Digital Nomads

Yes most people are lying about how they make their money.
It's all about clicks and views. In my experience it's trust fund kids, Daddy's money, inheritance, etc. it is extremely difficult for a young adult to live in a foreign country.

If it was remotely possible for most people way more people would do it. It just isn't remotely possible for more than a handful of people.

Most companies have zero interest in paying USA wages overseas or dealing with foreign taxes.

There's another name for digital nomads. It's bum. Noone wants these ppl polluting their country

I wasn’t a digital nomad myself back when I was touring a lot. But what I did was start a small business back home that 2 of my friends could run out of my apartment while I was gone.

It made me about 3800 a month and they got to live in my place for free while I was gone. They’d get about 800 a month each along with free product and no rent.

My rent was 1000. So I had 2800 a month to spend while wherever. I’m talking CAD here, which was often enough get a place to stay every night and eat real while well hanging out and having drinks and making friends and hiking and stuff.

I retired holding Bitcoin for 7 years. I was the dude the entire internet would s*** on back then. Called every bad name in the book while I quietly did my research on monetary systems and held. Currently worth almost 4 million USD and happily traveling the world.

I had a job first that eventually allowed me to work remotely. I put in the work to learn the skills I needed to do well and prove myself to upper management and as a result they trust me to get the work done well and in a timely fashion, so I get paid well and my time isn’t micromanaged. Keep working at becoming the best in your field and you’ll have your pick of jobs. Then you can choose something remote and flexible. It’s not easy, though. You need to have discipline and be willing to endure some long hours and discomfort in the short term

You follow companies that are fully remote. There’s a lot.

However, most will adjust your salary based on your actual residency. So if you live continuously in Brazil you will earn a Brazilian income, in USD.

just found this quote in my quote file, feels relevant:

"time is the raw material of creation. Wipe away the magic and myth of creating and all that remains is work: the work of becoming expert through study and practice, the work of finding solutions to problems and problems with those solutions, the work of trial and error, the work of thinking and perfecting, the work of creating. Creating consumes. It is all day, every day. It knows neither weekends nor vacations. It is not when we feel like it. It is habit, compulsion, obsession, vocation. The common thread that links creators is how they spend their time. No matter what you read, no matter what they claim, nearly all creators spend nearly all their time on the work of creation. There are few overnight successes and many up-all-night successes."

Not all digital nomads are digital marketers, content creators or dropshippers.

I am a self employed graphic designer. Have been doing this work for 16 years, the last 8 years as been self employed and the last 4 years while traveling. It makes good money!

I run e-commerce websites for a company in Europe. I earn a very decent living (the kind that is, ahem, advertised in those videos). I work from 6am to 9pm on an average day. As a digital nomad, here is one thing I learned: you have to be very very lucky and be really really good in your field to land that kind of job. If I was to lose my job, not only would there be no way I could land the same salary elsewhere, but I’m not even sure I could land that kind of job, remote, at all. Most of what I see are people struggling and I think that should be the expectation tbh.

Be employed a country of your choice. Pay taxes, work remotely.

I spent a decade building a software engineering career, am a department head right now and start to restructure my department now in a way, that when I step down as head next year I can travel full time while being a developer in said department again.

This year I have been trying to get out of my job here in Thailand and to get myself plugged into some remote gig with a US company.

I have found it very challenging to seek gigs through the mainstream resume mills.
Maybe somewhat similar to you. Will keep trying though. It'll definitely be worth the effort when my portfolio lands on the right desk.

Have a remote job at home and just started traveling. No one ever really asked where I am and when they do I just say at home. If someone new asks, I say “I am based in {city}” so basically a lot of people are just lying to their employers. But employers don’t have your best interest in mind so I’m not going to have theirs.

The trick is to apply for local jobs in the US, not “remote” jobs. Any website that has all remote jobs listed on it will be super competitive.

But applying to local companies in mid-sized cities will be significantly easier AND still often have remote positions (especially depending on experience or if you’re cheap).

Many many companies went to remote whenever Covid happened & not all of them went back to being in-office. Some went back to in-office, some went to hybrid, some are still completely remote to save money on office space.

So you need to find these local mid or small sized companies that probably don’t have the biggest advertising or recruiting budget & get them to hire you remotely.

Heya

I have been a digital nomad since 7+ years now and the best part?

I met a financial advisor during my stay in a country and he helped me strategise how to make $10k/month in digital nomadic lifestyle

Most people pretend they’re in the us, work remotely and commit tax fraud among other things

Web developer here but I'm not making crazy money at all. But I have a very flexible schedule.

What helped me was placing myself in a situation where I had to force myself to find remote jobs and having nothing to fall back onto if I failed. Started way back in 2013.

It's not rocket science.

Point is you like where you live but you would also like to get a foreign income. So, my question is if you have something to bring to a company, I guess you are pretty well positioned to register an LLC, s-corp in the US. And start approaching companies with what you do. Then sell your business services without the need to be physically in the US, or anywhere as you demand that in your b2b agreement.

That**,** my friend**,** is called the nomad way. Now**,** regarding the social media narrative about nomads, it’s a well diversity universe of people selling digital stuff, whether it is a service, products, or knowledge.

When I mean products, it could be both digital assets like print on demand products, or even real products that might be like Amazon FBA type. Which means that each of these things by itself isn’t anything close to ponzi schemes… that’s too naive… but contrary, it requires other skills that you seem to have not developed them yet.

Get skills, learn how to sell skills, find a job, become a contractor for that job. Upon negotiations tell them you’re going to travel slowly, this is key. Start job by building trust that you can get your stuff done. THEN go become DN.

I personally know how to code, read data, and used skills for conversion rate optimization. Make low six figs, super proud on this one. Traveling is awesome. I do hostels cause I don’t mind getting to know people and saving. I got super lucky, but key is that I know I can sell my skills if I get laid off, but also get shit done. Also put myself in a position that I am needed. No one else can do my job besides the manager.

I had the same idea as you, but for Colombia.

How did you get hired with a local firm? Did they sponsor a work visa or something?

Also, if you don't mind, how much is the Brazilian company paying you? Or maybe you could just say: 20% of the normal USA salary.

I think a lot of digital nomads with western salaries were that before covid and just transitioned. I think far less got western salaries after covid and moved appbroad.

Point is the easiest way is to the prove value/experience and negotiate from a position of higher value.

British DN here. Worked in Construction for Main Contractors doing the Quantity Surveying (Cost Management for US ppl) for 5 years. I quit after 3 years of being a Trainee/ Assistance and went Freelance in London for a year, which I was heavy recommended not to, and arguably far too young or inexperienced to do so, but I bullshitted my interviews and it threw me in the deep end and I became really skilled and experienced very quick.

I took a break to India/ Sri Lanka, then came back did more Freelance saved up £7k and went to Mexico as wanted to live life in Sun an get out of the hell hole that is UK these days.

Had 2 ideas for making money:

1. Teach English so I got a TEFL cert while sneakily at work those last 3 months in UK. Cost me £150 and was all online. Passed. That's my back up if anything ever goes wrong I can always make money somehow as a native speaker.
2. Set up Export Management Company. I tried hard with this but inevitably gave up after first year because I was running v low on cash, it was wayyyyy harder to break into clients that I wanted to work with and I was completely out of my depth LOL

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It didn't matter though... because I found out I could actually do the QS/ Estimating work remotely... effectively helping Trades/ Subcontractors price jobs an do estimating.

I emailed around ALL my old managers/ linkedin contacts and one old manager had gone solo and set up a small construction firm of his own. We negotiated a 50% pay cut on my rates, but flexible hours and I'd just charge a day rate for his Estimating needs.

He introduced me to a small Bricklaying company and charged him for me (taking a %). He told me he'd only "take a tenner" (£10) but me an the Brickie found out after 6 months he'd been taking £50 (so charging the Brickie £200).

We cut him out as he was actually a lying prick, and we decided to go it alone at a meet-in-middle rate of £175. That was 2020.

I've since built out his entire Bricklaying Company into something professional, with all the top Construction certs, and doubled his Turnover (during Covid). We just did our record year and next year looking to go for £1 million turnover. His biggest job was 3 houses and we've now done 21 Homes in both 2022 and 2023, and began doing enormous Care Homes and have been able to bring his Brother back into the business.

We do everything digitally - all Whatsapp based/ Whatsapp groups for projects. We have a Dropbox plan, and highly organized folders. We do Zooms/ Teams with clients. And as he is in the UK he attends meetings and I do everything by email/ zoom or Skype-Phone plan also.

My rate increased yearly from 175-190-skipped a year- then this year I agreed £220 a day. I work about 3-4 full days each week, varies a lot. Invoice bi-weekly £1300 to 1500.

I use a Florida Registered LLC so as a NRA I pay no tax. I don't make more than £35k per year, and it's expensive everywhere except Asia and Argentina. Hot Spots in Mexico are so expensive these days with Peso getting stronger.

Seek to limit your Expenses & Taxes and live cheaply. Always live like the locals. Make friends with locals not nomads. Learn the local language. Talk to taxi drivers everyday. Become friends with Cafe an restaurant owners. Befriend your airbnb hosts. Your network is critical.

I spend a lot as I have special diet requirements also - Carnivore/ Keto. That also makes it hard to travel. I also don't drink or smoke. This means lack of "partying", but that used to make me lonely & depressed even surrounded by a crowd.

This is the best life I could imagine for myself right now and I'm always grateful.

Just this year - Thailand, India, Indonesia (too far actually timezone killed me), Argentina and Colombia. I'm writing this from a $30 USD a night studio in Bariloche. Will be hiking in a few days once I've finished my tasks and opened up some free space.

I used to do a lot of manifestation/ The Secret stuff but now I just set my mind to what I want and then I go for it. IDK who or what is helping me but without a doubt I'm always looked after and I find that things take care of themselves. Osho & Zen Buddhism helped me a lot.

The world is getting much more expensive, but third world countries are getting more developed... there's always a new amazing spot the hippies have found - just gotta find them.

Don't pay attention to idiotic social media influencers. First rule.

After applying that, it really is as easy or difficult as you want to see it.

It is as simple as generating income online, you can get a job, be a freelancer or start a business. But don't think it will be easy, people overvalue their effort, how many quotes did you send to say it's not working for you? How many jobs did you apply for? If the answer is 100 it is little, if it is 200 it is little, if it is 500 it is also little, nobody knows. That it is COMPLETELY POSSIBLE to earn income to live as a digital nomad is a fact, I am from Uruguay and I have been doing it for years and many of my friends have made the transition, partly seeing my experience.

But there is no magic recipe, think creatively, try several different ways, find a way that works fairly well and try endlessly with that formula. It's a matter of time until you get it

I work as a psychotherapist (in the USA), but travel to new countries every few months (tourist visas).

I spent 2.5 years in grad school then worked a handful of years to build up my career. Then took the plunge to live abroad after some big life changes. After having a solid footing in my career, THEN I made the fully remote push.

While the "digital nomad life" seems glamorous, it is not for the faint of heart and it is not usually long lasting for people. It is certainly not "vacation" mode. I spend Monday-Thursday inside my apartment (an AirBnB) working, then get to go out on the weekends. While it is generally cheaper to live abroad than in the US, it's not an astronomical difference.

You picked a tough country, although now that there is a nomad visa it might be better. Brazil is a ton of bureaucracy and legal risk for a foreign employer because basically the entire country is unionized. The nomad visa may have changed all this but normally it is illegal to pay somebody working in Brazil in foreign currency (although some do by taking a Brazilian salary and a foreign salary). But it is hell for the employer.

I wouldn't even dream of hiring a remote worker in Brazil, especially when there are many other much easier options.

the passive income get rich quick influencers are liars. don't get advice on social media. If the algorithm is being driven by engagement, it is not being driven by truth.

Hey there,

I totally understand where you're coming from, and I can assure you that you're not alone in feeling a bit perplexed by the seemingly easy-going lifestyle of digital nomads that's often portrayed on social media. The truth is, making a consistent income as a digital nomad can be quite challenging, and it's not always as glamorous as it's made to look.

Many digital nomads do indeed make their living through various online ventures such as freelance programming, digital marketing, content creation, and more. However, what's often not shown is the amount of hard work, dedication, and time that goes into building these income streams. It's rarely a "get rich quick" scenario. For every successful digital nomad, there are many others who are still figuring things out or who may supplement their income in less visible ways.

Regarding your specific situation in AI, it's true that remote opportunities in specialized fields like yours may not be as plentiful as in more general tech areas like web development. That said, the fact that you're working in AI is actually a huge advantage, given how in-demand and future-proof that skill set is. It might be worth looking into more niche job boards or communities that cater to AI professionals, or even considering contract work where you can negotiate higher rates due to your specialized skills.

Also, don't discount the value of the experience you're gaining right now at the Brazilian firm. As you continue to build your expertise and network, more opportunities may open up for you, potentially even ones that allow you to work remotely for higher-paying international companies.

In the meantime, remember that the digital nomad lifestyle isn't a one-size-fits-all. It's okay to carve out your own path and find what works best for you, even if that means combining local work with your digital pursuits. And yes, it's very possible that some people might have supplemental income from other sources, but that doesn't diminish the success of those who have found a way to make it work purely through their own efforts.

Keep exploring, keep networking, and most importantly, keep honing your skills. The right opportunity could be just around the corner.

Best of luck!

David , SR team

I just got hired in the US for a remote (telehealth industry) job, kept my US address and then hopped around from country to country and didn’t mention where I was. But that’s just one way to do it! I’m sure there’s more uh… legal ways :)

I do business development/marketing for a software dev first that's 100% fully remote. My background is IT consulting with an emphasis on software testing/QA engineering/automation. I spent the bulk of my 20s in tech and only went fully remote at age 28 after having 5-6 years of real work experience. Otherwise, you're too junior and they'll say no to remote work.

The best bet is to spend some years developing work experience and getting yourself to mid-level/senior.

I am a nomad making 6+ figures. It works in less developed countries. I'm making ends meet living in places like Hawaii where $100k allows for affordable housing haha but it balances out.

I work remote. Pretty much a “normal” job but fully remote.

It can be a hassle for US companies (HR-wise, tax-wise) as they have to do more paperwork and deal with a “non-normal” situation for you. Most just say no because of this.

Get the job before you go. Maintain a US mailing address. Most remote companies won’t care about your address after the initial paperwork.

I ran a company in China for 15 years. Now I'm working with a law firm in the states and helping them on both the marketing and back end process side from SE Asia. The experience was really everything and I don't know how to tell anyone to do it again.

Software engineer here 👋

VPN

At times I had problem spending in a foreign land. Because it was always a struggle to transfer etc. I started using cryptmi and since I make some from crypto as well, that made it super easy for me. But for your question; you can try social media work. Like faceless accounts etc. That's how I make some extra and crypto. For me making money was never the problem.