Michelle McGill, 26, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, shunned a career to be a stay-at-home mum to Amy, five, Lily, three, and George, eight months.

'Before we had children I worked as a customer service assistant and my husband, Ben, is a Tesco department manager, so we had two incomes and wanted for nothing.

'When I became pregnant, we thought it was more important for me to be at home and involved with our baby rather than have a nice holiday every year, so we decided to try to live on one salary.

I get to see my kids grow up

'We put our plan to get a mortgage on hold and, for now, we all live in a two-bed Housing Association house. The girls share a bedroom and George is in with us. Our life is simple.

'We drive an old car and we don't have iPods, Sky TV or computer games – Ben doesn't even own a mobile. And I also bake cakes and go to carboot sales to get clothes for the kids.

'When the kids are older, I plan to train as a midwife but, for now, I want to be there to see them growing up and make the most of my time with them. Their first steps, or first day at school – those things are really priceless.'

Kirsty Biston, 36, and husband Gary, 42, left lucrative jobs and 12-hour days in London to run a bed and breakfast in a sleepy Spanish village, where they live with their children Lily, five, and Oliver, two.

'Every morning when Gary and I wake up our children climb into our bed for a cuddle. It's a special part of the day, but one we couldn't have enjoyed if we were still living in London.

'Five years ago, Gary and I were directors of a travel company and worked from 9am to 9pm. We earned around £80,000 between us, but didn't have a lot of quality time. We'd get home, have dinner, watch TV and fall into bed.

'Both of us had travelled a lot and knew what a great standard of life the Spanish have. So, in 2004, we moved abroad to Spain. Initially it was to run the overseas arm of the company.

Change of pace

Then two years ago we bought and renovated a guest house called Casa de Medina, situated in a really lovely, whitewashed village in southern Spain near the Costa de la Luz.

'We still work hard, but things here are done at a leisurely pace and it means we're able to enjoy the simple things in

When a shock cancer diagnosis turned her world upside down, Joanne Reeson, 39, from Boston, Linconshire, decided to make time for the things in life that really matter, and get rid of those that don't.

'Until last Christmas, I was working flat out, seven days a week. I had a part-time job at my local hospital and I ran my own business, dressing wedding venues. I loved my work and thrived on being busy but I hardly ever saw my husband, Marcus, or my son, Andrew, who's 19.

'But in January this year my whole life suddenly changed when I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. I had been feeling tired for a little while and had lost weight, but I put it down to working so hard, so it was a huge shock.

Health and family matter most

'I'm having chemotherapy now and I don't know what the future holds, but this illness has made me re-evaluate my priorities. I sold the business, and now I work two days a week which gives me lots of quality time with Marcus and Andrew. My husband and I appreciate each other so much more. Life is too short to be serious and worry about the trivial things.

'We've had to tighten our belts a bit, but