Spending Less, Living More, and Feeling Rich. Here’s How I Did It…
In the U.S., I was always doing the math. Can I afford rent and health insurance? Should I skip the dentist this year? Can I splurge on a weekend trip, or do I need to buy groceries first?
I wasn’t broke—I was just stuck. No matter how much I earned, I never felt like I had enough to actually live. But once I moved abroad, everything changed. I started spending less—and for the first time ever, I felt truly rich.
Not because I had more money, but because I finally had what money is supposed to buy: time, freedom, health, and peace.
Table of Contents
Rent Didn’t Eat Half My Paycheck
In many countries, rent doesn’t demand your entire soul. I’ve paid $300/month for a clean apartment near the beach in Thailand. A one-bedroom with mountain views in Portugal? Still cheaper than a shared apartment in L.A. or New York.
Living abroad opened my eyes to what housing could be: safe, affordable, and not something you stress about constantly. And when rent isn’t swallowing half your income, guess what? You actually have money left to enjoy your life.
Healthcare Was Affordable—and Easy
No insurance card? No problem. Abroad, I’ve walked into clinics and paid $5 for a doctor visit. I’ve gotten dental cleanings for $20 and antibiotics over-the-counter—without the dread of getting hit with a surprise $800 bill weeks later.
This isn’t just a financial win—it’s a mental health win. When healthcare is accessible, you stop putting off appointments and start taking care of yourself. That alone made me feel more secure and way richer than any paycheck ever did.
I Had Time to Actually Live
Time is the real flex. In the U.S., every hour is monetized. I constantly felt like I had to earn rest. Abroad, I saw people slowing down—long lunches, days off, actual weekends—and I realized how starved I was for space in my day.
I worked fewer hours, spent more time in nature, took spontaneous trips, and actually felt present. That freedom? That’s wealth. And it didn’t come from working harder—it came from living in a place where hustle wasn’t the default.
I Didn’t Need to “Treat Myself” All the Time
In the U.S., I was always trying to justify little splurges—fancy lattes, new clothes, weekend escapes—because I was constantly burnt out. It was all about escaping my own life in small, expensive doses.
Abroad, I didn’t need to treat myself as often… because I wasn’t constantly recovering from stress. My baseline life felt good. Daily pleasures—fresh market fruit, a morning coffee with a view, a slow walk in a new neighborhood—became the reward, not the escape.
My Version of “Rich” Totally Changed
Living abroad made me redefine what “rich” even means. It’s not six figures in the bank or a corner office or a five-bedroom house filled with stuff. It’s freedom. It’s ease. It’s knowing that your time is your own, your body is taken care of, and your life doesn’t require a spreadsheet every time you want to go out for lunch.
I’m not a millionaire. But I’ve lived like one—just not in the way America taught me to measure it.
