One of the challenges for US expats involves taxes. You see, good old Uncle Sam taxes its citizens and green-card holders on worldwide income. Yes, if you structure your financial life properly you can get an exemption for earnings abroad, up to $102,100 for an individual in 2017. But you still have to file with the IRS every year, and you have to submit special forms to get your foreign income exclusion. In other words, it can become a big PITA. Last December, I received an email from a company called Taxes for Expats. They offered me a deal — they would give me a credit of $350 toward t ..read more

Part of the art of packing light involves knowing what to bring for the trip you’re on. If you’re going on the road for fun — not work — you’ll pack differently than when you’re moving around as a digital nomad.  Here are 10 things you should leave behind on a backpacking adventure or non-working trip. Guest post by Yogi and Suchna When you pack items you don’t need, you slow yourself down, tire yourself out, and can even add to the cost of your trip. The art of packing light is a process, and there is always room for improvement. To lighten your load, here are 10 things we suggest you le ..read more

Guest Post by Lysha Solo travel is on the rise, especially among millennials and women. A recent estimate claims there’ve been 21 million solo travelers from the UK and the US. That’s a lot of solo travel! When you’re travelling with someone else, you share each discovery, but when you are alone, you have to carry each experience with you like a secret, something you have to write on your heart, because there’s no other way to preserve it.” – Shauna Niequist the author of Present over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living. To define solo travel as an “emer ..read more

Here’s a new award. . . We’ve just been named to the Top Expat Blogs list at Ranked Blogs! If you like us, click the link and vote us up! I don’t know what they based the selection on (other than obvious good taste!), but I’m happy we were included. The post Future Expats Named a Top Expat Blog appeared first on Future Expats ..read more

Only about one third of all Americans have passports. Already got yours? then you’re probably good to go and you can skip this article. But if you don’t yet have a US passport, apply for one right away. If you’re looking to get a passport for the first time, you must apply in person, using Form DS-11. How long does it take to get a new US passport? Be prepared to pay the required fees, based on the speed you want your application processed (an expedited application costs more), and where you are applying. After your appointment (see below), it generally takes 4-6 weeks. And that’s after you sp ..read more

In 2007, Gary Arndt dropped everything for a life of travel, adventure, and photography. Today, that adventurous life also includes a booming business as a travel blogger, podcaster, and photographer. You’ll find him online at https://everything-everywhere.com/, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/. I interviewed Gary previously (you can see the article HERE), but recently I caught up with him again to ask him some questions about his portable career as a photographer and travel blogger. In the Beginning. . . Surprisingly, Gary doesn’t have any photography backgr ..read more

With almost any type of portable career, you’ll need a website. A website requires hosting, and if you’re building that website with WordPress (my strong recommendation), consider a host that offers managed WordPress hosting. Most everyone starts with shared hosting, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Shared hosting is inexpensive, and if you choose wisely, it can do the job for you. At least for a while. But managed WordPress hosting is a big improvement, and will save you time, in three important areas. Security WordPress is the most popular site-building platform, used by over 25% of all ..read more

On September 10, Hurricane Irma blanketed the entire state of Florida with tropical-force winds and rain. Yes, the entire state. It was a B-I-G storm. Living near Orlando, we watched its path anxiously, and prepared as best we could. We’ve gone through hurricanes before, lots of them. We still vividly remember Hurricane Charley in 2004, which turned all of metro Orlando into a sea of blue tarps. Back to the present day. . . Irma arrived in the late afternoon, bringing wind and rain. A few minutes after 7 PM, our power went out. We dragged out the flashlights, and watched, and waited. Around 10 ..read more

Every year, respected publications publish their “best of” indexes for living overseas. This year, Live & Invest Overseas has done a phenomenal job. The index is robust, at more than 300 pages, and it zeros in, not on countries, but on specific cities and towns. Best of all, this resource is free for you if you subscribe to their magazine. (By itself, the Overseas Retirement Index costs $47 — and if you’re seriously planning an overseas move, totally worth it!) Note that “overseas retirement index” may be a little misleading. . . These recommendations are very helpful for retirees. They’re ..read more

What the heck is an “Anywhereist?” I hear you ask. . . An Anywhereist is someone who can live, work, and thrive anywhere. To do that, you need a portable income. I plan to focus more on portable careers than I’ve done in the past. I’ll still be talking about the wonderful life you can create when you live overseas, but I’ll focus more on how you can work to pay for it. I’m working on a complete site redesign to reflect these changes (it would be easier if Hurricane Irma hadn’t deprived me of power and internet!!). If you’re on my email list (and if not, why aren’t you?) I’ll keep you posted vi ..read more