Champagne Dreams on a Beer Budget: How I’m Planning My Move Abroad Without Going Broke

So you’ve made the big decision: You’re ready to pack your bags and start a new, adventurous chapter of your life somewhere far from home.

Exciting, right?

But then reality hits – while the dream of sipping espresso in a European café or basking on a quiet Mexican beach feels irresistible, the logistics (and costs) of moving abroad?

Not so much.

If you’re anything like me, the thought of exiting your comfort zone and your credit card’s comfort zone can feel overwhelming.

Questions like, “How much money do I need?

How will I afford this?

Will my freelance side hustle be enough?” swirl around your brain, especially when you’re balancing responsibilities like health, family, and – let’s be real – that lovely “after 40” stage when you really don’t want to max out those savings you worked so hard to build.

Here’s the good news: Moving abroad doesn’t have to wreck your finances.

In fact, with some creative planning, it can be surprisingly budget-friendly.

In this post, I’m going to share the exact steps I’m using to plan my move abroad without breaking the bank.

Trust me, if I can do it (I’m a serial over-spender with a weakness for online shopping), you can too.

Set a Move-Abroad Budget (And Be Honest with Yourself)

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: money.

Before you make sweeping plans, it’s critical to figure out exactly how much you’ll need, and for what.

This isn’t about guessing or vaguely estimating “a few thousand dollars.”

Nope.

Creating a detailed budget is key.

Here’s how I approached it:

– Break It Down: Start with the big-ticket items. Think flights, visa fees, temporary accommodation, and moving expenses (do you really need to ship that heirloom dresser? Probably not).
– Research Costs in Your Target Country: Not all destinations are created equal. For example, living costs in Mexico are substantially lower than in the U.S. or Canada. Tools like Numbeo can provide an overview of average rent, groceries, and transportation costs in your dream destination.
– Include Emergency Funds: Hint: Assume things will go sideways at some point. Whether it’s a last-minute visa fee or realizing you accidentally pulled money from the wrong account, a little buffer time and cash can go a long way.

Pro Tip: I created a simple spreadsheet in Google Sheets to track anticipated expenses. I even added a column for “backup plans” because let’s be real – that espresso budget in Italy might get out of hand!

2. Downsize Your Current Life (The Art of Letting Go)

Moving abroad is the ultimate opportunity for a life reset, especially when it comes to “stuff.”

I’ll be honest: I used to treat my closet like a storage unit for clothes I might one day fit back into.

But when you’re facing astronomical shipping costs or extreme baggage fees, suddenly all that clutter doesn’t feel so worth it.

Here’s how to downsize with purpose:

– Sell What You Can: Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Poshmark are godsends for selling furniture, clothes, or gadgets you no longer need. Bonus: The cash you make can go straight into your move-abroad fund.
– Donate to Simplify: If it doesn’t bring you joy, it doesn’t belong in your suitcase. Thanks, Marie Kondo.
– Digitize Your Life: I took photos of sentimental items (those stacks of birthday cards and childhood photos) and saved them into Google Drive. It saved me loads of space without the guilt of letting things go entirely.

The goal here?

Embrace minimalism – it’s freeing and budget-friendly.

3. Get Creative with Income (Before and During the Move)

One of the most stressful parts of planning a move abroad is answering the question, “How will I make money after I move?”

Unless you’re retiring with a bottomless pension (lucky you), it’s essential to have income streams lined up before you start packing.

Here are a few strategies I swear by:

– Tap into Freelance Gigs: As a nurse, I discovered the opportunity to work remotely in telemedicine, teaching medical courses online, or freelance writing (hello, health blogs!). Even if you’re not in healthcare, there are countless online jobs perfect for location independence.
– Explore Passive Income Ideas: You don’t need to hustle 24/7. I started a simple blog to share my “life reset” journey and linked it to affiliate products I genuinely use. It’s not making me a millionaire (yet), but it’s a helpful side stream of income.
– Host a Moving Sale: Not to belabor the decluttering point, but selling the larger items (goodbye, sectional couch!) can give you a quick financial boost.

And of course, look into the job market in your destination country.

Can you teach English?

Babysit?

Pick up remote work from your home country?

Finding ways to fund your adventure will take the pressure off once you land.

4. Stay Flexible with Your Destination Plan

I’ll let you in on a secret: The original plan for my move abroad included Portugal, but the cost of living in cities like Lisbon combined with tightened visa requirements had me rethinking my options.

Enter: Mexico.
Why?
– Affordable Cost of Living: From rent to groceries, Mexico is wildly budget-friendly compared to the U.S. or Europe. I ran the numbers and realized I could comfortably get by on half the income I would need in Lisbon.
– Proximity to the U.S.: Let’s be real, flights from Cancun to the States are way cheaper than international flights across the Atlantic.
– Accessible Healthcare: Trust me, as someone who’s over 40, *healthcare matters*. Mexico offers high-quality care at a fraction of U.S. prices, plus expat-friendly health insurance options.

Pro Tip: Stay open-minded about destinations. Countries like Costa Rica, Malaysia, or Colombia offer similar perks depending on your preferences. The more flexible you are, the more options (and savings) you’ll enjoy.

5. Hack Your Savings Game (Even If You Feel Behind)

Look, no matter how much money you have saved right now, you can take small, actionable steps to increase your move-abroad fund without overhauling your life.

Here’s what worked for me:
– Automate Savings: I set up a high-yield savings account and funneled 10% of every paycheck into it automatically. (Bonus: Watching that travel fund grow keeps your motivation sky-high!)
– Cut Small Weekly Costs: You know that $6 latte habit? Actually doing the math on how much I spent monthly was the rude awakening I needed. Swapping small luxuries for brewing at home saved me hundreds over a few months.
– Pick Up Temporary Side Hustles: Babysitting, dog walking, or selling handmade goods can provide a solid income boost without long-term commitment.

Every little bit adds up, and before long, you’ll have the funds (and confidence) to live your expat dream.

The Breakdown:

When I first started planning my move abroad, it felt like staring up at Mount Everest – intimidating, overwhelming, and way out of reach financially.

But breaking it down step by step (and using strategies like budgeting, decluttering, and getting creative with income) not only made my dream feel doable, but actually fun and exciting.

The truth is, living abroad doesn’t require an overflowing bank account or a “perfect plan.”

It just requires a little grit, imagination, and a willingness to embrace simplicity.

If I can do it, so can you.

What about you?

Are you planning your move abroad, or dreaming about where you’d like to go?

Let me know in the comments!

Or share your favorite budget-friendly tips for making moves like this work – I’d love to hear.

Now, go start planning that adventure.

Your future expat life is waiting!

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