One of the biggest reasons why I wanted to start an online business was so I could be a digital nomad.
What is a digital nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who works online – that is the digital part – and someone who is a nomad, or a traveler.
Why be a digital nomad?
I love the freedom of being able to go and be wherever I like. I love the opportunity to live and explore in whichever country I want. It is great to be able to do this without having to save or wait until holiday periods. By working online, I am able to do this whenever I like and for how ever long I want.
The other big advantage is that I can actually save money by traveling. That might sound weird to hear but traveling full time can be a lot cheaper than living in the US. Without big bills, travel is surprisingly affordable. Longer term travel, in particular, can be a bargain with getting discount accommodation deals for a longer stay and transport is cheaper the slower I move.
The downsides
Sometimes I miss having regular friends and having my family around all the time. However, I can chose to go back and see them whenever I want. They also come visit me sometimes.
The biggest downside, I find, is ensuring I always have a good internet connection. Working online is fabulous – until you don’t have reliable internet and then it is very stressful!
I spend a lot of time researching how good the internet is at destinations I wish to visit. It is annoying, but it is definitely a drawback that I can live with.
Otherwise I absolutely love being a digital nomad – being able to see the world on my terms while saving money. It’s great!
Read more about what we have to say about location independence.