Setting up as an expat in a new country can be expensive no matter where you’re going. If you’re moving to\u00a0China<\/a><\/a>, for example, when renting an apartment, you\u2019ll need to pay 3 months\u2019 rent upfront \u2013 which means that you need to have at least that saved, plus the first month or so of expenses until you earn your first paycheck.<\/p>\n Even if you have an apartment provided, you\u2019ll likely need to buy things such as dishware and bedding. You\u2019ll need to stock your pantry and buy a local phone or SIM card. If you\u2019re moving to the UAE<\/a>, you may also need to rent or buy a car. Research the different costs and be sure that you have enough to allow you to settle in and live comfortably in those first few months.<\/p>\n As you know, making and saving money can be a serious challenge, especially if you\u2019re between jobs. With bills to pay and prices rising, it\u2019s a tough environment to build a healthy bank balance.<\/p>\n So what are some ways of saving and generating cash? Here are just a few tips that we\u2019ve found work for most people to give them the extra cushion of cash to take on fresh opportunities in exciting new places.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Organization is the key to healthy finances. Central to this is the art of putting together a budget, be it weekly or monthly.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easier than you think. If you\u2019re no good with numbers, there’s a range of apps that can do the financial heavy lifting for you. Take Mint<\/a> for example. The app provides an overview of your money, making it simple to monitor your activity.<\/p>\n At the end of the week, take some time to look over your expenditures for the past 7 days. Where could you shave off some costs? For example, those daily $5 smoothies could become a much smaller expense if you buy the ingredients in bulk and whip them up at home instead. You may also realize you have monthly subscriptions that you don’t even use – streaming and delivery services are just a few that add up over time.<\/p>\n Once you get into the habit of tracking your finances, you\u2019ll be better educated on how to manage your earnings. This is essential when you\u2019re living far from home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you\u2019re not savvy about the universe of discounts out there, then now\u2019s the time to wisen up! All it takes is a few clicks and a bit of know-how. There are plenty of sites such as RetailMeNot<\/a> that find bargains for you. If you take advantage of these things, you\u2019ll find that you can save more money in the long-term than you would if you just popped into the store to purchase whatever you need immediately.<\/p>\n This is especially true if, for you, a simple trip to the local Target turns into you going home with one of everything. By shopping online, you\u2019ll avoid the tempting aisles full of new clothes, snack foods, and fresh books just waiting to be read. You\u2019ll also save a lot of time \u2013 and gas! Be sure, however, to factor in shipping costs.<\/p>\n Also be careful with this – stop buying things online that you don’t need<\/strong>. Now that shopping is so easy to do on your phone, you have to catch yourself before you hit ‘place order’ and decide if it’s a necessary purchase.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When you do have to visit the store, know that there are plenty of ways to save money weekly at your local supermarket.<\/p>\n Put a little effort into finding coupons, and you\u2019ll be amazed at what you can save. Buy canned or frozen veggies instead of fresh, and buy things like oatmeal and nuts in bulk. Meal planning also goes a long way \u2013 stick to your guns, too, no matter how tempting that frozen pizza looks.<\/p>\n Make sure you’re going to the cheapest grocery store too, and you can usually find non-namebrand items that are just as good as the ones you’re used to buying without a second thought. Over time, these little things add up!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you find yourself with a gap between jobs, consider part-time work<\/a>. Working minimum-wage at a restaurant or stocking shelves at a store doesn\u2019t seem particularly glamorous, but when you\u2019re spending that money in Dubai, it\u2019ll have been more than worth it. There\u2019s nothing wrong with working at a coffee shop for a couple of months before jetting off.<\/p>\n Consider freelancing as well. If you have writing chops, or if you can design, edit, create websites, paint, etc., freelancing gives you the chance to earn some extra money on the side. Sites like Fiverr<\/a> and Upwork<\/a> allow you to create a profile which can more easily connect you with clients.<\/p>\n If teaching is your main jam, why not teach online<\/a>\u00a0or take a short-term sub job<\/a> while you\u2019re waiting on your next long-term teaching gig to start? If you decide to go this route, you might even be able to keep your side gig for some extra spending money once you start your next in-person teaching job. Advertise your services on local bulletin boards, in the classifieds, on Craigslist and Yahoo! Local, and Facebook.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It may seem simple, but when it comes right down to it, you need to keep reminding yourself why you\u2019re saving money. Make a mock budget for your first couple of weeks overseas. Continually think of the wonderful things you\u2019ll eat, the places you\u2019ll travel, and the people you\u2019ll meet when you\u2019re abroad. Change your phone and computer backgrounds to a photo of your destination. Remember that whatever sacrifices you\u2019re making right now will pay off twofold once you arrive.<\/p>\n The key factor in all of this is discipline<\/strong>. These are easy things that you can do immediately, which will make the lead up to your departure a whole lot smoother.<\/p>\n Still looking for a teaching job abroad? Check out our overseas job board<\/a>. We also have guest teaching opportunities<\/a> available in the United States if you need a side gig!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Make sure you’re 100% prepared to move abroad by putting extra effort into making and saving extra cash!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7472,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Taking the plunge and heading abroad to work requires lots of planning. This is especially true for your finances. You should be saving as much as possible, or you're going to have a hard time once you arrive.\n\nSetting up as an expat in a new country can be expensive no matter where you're going. In China<\/a>, for example, when renting an apartment, you\u2019ll need to pay 3 months\u2019 rent upfront \u2013 which means that you need to have at least that saved, plus the first month or so of expenses until you earn your first paycheck. Even if you have an apartment provided, you\u2019ll likely need to buy things such as dishware and bedding. You\u2019ll need to stock your pantry and buy a local phone or SIM card. If you\u2019re going to the UAE<\/a>, you may also need to rent or buy a car. Research the different costs and be sure that you have enough to allow you to settle in and live comfortably in those first few months.\n\nAs you know, saving money and making it can be a serious challenge, especially if you\u2019re between jobs. With bills to pay and prices rising, it\u2019s a tough environment to build a bank balance.\n\nSo what are some ways of saving and generating cash? Here are just a few tips that we\u2019ve found work for most people to give them the extra cushion of cash to take on fresh opportunities in exciting new places.\n![\"Jar](\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Jar-of-change.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n1. Budgeting<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Online](\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Online-coupon.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Online discounts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Groceries\"](\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Groceries.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n3. Shop smarter<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/person-working-a-side-job-online.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n4.\u00a0Take a side gig<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/person-traveling.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n5. Keep your eyes on the prize<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"someone](\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/someone_counting_coins.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n1. Budgeting<\/strong><\/h2>\nOrganization is the key to healthy finances. Central to this is the art of putting together a budget, be it weekly or monthly.\n\nIt\u2019s easier than you think. If you\u2019re no good with numbers, there's a range of apps that can do the financial heavy lifting for you. Take Mint<\/a> for example. The app provides an overview of your money, making it simple to monitor your activity. Why pay for an accountant with this free resource in your pocket?\n\nAt the end of the week, take some time to look over your expenditures for the past 7 days. Where could you shave off some costs? For example, those daily $5 smoothies could become a much smaller expense if you buy the ingredients in bulk and whip them up at home instead.\n\nOnce you get into the habit of tracking your finances, you\u2019ll be better educated on how to manage your earnings. This is essential when you\u2019re living far from home.\n\n
![\"online](\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/online_sale.png\")
\n2. Online discounts<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf you\u2019re not savvy about the universe of discounts out there, then now\u2019s the time to wisen up! All it take\n\ns is a few clicks and a bit of know-how. There are plenty of sites such as RetailMeNot<\/a> that find bargains for you. If you take advantage of these things, you\u2019ll find that you can save more money in the long-term than you would if you just popped into the store to purchase whatever you need immediately.\n\nThis is especially true if, for you, a simple trip to the local Target turns into you going home with one of everything. By shopping online, you\u2019ll avoid the tempting aisles full of new clothes, snack foods, and fresh books just waiting to be read. You\u2019ll also save a lot of time \u2013 and gas! Be sure, however, to factor in shipping costs.\n
![\"full](\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/full_shopping_cart.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n3. Shop smarter<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen you do have to visit the store, know that there are plenty of ways to save money weekly at your local supermarket.\n\nBecome a couponer<\/a>. We\u2019ve all been stuck behind these people in line \u2013 well, now you\u2019re going to be one of those people. You\u2019ll be amazed at what you can save if you use coupons and meal plan around sales. You can also save money by buying canned or frozen veggies instead of fresh, as well as buying things like oatmeal and nuts in bulk. Meal planning also goes a long way \u2013 stick to your guns, too, no matter how tempting that frozen pizza looks.\n
![\"woman](\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/woman_writing_in_a_journal.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n4. Take a side gig<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf you find yourself with a gap between jobs, consider part-time work<\/a>. Working minimum-wage at a restaurant or stocking shelves at a store doesn\u2019t seem particularly glamorous, but when you\u2019re spending that money in Dubai, it\u2019ll have been more than worth it. There\u2019s nothing wrong with working at a coffee shop for a couple of months before jetting off.\n\nConsider freelancing as well. If you have writing chops, or if you can design, edit, create websites, paint, et cetera, freelancing gives you the chance to earn some extra money on the side. Sites like Fiverr<\/a> and Upwork<\/a> allow you to create a profile which can more easily connect you with clients.\n\nIf teaching is your main jam, why not tutor or teach online<\/a> while you\u2019re waiting on your next teaching gig to start? If you decide to go this route, you can even keep your side gig for some extra spending money once you start your next in-person teaching job. Advertise your services on local bulletin boards, in the classifieds, on Craigslist and Yahoo! Local, and Facebook.\n
![\"map](\"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/map_covered_in_money_and_pins.jpg\")
<\/h2>\n5. Keep your eyes on the prize<\/strong><\/h2>\nIt may seem simple, but when it comes right down to it, you need to keep reminding yourself why you\u2019re saving money. Make a mock budget for your first couple of weeks overseas. Continually think of the wonderful things you\u2019ll eat, the places you\u2019ll travel, and the people you\u2019ll meet when you\u2019re abroad. Save your phone and computer background to a photo of your destination. Remember that whatever sacrifices you\u2019re making right now will pay off twofold once you arrive.\n\nThe key factor in all of this is discipline<\/strong>. These are easy things that you can do immediately, which will make the lead up to your departure a whole lot smoother. It\u2019s all a question of the right mindset.\n