How to Move Abroad with No Money

Moving abroad seems like a daunting task for most - it’s not easy leaving your life behind and it’s even harder to do it if you have no money! Everyone seems to think that you need to save up thousands before you can even think about moving somewhere and starting a new life. But there are plenty of people out there that can tell you it’s totally possible to move abroad with no money.

Take it from someone who’s done it twice, in two countries - I’ve moved to London with very little money in my pocket back in 2010 and then again to Madrid a few years later, just to see if I could do it again.

There are three major ways of moving abroad that don’t require you to have many funds in your piggy bank. I hope this guide inspires you to go after your dreams without any limitations - it’s definitely possible!

Here’s how to move abroad with no money!

Become an Au Pair

I’ve moved abroad by becoming an au pair. An au pair is a young person who helps with child care or house care in exchange for some pocket money and a roof over their head. It’s an opportunity that can open plenty of unexpected doors - my year-long au pair adventure led me to study full-time in London and then even find a job! I then moved to Madrid where I was an au pair again, found an internship and later on became a copywriter for an amazing startup (yup, it’s Spotahome).

If you love children, becoming an au pair is a perfect solution - there are plenty of families who are looking for help. An au pair usually works around the kids’ schedule. Depending on your family’s needs, you could be taking them to school, picking them up, playing with them, making lunch, and do everything until the parent comes back. Non-english speaking countries like Spain usually prefer an English-speaking au pair that would help with language learning. However, all of this depends on the family’s needs.

One of the most popular au pair websites out there is Au Pair World (we’re not sponsored, I just really love this website). With the increase in popularity of this job, you can find a dozen of useful websites as well as agencies that will help you start your new life abroad. All you need to take care of is the plane ticket!

Volunteer through Workaway

There are plenty of volunteering options out there, but Workaway is the best of the best - trust me. This is a perfect solution for those that don’t like children, but still want to live abroad and get free accommodation.

Workaway allows you to volunteer in your chosen country and do something extraordinary with your time there. You could be painting houses, taking care of animals, spending time in a yoga retreat, and much more!

The downside to Workaway is that it’s not a paid experience - my advice would be to find a freelance job with a company like VIPKids (teaching English) or work for a company through Upwork. It might not make you a lot of money at first, but since you’ll have a roof under your head (and sometimes free breakfast or lunch), it’ll be enough to help you get on your way. I know plenty of people who volunteered through Workaway and never left the country they volunteered in - it’s truly a remarkable experience.

Become an English Teacher

If your goal is to move to Spain and you love kids and teaching, you’re in for a treat - you can easily become an English teacher and pretty much get paid from the moment you come to this country.

There are several programs out there that cater to native English speakers who want to move abroad. One of the most known is the Auxiliar de Conversación program, which helps to employ native English speakers in their preferred Spanish city. The program operates in all major Spanish and Catalan cities as well as plenty of smaller towns. If you choose to work in a city like Madrid, you could be earning €1000 a month at 16 hours per week!

Of course, the downside to this is that you’d still need to save up a few coins for your flight and accommodation - at least for your first month. After that, it’ll be an easy road and you’ll definitely feel proud of yourself for being able to move abroad with very little money saved up!

Are you ready for your move abroad?

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