For Americans thinking about living abroad
Can you really retire abroad on a budget? We’re finding out.
We’re Sandra and Jeff. Since 2023, we’ve been living slowly across countries — tracking exactly what we spend so you can plan with real numbers, not estimates. No guesswork.
-
Cost-of-Living Reports, Albania, American Expat Life, Durres, Pogradec, Reader’s Favorites, Sarandë, VloreA Real-World Cost of Living Report: Our First Year in Albania
4 Cities, 365 Days, Every Penny A Note From Sandra & Jeff This is not a travel blog post. There are no beautiful photos of us sipping coffee
-
8 Thoughtful Gifts for Moms Who Travel
As fulltime travelers, we have a simple rule for this gift guide: If it takes up more than 10% of her suitcase, it’s a burden, not a gift.
-
Travel Expense Tracker Template for Full-time Travelers – designed by Full-time Travelers
Finally, a comprehensive travel expense tracker for full-time travelers that understands the difference between cost of living while traveling fulltime and relocation costs. Most travel budget trackers fail
-
Tired of your web host? It’s easier to switch than you think
If you’ve been following our journey as slowmads, you know that our mission is to live abroad on a budget, one country at a time. Whether we are
-
Cost of Living in Sarandë, Albania: What We Actually Spent
What this cost of living breakdown covers In 2026 we spent just over two months living in Sarandë, Albania – to see if if could someday be our
-
Daily Life in Albania for American Expats and Senior Nomads
Most people imagine fulltime travel as one long string of adventures – castles, beaches, museums, and a never-ending parade of Instagram-worthy meals. But the truth is, daily life
-
Our Top Posts of 2025 | Travel, Gear, and Life Abroad
Our most-read posts of 2025, covering travel gear, cost of living abroad, destination guides, and practical tips from our second year of full-time travel. In this, our second
-
Retiring to Albania & How to Apply for Residency in Albania
Part 1: Why We’re Even Considering Residency — and Why We May Be Doing This the Hard Way We didn’t arrive in Albania with a firm plan to
-
What was our Cost of Living in Pogradec Albania? (2025)
One of our longest stays so far was a little over four months—140 nights—in Pogradec, Albania. We’re sharing this cost of living in Pogradec Albania report as a
-
Three Days in Corfu Town: What You Can Do (and What You Can’t)
We’ve learned that when people ask whether you can “do” a place in three days, they’re usually asking two different questions at once. Corfu Town is one of
About Us
We’re Jeff and Sandra, two retired Americans, living abroad, on a budget, one country at at time. Most days, we’re just doing what we’ve always done— making ourselves a home, working on projects, cooking, and running errands, wherever home might be at the moment.
Reader’s Favorite Blog Posts
- A Real-World Cost of Living Report: Our First Year in Albania
- Cost of Living in Sarandë, Albania: What We Actually Spent
- ATM Fees in Albania (2025): What Travelers Need to Know
- Best Merino Wool T-Shirts for Travel: I Purchased & Tested 3 Budget Brands vs 1 Expensive Brand
- ResMed AirMini Review: Is This $1000 Portable CPAP Worth It? [Updated 2026]
