Just 30 years old, Alesse Lightyear had already attained what many can only dream of: a successful career producing reality TV in New York City. But behind the scenes, her existence was anything but glamorous.
She worked overtime, burning out. Living paycheck to paycheck, she packed up her suitcase and flew the coop in 2023 and left the insanity of NYC for tranquility in Chengdu, China. This followed a change in lifestyle and a methodical approach to tackling severe financial problems, accompanied by an increase in happiness.
NYC life: $100K a year, yet always wired
- Job Title: Reality TV Producer
- Annual Income: Approximately $100,000
- Working Hours: 70+ hours/week
- Home Life: Always on the go in NYC and Jersey City
- Financial Reality: Living paycheck to paycheck in one of the world’s most expensive cities
With a six-figure income and only working eight months a year, Lightyear was struggling to stay afloat. “Being in my 20s, I felt like a 50-year-old woman,” she says.
The turning point: Selecting a radical change
After 10 years in business, Alesse was burned out. She began researching nations with less stressful, more minimalist lifestyles—and she chose China. The idea of teaching English, living simply, and escaping the rat race was too appealing to pass up.
- Year of Move: 2019
- First Stop: Beijing
- Current Home: Chengdu
- Current Job: University English Instructor
Finding a home in Chengdu
After she landed a teaching job in Chengdu, Lightyear had only a couple of days to arrange for living accommodations. In 48 hours, she viewed six flats before settling on a three-bedroom, one-bathroom furnished apartment with a balcony and laundry room, a five-minute walk from the subway.
The apartment:
- Rent: $556/month
- Rent Stipend: $278 (paid by company)
- Actual Rent Paid by Alesse: Only $278
- Security Deposit + Fees + 3 Months’ Rent: $2,780 upfront
- Furnishing: Fully furnished
- Neighborhood: Downtown Chengdu
Ensuring the benefits of teaching in China
Why is Lightyear’s new life not only cheaper but better? The benefits that are part and parcel of her profession are hardly feasible in the U.S.
Read this later:
Benefits she reaps:
2. A travel stipend
3. A flight allowance
4. Rent stipend
5. Two months of paid leave (summer + winter)
She points out that “the benefits of this job just make life easy and cheap.”
How much she’s saving now
With her minimal expenses and side income from YouTube and content creation, Alesse is saving $1,000 per month.
What She’s doing with her savings:
- Eliminated a significant amount of student loans
- Will buy a small beach home in Mexico
- Saving for long-term world living goals
“I haven’t saved enough cash to buy a house in the U.S.,” she says, “but I figure I’ve saved enough to buy a little casita on the beach in Mexico.”
Utilities are simpler and smarter
One of the great differences Lightyear references is how utilities function in China — most are pay-as-you-go.
- Gas: Her landlord preloaded her card, and she hasn’t had to recharge it once
- Electricity: Recharged as needed
- No Surprise Bills: You pay upfront or on demand
“It’s stress-free. You only pay for what you use,” she says.
What the future holds
Lightyear just inked an 18-month lease extension, sealing that she’ll remain in Chengdu through at least 2026. However, her future outside of China remains uncertain.
- Next Stop: Perhaps Mexico, perhaps Europe — she’s not certain yet
- Hometown: Eventually returning to Michigan
- Biggest Fear: Becoming bored
“I know that something other than China will be so much easier,” she says, “but I worry that I might find that boring.
Why she has no regrets
Making the switch to China may be a tremendous life change, but Lightyear swears it brought her freedom, peace of mind, and the ability to actually enjoy life — things she never thought possible juggling gigs in New York.
- She’s healthier
- She has more time
- She’s saving real money
- She feels secure and supported
“I was tired of surviving. Now, I’m finally living,” she says.
