee may not work for you if you struggle with colder weather or darker winters, but if you can handle the climate, you get space, scenery, and a lifestyle that’s hard to find in England, and can cut cost of living dramatically.

Blackpool – coastal living without the price tag

Seaside living usually comes with a premium, but not so much in Blackpool.

• House prices: ~£139,000
• Rent: ~£740/month

Blackpool offers you coastal living at a fraction of the cost of other seaside locations.

Ok, so it may put you off if you want something polished or upmarket, but if you’re happy with a place that’s a bit rough around the edges, you get coastal living without the financial strain.

Margate, Dover & Canterbury – the southern compromise

If you’re not ready to leave the South, you don’t have to.

These parts of Kent offer:

• Lower prices than much of the South East
• Coastal living
• Access to London

Margate, in particular, has seen a resurgence.

It may not feel “cheap” compared to the North, but if you want to stay within reach of London while lowering your costs, this is one of the few areas where that trade-off still works.

What a simple life actually looks like

Forget the Instagram version. You realise most of that’s bullsh*t, don’t you?

If you follow the wonderful lives on social media, you’re completely shut off from the monetary stress and arguments those people are likely facing. Simplicity and less financial stress is far better, as is not having anything to prove.

A simple life isn’t about cottages and countryside views.

It’s about removing financial pressure, allowing you to use your money for what it’s meant for – living your life, travelling to amazing places, and doing what you want without being as stressed about it.

That usually means:

• Lower mortgage or rent
• Lower bills
• Less reliance on a high income

Get those right, and everything else becomes easier!

Final thought

There’s no perfect place.

There’s only the place that fits your version of a simple life.

Define what you actually need. Cut out what you don’t.

Then pick a location that supports that—not one that fights against it.

That’s how you make life simpler in the UK.