Tips on Moving to a New Country – and on a Budget

(and on a budget)

Moving to a new country once seemed so daunting to me. Now, I can take on the adventure and can trust my instincts and experience. Over my years I have moved to 3 different countries. Turkey, where I lived a year. France, where I moved to twice for two different reasons; spending nearly 2 years in total. Lastly, The Netherlands, spending an unanticipated short 4 months. Each time I moved, there was only so much I could do to prepare myself. The advice listed in this article is an accumulation of my own experience. Of course, everyone is going to have their own tips and advice, which is great! The whole point of having and seeking advice is to gain knowledge from many sources.

Something I found interesting is that I not only had to convince myself my decisions to move abroad were a good idea, but I had to convince others. I found myself often having to justify my actions. I realized that the criticism and amazement I received often stemmed from projection from others. I was assured by many that although they loved the idea, they could never do what I have done. They didn’t have the time, the resources, the capacity, etc. But neither did I. I wasn’t inherently given any of those things. I made a decision and made it up as I went. I did not come from a place of privilege, I was only raised to be independent. Any money I had was from my own savings, or was paid back on my credit cards.  Despite how hard that can be, I’ve seen people indebted themselves for much simpler reasons.

My lives abroad are some of my own personal greatest accomplishments. There were definitely really hard days and hard times, but there were so, so many awesome times, and experiences, and learning moments. I hope you can take something away from what I have to give:

Research how places of commerce accept payment

This lesson was one of the hardest I had to learn. When I moved to The Netherlands, I had used what little money I had to pay off some of my credit card. I had been using my credit card for my daily expenses during my stay in France and I had intended to continue this in my new host country. I arrived with almost no cash, but credit to spend. I went for lunch and presented the credit card for payment. The waiter let me know they do NOT accept credit or foreign cards. I was shocked! I asked how people pay there. It turns out they will accept national/European bank cards and cash only; and it wasn’t just that restaurant. That’s how the whole country worked. This was a big blow for me because I had used my cash to pay my credit card, leaving me now stranded in this new country. Coming from the US, where you are basically required to have a credit card to build your credit score, this was a major culture shock for me. Moral of the story, you may not be able to use your Visa/Mastercard etc, always carry emergency cash.

Understand Transportation

• Figuring out your new city and getting around is one of the most important tasks, and can be the most intimidating. Rules of traffic, language, and culture can be so different to what you’re used to. If you’re on a budget, purchasing a car may be out of the question. While living in Europe, I found either the local tram system or a bicycle was my best and most efficient option. As a student, there were often programs for low-income people to save even more.
• For traveling outside the city to another city or country, I would consider taking a commercial bus, like Flixbus and Megabus. These companies are actually really large and will cover any of the major destinations on your itinerary with flexible time tables.
• The same can be said for national and regional trains. I always found trains to be more expensive than buses, but they will likely get you to your destination quicker.
• Lastly, another really interesting concept I came across was BlaBla car. This was a ride sharing service, but not one like Uber or Lyft. Imagine you were planning on taking a trip and you were going to drive your car. Since it was just you, you had extra seats that could be filled. You can actually list the seats for the price of your choosing. A traveler could ask to purchase this spot on your ride. Often the driver would make enough money to cover gas and tolls on the way.

Shop at local, ethnic markets

Asian, Indian, and African markets can be found in any major city. That’s a wonderful thing about globalization! These small/local markets are on my weekly grocery route, even in the US! At the big grocery retailers there are so many items that are overpriced in comparison. Items such as herbs/spices, fruits, vegetables, noodles, canned goods, etc. In addition to finding well priced and quality daily goods, you will also expose yourself to all kinds of new products. I often would pick up an item I never used before, research it, and learn to make a new dish in a new cuisine. As a bonus, you’ll be supporting a local business, likely with owners from a minority community.

Join and use Meetup.com

This site has given some great friends and great adventures. This is a global website where you can attend events organized by people just like you. You can find nearly any meet up for interest or hobby in any city. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can create your own and meet others. There are other comparable websites such as Couchsurfing.com (A site where you can find a “couch” to crash on or list your couch as open for fellow travelers. They also have an events page.)

If you’re a woman, have a reliable birth control

Of course birth control is not just a women’s topic, but finding a BC that is stable and consistent is what is important here. Personally, when I moved abroad I had a doctor insert and IUD so that I would not have to worry about trying to find and access BC in my new country. Ironically, in some places I lived, it was even easier to access it and was more affordable outright. Ultimately, it was one less thing to worry about finding and dealing with while getting to know the “locals”.

If you take medication, have as much of a supply of it as you can before you leave. 

It would be wise to research how the healthcare system works in your new country and how to access medication. Another thing is finding a doctor that you can communicate with can be a challenge, so you want to make sure you have a buffer. If you are having difficulty finding that info, I suggest you look at Quora.com and propose a question to the community. There might be someone who can share some information.

Register at your local Embassy 

In case of a disaster or trouble, your local Embassy is going to be your lifeline. Not only can you communicate with them issues you may have come across, but they will communicate with you important information about remaining safe in your new country. Imagine there is a natural disaster. If the Embassy knows you are in the country, they may be able to provide help and resources.

Start to learn the local language 

• Learning a new language is a slow and difficult process. Some days you’ll feel like you are speeding right through it and others will feel as if you haven’t learned anything in weeks. That is all part of the normal process. But if you don’t try you won’t learn and adapt to your new country as effectively. 
• Using a language learning app, buying a language book, attending conversation meet-ups, and taking a class will all lead you toward success. 
• The peace-of-mind you will have and the appreciation from locals are a truly unique experience to living abroad.

Start following social media pages related to the country/city and your interest and hobbies in that area.

Get yourself hyped up for your big move by following social media pages related to your new destination. Before you even go, you will be getting insider looks and information about your destination.

Don’t forget to check in with your support system back at home

How you feel once you arrive will be like a rollercoaster. You will be feeling like a grand adventurer one day, and the next get frustrated and doubtful when you encounter something you haven’t understood yet. Having a support system to share things with will help you define and understand those feelings. Plus, they will be missing you too. There are plenty of free services and apps to use to communicate globally. To name a few: Skype, Zoom, email, Whatsapp, Viber, and social media.

Kelsy Melton
December 25, 2020