Many of you responded to my recent article about giving yourself permission to follow your dreams. My invitation today is to question the story that the financial wellbeing needed to achieve them only comes from a conventional career in your home country.
For a few months, I lived a strange double life.
Every morning, the sun lit up Mount Eden, an iconic volcano in Auckland, as I headed to the office. I pinched myself that I was paid to be in this beautiful country of New Zealand on the other side of the world.
By day, I'd publicise stories of people celebrating big lottery wins. By evening, I returned to my cheap hostel bunk bed where everything I owned fit in a single backpack. The irony made me smile.
These lottery winners had lucky numbers. I had something else.
We often equate stability with a full-time job and a steady paycheck. But it doesn’t tell the whole story. My journey from city professional to round-the-world backpacker taught me that financial resilience isn't just about what you've saved—it's about your ability to find opportunities wherever you are.
Read on to discover the mindset shift that makes this possible—plus download my special guide to help you do the same.
The travel money myth
There's this powerful myth that says quitting your job to explore the world means needing a trust fund or watching your savings vanish. This stops many people from pursuing their dreams.
But here's what most people miss: while travel expenses are real, so are global work opportunities. The world is a marketplace where your talents might be surprisingly valuable.
A nomadic healer I met in Thailand put it simply:
'Look around when you arrive somewhere new—what do you know that other people here might pay for?'
You could be a web designer helping a resort with their online presence, a teacher giving language coaching or a photographer capturing footage for a tour operator. Your perspective is often worth more than you think. In my case, it was my digital marketing and communications expertise that I leveraged while on the road.
By the time I returned to the UK after a year of travel, I still had healthy savings thanks to working abroad—proof that skills can be a currency you can exchange anywhere.1
Unlocking your value abroad
When I planned my career break to travel, I was terrified of running out of money halfway around the world. Then, I came up with a plan.
I researched countries where UK citizens could work and discovered New Zealand's working holiday visa programme. It welcomed Brits under 35 to work in the country for a year, blending employment with an exciting stay abroad.
After arriving in Auckland, I registered for my tax number (IRD), opened a local bank account with BNZ and set up a local mobile phone number – practical steps that established my legitimacy for working there. I met three local recruitment agents, who all liked my London work history. Within weeks, I'd landed a communications role at a national lottery authority, with Mount Eden becoming the backdrop to my daily commute.
This temp job paid a comfortable local salary—more than enough considering my hostel bed cost just £10 per night. It meant I could apply my skills in a fresh context and expand my network thanks to colleagues who became friends.
In the end, the company surprised me by offering me a permanent position. While I declined the opportunity in favour of continuing my travels, it proved I could land on my feet anywhere.
This approach can work for anyone willing to research their options. Employers often value international perspectives and recruitment agencies can bridge the gap between your background and local opportunities.
Working holiday visas
For UK citizens under 30 or 35, working holiday visas are available for countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada. US citizens have options in New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland and others through similar programmes. Requirements vary by country, so be sure to check each one for the details. Most ask for a one-off payment, as well as proof of sufficient funds and return/onward travel plans.
These visas allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture while earning money – perfect if you want to experience life and work in the country before making longer-term commitments.
Discovering remote work freedom
After my New Zealand job contract ended, I started writing for clients via online freelance platforms such as Upwork.
As I was starting from scratch, the pay was minimal—initially no more than $15-20 per article—but it was a new avenue for me and helped to cover my modest accommodation expenses in Southeast Asia.
There was something magical about seeing my bank balance increase while watching the sunset in Thailand.
Remote work platforms
Upwork and Fiverr provide stepping stones for freelance writing, design and virtual assistance – ideal for building portfolios and client relationships.
Substack’s Maya Say has launched an excellent beginner course for Fiverr. It gives step-by-step guidance on how to position your offer and win higher paying clients. I wish I had something like this when I was getting started on Upwork. You can access it here.2
You can also find plentiful remote job opportunities by signing up to emails from Remote Work Europe.
Relocating abroad
After my return home to the UK, I faced my biggest challenge yet when I decided to relocate long-term to Belgium (this is a story for another day!).
Alongside the job search, I opened a local bank account and applied for an ID card - this was straightforward as the UK was still in the European Union at the time.
However, I quickly realised I wouldn’t be able to continue working in the same industry as in London. Moreover, it was quite the learning curve to understand the complexities of Belgian compensation and benefits.
The confidence I'd gained from landing on my feet in New Zealand and freelancing remotely proved invaluable - especially when faced with discouragement. I'll never forget one Brussels recruiter's blunt assessment:
‘No French or Dutch, no local experience and no EU network? You’ll struggle to find work here.’
She delivered this verdict with such certainty that I almost believed her. Almost.
Ten interviews and three job offers later, I secured a full-time communications position for a great organisation within two months of arriving in Belgium.
That recruiter's dismissal taught me something valuable: expert opinions are just that – opinions. Sometimes the only way to know what's possible is to try.
Digital nomad visas
Even if you don’t have EU citizenship, you still have options to relocate abroad. The pandemic fundamentally shifted attitudes towards remote work and countries worldwide have responded.
Countries like Portugal, Italy, Estonia, Croatia and Costa Rica now invite remote workers to move to the country via dedicated digital nomad visas lasting 6-12 months.
Requirements vary but typically they include demonstrating stable income and health insurance.
These programmes allow you to maintain your career momentum while experiencing life in extraordinary destinations.
Your action plan
For many people, working abroad remains a daydream – something other people do. But 2025 offers more pathways than ever to transform this dream into your reality.
Here's how to begin your journey today, regardless of where you're starting from:
Start by assessing your work experience and identifying how it could translate to remote work or be valuable abroad. If your circumstances allow, test the waters by creating a weekend side project using one of the platforms mentioned above to validate your skills in real conditions.
Research working holiday or digital nomad visa options that match your eligibility based on your age, nationality and profession. During this exploration phase, focus on building a financial runway of 3-6 months of basic expenses as your foundation.
Don't underestimate the power of connections. Join online communities for digital nomads and expats in your target destinations before you leave to gather insights and potential opportunities.
Creating a sustainable travel lifestyle isn't only about having enough money saved before you leave—it's about reimagining your relationship with work and income altogether.
Your next Out of Office Adventures aren’t waiting for financial certainty—they’re waiting for you to recognize the riches you already carry within you.
A guide to ‘inner work’ to help you
The challenges of working overseas aren't just practical—they're emotional too.
I’ve created a 10-page guide focusing on the root chakra—your energy centre for security and stability.
It includes grounding practices, affirmations and journalling prompts to help transform money worries into a sense of abundance, regardless of your location.
→ Download it now: Grounded - A Root Chakra Guide to Financial Freedom
If you liked this article, please leave a ❤️ as it helps others to find it and makes me happy!
Which country would you love to be a digital nomad in? Or have you already found ways to fund your life abroad? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Next week is the latest chapter of my solo travel memoir. Join me as I arrive in Bali where I try to manifest my life’s desires (turns out, it’s harder than it looks).
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on my personal experiences from 2013-5 and is not intended as professional advice. Please conduct your own research and consult with a financial/tax advisor or official government websites before making decisions.
This is an affiliate link, which means if you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. I have bought Maya's course myself and it's super helpful!
So much great, important information in this artcle! I love the idea of going somewhere and thinking about your own skillset and how people in that area might pay for it. Such a good persecptive.
Your story is so inspiring Claire and I loved that you were able to prove the recruiter wrong! I'd love to move to Portugal and am actively working on a plan to get there ☺️