Today I’m sharing a great piece from reader Anna Barker. She’s visited more than 55 countries and used travel as a way to improve her finances—paying off $60,000 in debt along the way. Enjoy!
Hi, I’m Anna. Over the past decade I’ve lived and worked across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Those moves helped me pay off my student loans, begin investing early, and grow my career faster than I would have if I stayed in one place. I also run the personal finance site LogicalDollar on the side. In this article I’ll explain how traveling and living abroad can support your financial goals—and how you can make it work too. 
Do your financial goals include finally taking that vacation you’ve always wanted, but haven’t been able to afford? Or do you tell yourself you’ll start ticking items off your bucket list once you retire? You’re not alone. Many people delay travel because of the cost and because they think they don’t have the time. If you work somewhere with limited vacation days, a single long trip can consume most or all of your time off.
But what if you could travel now and improve your finances at the same time? That’s what I’ve done, and this is how.
How to travel and help your finances (at the same time)
For me, deciding to live and work in different countries opened up far more than scenic weekends. Living in Europe and the Middle East put me within a few hours of dozens of destinations, which allowed me to visit 55 countries and counting. Beyond sightseeing, moving abroad accelerated my career and increased my earnings, enabling me to pay off student loans and begin investing much earlier than if I’d stayed home.
Being based close to many destinations made travel cheaper and quicker. Short flights, trains, or weekend getaways became realistic options, and I could prioritize frequent, lower-cost trips over infrequent costly vacations from a distant home base. That proximity means you can have more travel experiences without draining your savings.
Yes, uprooting your life and moving abroad requires planning and involves trade-offs. But I found the hurdles manageable. The reward was not only a richer travel experience but also meaningful progress toward my financial goals. Living abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone, expanded my career opportunities, and scratched my travel itch—all while improving my finances.
Any downsides?
Living overseas isn’t always perfect. I’ve had frustrating moments—like wandering a foreign supermarket for ages trying to find familiar items—and painful ones, such as missing a close friend’s wedding or the birth of a family member. Those trade-offs are real, and you should weigh them before making a move.
Still, many who try this lifestyle do so for a few years, reap the financial and travel benefits, and decide that’s enough—and that’s fine. The challenges also create memorable stories and personal growth.
So this helps your finances by saving money?
Partly—but it’s more than just saving on travel. Many people assume that the only way to live abroad while working is to be a digital nomad. While that’s one route, it isn’t the only one. Depending on your profession, your current job might be transferable to another country. Employers with international offices often hire people from abroad, and in some locations you can earn more than at home.
For me, working with international employers meant I didn’t need to qualify locally to do valuable work. That increased my earning potential and accelerated my financial progress: I paid off student loans and started building retirement savings while still enjoying travel now instead of waiting until retirement.
How you can do the same
It’s not as simple as packing a suitcase and leaving tomorrow—research and planning are essential. Here are practical steps you can take to see if this approach works for you.
Check where your job can be done
People often default to jobs like au pair, hospitality, or English teacher when they think about working abroad. Those are valid options, but many professional roles exist worldwide. Start by investigating whether employers in your field hire internationally or have offices abroad. Some professions require local credentials or licenses, but in many cases international companies hire employees who’ll be supported through the work-visa process.
For example, as a lawyer I couldn’t practice in most foreign courts without additional exams. However, working for international employers allowed me to use my legal background without local qualification, opening many more opportunities.
Check to see where you’re allowed to go
Visas are a key consideration. Some countries offer digital nomad or remote-work visas if you earn online. Other nations maintain skills lists that make it easier for people in certain occupations to obtain work visas. Places like the UAE and other Gulf countries need professionals across many fields and often welcome international workers—salaries can be higher and tax treatment advantageous, though the cost of living and climate vary widely.
One practical tactic: search job postings in the countries you’re interested in. Many listings indicate whether the employer sponsors work visas. If so, the employer often handles much of the immigration paperwork, which can be far simpler than arranging a visa yourself.
Double check your finances
Moving abroad can be financially beneficial, but you must be realistic about costs: initial relocation expenses, health insurance (often required for a visa), occasional flights home, and differences in local cost of living. Create a budget that includes travel costs and set limits for how much you’ll spend on exploring your new region. Think of yourself as living abroad for the long term rather than treating every outing like a vacation splurge.
Sticking to financial goals while abroad is vital. When I lived in the UAE, for example, the abundance of luxury options made it tempting to overspend. I avoided that by deciding in advance to save and invest a set percentage of my income each month. Treat your budget as non-negotiable if you want the move to improve your finances rather than undermine them.
Final thoughts
Feeling nervous about moving far from friends and family is natural, but that distance is also part of the adventure. Living abroad can expand your horizons, accelerate your career, and help you reach financial goals—while allowing you to travel now instead of postponing experiences until retirement.
Do your homework and consider your personal situation carefully. If you’ve often promised yourself you’ll do things “one day,” moving or working abroad could be the way to make that “one day” happen now.
Bio: Anna is the founder of LogicalDollar, a personal finance site where she shares the advice that helped her turn $60,000 in debt into an investment portfolio. She’s a lawyer who’s worked internationally, using those opportunities to travel and improve her finances, and she now helps others do the same.
Are you interested in traveling more? Why or why not?