Must-Know Advice Before Becoming a Full-Time Digital Nomad

The digital nomad lifestyle has been somewhat idolized thanks to social media, but there's a lot more to it than just planting yourself on the beach for the day and cracking open the laptop in your swimsuit. While this may be part of many digital nomads' daily routines, there's much more to the lifestyle than meets the eye. We've made this article with some must-know advice for anyone considering the digital nomad way, just so your career gets off to a good start.

Choose Locations That Are Digital Nomad Friendly

While you can pretty much be a digital nomad anywhere in the world once you have a stable internet connection, some locations are better suited to the lifestyle than others. You'll want to choose places that are actually liveable so you have all the amenities you need to work. Things like co-working options and good electricity are important to consider. The last thing you want is to be in a place where you've paid rent for a month, and the power knocks off every few hours; no Zoom calls for you. The cost of living is also a huge factor as your money will go longer in cheaper places than those that are pricey to live. However, be mindful that just because somewhere is affordable, the quality of life may not be up to standard, so do your research.

Take out a Sold Health Insurance Plan

Just like you would in your home country, it's important to take out a solid health insurance plan to protect yourself in case you have an accident. While you may not be eligible for a typical travel insurance policy, several providers offer insurance policies specifically for digital nomads. Some of these include Allianz Care, AXA, and World Nomads.

Set Aside a Rainy Day Fund

No matter how comfortable you might think you are, it's always a good idea to have a rainy day fund should things go wrong. Maybe you have an accident that you have to pay out, or you lose your job unexpectedly, and you're without some money for a few weeks; these are all possibilities that you need to consider. Setting aside a certain amount of money from your weekly paycheck will protect you from any situations like this. That way, you always have access to extra money whenever needed.

Secure a Job Before You Leave

Whether you're a freelancer or plan to be employed by one company, securing a job before you head off eliminates the risk of you landing yourself in an unstable situation. Nowadays, tons of companies allow you to work remotely, so you should be applying for positions with this option. Of course, if you're a freelancer, most of your clients will conduct their business this way, but you should try to aim for partnerships with stable agreements rather than a gig here and a gig there.

Learn the Tax Regulations in the Country/s You Choose to Base

Since you'll be working on the road, you'll need to learn the tax regulations in the country/s you decided to base in. As a US citizen, you must file a US Federal Tax Return once you go over the minimum filing amount. And with that, you may also be obliged to pay taxes to the country you're also based in. Before you move to a new country, it's best to get in touch with an accountant on the ground where you're thinking of basing. That way, they can guide you to the best possible solution for your situation.

Stay Up to Date on the Visa Rules (And Don’t Think about Overstaying)

Every country has different visa rules for different nationalities. What might be good for Canadians and Mexicans may not be good for Americans, so you always need to stay on top of this stuff. The US State Department website is a great tool for determining the rules for US citizens staying in countries for short and long periods. Be aware that visa rules for certain nationalities can change quite frequently; governments may make new rules at short notice; therefore, you should be constantly up to date. If you find your visa is running out on short notice, you might think it's a good idea to try overstaying but don't even think about it. You could land yourself with a hefty fine or, even worse, get arrested and/or banned from a country for life.

Going Slow Saves Money

It's easy to get carried away with yourself, moving between countries to just tick them off, but this will only cost you more money. By traveling at a slower pace, you'll be able to save some cash on most things. Take long-term rental as an example; if you book out a unit for three months in a row, this will cost you less than if you were to spend a week in multiple different places. Besides rent, you'll also save on things like transport, which can add up much more than you think; an overnight bus here and a long-haul flight there over a month can cost a fair whack rather than if you were to space it out. Not only will traveling slowly save you money, but you'll also reduce the risk of burnout, which is all too common among digital nomads.

Take Note of These Tips Before You Start out in the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

It’s no surprise that many admire the digital nomad way of life from their mobile phones. After all, they're only seeing the good side of things, like the picturesque beaches and cosmopolitan cities. However, the reality of being a digital nomad poses a lot more challenges that an individual must be willing to face if they want to have a proper go at it. Having said that, if you carefully plan out your career as a digital nomad, it can be an incredible experience with the ultimate freedom you would never get in the office back home.