digital nomad

Best Ways to Optimize Your Digital Nomad Lifestyle

Imagine being able to visit a new country each month. This is the reality for many digital nomads. They rely on modern technology to work from coffee shops, parks, libraries and various co-working spaces all over the world. All they need is a good Wi-Fi connection for their smartphone and laptop. This enables them to have a lot more freedom in terms of how they want to work. Some people prefer to stay in one place for extended periods of time, while others prefer to always be on the road and work from a campervan. In either case, there are some challenges that most experienced digital nomads can agree on. This level of freedom comes with a lot of responsibility. Here are some of the best ways to make the most out of your digital nomad lifestyle.

Choose the best locations

When working as a digital nomad it is important to make a good balance. This means that you should choose your locations ahead of time. Your next travel destination should interest you enough for you to visit it, while not interrupting your work. For instance, visiting a country with ongoing riots and political issues may not be the ideal scenario, no matter how beautiful the place is. Luckily, there are numerous places that you can choose from depending on what you like. Many digital nomads visit Portugal, Hungary, Spain, Thailand and Indonesia. If you are someone who prefers to spend most of the time in sunny areas next to the beautiful sea then visiting the Adriatic region is the perfect choice. In fact, there are available long term rentals in Montenegro right now, which will allow you to fully embrace the wonders of the enchanting waves and the beautiful alluring coastlines in the region. 

Paying taxes

Although, receiving pay remotely seems like an incredible idea, it still requires you to take up certain responsibilities. The most prominent is handling taxes. For instance, for most Americans the reality is that they have to file taxes even when they are living in a different country. However, there are some exceptions. If you are staying in one country for more than a few months you can expect certain benefits such as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, which will eliminate any tax requirements on up to $100,000 worth of your income. In addition, you may consider setting up a company from a foreign country such as Singapore to pay significantly less. Lastly, if your business and income scales up you will need professional assistance from an accountant who specializes in working with overseas clients. 

Save up money

Before indulging in the lifestyle of a digital nomad you will want to work on saving up some money first. Taking that initial step is the most challenging because you will encounter some obstacles along the way you did not expect, such as missing equipment, documents or miscalculated costs. Mistakes are normal in the beginning. However, that is why you should have some backup money. You can save up money by carefully downsizing your current lifestyle. Perhaps, you don’t need to splurge on fancy clothes each month if you want to kickstart your new digital nomad life. Adopting an overall minimalist lifestyle will allow you to travel more easily. The less things you own the more freedom and fewer worries you will have as a digital nomad. In addition, you shouldn’t quit your day job until you have a very stable stream of money through your online business. 

Expand your network

Sometimes, travelling and working can be lonely, despite constantly being surrounded by new people. This is because, it can be seemingly difficult to form new connections. However, things are not so bad if you know where to look in order to meet new people and form connections. Many countries have community centers for foreign travelers, where you can meet like-minded people. You can also join many Facebook groups for digital nomads that will enable you to meet new amazing travel buddies. 

Invest in good connection

If there is one thing which you should worry about than that is your connection. Your digital nomad lifestyle is possible as long as you stay connected. That is why you should search for accommodation that has stable connection. You can check the connection of the place you are staying at by using online Internet speed tests. 

There is nothing more adventurous than living as a digital nomad. This lifestyle can bring immense joy to your life as long as you know how to make it sustainable. You can do that by: choosing the best locations, optimizing how you pay your taxes, saving up enough money before you go, meeting new friends along the way and investing in good internet connection. 

Published by

Avatar

Peter Minkoff

Peter Minkoff is a gay travel and lifestyle writer. Besides writing, he worked as a travel journalist for many publications in Australia and the UK. Follow Peter on Facebook and Twitter for more tips. Peter Minkoff ist ein schwuler Reise- und Lifestyle-Autor. Er arbeitete als Reisejournalist für viele Publikationen in Australien und Großbritannien. Folge Peter auf Facebook und Twitter für weitere Tipps.