Here’s What They Don’t Tell you About Being a Digital Nomad in the US
Essential Advice for Aspiring Nomads Living the Corporate Life
Living a nomadic lifestyle offers the allure of adventure and freedom, but it comes with its own set of challenges and expenses. From recurring costs and meticulous planning to the necessity of flexibility and understanding complex tax and company policies, nomad life requires careful consideration and preparation. In this article, we delve into the hidden costs, the importance of planning, and the need for adaptability, providing practical advice for anyone looking to embrace the lifestyle.
It’s Expensive
Between cleaning fees, pet fees, application fees, rebuying items you didn't pack, and items that aren't stocked or are of poor quality in your new place, costs can add up quickly. You also have to consider hotels every couple of months, out-of-network medical expenses, and short-term gym fees. These recurring expenses can strain your budget. Despite being mentally prepared, it was still frustrating to pay another cleaning fee, pet deposit or gym sign-up fee after that first year.
If you're a corporate nomad, it can be even more expensive. Landlords often take advantage of the housing stipend provided to travel nurses and increase their rates. We have attempted to negotiate with a few and on occasion landlords were receptive, but this isn’t something we able to bank on so we had to be careful when searching.
If you aren’t working directly with landlords through websites like Furnished Finder, you might end up spending an extra month's rent on service fees and credit card charges. Airbnb was always out of budget for us for this exact reason.
Advice: Know your budget and be realistic. You might have to give up a few comforts to stay flexible and truly enjoy each location.
For us, we often settled for smaller locations, no additional bathrooms, or a duplex as opposed to a single-family home to make sure our entire budget wasn’t going to the rental leaving us no finances to enjoy the location.
More advice: there will be surprise expenses! Ours was the rental vehicle when my partners car died and he had to sell it two days before we left for a new location.
It Takes a Lot of Planning
This is one of the most taxing aspects. Landlords don't always respond promptly, and some locations book up fast while others don't. Landlords may not want to talk to you if their place isn't booked leading up to your desired dates. We never quite figured out the equation and often lucked out on being online at the right time when locking in some gems.
Other areas you may not realize but also require a lot of planning are things like researching passable routes during winter, finding hotels where your belongings will be safe, and having a plan for gaps in availability can all be exhausting. Hell, by the time we are on the road after packing, we have our routine of getting Subway when driving place to place and ordering pizza at the hotel when we arrive.
As soon as we arrived at one location, I was already working on securing the next. However, we avoided booking too far in advance because our timelines and locations often changed. The route we initially mapped out and the route we ended up taking were different, and we have no regrets.
It Requires Flexibility
Flexibility is crucial for the success of nomad life. Sometimes we fell in love with a place and stayed an extra month. Other times, the weather didn't align with our plans. One of us was called to jury duty for a month at our home base. The ability to adapt led us to hidden gems like Saint Petersburg, Florida, and Sedona, Arizona. Neither place was on our list and both surprised us with a memorable time.
Taxes and Company Policy Can Be an Obstacle
We're not tax experts, so we recommend consulting a professional for tax advice. It's a tricky area to navigate and we did a lot of research to ensure we were not breaking income tax laws in any state.
Regarding company policies, we encountered a few challenges. For example, one company I worked for had updated their policy to require HR notification for anyone staying somewhere other than their home base for 30 days or more while we were mid adventure. Fortunately, I had manager approval to go nomad well before the policy went into affect.
To make it even more complicated, one of my companies got merged into a bigger one, a switched to a new company entirely with all new sets of rules and working hours then lost that job. Switching companies during nomad life and moving time zones every few months while having to work specific hours can be a lot to keep track of, but given the choice, I would do it all again.
Advice: Do your research, have open conversations with your manager, and be aware of company policies as well as tax laws in any state you state in.
Embracing a nomadic lifestyle can be both rewarding and demanding. The freedom to explore new places and experiences comes with the responsibility of managing unexpected costs, intricate planning, and adapting to ever-changing circumstances. By understanding and preparing for these challenges, you can make the most of your nomadic journey. Stay realistic about your budget, be proactive in your plans, and maintain a flexible mindset. With these strategies, you'll not only overcome the obstacles of nomad life but also discover hidden gems and create unforgettable memories along the way. Whether you're just starting out or already on the road, these insights will help you navigate the path to a successful and fulfilling nomadic experience.
