PHAROAH-WELL, DERBY!

FAMILY DECIDE TO DITCH CITY FOR £54,000 SEASIDE APARTMENT IN EGYPT AND SAY THEY WILL BE MORTGAGE-FREE IN TWO YEARS

- By OLIVIA STRINGER

A FAMILY ditched the “miserable” UK to move to Egypt for “365 days of sunshine” - and snapped up a two-bed sea view apartment with a pool for just £54,000.

Shelley Quijada, 35, moved with her husband, Luis, 39, and their daughter, 14, to Sharm El Sheikh in October 2025, after becoming attracted by the cheaper prices and more relaxed way of life.

The business coach and social media agency owner, from Derby, is now rent free, and saves a whopping £887 a month on bills, and £260 a month on her food shop.

The couple even bought a two-bedroom sea view apartment with a rooftop pool and a gym in the building for just £54,000.

They paid a £27,000 deposit and will pay £1,125 a month for the next two years, after which time they will be mortgage free.

The couple also bought a studio flat outright for £24,000, which they plan to rent out.

Shelley said: “We always knew we wanted to move abroad, my husband's from South America, and I’ve always preferred the sun.

“After going on holiday to Egypt a few times we fell in love with the peaceful feel of it. As soon as I got off the plane I would immediately feel relaxed. I prefer the slower pace of life.

“There are 365 days of sunshine, you can’t go wrong.

“It's so much cheaper as well. We can live a very nice life here for a quarter of what people normally spend in the UK.