Have you ever looked around your life and thought, “Is this really it?” The long work hours, the pressure, the endless news cycle, it all starts to feel like a loop you can’t escape. Sometimes it feels like living in the US is like drinking through a firehose of sewer water. It feels like you are working and working and working to just barely survive, not having the time to spend with your family. Missing important milestones and events, just to spend a few hours with your kids everyday. Between that and the increasing dangers of living in the US, the shooting drills, the food safety and quality and the broken healthcare system, it can feel hopeless.
I know that feeling all too well. A year ago, my husband and I were running successful businesses, raising two kids, and doing everything right by traditional standards. But deep down, something was missing. We wanted more freedom, more connection, and a chance to show our daughters that life could be designed, not dictated. We had this dream in the back of our minds for many years that a different type of life was possible. That there were people that were happy and thriving in different parts of the world who were able to slow down, and enjoy their lives, not be married to their jobs and actually be able to pursue the happiness that seems like an illusion in the US. We were fed up with just the dream…So we did something that felt impossible: We left the U.S. in six months.
And now, I’m going to show you exactly how you can do it too.
🌍 Why We Decided to Leave
For us, it wasn’t about running away, it was about running toward something new. We wanted slower mornings, cultural immersion, meaningful travel, and a better work–life balance.
At first, it felt like a fantasy. We had jobs, a home, responsibilities, kids in school. But once we broke it down, we realized it wasn’t that complicated. It just needed a plan, a timeline, and commitment.
Yes. Six months is plenty of time to make an international move — if you follow a focused plan.
Most people waste months researching aimlessly, overthinking, and doubting themselves. The truth? You don’t need to know everything before you go. You just need to know your next step.
That’s exactly what this roadmap gives you- a six-month, action-by-action plan to help your family transition smoothly and confidently.
📅 The 6-Month Roadmap to Freedom
Month 1: Clarify Your Vision
Start with your why. Why do you want to leave? Is it freedom, safety, affordability, better education, or simply more joy?
Write it down — this becomes your anchor when things get stressful.
Then start exploring where you might want to live. Look into countries that match your values, budget, and lifestyle: Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, or Thailand — all offer family-friendly paths and affordable living.
📝 Pro Tip: Spend time watching YouTube expat vlogs and Facebook groups to see what daily life is actually like.
Month 2: Choose Your Country & Visa Path
Now it’s time to narrow down your options.
Ask yourself:
What languages are you willing to learn?
Do you want beach, city, or countryside living?
What type of visa do you qualify for (digital nomad, retirement, residency)?
Start comparing visa requirements and cost of living. Keep notes — you’ll need them later for your move abroad file.
Month 3: Create Your Exit Plan
This is when things start to feel real.
Get your passports up to date (check everyone’s expiration dates).
Start decluttering — sell, donate, or store what you don’t need.
Research healthcare, schools, and housing options in your chosen country.
Make digital copies of all important documents.
💡 Bonus Tip: Create a shared Google Drive folder labeled “Move Abroad” to store everything in one place.
Month 4: Build Your Income + Financial Plan
Whether you plan to work remotely, freelance, or start a business abroad — this month is all about financial stability.
If you’re already earning online, perfect. If not, explore remote work options that fit your skills. (I break all of this down inside my Remote Work Vault, which is part of the Move Abroad Bundle.)
Other key steps this month:
Set up an international-friendly bank account.
Create a savings buffer for 3–6 months of expenses.
Budget for flights, housing, and visa costs.
Month 5: Finalize Logistics + Paperwork
Now it’s go-time. You’ll start:
Applying for your visa or residency.
Selling your home or ending your lease.
Notifying schools, employers, and utilities.
Planning how to handle mail, storage, and health insurance.
Things might feel hectic — but this is where your 6-month plan keeps you calm.
Month 6: Take the Leap
This is the month that changes everything.
Book your flights. Finalize housing. Say your goodbyes — and remember, you’re not losing your home country; you’re expanding your world.
When we boarded that first flight with our daughters, we didn’t know every detail. But we did know that life on the other side of fear was going to be worth it. And it has been — in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
🚫 Common Mistakes People Make
After coaching dozens of other families through this process, I’ve noticed a few common pitfalls:
Waiting for the “perfect” time (it doesn’t exist).
Letting fear or doubt delay action.
Not budgeting properly for the first 90 days abroad.
Forgetting to prepare digital backups of essential paperwork.
That’s exactly why I created my free checklist — so you can skip the overwhelm and focus on what matters.
📥 Grab the Free Checklist
If you’re ready to stop researching and start moving, my free guide — How to Leave the U.S. in 6 Months or Less: The Ultimate Checklist — walks you step by step through this process.
It includes: ✅ A month-by-month action plan ✅ Visa + documentation checklist ✅ Financial prep template ✅ Declutter + sell guide ✅ Emotional readiness tips for families
You’ll get immediate access and start mapping your own 6-month exit plan — today.
✈️ What Happens Next
Once you’ve got your checklist in hand, you’ll be ready for deeper planning — from choosing the right visa to setting up remote income streams and finding housing abroad.
That’s where my Move Abroad Vaultcomes in — it’s your all-in-one resource for making your relocation smooth, affordable, and stress-free.
And when you’re ready for personalized help, I offer 1:1 Move Abroad Consultations where we’ll tailor a step-by-step roadmap for your family’s exact situation.
Because this journey isn’t just about moving somewhere new — it’s about designing a life that finally feels like your own. 🌎✨
🪶 Final Thought
If you’ve been waiting for a sign that it’s time to start your new chapter… this is it.
You can do this. You just need the roadmap — and I’ve already built it for you.
When we set out to travel full-time and worldschool our kids, we expected to learn about history, geography, and maybe how to pack better. Here are 10 lessons we learned since we started worldschooling full time.
We didn’t expect the real lessons — the ones that change you, stretch you, humble you, and heal you — would come from the in-between moments: missed buses, quiet breakfasts in new cities, and watching our kids unlearn everything we thought they needed to succeed.
These are the 10 biggest lessons we’ve learned so far as a worldschooling family — and they might just help you on your journey, too.
1. Lesson 1: Slowing Down is the Real Curriculum
We thought we had to go fast — see it all, do it all. But slowing down is where the learning lives. The days with nothing scheduled often turn out to be the most meaningful. We learned this majorly in Mexico, staying in a small village, often times we were without activities. This caused us to get creative. We learned how to play chess, dressed up and did photo shoots and learned about the variety of bugs and creatures of Mexico. These are normally things we would have overlooked if we were overstimulated.
2. Kids Learn More When You Trust Them
We’ve seen our daughters blossom when they’re free to follow their curiosity. Learning doesn’t need to be forced — it just needs space. We are learning Spanish as a family and sometimes it feels like they aren’t catching on… until we go to the market and there they are communicating with the vendors. They are learning so many unintentional lessons.
3. Your Family Culture Becomes the Anchor
When you’re no longer tied to one place, your values, routines, and rituals become the home you carry. Worldschooling gives you the chance to design that culture with intention. n a worldschooling lifestyle, your roots are internal — not geographic. You begin to build your sense of “home” not around walls or addresses, but around what you honor, repeat, and hold sacred.
Every country becomes a classroom. Every meal, a cultural exchange. Every morning, a chance to choose who you’re becoming — not based on what society tells you, but based on what your soul needs.
Worldschooling isn’t just about taking your kids abroad — it’s about reimagining family life entirely. It’s the freedom to ask: ✨ What do we actually value? ✨ What rhythms help us thrive? ✨ What kind of family culture do we want to design?
When you live with this kind of mobility, your legacy becomes less about where you live — and more about how intentionally you live while moving.
4. You Don’t Need as Much as You Think
Physically and mentally. The more we let go -of stuff, expectations, timelines – the freer we felt.
Every stop, every move, every pause in a new place became a shedding. We released furniture, clothes, old habits, outdated identities… things we didn’t even realize were weighing us down. What started as “downsizing” became a kind of soul-clearing.
Yes, sometimes we add things. But now, our stuff is more of a toolbox -not an identity. It’s practical. Intentional. Supportive of how we want to live, not proof of how far we’ve come.
We’ve learned to carry only what feeds us. To trust that space – in our backpacks, in our calendars, in our minds – is where the magic actually lives. And that’s where clarity, creativity, and calm have finally started to bloom
5. Not Everyone Will Get It (And That’s Okay)
From family members to strangers, not everyone will understand your choices. And that’s okay. You’re not here to live a life that makes sense to others. You’re here to live a life that feels right to you.
Choosing a different path -one with more freedom, less structure, deeper intention -will rattle some people. It will mirror back their own limitations, unspoken dreams, and unresolved fears. That doesn’t mean you’re wrong. It means you’re brave.
It means you’re willing to listen to the voice inside that whispers, “There’s more.” It means you’re choosing alignment over approval -and that is no small thing.
So if you ever feel the weight of someone else’s disapproval… Remember: they don’t have to get it. You do.
6. There’s No Perfect System
Every worldschooling family we meet does it differently. And that’s the beauty of it.
Some travel fast. Some stay put for months. Some unschool entirely. Others follow a curriculum. Some work remotely full-time. Others take sabbaticals or build businesses on the go.
There’s no “right way” to worldschool -only your way. The one that honors your family’s energy, values, learning style, and dreams.
This lifestyle invites you to trust yourself. To design a rhythm that fits who you are — not what the system says you should be. To release the pressure of comparison and lean into what actually works for your kids, your sanity, your connection, your flow.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. And the courage to write your own story — together, in real time, across countries and cultures.
7. The World Is Mostly Good
Kindness can be found in every country. Help from unexpected strangers. Locals who didn’t speak our language but spoke to us with warmth, generosity, and open hearts. Communities that welcomed us like family — not because they had to, but because that’s just who they are.
Travel has a way of softening your edges. Of reminding you that, despite what the headlines say, the world is still full of good people. People who offer directions when you’re lost. Who help carry your bags. Who share their food, their stories, their time — simply because you’re human.
Travel restores your faith in humanity. It reminds you that connection doesn’t always need shared words — only shared presence. And that far from home, you can still feel deeply held.
8. Flexibility is a Superpower
Plans will change. Weather will turn. Buses will be missed. And just when you think you’ve figured out the rhythm – something shifts.
This is travel. And this is life.
The gift isn’t in everything going perfectly… It’s in learning how to pivot with grace. To laugh instead of panic. To pause instead of push. To adapt, flow, and recalibrate without crumbling.
Our kids are better for it. They’re learning flexibility, resilience, patience, and trust -not from a textbook, but from real life. They’re watching us navigate uncertainty with calm. They’re experiencing firsthand that there’s always another bus, another path, another way forward.
In the worldschooling life, adaptability isn’t just a skill – it’s a superpower. And honestly, it might be the most valuable lesson of all.
9. Your Kids Will Remember How It Felt
Not what they learned in a workbook… but how it felt to walk the cobblestone streets of a centuries-old town, to hike that volcano with dust on their shoes and awe in their eyes, to play tag with local kids on a sun-drenched beach — no shared language, just laughter.
These are the lessons that stick. The kind that don’t come with grades or gold stars, but shape who they are — and who they’re becoming.
They’re learning confidence not from tests, but from trying new foods. Curiosity, from asking questions in places where they don’t know the rules. Empathy, from sharing space with people who live completely differently — and finding connection anyway.
This isn’t just education. It’s expansion. And it lives in their bodies, not just their minds.
10. You Don’t Have to Have it All Figured Out to Begin
We started before we felt ready. We didn’t have it all figured out. The timing wasn’t perfect. The plan had holes. There were doubts. Fears. Loose ends.
But we trusted something deeper – A knowing that staying stuck was costing us more than taking the leap ever would.
You can start before you feel ready, too. Because clarity doesn’t come before the leap. It comes because of it.
It meets you in motion. In the messy middle. In the quiet confidence that builds each time you do the brave thing — even when your hands are shaking.
Start messy. Start uncertain. Just… start.
💫 Final Thoughts
Worldschooling isn’t just about teaching our kids differently -it’s about becoming different ourselves.
It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
If you’re standing on the edge of this idea, wondering if it could work for your family – consider this your invitation.
🎒 Want to Begin Your Own Worldschooling Journey?
Grab our free guide: How to Move Abroad in 6 Months— your ultimate 6 month checklist that will give you everything you need to take the leap (no matter your budget or passport status).
Let’s be real: “bring a reusable water bottle” isn’t the kind of travel hack that’s going to save you thousands. You want the gritty, the clever, the “should I even be doing this?” level travel tips. Here’s your insider guide to travel hacking like an absolute renegade — without technically breaking the law.
Let’s go deep:
1. Book Flights in “Fake Currencies”
Instead of booking your flights in U.S. dollars, change the website region to countries with weaker currencies (think Mexico, Thailand, South Africa). You’ll often see the same exact flight priced up to 30% cheaper when charged in pesos or baht.
Risk: You might get minor foreign transaction fees. Reward: Huge savings.
2. Exploit 24-Hour Free Cancellation Policies
Book multiple flights for the same date (different airlines) when prices are fluctuating. Then cancel the ones you don’t want within 24 hours — no fees. It’s a legally protected “cooling off” period under U.S. Department of Transportation rules.
Pro Tip: Set alarms. Airlines aren’t forgiving if you go past 24 hours.
3. Book “Error Fares” and Play Dumb
When airlines publish mistake fares (like New York to Paris for $100), book immediately, say nothing, and wait. If the airline tries to cancel, know your rights — some countries (like the U.S.) require airlines to honor fares once issued.
Hint: Sign up for secret deal newsletters (like Secret Flying, Airfarewatchdog) to catch these faster than the general public.
4. Use “Throwaway Ticketing”
Need a one-way flight but one-way tickets are stupidly expensive? Book a round-trip with the return you’ll never use. Sometimes a round-trip ticket is half the price of a one-way.
Warning: Airlines hate this — don’t give them any clues.
5. Split Your Airline Tickets
Instead of buying one round-trip, buy two one-ways from different airlines (or even airports!). Also, check if booking two separate “legs” as different trips is cheaper than a bundled fare. It’s weird, but it works shockingly often.
Bonus: Mix budget airlines with regular ones for maximum hackery.
6. Use “Hidden City Ticketing”
Need to fly from New York to Dallas? Book a flight New York to Albuquerque with a layover in Dallas — and just “miss” your final connection.
Risk: Only do this with carry-on luggage. Checked bags will go to the final destination!
Real Talk: This is technically against airline policies, but not illegal. Sites like Skiplagged exist solely to help travelers do this.
7. Move Your Location Digitally
Flight and hotel prices change based on where you’re searching from. Use a VPN to “be” in low-income countries while you shop. Set your digital location to Mexico City, Bangkok, or Buenos Aires. Watch the prices magically drop.
Pro Tip: Do it in an incognito browser to avoid price manipulation based on search history.
8. Refundable Hotel Hacking
Book two refundable hotel options in the same city. Keep watching prices. Hotels panic closer to check-in and often slash rates. Cancel the expensive one 24 hours before check-in and rebook the cheaper rate.
Why it works: Hotels desperately fill rooms last minute. You can game it without penalty.
9. Credit Card Stacking (Beyond Points)
Get multiple travel cards with sign-up bonuses — but also use stackable cashback offers through shopping portals like Rakuten, airline shopping portals, or Chase Offers.
Example: Pay for a hotel with your card, get the welcome bonus, activate a portal cashback, use hotel loyalty points, and file for a Best Rate Guarantee refund if a cheaper price shows up later.
You’re playing 4D chess while everyone else is playing checkers.
10. Volunteer “No Show” Tricks
Flight overbooked? Volunteer to be bumped — strategically.
Say you’ll take a later flightonly if they give a hefty voucher.
Negotiate: Hotels, meal vouchers, upgrades.
Insist on cash compensation (U.S. rules say up to $1,350 depending on how late they rebook you).
You can turn a “missed flight” into free vacations if you time it right.
Final Word: Travel Smart, Not Broke
Is all of this “squeaky clean” travel advice? Maybe not. Is it smart, strategic, and going to save you thousands over a lifetime of travel? Hell yes.
The system isn’t built for budget travelers. It’s built for maximum profit. Play the system better than it plays you.
Which one are you going to try first?
Tag me when you’re floating somewhere tropical because you gamed the system. 🌴✨
Want more travel tips? Grab our free digital nomad checklist, with tips to get started in this lifestyle!
When we first started planning our year of world travel, I spent way too much time scrolling packing lists that either felt totally overwhelming (I’m not bringing a French press to Morocco, Karen) or way too minimal (our kids are not wearing the same three outfits for 12 months, thanks).
So this list? This is the real deal.
These are the 20 items we actually use — things that have earned their place in our backpacks and made long-term travel smoother, simpler, and a lot more comfortable.
👚 CLOTHING & LAUNDRY
1. Packing Cubes
Life. Changing. Each family member has their own color, and it makes packing and unpacking so much easier. Check out the ones we love here.
2. Quick-Dry Towels
Beach? Hostel? Airbnb with no extras? These dry fast, take up no space, and double as blankets on buses.
3. Mini Laundry Kit
A travel clothesline, some detergent sheets, and a sink stopper = freedom from sketchy laundry services.
4. Neutral, Layerable Clothing
Think: a few tops and bottoms that all mix and match. Focus on comfort, breathability, and things that don’t wrinkle.
5. One “Nice-ish” Outfit per Person
You never know when you’ll get invited to a wedding in Oaxaca or go to dinner in Paris. Trust me.
🧠 HOMESCHOOL & ENTERTAINMENT
6. Lightweight Tablets with Headphones
Our kids use these for Time4Learning, audiobooks, drawing apps, and downtime on planes. Parental controls = clutch.
7. Nature/Travel Journals
We keep a simple sketch or reflection journal for each country. It’s learning and memory-making in one.
8. UNO + a Small Bag of Travel Games
Compact, lightweight, and shockingly effective at bonding with local kids across language barriers.
9. Downloadable Maps + Language Apps
We preload maps.me or Google Maps offline and use Duolingo or Drops in every new country.
10. E-Reader (or Library App Access)
Kindle or Libby = lightweight bookworm heaven. Every person gets their reading fix without the bulk.
💻 TECH & GEAR
11. Universal Travel Adapter
One good one with USB ports will save your butt in every country.
12. Portable Power Bank
Long train rides, airport layovers, a dead iPad in the middle of a museum… this solves it.
13. Compact First Aid Kit
Include kid meds, Band-Aids, antihistamines, and electrolyte packs. (Bonus: activated charcoal for tummy bugs.)
14. Reusable Water Bottles with Filters
Hydration is life. Get a filter bottle like LifeStraw or Grayl for non-potable water zones.
15. Phone Tripod or Clip-On Selfie Stick
You’ll want family photos without asking strangers every time.
🧼 COMFORT & CLEANLINESS
16. Sleep Mask + Earplugs
Because not every Airbnb will be quiet… or come with curtains.
17. Small Essential Oils or Roller Blends
Lavender for sleep. Peppermint for headaches. Thieves for immune support. We use ours constantly.
18. Silicone Travel Bottles + Solid Toiletries
Save space and avoid leaks. Plus: shampoo bars = TSA-friendly + eco-friendly.
🧒 FOR THE KIDS
19. Favorite Stuffie or Comfort Item
Don’t skip this. Even older kids need something soft, familiar, and theirs.
20. Digital Folder of Important Docs
Scan passports, birth certs, insurance info, and homeschool records to a secure cloud folder. Accessible anywhere.
🎒 Final Thoughts
Packing for long-term family travel isn’t about having everything — it’s about having the right things.
And honestly? The less we bring, the more freedom we feel.
The world has everything we need. These 20 items are just what helps us move through it with a little more ease, rhythm, and grace.
Interested in world schooling but not sure where to start? Check out this article here.
Be sure to grab your copy of our Digital Nomad Family Playbook, this gives you step by step instructions to get from your couch to your first country!
