Pay Yourself First If You Want to Move Abroad (Why Saving Isn’t Your Real Problem)

In this episode of ABROADly Speaking, I break down why most people who say they want to move abroad never actually do — and why it’s not because they “don’t make enough money.”

We’re talking about paying yourself first — not in a Pinterest, envelope-stuffing, aesthetic-budget way — but in a real, grown-adult way that actually funds your future instead of reacting to exhaustion, convenience, and emotional spending.

If you keep telling yourself you’ll start saving after things calm down, after you do more research, or after there’s money left over (spoiler: there never is), this episode is for you.

I explain why your move abroad isn’t a hobby — it’s an exit plan — and how starting with as little as $10 can shift your priorities, your behavior, and your timeline faster than any perfect budget ever will.

We cover:

• Why “not enough money” is usually a priority problem, not an income problem
• How paying yourself first actually works when life is already expensive and overwhelming
• Why waiting to save “what’s left” guarantees nothing ever happens
• The simplest way to start funding your move abroad without blowing up your life

This is a grounded, practical episode for anyone who’s done Googling, done spiraling, and ready to stop performing planning energy — and actually move.

Departure Lounge