Expat on a Budget

There is nothing that makes this American want leave the US forever, than to return for a 2 week visit after living elsewhere for years.... I'd love to hear your experience!!

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

Expat on a Budget

It took about six months just to learn the names and locations of the grocery stores in my Porto neighborhood.

I ignored tourist sites during that time.

My entire world narrowed down to figuring out the name of the main supermarkets in Portugal (Pingo Doce, Continente, Auchan, Lidl, Mercadona, Celeiro, Froiz, Aldi… to name a few). Plus finding the other hidden gems—bakeries, fruitarias and more!

Everyone expects an expat life of leisure, but the reality is half a year spent figuring out where to buy soy heavy cream (actually I just learned about this 3 years in)!

Survival takes precedence over sightseeing when you don't even know the name of the market.

3 months ago | [YT] | 7

Expat on a Budget

My pain scale hit a 15 out of 10 after two surgeries on my broken fingers in a Portuguese hospital. I begged the staff for painkillers, but they refused. This was my "welcome to expat/immigrant life" moment.

I felt completely abandoned by a system I didn't understand and physically unable to advocate for myself. The solution wasn't toughening up or learning medical Portuguese overnight. It was hiring a health concierge service for €250 a year.

They:
• Spoke to the doctors at the public hospital.
• Called the prescription I needed into the pharmacy.

Sometimes the smartest move isn't grit, but admitting you need a paid advocate to navigate a foreign bureaucracy.

3 months ago | [YT] | 5

Expat on a Budget

The United States has a firearm homicide rate nearly 25 times higher than other high-income countries.

We convince ourselves that staying put is the safe choice while the data screams otherwise.

Comfort is often just familiarity masquerading as security.

3 months ago | [YT] | 6

Expat on a Budget

In 2023: I lay in a hospital bed in Portugal with broken bones, thousands of miles from where I used to live. This was the moment everyone warned me about. I had moved here solo, without a prior scouting trip, knowing almost no one, and now I was facing a medical emergency in a foreign language.

The care I received was exceptional. It dismantled every fear I had harbored about leaving the US healthcare system.

I recently spoke to an expat in Panama, who confirmed the same reality there. We often stay in the US because we believe the rest of the world is dangerous or ill-equipped. My experience proved the opposite.

I navigated unsupportive people back in the US and the stress of minimizing my life to get here. Now, I focus entirely on helping others escape.

The safety you are frantically searching for is waiting on the other side of a plane ticket.

3 months ago | [YT] | 11

Expat on a Budget

Today my "5 things I hate about Portugal" releases.

Please note these are my opinions and experiences only! This is not to say it's all one way or another here or anywhere. I'm doing these series because I wish someone had told me their experiences before I moved here. That said: I love living here regardless and have no dealbreakers.

Please don't hate on the messenger!!!

3 months ago | [YT] | 4

Expat on a Budget

What's your main "expat prep" activity at the moment?

6 months ago | [YT] | 1

Expat on a Budget

What's the #1 thing you're hoping to find by moving to a new country?

6 months ago | [YT] | 5

Expat on a Budget

What's your biggest challenge when it comes to moving abroad?

6 months ago | [YT] | 4

Expat on a Budget

Check out this video I made for International Living!
https://youtu.be/RrRTfgodAJM?si=SxkJ4...

🚐 From a van in California to a new life in Portugal 🇵🇹

I left the U.S. at 56—alone—and moved to Portugal without ever visiting first. Crazy? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely.

In this video, I open up about:
✨ The 6 big reasons I left the U.S.
✨ Why Portugal felt like the perfect fit (even sight unseen!)
✨ How my life, values, and even my daily routine have completely transformed

If you’ve ever thought, “Could I actually move abroad?” — this is the video for you. Spoiler: yes, you can. 🌍

Click play and see what life looks like when you trade the hamster wheel for calma.

If you could move abroad tomorrow, where would you go? 🌍✈️

6 months ago | [YT] | 4