8 Tips To Get Started On Living A Nomadic Life And Why I Love It

This August will mark the 4th year of my nomadic life. This past year was the first year I lived in one spot longer than two months.

So yes, I still consider myself a nomad, especially since I left my home country and have no permanent base. I live in Colombia, but my visa is up in a few months. I will be going home to visit and then hopefully return here.

So it will be back to the nomadic life for a bit. It is almost like going home, the nomadic life, not the family!

So I thought I would compile a list of tips if you are interested in his lifestyle, what I did before leaping into the unknown.

Before you start this journey or any new adventure, I recommend that you take an inventory of your life, mentally and physically. Think about why you want to change your lifestyle to embark on a new adventure.

Having a WHY is always crucial to success; why do you want to change your life, what kind of changes and effects do you want to have in your life.

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

― Dr. Seuss

Think about why you are making this decision. Remember, you can not outrun your problems; that is the one thing that will always come along for the journey.

Is it a challenge, a dream, or just because you want to? Have your why, a reason for the change

Ok, now that you have the inside taken care of, we can get into the nuts and bolts. The easy part, maybe!

I recommend starting this list as soon as you have decided to leap into a nomadic life. Don’t wait, or you will be waiting forever; start now.

• Stop buying things you don’t need; this includes eating out and starting to cook at home. This small habit can save tons of money in the long run.
• Simplify your life/sell items, and take an inventory of things that you can start to sell. List clothes on eBay, Offer Up, Posh-Mark, and any other existing sites!
• Pay off debts, go through accounts to see what is recurring, and cancel/minimize bills. It is crucial to scan your banking info. You will be surprised how many recurring items you may find that you never noticed. Cancel them now. Slowly chip away at your debt (except for school loans, if you try to pay them off, you will never leave, I still have them).
• Stop using your credit card to help this debt not pile up anymore.
• Save as much money as you can while you are at your job. Work extra if you can, or pick up a side job that you can do for a few hours to pad your bank account. Having as much money as possible before you take off will help ease the stress.
• If you have a boss, ask if you can work remotely if you have a job done from home. If not, start looking for a job that you can do remotely. Teach English, freelance, blog on Medium, and create a youtube channel about your journey.
• Have a goal, buy a ticket, and set a definite date for when you will leave. I gave myself — six to eight months. Vital if you are planning on selling your house or car. You will have to have it listed and sold before departure — extra money to add to your savings account.
• Decide if you want to be nomadic abroad or in your home country. You want to live in a van, RV, or abroad and take planes, trains and buses, but have a plan.
• This will determine if you should sell your car. I sold my car a month after I left the US. That money supported me for a year.
• Volunteer for room and board or housesit. Sign up for work away or WOOF or Housesitters, work for a bed, usually breakfast, or an entire house or apartment! This will help your savings go further as well as sometimes jobs overseas or remote does not pay as well. It is another option to help you stay nomadic for longer.

I love this lifestyle because I feel free.

I love knowing that everything I have is at my fingertips and knowing that I own very few things. When I buy less, I create less waste.

Not using a car, I hope to decrease my carbon footprint. Living nomadic has helped me have a greater appreciation for life and, at times, for stability. If I had not been mobile for the past three years, I would not have been able to appreciate having a home for the past eight months.

It has brought back the joy of simplicity and genuinely enjoying the small things in life. I need very little to be happy. I have also realized how resourceful I am.

My life at times is much more challenging and can be stressful, yet I would not change it for the world. Anyone questioning if this is the life they want, I will always say yes.

Try it and see, you can always go back to your old life. The problem is, this lifestyle is addicting, and just when you think you are settled and happy, the bug will come back and bite you, and just like Mary Poppins, you will know when it is your time to go.

Should you quit your job to travel? Step by Step instructions.