A MAN has built a house in the Caribbean for £3,000 to live mortgage-free and escape the UK. Alex Cassidy, 22, built the one-bed home on land in Tobago owned by his stepdad Derek Sandy. After collecting materials he spent three months building with the help of local tradespeople.
The musician now lives mortgage-free and only spends £130 on electricity, water and wi-fi every three months. He spends six months a year in Tobago to escape the rainy and cold winters in the UK. Alex, from the Isle of Wight , said: "I've got my own privacy.
I bought my freedom. "It's such a price difference to the UK. I spent £3,000 to build a whole house and never pay rent.
" Alex grew up spending time between the Isle of Wight and Tobago - where Derek, also a musician, is from. Now Alex spends half of the year in each country so decided to build a house on the land Derek, 61, owns in Tobago. He started collecting materials in January 2023 but began properly building the home with the help of local labourers in January 2024.
Alex finished the one-bed home in March this year and spent just £3,000 on the whole build. He said: "It was heavy labour. My house is on a hill.
But it was rewarding. "It's a really open plan space with a bed, living room, kitchen and bathroom. It's very simple.
" Alex said the plumbing cost him £120 and the electricity £150 to set up. He said: "In England it was £3,000 to £4,000 just to put electric in a one-bed flat. "Some of the material prices were very similar to th.
