Free The Grown-Up's Guide to Running Away from Home, Second Edition: Making a New Life Abroad by Rosanne Knorr Page A
Authors: Rosanne Knorr
references before getting involved with anyone you don’t know. Request a copy of their passport and personal references before even giving out your specific address.
Food
Eat at home . When you live in an area long-term, you can fix most meals yourself, saving dining out for a special restaurant or occasion. This is the biggest cost savings over taking the typical hotel-based vacation.
Shop local markets for fresh produce . Don’t buy imported and prepackaged products. Making meals from fresh ingredients is less expensive, and your adventure will more likely allow you the time to shop for foods at the local markets. Not only is a pasta primavera with fresh veggies inexpensive, it’s healthy and tastes fabulous.
Eat your main meal at lunch . Restaurants offer full menus at lunch, often the same as what they’d serve at dinner, but they are less expensive. Eating a large meal earlier is better for your waistline, too, since you can walk off the meal while sightseeing in the afternoon.
Buy the fixed-price menu . Some restaurants, especially in Western European countries such as France, Spain, Ireland, Holland, and Belgium, post the prices outside and include a fixed price for a multicourse meal. These offer a better value than ordering individual items.
Picnic when you travel . Visit local stores and assemble fresh bread, meats or cheeses, fruit, and that tempting pastry. Then find a glorious spot to have your picnic. You’ll spend less money and eat better than when you pay inflated autoroute, train, or ferry prices.
Health Care
Use the local medical system . Though known for its advanced medical care, the United States medical system is among the costliest in the world. Many countries provide equal or even better services far less expensively. Ask other expats or locals which doctors they recommend. You may be pleasantly surprised when you pay $25 for a doctor’s visit that would be $100 or more in the States. Some countries, such as Mexico, even allow expats access to thatcountry’s low-cost insurance plans once they’ve become residents.
----
The price of doctors here—everything, in fact—is negotiable and based on personal relationship. All jobs are done by knowing somebody. I have a dentist who won’t let me pay him. I offer but he says, “No, you’re my friend.” He knows I’ll help him out whenever I can too. The economy often functions like this, without money
.
—Judy, Athens, Greece
----
Take care of yourself . Prevention is the best strategy to cut medical costs. Don’t overdo food, drink, exercise, or sun overseas. When you are tired or feel a cold coming on, take that nap. After all, you’re here to relax, so take advantage of it.
Lifestyle
Use coupons and discounts . Watch for the discounts provided overseas on trains, buses, movies, museum passes, and the like. Seniors often get special savings, but you don’t always have to be over sixty-five. Sometimes being sixty or even fifty-five suffices. Reductions are sometimes offered for transportation: for example, when two people travel together or travel during certain off-peak times.
Cut out all that paper . Use old dishrags to clean with, not expensive paper towels. Keep the plastic bags you get at stores to use for storage and to line small wastebaskets. Save decorative papers from gifts; reuse them for your own gift giving.
Make it, reuse it, or make do . Many of the things you need, you already have, especially clothes. Wear appropriate clothing but don’t be concerned that you have a wide variety. Most people abroad do not have the wardrobes Americans take for granted. In fact, closets abroad tend to be much smaller.
Don’t let limited money hold you back . Be creative with your plans, finding less expensive ways to fund your adventure. Sell unneeded belongings. Save diligently. Your adventure can be affordable. Some adventures—like the Peace Corps—even pay
you
!
6
The Work Option
Everything that is really great and
Food
Eat at home . When you live in an area long-term, you can fix most meals yourself, saving dining out for a special restaurant or occasion. This is the biggest cost savings over taking the typical hotel-based vacation.
Shop local markets for fresh produce . Don’t buy imported and prepackaged products. Making meals from fresh ingredients is less expensive, and your adventure will more likely allow you the time to shop for foods at the local markets. Not only is a pasta primavera with fresh veggies inexpensive, it’s healthy and tastes fabulous.
Eat your main meal at lunch . Restaurants offer full menus at lunch, often the same as what they’d serve at dinner, but they are less expensive. Eating a large meal earlier is better for your waistline, too, since you can walk off the meal while sightseeing in the afternoon.
Buy the fixed-price menu . Some restaurants, especially in Western European countries such as France, Spain, Ireland, Holland, and Belgium, post the prices outside and include a fixed price for a multicourse meal. These offer a better value than ordering individual items.
Picnic when you travel . Visit local stores and assemble fresh bread, meats or cheeses, fruit, and that tempting pastry. Then find a glorious spot to have your picnic. You’ll spend less money and eat better than when you pay inflated autoroute, train, or ferry prices.
Health Care
Use the local medical system . Though known for its advanced medical care, the United States medical system is among the costliest in the world. Many countries provide equal or even better services far less expensively. Ask other expats or locals which doctors they recommend. You may be pleasantly surprised when you pay $25 for a doctor’s visit that would be $100 or more in the States. Some countries, such as Mexico, even allow expats access to thatcountry’s low-cost insurance plans once they’ve become residents.
----
The price of doctors here—everything, in fact—is negotiable and based on personal relationship. All jobs are done by knowing somebody. I have a dentist who won’t let me pay him. I offer but he says, “No, you’re my friend.” He knows I’ll help him out whenever I can too. The economy often functions like this, without money
.
—Judy, Athens, Greece
----
Take care of yourself . Prevention is the best strategy to cut medical costs. Don’t overdo food, drink, exercise, or sun overseas. When you are tired or feel a cold coming on, take that nap. After all, you’re here to relax, so take advantage of it.
Lifestyle
Use coupons and discounts . Watch for the discounts provided overseas on trains, buses, movies, museum passes, and the like. Seniors often get special savings, but you don’t always have to be over sixty-five. Sometimes being sixty or even fifty-five suffices. Reductions are sometimes offered for transportation: for example, when two people travel together or travel during certain off-peak times.
Cut out all that paper . Use old dishrags to clean with, not expensive paper towels. Keep the plastic bags you get at stores to use for storage and to line small wastebaskets. Save decorative papers from gifts; reuse them for your own gift giving.
Make it, reuse it, or make do . Many of the things you need, you already have, especially clothes. Wear appropriate clothing but don’t be concerned that you have a wide variety. Most people abroad do not have the wardrobes Americans take for granted. In fact, closets abroad tend to be much smaller.
Don’t let limited money hold you back . Be creative with your plans, finding less expensive ways to fund your adventure. Sell unneeded belongings. Save diligently. Your adventure can be affordable. Some adventures—like the Peace Corps—even pay
you
!
6
The Work Option
Everything that is really great and
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