I wondered if I should make a permanent move abroad<\/p>\n
A voice in my head said, “You don’t have to stay on the hamster wheel and deserve to be happy.” My thoughts went back and forth. My cost of living was getting ridiculous in the US, and the more money I made, the more money I needed.<\/p>\n
I’d traveled all over the world and particularly enjoyed visiting Europe, where things were cheaper, more fun, and less demanding. What if I made a permanent move to one of my favorite countries, Spain?<\/p>\n
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Cody Kemp said she was a seasoned traveler.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Jennifer Cody Kemp<\/p>\n
First, I booked an appointment with my financial advisor <\/a>to review the numbers. He said I’d set myself up well for the change, and there was absolutely no reason for me to put it off.<\/p>\n Do you have a story about life as an expat? Please send details to jridley@insider.com<\/strong><\/p>\n He understood when I said I didn’t want to work another 15 years and miss out on the things I wanted to do right now. My father died at just 67 in 2020. I’d already lost a couple of friends who were my age, too.<\/p>\n Next, I sought advice from the online agency Move Overseas Now<\/a> to secure a digital nomad <\/a>visa in Spain.<\/p>\n I decided to live in Alicante on the Costa Blanca<\/p>\n I quit my job, which I’d held for 28 years, in April of this year, put my 2,600-square-foot, four-bedroom house on the market, and flew to Europe the following month. My son, Mark, 24, joined me for a long vacation.<\/p>\n I decided to settle in the city of Alicante<\/a>, on the Costa Blanca, in southern Spain, because of its great climate and the nearby beaches and mountains.<\/p>\n Cody Kemp kayaking with her son, Mark, 24, in Europe.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Jennifer Cody Kemp<\/p>\n My first step was to rent a 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment in the city center. It costs the equivalent of $925 a month, compared to my mortgage in Florida, which was $1,600.<\/p>\n I was glad to no longer pay my annual $7,300 housing tax, nor my $450-a-month health insurance, co-pays, and referral fees. Spain has a universal healthcare system.<\/p>\n A glass of wine costs the equivalent of $3.50<\/p>\n Giving up my car saved me $450 a month in motor vehicle insurance<\/a>. People walk everywhere in Alicante. And it’s a 12-minute bus ride from my home to the beach.<\/p>\n You can enjoy a glass of wine here for the equivalent of $3.50, and groceries are significantly less expensive. For example, I recently bought two dozen eggs for $2.50, compared to the $12 I spent in the US.<\/p>\n Cody Kemp has found the cost of living in Spain to be a lot cheaper than in America.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Jennifer Cody Kemp<\/p>\n My income \u2014 generated from my work with individual clients, including a publishing company<\/a> \u2014 goes a lot further. I can eat out when I like, which is a great opportunity to meet new people.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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