Norma Spencer is an editor living an RV life with her family. She's therefore quite familiar with essential road trip gear. She's a devoted tech and finance writer with a PhD in Business Administration and Management. Her interest areas are broad and include how to eliminate debt as well as finding a global nomad community. At the time of writing this, Norma is in Germany, planning to spend at least a few more years in Europe in the coming years.
How often do you think about leading a more adventurous lifestyle? Are you feeling stuck in the 9-to-5 grind or tied down to one geographical location? If you have an itch for a change of scenery and a passion for exploring other cultures and countries, it’s worth considering working on the road as a global nomad.
Global nomads are people with an international lifestyle. They may not have a permanent residence or even like staying in one country for a long period of time. Instead, they travel from place to place, living life like an adventure – while still finding and creating ways to earn an income.
Up till the beginning of 2020, it was easy to find a short-term or part-time job as a bartender, especially with experience in the hospitality industry. Now, this approach no longer seems feasible due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bars and restaurants are either temporarily or permanently closing around the world. Today, more and more jobs are being transferred to the digital realm.
The popularity of this type of lifestyle has grown in recent years, mostly because internet technology provides nomads with the tools to work in their area of expertise, no matter where they are located. People who take advantage of this, travelling while working remotely, are referred to as digital nomads.
This may seem like a pipe dream for many, but it can become your reality. You will need to do your bit of research on how to become a global nomad, work on the road and adjust to always being on the move. Knowing where to begin can be overwhelming but this guide is a good starting block.
Join a global nomad community
It’s not easy deciding to change your lifestyle and live as a global nomad. That’s why you should have an in-depth understanding of what your life will look like when you make that change.
No matter how many books you read, it may not be enough to prepare you for what awaits. The best way to become familiar with the nomad lifestyle is by talking to like-minded people and joining a global nomad community.
Search online for these groups who will share their knowledge and stories. Make sure you ask members of the community about which places you should visit, how much money you’ll need to survive, and which countries offer the best quality of life for nomads.
Create a budget
Even if you managed to save a substantial amount of money, you may want or need to continue working remotely. Creating an initial budget will help determine how you’ll be able to survive on your remote income.
Most global nomads know how to live on a shoestring budget, and that’s because they carefully plan how to spend money. It can be tempting to get carried away, but establishing a small daily budget that you shouldn’t exceed is highly recommended.
Eliminate your debt
As you begin your new chapter, you’ll need to take care of any outstanding problems you have, and that includes debt. You won’t be able to travel and live internationally with debt hanging over your head.
While you save money to get rid of your credit card debt and any loans you might have, take this time to learn as much as possible about the nomadic lifestyle. Try cut down on your spending or sell old household items online. Make sure to decide which continent or country you’ll travel to first based on the cost of living.
Invest in useful road trip gear
If you’re travelling through a continent in your car or recreational vehicle (RV), you will need to get some useful road trip gear. Think about what you’re going to need when you hit the road and find products that will make your life on the move easier. For instance, don't overlook buying a portable outdoor shower.
You should also acquire accessories such as a USB car charger, a portable jump starter and a first aid kit. If you plan to spend a long time on the road, you may also want to invest in a cargo box for room to store everything you need. Finally, it’s recommended to get a camping tent and an inflatable air mattress so that you can get a good night’s sleep no matter where you are. Of course, you won’t need this if you’re in an RV.
Get international health insurance
You never know when you might get sick or hurt – and hospital and treatment costs can skyrocket. That’s why it’s imperative to get international health insurance before starting your journey.
Insurance agencies offer several different health insurance plans. Although basic plans cover medical expenses for accidents and illness, routine check-ups or minor problems may be excluded. Read the fine print of the international health insurance plans on offer to know if you will ever need to pay out of pocket.
Keep in mind that there’s a big difference between travel insurance and international health insurance. As a global nomad, you should choose the latter.
Working on the road
Develop skills to work remotely
You may be worried about securing employment while travelling. Thankfully, there are a lot of jobs that you can do online, including as a graphic designer, web developer, content writer, photographer, teacher, social media manager or virtual assistant.
Perhaps you’re already employed in a remote job and feel like you’re good to go. If not, you can develop skills that allow you to work remotely. Lots of jobs online don’t require any type of formal education, just expertise in a particular area. If you have a talent for writing, design or tutoring, you can easily start making money online. If you speak foreign languages, translation jobs abound.
If you take the time to develop skills to work remotely either before you pack your bags or during your nomadic adventures, you’ll be able to make enough money to live comfortably on the road.
Create your workspace
You can’t always spend hours in a cafe – especially given the pandemic in 2020. So, it’s recommended that you create a work environment in an RV or the hostel where you’re staying.
You will need a decent laptop, with a good battery life and a large screen, to start working online. An adjustable table-mounting system is great if you live in an RV – it can double as a desk and a kitchen counter.
Once you set up a working space and get a decent laptop, all that’s left is to find a network provider for good internet access.
