I’ve spoken about what I did in the years prior to selling my house and achieving financial stability, but I haven’t talked much about what I am doing about money whilst living part-time in Mexico, traveling around the world, and working part-time. Here's a look into my money management strategy.
Category: Money
My pursuit of financial security and financial freedom; personal finance, investing and budgeting; downsizing and saving.
I’m Heading Into My Third Year of Semi-Retirement — and I’m Making Some Big Changes in 2024
Happy New Year, everyone! It’s that time where we consciously (or subconsciously) reflect on where we are, where we’ve been, and maybe even make some goals and plans for the future. So, here's what I'm going to be up to in 2024 (SURPRISE SURPRISE)!
How I Practice Abundance and Stay Positive, Despite the Uncertainty of Nomadic Living
A nomadic, adventurous, untethered lifestyle has become more and more attractive and popular, especially as more and more people explore remote or seasonal work, entrepreneurship, freelancing, and early retirement... but, like anything new, this lifestyle can come with a lot of question marks. The most common concerns I hear about a nomadic lifestyle are: how to deal with inconsistent expenses, unreliable income, and financial uncertainty about the future. Here's my take.
What It Costs to Live in Mexico, and Why I Increased my Budget
If you guys have been tracking my spending updates during the last few years since I semi-retired outside the U.S., you’ve seen… my spending (more or less) slowly increasing. While some of that is a result of inflation, demand, and the strengthening Mexican peso... I've also made some conscious choices.
Worldpackers Review: My Experience Volunteering in Mexico
If you would like to travel more, and are craving a more fulfilling and meaningful experience (both for you as a traveler and the communities you engage with) — while keeping costs down — consider volunteering. Here's my experience with the platform Worldpackers.
The Chase Sapphire Travel Credit Card: A Nomad’s Honest Review
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a favorite travel credit card, highly recommended by many international travelers, including myself. I've had the card for 3+ years — here's my honest review, the good and the bad, and some real-life examples.
The #1 Quality Each Minimalist Needs: And How I Nurtured It
People look at what I did — downsized my entire life into a few boxes and suitcases — and think: "Wow, good for her, but I never could!" and that doesn't surprise me. When the seeds were first planted, I thought the same. But my transformation boils down to ONE single quality that I nurtured to become a minimalist, and that is...
What It Costs to Live in Mexico… Welcome to Another Nomad Life Spending Update
How does a full-time solo traveler (with a car and a dog) spend her money, living and traveling Mexico? Peer into my spending the last three months, and take it from me... I can't afford *NOT* to travel!
6 Formative Moments that Taught Me the Value of Money
I’m a nomad, who sold her house, quit her job, and is traveling the world... and I want to tell YOU, and anyone else who looks at me in AWE of my rebellious and fearless escape: I am not a superhero. I’m an average woman, WHO DID AN UNAVERAGE THING. I see money and time differently than most folks, as a result of some pivotal and life-changing experiences. Read all about it.
How I Secure Reasonable Accommodations on the Nomad Life (Hint: It’s Not Airbnb)
I’ve been traveling full-time since 2020, and while I started out strong on the platform, I now use Airbnb as a last resort due to a couple of bad experiences. So here's my tried-and-true formula for best results (for me, a solo female nomad) — for long-term stays, I rent direct-to-owner, and for short-term stays, I use hotels. Read on.
What I Spent in 90 Days Traveling Mexico: My Quarterly Spending Breakdown
I last wrote a spending breakdown at the end of 2022, when I shared with everyone that I lived on $74 a day as a global nomad (mostly in Mexico and Eastern Europe, with two months in the U.S). The lifestyle I lead would cost probably twice as much in the states — and while I wouldn't call my post-employment, full-time travel choices luxurious, I am comfortable. So, what does "comfortable" look like for me this year traveling in Mexico? Here's what I spent my first three months in 2023...
How Did I Get Here? My Financial Journey: From Unemployed and Broke in 2017, to Saving Enough to Leave the Workforce
Six years ago, I was unintentionally jobless. My severance package had run out, I hadn’t found another suitable job, and my emergency fund was all but drained. It took awhile, but I turned it around — and now, I’m semi-retired, working on my own terms and own timeline, and traveling the world. Let me tell you how.
My 10 Commandments of Budget Travel, From a Full-Time Nomad
I spent $27K traveling the world in 2022 — $74 a day — and one thing I keep hearing is: “Teach me your ways, Julie!” Well, did you know, I DO teach?! I have a ton of in-depth, free information available on my blog, I hold webinars for those visual learners and do one-on-one mentoring for people who want a little extra attention, and I recently published an eBook entitled “Money and Mindset: How to Take a Sabbatical” — because finances are one of the biggest deterrents to having the lifestyle we want most of all — and limiting beliefs are the other. It’s a mission of mine to prove to YOU that a fulfilling life, full of travel and immersive experiences: is ATTAINABLE and POSSIBLE… so I’m counting down my 10 commandments of international budget travel!
Unpopular Opinion: Why Are So Many People Scared to Retire? GUILT
In the year-plus since I semi-retired, I’ve noticed something unexpected: just how polarizing and controversial the word “retire” is. (Especially among the generation older than I.) And it’s really no wonder that some people straight up scoff at retiring early, in a nation where busy-ness and overwork is a badge of honor... and when the first question we are asked when we meet someone new is, “So what do you do?" But many of those reactions confuse me. Here's why.
How I Earned $13K Without Working in 2022
Last year, I shared that I socked away $30K in cash to fund my sabbatical, and I just revealed how I lived on $27K in 2022. So... $30K minus $27K = $3K left to work with in 2023, right? Not exactly. I have a few tricks up my sleeve... dominos I put in place in years past. It turns out the moves I've made allowed me to "earn" ~$13K in 2022 without a job, real estate, or lifting a finger (except for a few clicks of my mouse!).
How I Spent $27K as a Global Nomad in 2022
I’m coming upon the end of my first year of mini-retirement, and as usual, I’m sharing yet another spending recap with you (as I’ve done all year long as I’ve traveled across Mexico and Europe)! You’ll recall, at the end of 2021, at age 36, I participated in the great resignation/financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement. After quitting my job, my goal for my semi-retirement was to take back my time, energy, and creativity for MYSELF, vs. my employer… and to get the most out of my travels sans the demands of a job. Now that my first year “on sabbatical” is coming to a close, here’s my total spending for the year (as an unemployed person spending five-sixths of the year traveling across 14 countries): $27,014.26, or $74 a day. This is how I lived. P.S. Want to join me for a free webinar and Q&A where I dig in deep to my budget and spending? Enter to receive the details by email.
3 Mindset Shifts That Will Change the Way You Think About Personal Finance
I like to run for exercise. Running can be done just about anywhere, it doesn’t require equipment, I can do it solo, and there’s no special ability required (I just adjust my pace accordingly). In fact, I've ran five half-marathons (none of them very fast, mind you). When I train, I work on improving my physical endurance, my speed, AND my mental fortitude. These three mindset shifts have revolutionized my running performance AND, interestingly enough, my financial well-being.
I’m One Year Into My Sabbatical — How It’s Going
December 10, 2021 was my last day of full-time employment, and if I were to sum up my first year of semi-retirement in one statement, it’s this: I am prioritizing myself like I’ve never done before. And while this could be a side effect of the fact that no employer owns my workday, this is also me making a conscious choice… I’ve chosen this. I’ve re-prioritized. I’ve identified what matters to me, decided how I’m going to live my life, and I’m doing it. And ever since then, this choice has shown up in my life in several ways.
16 Weeks in Europe Recap: My “Best of” List
“Julie… where was your favorite place in Europe?” I’m not a mom, but I reckon it’s kind of like choosing your favorite child: each place I visited is unique and special in its own way, so I literally cannot pick a favorite! So, instead… how about I do superlatives, high school-yearbook-style (in a completely biased, non-scientific way, of course)? And the award for most beautiful city, prettiest old town, best food, and nicest people goes to...
You CAN Afford It: How to Travel When You Don’t Have Tons of Savings
Traveling doesn’t have to break the bank. Trading and bartering has been around for centuries, and the internet has made it more possible than ever to exchange work, expertise, and camaraderie for lodging. So here are four actual, real-life, TACTICAL ways to travel without spending bucket loads of money... and all you need is a keyboard and a mouse to get started!
