7 Ways to Become a Successful Digital Nomad

A digital nomad is not an actual job but a career to make a living as a self-employed person. So, the digital nomad can be anyone who travels while working remotely and making money online.

A virtual worker is someone who can live and travel anywhere in the world, as long as they have access to the internet. Usually, these freelancers explore the world and work from coworking spaces in new destinations.

Unlike those, a boss in an office supervises. These free-spirited workers in the Internet world decide their working hours, pay, and places.

What is a digital or a virtual nomad?

Many people worldwide are not tied down by a particular locality and travel often. You might know these people as tourists, but they might also be digital nomads who rely on technology for communication and generating income while on the go.

07 surefire methods to become a digital nomad:

1) Decide on your location:

If you decide where you would like to live, that would be best. However, this decision is often made more accessible by taking part in a cost-benefit analysis and determining your budget for travel. You can then compare your options according to your budget.

Popular areas include Southeast Asia, Central America, Oceania, and Eastern Europe. The idea of being remote may be ideal for some. However, others would prefer an area that is more similar to home.

There are many ways to find digital nomads in any area. Thus, you can join social media networking groups and seek meetups.

Above all, some places have laws about how long you can spend outside of your country without starting residency requirements, so keep that in mind as well.

2) Create an Emergency Fund:

If your freelance work dries up, you must have extra funds to fall back on. Hence, create an emergency fund and protect yourself from financial setbacks.

Therefore, save money consistently over time by setting aside at least 10% of your earnings in each paycheck.

Because you must have enough money saved up to support yourself for six months in case you lose your job.

So, to ensure that your emergency fund is high enough, strive to save at least $5,000 by setting aside 20% of each paycheck.

3) Consider your finances and lifestyle:

It’s one thing to make plans for how you’ll earn money as a digital nomad. It’s another thing entirely to consider your personal and professional finances, living situation, and lifestyle habits.

These considerations will significantly affect where and how you live in your travels, so be sure you have every detail figured out before changing life.

Your ability to follow nomadism will significantly depend on your finances and living situation. For example, you can rent out your apartment while you’re away if you live in one you own.

4) Start your business with low startup costs:

A freelancer has one of the most incredible benefits in that they require very little starting capital if any. So many online workers set up their businesses with almost no money at all.

How do they do it? It’s simple: They start small and build from there. If you’re considering making your living on location rather than in an office, starting small is definitely for you.

Starting your own business is hard work. So whenever you plan to open a business from home, please don’t underestimate how much it will cost or time to earn income.

5) Start freelancing full time:

In reality, freelancing is an excellent way to try out your entrepreneurial skills. You can test your idea, prove its value, and start making connections on your terms even if you find that freelancing isn’t for you. Moreover, it can still help prepare you for creating a full-time business later on down the road.

6) Make friends in the community:

If you’re wondering how to work online, don’t worry. Connect with people who are already working in the global internet market.

Because they can help you avoid some of those rookie mistakes, so go out and mingle. In addition, attending events is a great way to meet others in your community.

The easiest way to meet like-minded self-employed people is by joining an online forum for digital service providers. There, you can share your stories, ask questions and get advice from the members.

These forums also serve as valuable tools for virtual networking and services among nomads. It doesn’t matter where you go, and you always meet someone new.

07) Stay committed, have fun and enjoy life

If you’re starting and do not know where you want to go or what you want to do, don’t worry. There are plenty of other nomads that have been through that stage before you, and they all made it.

So, as long as you stay committed, always take time out for fun and enjoy life along your journey, things will work out. It may take some time, but remain flexible and always look for new opportunities. Things will work out in the end.

Top cities in the world for digital nomads

Here are some of our favorite cities in no particular order:

1. Bangkok, Thailand 2. Singapore 3. Seoul, South Korea 4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 5. Berlin, Germany 6. Paris, France 7. Barcelona, Spain 8. Vancouver 9. Berlin 10 Bucharest, Romania 11. Buenos Aires, Argentina 12. Tokyo 13. Helsinki 14. Prague 15. Medellin 16. Cape Town 17. Lisbon 18. Hong Kong.

Is Portugal the best country for nomads?

It’s no surprise that Portugal, home to a stunning coastline and beautiful historic towns, is quickly becoming one of Europe’s hottest destinations.

Lisbon has been dubbed Europe’s Hawaii by CNN and named one of its top travel destinations. But, according to the report, ex-pats also rave about the Island of Madeira and Porto’s welcoming locals, diverse culture, and affordable cost of living.

The country is especially popular with digital nomads who use tools like remote work platforms. But, above all, if you speak English, you won’t have any trouble finding work! Finding remote jobs in European cities like Lisbon isn’t tricky at all.

Cheapest Places for Remote Workers

Ideally, you want an area with cheap living costs but still has amenities available. A good place should have plenty of affordable accommodation, coworking spaces, fast internet speeds, and safety (not to mention food and supermarkets!).

So, popular remote worker destinations include Chiang Mai in Thailand, Bali in Indonesia, Ko Phangan in Thailand, Taipei in Taiwan, and Medellin in Colombia.

Similarly, many digital nomads find working remotely accessible when visiting big cities such as Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), or Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

Perhaps some people might prefer staying at home over spending time in large cities where it is harder to escape without spending money. But, again, the distinction is absolutely up to the person.

It’s not just about having a cheap room; it’s also about factors like internet speed, safety, and food quality. Luckily, hundreds of remote workers on social platforms can share their opinions with you.

To be a digital worker in your city of choice, ask yourself:

• Do most people speak English there?
• Is there free Wi-Fi everywhere or just at cafes?
• Are there coworking spaces available?
• Is it easy for me to find an affordable apartment near good restaurants with quality food?

Pros and Cons

When you’re making plans for becoming a freelancer and travel, keep in mind that there are both pros and cons.

Living anywhere you want is probably one of its most enormous benefits, but it also means giving up things like family, friends, and community. So, be sure that being unattached is what you want before committing to being a digital nomad.

Moreover, traveling and working can be immensely rewarding, but some drawbacks too. For instance, it’s tough to maintain deep relationships with people. In addition, traveling makes it challenging to stay in one spot for a long.

It’s also problematic if you have a strong sense of home and want to settle down with roots in one particular place. However, once you get used to nomadic life, these will become less of an issue, and you’ll grow accustomed to your lifestyle.

For example, you are going freelance or working on a contract rather than working full time for someone else. Being without a permanent home offers excellent freedom. But if you want friends and family around you, make other arrangements. Otherwise, being on your own for extended periods may not be ideal.

Another thing worth considering when deciding how best to become nomadic is where your skills and interests lie. The internet is everywhere these days, so you could probably do many kinds of jobs regardless of place.

Also Read: Couchsurfing Hookup: All you need to know

Do digital nomads need to pay taxes?

When you’re working abroad, even on the internet, it’s hard to know what your tax liability will be, so here are some things you should consider. First, let’s look at when you might need to pay regular income taxes and how it could vary from country to country.

Tax treaties with these countries may apply depending on where you live and work. So, if there is no treaty in place with any of these countries, it means that your home government won’t collect taxes for them.

Is it legal to be a virtual nomad?

Many new digital nomads worry that their location-independent lifestyles are not legally kosher. However, doing a virtual job in most countries is legal; no special permission is required.

Searching Google will reveal plenty of sources claiming that you need special visas and residency permits living overseas. But it is not true because traveling is legal, and every citizen has freedom of movement. In addition, some countries offer special nomad visas to attract the mobile workforce.

What is a Nomad Visa?

Nomad visas are digital passports that allow people to live and work in a country from 6 months to even 1-3 years at a time. They have been made easy and possible with the advent of the internet as it allows you to apply and submit documents from the comfort of your home.

These visa programs offered by many countries across the world allow you to experience the lifestyle and culture of that country. The list of top 8 countries is as follows:

1. Barbados,
2. Croatia,
3. Cyprus.
4. Estonia,
5. Georgia,
6. Greece,
7. Hungary,
8. Spain.

Conclusion

The dream life digital nomad can be experienced by just about anyone with an internet connection and a passport. This career will allow you to earn money while on vacation or traveling full time.

Of course, you also need some excellent skills and planning, that’s why I have written this article full of tips and strategies. But, no matter what you do, these guides will help make working remotely as seamless as possible.