Here’s the thing about traveling. Whether you have six days, six months, or sixteen years abroad, there will always be more to see, do, eat, and explore. It’s natural to fall into the trap of trying to pack everything in. After all, if you’re visiting a place you might never return to, shouldn’t you make the most of it?

When you move abroad, you're not just changing your address. You’re signing up for a whole new way of experiencing the world, and if there’s one thing you can count on to be a part of it, it’s uncertainty. But here’s the twist: that uncertainty is what makes life richer. It slows time down. It makes you more present. It helps you savor those hard-won moments of calm, connection, and clarity.

When you are starting out in any sort of unfamiliar situation, you’re bound to get things wrong. Often spectacularly wrong. But each time this happens, what you’re giving yourself is a gift.

When first sitting down to create a budget for your expat adventure, give yourself permission to think big. When you picture your life in your new setting, what does the ideal version look like?

If you have children and you are considering an expat adventure, one of the biggest questions you’ll have to answer is what to do about their schooling. There are so many factors you’ll have to consider, and obviously different children have different needs, etc etc.

That said, there are a few overarching questions worth taking into consideration no matter the academic circumstances, and if you can figure out how you feel about each of these, the choices should simplify.