How to Become a Digital Nomad - Live and Work Abroad
The digital nomad guide. The reality and what you need to know to make the right moves.
I’ve been a digital nomad since 2017, when I finally transitioned away from teaching English abroad. As I mentioned in my about page, I got my start first in the world of corporate finance in Connecticut and then quit my job to teach English in Thailand.
I loved every second of living abroad and teaching English in Thailand. The culture, the beautiful women, the fantastic food, and the proximity to other exciting places hooked me. One issue, however, is that I was paid 33,000 Thai Baht as a salary equivalent to 1,100 USD.
Granted, I had one blog at the time, generating a few hundred dollars a month, so I was not broke but compared to my $65K corporate job, I was struggling financially compared to my peers back in New England.
Teaching ESL forced me to make a decision, I needed to make more money so my options were:
- Go home to America and get a corporate job.
- Attend school as a way to get a masters degree and make a career out of teaching ESL.
- Become self employed.
Become a Digital Nomad
I chose option three and made the difficult and risky decision to become a self-employed expat, a true digital nomad who works online and lives abroad.
It’s easily been one of the best decisions of my life as I can spend my time how I wish most days and live abroad where ever I choose to.
It took tremendous work, consistency, and long hours for the first two years to establish various income sources, but I’m proof it’s possible. I’m free now that I make $6K a month at a minimum now.
