Maisy Dewey grew up in suburban New Jersey but spent her life traveling back and forth to England. Her father was born and raised in London, and the 25-year-old benefits from dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Dewey and her 25-year-old fiancé Harrison Kent met in college and live abroad together. While attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, the two lived in Hong Kong while Dewey traveled to France to study alone.
After graduation, the couple moved to Philadelphia to be closer to family. Dewey got her “dream job” as a junior graphic designer at Anthropologie headquarters, while Kent got a job in a furniture showroom.
Dewey and Kent live in a townhouse with a third roommate, each paying $966 in rent. Other monthly costs include $80 per month for Wi-Fi.
Before moving to London, the couple lived in a townhouse in Philadelphia they shared with roommates.
Mace Dewey
In 2022, after two years living in Philadelphia, the couple began thinking about life in the UK.
“It’s one of those things that we know, if we don’t do it now, we’ll never do it,” Dewey told CNBC Make It. “It’s such a privilege to have multiple passports and I don’t want to be in my 20s Haven’t really lived in the UK full time yet.”
Kent began researching schools to obtain an MA in Furniture Design and in November 2022 was accepted into the MA in Product and Furniture Design at Kingston University London. Soon after, preparations for the couple’s transatlantic move began.
Over the course of a year, Dewey and Kent held several yard sales to get rid of some of their belongings. Afterward, the couple and their dog, a 2-year-old Dalmatian named Kipper, were ready to go. The only problem is, they don’t have anywhere to live in London yet.
Dewey and Kent moved in August 2023 with three checked bags, two carry-on bags, two personal items and Kipper. They were renting a short-term rental because it was difficult for them to find more permanent living arrangements in London while they were in the United States.
“I think I had this idea that after the first month we would feel settled, but that didn’t happen,” Dewey said. “When you uproot everything you own and show up in a new place, you don’t really take into account the fact that you’re not going to have the basics. It feels weird trying to settle in without a lot of stuff. “
Shortly after they arrived in London, Dewey found a design job and Kent began working in a furniture showroom and began studying for a master’s degree.
After months of searching for a place to live, the couple thought they had found the perfect home, but by the time they got in touch, the place was already rented. The agent offered to take them to see a completely different property— moored houseboat
Dewey said living on a houseboat made her more of a homebody.
Mace Dewey
The 65-foot-wide boat features a living room, two bedrooms, a full bathroom and a kitchen. The couple signed a two-year lease in November 2023 for approximately $2,236 per month, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Their upfront costs include a security deposit of more than $2,500.
“We felt like we were living in a children’s picture book,” Dewey said. “It adds such a fun element to life. I’m already quite a homebody, and I find living on a boat really drains me.”
Dewey admitted that it took the couple about four months to adjust to life abroad and that they did miss certain aspects of life in the United States. For Kent, it’s some junk food and being able to go to the grocery store around the clock. Dewey said she misses her friends and family the most.
Macy Dewey, Harrison Kent and Kiper on a houseboat in London.
Mace Dewey
Dewey and Kent said they lived in London longer. For example, they now rely entirely on public transport, which means they spend a total of more than ÂŁ200 or $253 per month.
“Living in a larger and generally more expensive city, we become more conscious about our spending habits, so we save as much as we can,” Dewey said. “It’s 100% worth it for us! London is an incredible place to live. Harry, Kipper and I are excited to explore the city together. ”
Dewey and Kent do not plan to return to the United States anytime soon, but plan to visit family this year. “We went back mainly to see the people there, not because we wanted to go home,” Dewey said.
“If everyone could come here, we might never go back.”
Dewey said she loved exploring London Kent and their dog Kipper.
Mace Dewey
Dewey has been sharing her life on TikTok for years, increasingly as she documented the couple’s life abroad.
“I hope people who watch my videos will get a real sense of what it’s like to move abroad, especially living in London,” Dewey said. “It’s great to be able to share realities and tips with people who are currently going through a major international move or looking to make an international move in the future.”
“At this point, it feels natural for me to share what’s going on with me, and I’m amazed at how many people find it both entertaining and helpful in their own lives,” she added.
Conversions of British pounds to U.S. dollars are made using the OANDA exchange rate of 1 British pound to 1.27 U.S. dollars on July 3, 2024.
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