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.
Retirement Abroad on a Budget: Our Real First-Year Costs as American Expat & Nomads (Age 60+)
Thinking about retiring abroad but not sure where? Or whether you can afford it? We were too. So instead of picking one country and hoping for the best, we decided to become nomadic retirees – living in different countries for a month or more to truly test what retirement abroad would cost and feel like. At 60+, we’re not typical backpackers. We want our own…
Top 18 Essential Travel Apps We Use as American Expats and Nomads
Top 18 Essential Travel Apps We Use as American Expats and Nomads Traveling is exciting, but let’s be real—it’s also a juggling act of logistics, language barriers, and budgets. Thankfully, a few trusty apps have become our secret weapons. We have found that these 18 essential travel apps save us time, money, and sanity while we navigate our nomadic lifestyle. Let’s dive into our favorites…
Pre-Cruise Planning Guide for Your Transatlantic Cruise
Pre-Cruise Planning Guide for Your Transatlantic Cruise Planning a transatlantic cruise can feel both exciting and overwhelming—there’s so much to consider, from what to pack to understanding onboard amenities and exploring ports of call. As we prepared for our first cruise, a transatlantic 15 Day Spanish Passage on Princess Cruise Line’s Emerald Princess from Florida to Italy, we’ve did tons of research to make sure…
Exploring WWII Aviation History at the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Manitoba
During our time in Manitoba, Sandra and I uncovered a true gem for history and aviation enthusiasts: the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum & RCAF WWII Memorial. This museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) and honoring the memory of the aircrew who served during WWII. We were drawn in by its connection to WWII and…
Exploring Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter Walking Tour: Our Experience with the GPSMyCity app
Our visit to Barcelona was very short, just three nights passing through on our way from Portugal to England. We arrived late Tuesday night, spent Wednesday marveling at La Sagrada Familia and its surroundings, and devoted Thursday to using the GPSMyCity app to do the Barcelona Gothic Quarter Walking Tour. It was the perfect way to enjoy a nearly free guided walking tour of Barcelona,…
The #1 Reason You Should visit San Jose, Costa Rica
Our initial plan was to spend a month relaxing at the beaches of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, but we soon realized that laying on a beach fulltime wasn’t right for us, so we cut our beachside stay short and headed inland to San Jose, Costa Rica, a little earlier than originally planned. We are so glad we did! The National Museum of Costa Rica is…
Free Belem Walking Tour: 15 Must-See Sites (Tested by Nomads Living in Lisbon)
To say that Belem is a historic district of Lisbon is sort of misleading since most of Lisbon’s districts are ‘historic’. Belém, Lisbon’s stunning riverside district, stands as a testament to Portugal’s Age of Discoveries. While every corner of Lisbon breathes history, Belém uniquely showcases Portugal’s maritime glory through its UNESCO World Heritage sites, world-class museums, and iconic landmarks. We crafted this walking route during…
How to Save Money AND Use Your Phone While Traveling Abroad
Extended overseas travel comes with some logistics challenges. One of the biggest for full-time travelers and digital nomads like us is staying connected – while staying on budget. After more than 19 months abroad, we’ve learned a lot about international phone plans, data usage, and how to keep our U.S. numbers active while living abroad, on a budget, one country at a time. If you’re…
![ResMed AirMini Review: Is This $1000 Portable CPAP Worth It? [Updated 2026]](https://themobileretiree.com/wp-content/uploads/cpap-all-of-it.jpg "ResMed AirMini Review: Is This $1000 Portable CPAP Worth It? [Updated 2026] 9")
ResMed AirMini Review: Is This $1000 Portable CPAP Worth It? [Updated 2026]
ResMed AirMini review: After using this portable CPAP every single night for almost two years while traveling across multiple countries, this is my honest review on whether it’s worth the $1000+ investment. Update: Two plus years of everynight use and it is still going strong. Essential CPap Equipment List for Travelers Why I Needed a Travel CPAP A tremendous amount of research went into all…
11 Reasons Why Buenos Aires Is Worth Visiting & Why It’s Not
As full-time travelers preparing for our first visit to Buenos Aires, we spent countless hours researching Argentina’s vibrant capital city to answer the question: “Is Buenos Aires worth visiting?”
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.
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