I bet you’ve lain in bed for hours with one question worming its way through your mind.

This pesky question has to do with moving abroad.
You’ve asked the AI for answers and gotten confusing answers. You’ve watched videos from others sharing their experience, yet you feel their advice doesn’t apply to you.
At the end of the day, no matter how many times you’ve googled, “How much money do I need to move abroad?” you still don’t feel any closer to your dream life.

What you really want is a magic number, but the hard truth is:

There is none.

Eight years ago, I made the leap from the U.S. to Panama, suitcase in hand and about $3,000 in my bank account.

And boy, did I make that money stretch.

Through surviving on tuna sandwiches, teaching yoga classes in the morning, and giving English lessons in the evening, I hustled to stay abroad, and that’s how I ended up in Spain six years later.

What I’ve learned over the years, besides how to curse in Spanish, is how to manage my money on an irregular income so I can continue living a slow-paced life filled with dance, tapas, and friends.

So you may be thinking, since I moved abroad with $3,000, maybe you can save the same and make the move as well.

Well, I’m here to tell you, don’t follow my example. Instead, do better.
After reflecting on my own experience and helping other women move abroad, I can confidently say that there is no universal number.

Figuring out how much you need to move abroad depends on your habits, your job, and your dream destination.

The good news? You can calculate it yourself, and I’ll show you how.

My wake-up call: Face your finances first

When I first moved abroad, I was spending like I had a regular payment and full-time job. I learned very quickly that my spending habits had to change based on my income and my lifestyle.

So, step one for you is to be brutally honest: take a look at where you are financially. Right now, do you know how much is coming in and how much is going out?
Even though you may plan on moving to a country where the cost of living is lower, if you don’t fix your bad money habits now, they will follow you abroad.

Plan your income abroad

Remote job? Negotiate it now. Sabbatical? Calculate the months off times monthly costs. Freelancing? Start saving a cushion.

Understand your career path and how much money you can reasonably expect to earn each month. Take those numbers into consideration when you’re planning where to go and how you want to live.

Build your dream life—then price it

Keep in mind that bigger cities can be pricey, but they are hubs of entertainment. Smaller cities have a lower cost of living, but you might not be partying every weekend.

Here are future costs to consider:
Rent (solo or shared?)
Basics: food, electricity, and insurance.
Joy: Gym, dining out, weekend getaways?

Use Numbeo or expat forums for averages, then tweak for you.

The 3 savings buckets

This might sound like a long process, but it’s actually rather simple. Use three different savings accounts for your move.

Current-life emergencies: Tires blow? Phone dies? Cover it without derailing your dream.

Moving costs: Flights (€400–600, buffer for fluctuations), visas, short-term stay until you find where you want to live long term.

Landing cushion: One month’s expenses to settle without panic.
Add a 20% misc buffer—taxis, upgrades, that first “oops” meal out.

What you need to know

Basically, you need to start doing the following to prepare for your move abroad:

Understand your current finances.
Get clear on how you’re going to make a living abroad, whether that’s a remote job, job relocation, freelancing, or living off your savings.
Figure out the cost of your move: plane tickets, temporary stays, insurance, etc.
Calculate your monthly costs.
Start saving.

I walk you through this process in my video above, but if you need more support or feel overwhelmed by the process, comment below or send me a message, and we can hop on a call and work it out together.

I’ll be honest with you. I prefer tapping my feet and moving my hips rather than lifting weights or running.

I’ve never been a gym person. On the rare occasions I did work out, it was only to build endurance and strength so I could dance more.

I did enjoy HIIT classes when one of my best friends was teaching. Doing burpees felt less like torture when I was with a group of girlfriends, sweating it out to 90s girl bands.

Yet as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that if I want to keep dancing well into my 60s and 70s, I need to start lifting weights.

Fortunately, my partner is someone who genuinely loves working out. Not in a “the gym is my life, and I’m hopped up on steroids” kind of way. But he genuinely likes challenging himself and being strong — not so much for aesthetics, but because feeling healthy feels good.

Luckily for me, his passion became my problem, I mean motivation.

We started working out together over a year ago, and since then, I’ve been consistently weight training about 3–4 days a week. I’m talking Bulgarian squats, pull-ups, bench presses, and push-ups.

So now you’re probably thinking — that’s great, Kiersten, but what does this have to do with money?

One word.

Consistency.

Improving your health and managing your money both require a level of consistency before you’ll see any real progress.

When I started working out, I was lifting around 4–5 kilograms (about 8–11 pounds). I was doing assisted pull-ups with resistance bands and barely getting to 8 reps on certain movements.

I started small — similar to how I’ve approached some of my savings goals. Saving $10 here, $5 there. And just like with working out, the results were slow at first.

Because when you start something new — whether it’s working out, saving money, or sticking to a budget — it’s not about the immediate results. It’s about building sustainable habits.

Focusing on the habit of saving, whether that’s $5 a week or $100 a month, will do more for you over time than trying to save a large lump sum all at once.

The truth is, life is constantly changing, and interruptions happen. There were times I couldn’t work out as much — other responsibilities got in the way — but because I had built habits around movement, my fitness journey might have looked like shorter sessions or fewer training days, but the habit was still there.

And because the habit was there, I could maintain.

Same with money. If you hit a rough patch and have to redirect funds toward an unexpected car repair or an emergency dentist appointment, having strong money habits means you’ll recover — or get through it — so much better than if those habits weren’t in place.

I remember when I unexpectedly had to pay $800 in taxes, which took a significant chunk out of my savings. But because I had built the habit of saving before spending, I was able to recover and rebuild.

And remember — habits don’t have to look flashy or complicated. They’re often simple things, like:

• Sticking to your budget

• Saving before spending

• Pausing before an impulse purchase

• Routinely setting aside fun money so you can treat yourself guilt-free

• Spending intentionally

• Checking your bank account regularly

When we build on these habits, over time, we start to see results. Just like my workouts — I’m now lifting 8kg (about 17 pounds) and walking up steep hills without feeling like I’m dying on the way up.

Habits are especially important to focus on when you’re not yet where you want to be financially. Trust the habits. The progress will come.

I’d love to know what money habits you’re working on. Hit reply and let me know.

When it comes to money, here is something I don’t see many people talking about. Yet it’s the foundation for any type of strong financial future.

I’m talking about having a strong understanding of your income.

Here’s what I mean.

Most people have an idea of what they get paid. Yet they don’t understand their take-home salary, which is how much they get after taxes or benefits.

There’s also the challenge of instability, meaning you’re jumping from client to client, or you work for a company that will cut you from payroll the minute they need to cut costs.

But let’s say you have a stable income. Does your income cover your essential expenses?

Let’s not forget the whole active vs. passive income topic, which I can save for a whole other email.

When it comes to moving abroad, it’s important to understand how you make money and how you spend money.

Some things to consider when you move abroad:

• Will my income stay the same or change?

• Will I continue to get paid in USD or my home country’s currency?

• If so, what does the conversion rate look like?

• Is there a way to increase my income sources when I move abroad?

A lot of people run into financial difficulties because they are building a financial future on a shaky foundation, where their income isn’t stable.

You know you need to strengthen your income when you’re:

• Not making enough to cover your basic expenses

• Not making enough to save

• Relying on one stream of income that would ruin you if it were to run dry

If you’re starting to question whether your income is actually supporting you the way it should be, consider these things.

Take a look at your pay stubs and invoices, and see how much you’re bringing in on average. Understand how much you earn and how much actually hits your bank account. Once you know what you earn on average, add up your total monthly expenses and see if what you bring in every month actually covers those costs.

Next, ask yourself how reliable your income is. If you were to lose your job tomorrow, how would you replace it?

And how is it possible to increase your income? This is especially important if you realize your income is barely covering your expenses and you have very little left over to save.

Saving is an essential money skill. But if your income doesn’t allow you to save, you’re backing yourself up against a wall. It may be time to ask for a raise, increase your rates, or look for other ways to bring in some extra cash — like selling items you don’t need, picking up a part-time job, or starting a side hustle.

Stabilizing your income when you move abroad

Money looks different when you move abroad. I’m not just talking about the physical — like how Costa Rica has sharks and monkeys on its bills — I’m talking about conversion.

When I moved to Panama, one of the perks was that they use the same currency as the United States. But when I moved to Spain, I got paid in euros from teaching English while my side hustles mostly paid me in USD. While it might sound fancy to get paid in two currencies, it’s honestly been kind of a headache — managing transfers and paying bills on two different continents is no joke.

And sometimes that conversion rate is my friend. Other times, it’s a soul-sucking succubus.

Another thing to consider is whether you have other ways to make money in your new country. That has been a challenge for me. While I’ve made money in many different ways living abroad, it’s not always as simple as sending off my resume until I find a job. There are often restrictions on what kind of work I can do, and sometimes my skill set doesn’t match what’s needed in the area I live in.

Lastly, it’s important to consider growth. Can your income grow with you when you move, or will it keep you stuck?

Do you feel like it’s strong enough to start building on, or is it more like a Jenga tower — one or two bricks away from completely falling down?

Comment or message me and let me know. I’m here to support you.

In the US, most restaurants are big on customer service. Waiters and waitresses are super attentive from the moment you sit down. They’ll never let your water glass get half-empty, and they treat your order like a prized possession.

In my experience, many Spanish camareros, or waiters, don’t worry about the theatrics. They take your order quickly and precisely. For example, one time, a Spanish waitress threw a small notepad onto the restaurant table and walked away. Leaving my friends and me to read the scribbled lunch specials that were written on the notepad.

One could say the difference in service comes down to pay. Waiters in Spain earn a normal salary, while waiters in the States are hoping their smile will earn them a tip.

Side note: tipping is not a common practice in most parts of Spain.

The reason I bring up eating out is to share a frustrating experience I had dining out last year at a local restaurant here in Jaén, where I live.

Now, I’ve had some pretty bad dining experiences both in and out of the US.

I remember one restaurant I went to in downtown Los Angeles, where I saw a roach creeping up the beige-colored walls moments after we sat down.

My friends and I left immediately after I spotted the surprise visitor.

Then there was the time in Valencia, Spain, when I went to a vegan restaurant with some friends in the middle of summer. The place had good reviews, but our experience was anything but.

We sat in a sweltering restaurant with big industrial fans blaring because the air conditioning wasn’t working. We sweat through our clothes, as our food took forever to be ready.

And the icing on the cake? They charged me for two beers when I only had one. Luckily, I caught the mistake and saved myself a few euros.

But one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had happened last year. It was insulting — we ended up paying good money for poor service and embarrassing portion sizes.

It was a balmy September night. I had suggested to four of my friends that we try a restaurant I’d eaten at before and enjoyed. The five of us sat out on the restaurant terrace, eager to try some new foods.

We waited about 10 minutes, watching waiters move past us like speeding cars, until finally someone came to take our drink orders.

After looking over the menu, we decided to order the octopus, which my friends would share, a shrimp platter for me, and a chicken brochette to split among all five of us.

These meals were priced at 25 euros or more — a hefty price tag for restaurants in the area — so naturally, our expectations were high. We assumed the portions would be generous enough for the group.

We flagged down the waiter, put in our order, and started chatting over our grumbling stomachs.

After 45 minutes of being practically ignored and smelling the food at neighboring tables, our first plate finally arrived.

We followed the waiter’s hand as he placed the dish at the center of the table. Our eyes widened. We scrunched our faces and looked at each other in disbelief.

It was the saddest octopus dish we’d ever seen. Pulpo, or octopus, is a popular dish in Spain — I refuse to eat it myself, but many people love it.

The first octopus dish I’d ever seen was the full animal with all eight legs spread across the plate.




What we received was a single leg, about the length of my forearm and not nearly as wide. We were so hungry from waiting that we didn’t have the energy to complain or reorder.

My friends split the one leg among the four of them and had maybe two bites each.

Then came the chicken brochette — the most expensive item we ordered. It’s not the most common dish, but when done right, it’s a large skewer loaded with big, juicy chunks of smoked chicken and vegetables.

What arrived was maybe four small pieces of dry, shriveled chicken and a few sad vegetables to split among five people. Each piece practically dissolved after a couple of chews.

Fortunately, my shrimp dish was a good size and quite tasty. But the restaurant really dropped the ball on two out of three orders.

So why am I sharing this disappointing dining experience?

Because we’ve all been there — spending money on something that didn’t meet our expectations.

When that happens, it feels like you’re literally throwing money down the garbage disposal. It’s one of the most unpleasant feelings, knowing you didn’t get your money’s worth.

And the hard truth is, this will never stop happening. No matter how good you are with money, how intentional, how disciplined, things will go wrong and it’ll feel like a complete waste. The goal is just to make sure it’s never your life savings on the line.

The slightly good news?

The more intentional you are with your finances — the more you plan, budget, and save — the less these moments will sting. It’ll still feel like a punch in the gut. But when you manage your money well, you can bounce back from almost any setback.

Anyway, if you’re curious about some of my more positive dining experiences, you can check out my blog post here.

And maybe this email can serve as a small reminder to stay on top of your finances, so you can weather any surprises that come your way.

Comment below and let me know — have you ever tried octopus?

I was teaching English online. I was also talking with a Panamanian English learning company about working with them as a one-on-one tutor. Everything was aligning for my new life abroad.

During my second week in Panama, I met up with the bosses of this company at a popular local coffee shop. They bought me a glass of fancy hibiscus tea, and they made me laugh while they talked about how great their company was.

We agreed that I’d be paid $10/hour, and this rate could increase in the future. Along with the nitty-gritty details, my former bosses emphasized how much I was going to love working with their clients.

In hindsight, some of the details they shared were a little sketchy. They told me they would pay me in cash, that I’d have to use Uber to get around, and that they would reimburse me. Conditions that sounded strange, but I went with it because I was new and eager to find consistent work.

That first month went by smoothly, and since I was working under the table, I got paid in cash that was neatly folded and placed in a ziplock bag.

Life was golden for the first few months. Then one day, I messaged my boss to coordinate picking up my salary. Instead of giving me a time and place, I got an excuse.

“The company hasn’t paid us, so we can’t pay you. Give me a few days.”

Now I’m a reasonable and flexible person, and I understand delays can happen. However, this delay ended up going on for two months. I naively continued working even though I hadn’t been paid.
As a result, I ended up burning through my savings so I could pay rent. I survived on eating tuna sandwiches and oatmeal for weeks.

Then one day, I said enough was enough, and I started focusing on making my own money. I registered for multiple online teaching English programs, and got accepted to one or two.

The programs gave me the liberty to set my own rates. I didn’t have to spend money on Uber, and I could teach from the comfort of my own home.

I started doing this regularly, and slowly I started earning more and more.

For a few weeks, I balanced working for the Panamanian company that hadn’t fully paid me, and teaching classes online.

There was one moment where I had an online lesson scheduled, and an hour before, I got a call from the company, which at that time had only paid me half of what they owed me, to go across town to teach an in-person English lesson.

This moment was one of the most uncomfortable situations. I had a choice to either cancel my online lesson to give this in-person lesson, or say no to my boss.

After 10 minutes of overthinking, trying to see if I could do both lessons, and then concentrating really hard to see if I could clone myself, I made a decision.

It came down to what was the better option for me. And as you probably guessed, staying home and teaching the online lesson was the better option.

While staying at home was the obvious answer, I didn’t feel confident making that decision because of my mindset. I was worried about letting someone down, thought I’d be missing out on money.

But in the end, I had to think about what was better for me, not just in the moment but in the long run.

The moral of the story is that sometimes we may be hesitant or afraid to walk away from a bad situation because we’re comfortable, we don’t want to speak up for ourselves, or we discount ourselves.

When it comes to money, we often make decisions for what’s better for us right now. However, if we want to shift from scarcity, living paycheck to paycheck, and hoping we’ll have enough money to make it to the end of the month, then we have to think about doing what’s best for our future self, not just making our present self feel comfortable.

How about you?

If you’re planning on moving abroad, what are some decisions you can start making for your future self?

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