I’ve been living as a digital nomad for 7 years now. Living in Airbnbs around the world with my partner. And I LOVE it. I don’t want to settle down, this lifestyle is great for me. I can see how it would be hard for other people though.
For me, the only way to live like this between two countries is to have permanent bases in both. With us a house in the UK and an apartment in NZ. Each was owned by the partner who had residency in that country. We would then spend our time between them in 6 month increments. Whilst we were in one country the place in the other country would be rented out via full service management companies. We were lucky as our jobs were not location dependent and we worked for ourselves. Did this for years before we ultimately went our separate ways (although we’re still great friends) and both settled down back in our country of birth.
I found this so interesting because whereas millions of people went nomadic or remote during the pandemic, I went the opposite way, planting roots for the first time in my adult life (in Miami for 20 months now). The moral of the story here from my perspective as an old-school nomad is that all decisions have trade-offs. There is no such thing as a “perfect” lifestyle, but I wish everyone had the chance to live nomadically for a while. It’s a life-changing experience, and as Matt and Nat said, they don’t regret it. The value of having that extra time with your family and experiencing the world from an unconventional perspective is intangible. There are surely lessons and insights that will unfold from this experience for years to come. Life can start to feel monotonous and stressful regardless of where you are in the world, but we are all so lucky to live in a time in history where the concept of lifestyle design is possible. ✨🌏💓 I like to think of a nomadic lifestyle in phases or seasons rather than a permanent status. Maybe the key to long-term happiness is change!
I have also lived off a bag for 2 and a half years and what an overall great experience but at some point you feel the need to stop and properly get back to yourself and who you truly are and look backwards on the path you took and the lessons you learned!
@@leodesmedt totally. I have oscillated between being fully- and semi-nomadic or just a long-term expat for 20 years. I've also had some home bases in the US intermittently throughout that time but this is the first time I've stayed stateside for more than a month or so at a time. I'm about ready to travel again, though. Where are you living now, Leo?
@@TravelingwithKristin Wow that's impressive! I think for most people this way of living seems insane but the reality is very different: you can easily build communities and new (real) friends all around the planet. There are challenges of course, but it's all worth it from what I've experienced! I am originally from France and stayed in LATAM for some time then in SF, CA for just a small period too and since July I live and work full time in Amsterdam, the Netherlands - it was an easy choice as I lived here some years ago and made lots of contacts Nevertheless to feeling of never settling is exciting and already see myself going somewhere else, somewhere new or would love to get back to the US or Canada someday in the future! Thanks for sharing your genuine thoughts on here, it's rare to have a good and human conversation these days! I see your channel is focused on the same topic - that's great, I hope you are having fun in what you do! What's the biggest lesson your learned from your type lifestyle?
Absolutely agree, I followed your story when I had only been thinking about starting my journey, and now I've been traveling for 3 years already. These three years were one of the best decision of my life and I would totally recommend to anyone doing this for at least a year. But eventually I also came up to conclusion that I want to settle down a little, and I'm currently live in Georgia and planning to move to Canada. But I would never change anything what happened!
I am surprised you guys stayed in an AirBnB. There are definitely furnished rentals that would have been cheaper. Being a digital nomad is much easier in Europe because the services are not limited by borders. So for those that are thinking about doing this definitely consider the region first.
We've been on the road for almost 2 years now. We try never to use airbnb. Not saying we haven't, but it's an absolute last resort. We love our DN life. Wishing the best to anyone seeking to do it, youll never know until you try!!
@@NARKOZ2008 we search Facebook marketplace and other social media groups for local landlords who have places that meet our needs. We have and do use air bnb, but prefer not to. When we do, we still try to find out if they are local. Our hopes are that the money we pay stays within the community where we are living.
A huge shout out for Matt’s Master RUclips course. I took it earlier this year and can honestly say it’s awesome. Matt is the man we can all learn something from, plus his humble, self effacing humour is a gold. If you’re on the fence, just go for it. You’ll love every moment!
@@vivoosan I'm guessing you've never bought a house? To buy your first home in the United States it requires zero money down. You just have to have decent income. Bought mine 7 years ago only making $17 an hour. I do realize that houses are more expensive now, but the interest rates are also much lower
It'd be expensive initially, but if you ultimately buy an apartment in each city, then airbnb it out when you're not there, it'd give you a fixed address in each city and remove a lot of the complications you had.
I like this lifestyle. Being a digital nomad but not always on the go-go-go mindset. Staying somewhere for 6 months to 1 year at least. Then to a different place
I told my daughters many times that all choices have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. You simply choose what works best for you at that time. Be flexible and try new things. If it works, great. If not, you can always adjust.
u and nat fr have the best chemistry haha! thanks for being so open about the mistakes and struggles y'all had along your journey. def appreciate that when social media is often just a highlight reel.
I really feel this.. ive been a “bougie nomad” for almost a year now. Switching houses every two weeks is def not that romantic like ppl think I would like to say thank you, i am grateful for what is happening but it is still hard and most of the ppl around are looking at me being the crazy one
I'm making a similar leap, selling everything and moving to Berlin, Germany. Someone I've told put it well, they respect that my fiance and I are taking control of our lives, not staying complacent. Cheers to you both for making the leap!
So fun to see the basics haven't changed! I have sold off most everything twice to do extended adventure travel in the US, and had much the same experience. It is 14 years past my last 'sell-off,' and I still keep my life simple. These days I have my condo setup with the idea I would just rent it fully furnished for 3+ months while I am traveling. (HOA required 3 month minimum lease.)
I came here to learn how to invest after listening to a guy on radio talk about the importance of investing and how he made $460,000 in 4 months from $160k, somehow this video has helped shed light on some things, but I'm still confused, I'm a newbie and I'm open to ideas.
Having monitored my portfolio performance which has made a jaw dropping $370k from just the past two quarters alone, I have learned why experienced traders make enormous returns from the seemingly unknown market.
Interesting. I have a lump sum doing absolutely nothing at all in my bank account, I wanna get something started with it. You seem to be doing excellent for yourself, how do you achieve this?
This is exactly what I wanted to see! This is definitely something I am going to try, but I want to do it internationally! Thanks for the inspiration as always Matt!
I’ve loved the journey yall and glad there’s other folks on the planet like me. Hope our paths cross soon. Being nomadic is such a freeing journey. And the unknown when you are traveling can be exciting.
If you want to live the nomad life you have to get rid of everything... Yes, everything! I did it for two years in Spain. I just had the clothes that I wore and a spare set in my pack. Toiletries and some basic long-life food (for emergencies, when I had no money or couldn't source any affordable cooked food.) Finally a tent and a roll mat. That was it. I stayed in hostels and with friends where I could and the rest of the time I slept in forests, fields and beaches. I even slept on a park bench at one point when I accidentally left my tent at a hostel. I showered at swimming pools and kept on foot when I wasn't sleeping. It was a great life, hard but great. True freedom.
No you don't. And that's coming from an immigrant and a nomad. Don't go around telling people how many possesions they should have and how frugal they should live - that's plain bad.
@@chibiquatre You are not a nomad, just a middle-class idiot with a laptop and way too much time on your hands. You will soon own nothing and you will be much happier.
I really like your approach to everything: slow and steady. This video is an inspiration to what I'd like to do (not for the same reasons, though) as a future digital nomad. Settle down a few months in one place, immerse myself in the culture, come back to Canada, then rince and repeat as I see fit. Cheers!
Matt, Natalie. Oh my god, where to start? My husband and I have been living very similarly for the past few years. It's HARD. Really hard. We have lived in vacation rentals, furnished long term hotels and hotels with kitchenettes off and on for several years now, interspersed with a year here or two years there leasing houses and moving our stuff in. We are exhausted by it, and the longer we live this way, the harder it is. I have some acquaintances that split their time between Canada and Mexico and have been doing it for years now and they have some hacks to doing it that they just won't talk about (like how they make money etc) but what I do know is that they have a "permanent" place in Canada that they live in the summer and lock up and head south in the winter and they have a "permanent" place in Mexico where they winter and lock up and leave to return to Canada in the spring. He could spend his whole life in Mexico and she could spend her whole time in Canada, so this is their compromise. I also know that they don't own the places they live in, they have some weird arrangement because they don't sublet to others as far as I know when they leave and they leave their stuff there and just travel with their three pets(!!!!) and clothes. They make it look pretty seamless, but again, there's some financial details missing from this that make the whole thing possible for them in a way that most people don't have. But there's so much you said that I can agree with. These experiments are incredibly expensive. They are uncomfortable. They are a massive time suck of energy and money and everything. Our current lease ends this spring and we can't wait to get out of here, but we are unsure of where we are going next and I'm sick of dragging our crap around the country and just want to toss a match on the pile of it and walk away, but that's hard too. I don't want to sign another lease when we leave here. But I also don't want to live in another vacation rental. We have spoken over the years of getting an RV, and there's a lot that makes sense about that, but also many difficulties that keep us feeling it's not quite the right move either. I'm curious, are you part of any online communities where people are living like this and talking about it? I would love to connect to other people that are trying to make things work, too.
I like how you prioritize your values...and your family....and thinking of it as an investment...not a cost. Can't put a price tag on time with family. ❤
Yeh I remember moving to the UK and the whole documentation process is totally a pain between countries. And the UK from Australia is such a common path but it's like a surprise for both governments to handle these type of things. Can totally relate to the idea that nomadic lifestyles are actually supportable. The truth is you never set out to make a bad decision. You always make the best decision you can at the time with the information you have. And all you can do is learn and improve.
Best RUclips channel out there, right? I love the spontanaity of this. You guys are so natural and authentic and I really enjoy that! Keep the good stuff coming!
Totally relate to what you both said about living like a digital nomad - I spent my final year of college in Korea hopping from Airbnbs to being with relatives during the pandemic. Found out I want to live a life where I can go back and forth between the US and Korea, but figuring out the dual citizen thing (and everything that came with living in a “digital democracy” of sorts) was super challenging - will have to unpack that in my own video LOL. Loved this video & keep us updated!!
I think the thing I've learned the most from your videos is:don't be afraid to try new things, and if things don't go perfectly, it's not a fail, it's a learning experience. I really appreciate that, and it's changed the way I do things a lot
I'd love to know more about why you've chosen to live this nomad life. Why nomad it when it's not completely comfortable for you both? I'm genuinely curious! Because there are people who van life it - they just live in a van and wash outside or live in hostels etc (which I could NEVER do). But you guys seem to be trying to do a middle-ground - where you get rid of your stuff, but then want a steady place for a long period of time despite not wanting it to be a REALLY long period of time. Do you want to travel the world? I'd love to know more! Do you genuinely want to be nomads or are you both grappling with the idea that you don't feel at home where you are and you're still searching for that place? Seriously, I think we'd all love a series all about this!
@@average_coverage You don't have to be a nomad to be close to family though? Like why not rent one place and visit family twice a year or four times a year? It doesn't make sense now to have a home-stead for just that reason alone
Hey YOU, incredible person reading this...The truth is you are confident and good enough already with who you are, where you are at and what you have right now to have the success you want in life. Don't let others define what “success” is for you. Get up, learn that skill and go after it! I believe in you so much! Have an awesome day! - Love, Nat ❤️
Thanks for making this video, Matt! I’m at a cross roads with living in LA for 7 years now (originally from NJ) and have been thinking about making the move home to be closer to family for awhile now. The idea of parting ways with my friends and lifestyle here is really hard but family is family. I appreciate both of your insights so much.
It's all very tricky, when you shack up with someone from another country. We started off with wonderful plans about 6 months here, six months there. For me, anyhow, I've had to choose. It's really hard to try to put down roots in two places. I still have two 'homes' but, essentially, you can only live in one place. Good luck, guys!
Natalie needs to star in the videos, her funny personality & charismatic screen presence is off the charts! Pls never do another video without her in it!!
Nice video Matt! We've been digital nomading for the last 3 years with my wife, visited tons of countries and destination, and honestly we came up to the same conclusions. Especially about an uncomfortable part of that journey. We recently shared the tips for digital nomads in a video, and many of them are very similar to yours. It's lots of fun, but this lifestyles' comes with many trade-offs.
You're in Philly now? So that clone of you I saw in town might have actually been you? Welcome or welcome back, and I expect to see lots of Philly locations in your upcoming videos! Related to the part about how the world isn't set up for nomads, you got the double-whammy of also being self-employed. You can generally compensate for one with the other, but if you're moving and you're self-employed, then nobody wants to do business with you. The first time I bought a place was more about having equity to compensate for lenders being standoffish whenever I said I wasn't a wage slave.
I tried the whole nomadic lifestyle through aribnb the past year as well. I hated it. There is way too much thinking that goes into it, you're forced to move around due to visa stuff which means the bonds you create with people is bound to be superficial and as you said; it's super expensive living situations + the home you live in is not curated to you and ultimately doesn't fit your needs.
Some countries are now offering a nomad/remote work visa. I think the visas are about 3 months to 1 year and in some countries it allows you to open a bank account in their country.
Guys this video made me feel so validated in so many experiences moving from place to place the past few years that I've never really seen recognized anywhere else. Thank you!
I enrolled in Matt's Master RUclips course a few days ago and, I have to say, it's brilliant. If you're on the fence then I suggest just going for it. It's worth every penny.
We found ourselves nodding along to this video so much! We've been living the nomad lifestyle for the last 2 years while we wait to be let back in to Sydney and there are certainly some frustrations with living this lifestyle. We signed up for a grocery loyalty program the other day and had no address to give them. Online shopping when you love around frequently is almost impossible as well. There are lots of positives as well, but this way of living definitely isn't for everyone.
TOTALLY agree! The nomad life is fun & airbnb'ing is too, but after a while you need a place to call home. That's just yours. It's like babysitting is cool, but sometimes you wanna raise the kid your way? Idk that was weird.
I like all of your videos, but I really loved this one, not only by the topic of it, which was very interesting, but the conection between the both of you. This is Kevin from the wonderfull and contradictory land of Venezuela.
Great talk about this! Totally on point. Living a Nomad Life is surely challenging but when you get the hinge of it and if it’s really for you, it’s a total game changer!
I enrolled in your course Matt! As a filmmaker, I know the equipment and production stuff, but I struggle with all the other stuff including coming up with ideas. My ultimate goal is to leave the 9-5 in five years so I can really build up content creation and make the transition with little struggle.
Matt you and nattalie are just awesome , u guys brought a smile on my face .. wish u good luck , love from India .. wish too meet u once , as you such an inspiration for me in so many ways .. GOD bless u both
I loved Natalie's sign off 🤣 Life is expensive regardless of how you do it, time with loved ones is never wasted. COVID has taught us all not to take anything for granted.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I have a slightly different question for you, Matt: How did you transport all your camera equipment on the plane when you flew around the world? I mean, I always worry about having my main camera in my carry-on pack, but how do you do that with so much gear? Thanks for sharing
Hey Matt , I really enjoyed watching this one! Its been refreshing to have a peek into the life of a digital nomad and the struggle of many who work 40 hours a week. These topics were certainly some fresh new additions to the themes and narrative you usually explore in your videos. I would love to have more videos of you and Natalie conversing about your experiences, and dissecting topics and perspectives that you both find interesting. Looking forward to more niche content from you and waiting to see what you show us! Love from India PS: Congrats on your master youtube course!
Loved this video haha. The vibe, you two are gems (great info/insights as well but that is per usual) ending 11/10. Wish you guys the best for what's to come 😊
I love these videos about the splitting time! Most people who publish content like this, have the ability to buy citizenship by investment and therefore they don’t have worries about making it work… hearing a real couple navigate a very doable, but complex thing is awesome! I’m someone who tries to split time between Baltimore, MD which is on the east coast USA and London in the UK.
I am 12 and am being homeschooled this year and we have been staying in air bnbs and our cabin, and yes air bnbs are quite expensive especially for 4 people. Also the zip code and address thing is so fucking annoying.
Let’s be real, the actual leap was Matt wearing BEIGE instead of grey all of a sudden.
I'm still not used to that.
LMAO😂
Lol IKR!!!!!
😂😂😂
:)
Reasons I hit the like button:
1) Great content
2) Natalie's aggressive yet effective outro
Same
Same haha
YES HAHAH
I’ve been living as a digital nomad for 7 years now. Living in Airbnbs around the world with my partner. And I LOVE it. I don’t want to settle down, this lifestyle is great for me. I can see how it would be hard for other people though.
I am considering this path as well, I am curious what do you guys do career wise?
I love this! I'm obviously watching this video for a reason :)
I’m curious how do you do it do you get questioned when crossing borders?
For me, the only way to live like this between two countries is to have permanent bases in both.
With us a house in the UK and an apartment in NZ. Each was owned by the partner who had residency in that country. We would then spend our time between them in 6 month increments. Whilst we were in one country the place in the other country would be rented out via full service management companies. We were lucky as our jobs were not location dependent and we worked for ourselves. Did this for years before we ultimately went our separate ways (although we’re still great friends) and both settled down back in our country of birth.
That's what I thought. Financially makes the most sense. If kids enter the picture eventually, wouldn't that force a choice to pick primary home ?
We found having a base much easier too. Second home changed over the years but base was the same.
What a sad story lol
I found this so interesting because whereas millions of people went nomadic or remote during the pandemic, I went the opposite way, planting roots for the first time in my adult life (in Miami for 20 months now).
The moral of the story here from my perspective as an old-school nomad is that all decisions have trade-offs. There is no such thing as a “perfect” lifestyle, but I wish everyone had the chance to live nomadically for a while. It’s a life-changing experience, and as Matt and Nat said, they don’t regret it.
The value of having that extra time with your family and experiencing the world from an unconventional perspective is intangible. There are surely lessons and insights that will unfold from this experience for years to come.
Life can start to feel monotonous and stressful regardless of where you are in the world, but we are all so lucky to live in a time in history where the concept of lifestyle design is possible. ✨🌏💓
I like to think of a nomadic lifestyle in phases or seasons rather than a permanent status. Maybe the key to long-term happiness is change!
I have also lived off a bag for 2 and a half years and what an overall great experience but at some point you feel the need to stop and properly get back to yourself and who you truly are and look backwards on the path you took and the lessons you learned!
@@leodesmedt totally. I have oscillated between being fully- and semi-nomadic or just a long-term expat for 20 years. I've also had some home bases in the US intermittently throughout that time but this is the first time I've stayed stateside for more than a month or so at a time. I'm about ready to travel again, though. Where are you living now, Leo?
@@TravelingwithKristin Wow that's impressive!
I think for most people this way of living seems insane but the reality is very different: you can easily build communities and new (real) friends all around the planet. There are challenges of course, but it's all worth it from what I've experienced!
I am originally from France and stayed in LATAM for some time then in SF, CA for just a small period too and since July I live and work full time in Amsterdam, the Netherlands - it was an easy choice as I lived here some years ago and made lots of contacts
Nevertheless to feeling of never settling is exciting and already see myself going somewhere else, somewhere new or would love to get back to the US or Canada someday in the future! Thanks for sharing your genuine thoughts on here, it's rare to have a good and human conversation these days!
I see your channel is focused on the same topic - that's great, I hope you are having fun in what you do! What's the biggest lesson your learned from your type lifestyle?
I love your post ❤️
Absolutely agree, I followed your story when I had only been thinking about starting my journey, and now I've been traveling for 3 years already.
These three years were one of the best decision of my life and I would totally recommend to anyone doing this for at least a year. But eventually I also came up to conclusion that I want to settle down a little, and I'm currently live in Georgia and planning to move to Canada.
But I would never change anything what happened!
I see a lot of this nomad lifestyle be romanticized but rarely see it shown for what it is. I appreciate you guys coming on here and being so real.
The worst version(and majority) is people living in poor countries - paying no tax in any - using the infrastructure. complete t**
That was probably the best squarespace ad I have ever seen.
This needs more likes.
I was searching for a comment about that hahhaha best part
The insane amount of self growth you get by being a nomad is just incredible!
Yep 15 years in 🤡
@@DigitalNomadOnFIRE great work!
Thumbnails like this one is usually followed by the title "WE BROKE UP" thank god that's not the case here lol
Bro I feel you on that thought the same thing!
I know right 😁😂 I’m glad it’s not that type of video
Same 🙈
Haha. I felt that when I saw this photo on Instagram
@WivoRN ooh ur here
I am surprised you guys stayed in an AirBnB. There are definitely furnished rentals that would have been cheaper. Being a digital nomad is much easier in Europe because the services are not limited by borders. So for those that are thinking about doing this definitely consider the region first.
Exactly
How does one find those then?
We've been on the road for almost 2 years now. We try never to use airbnb. Not saying we haven't, but it's an absolute last resort. We love our DN life. Wishing the best to anyone seeking to do it, youll never know until you try!!
@@NARKOZ2008 we search Facebook marketplace and other social media groups for local landlords who have places that meet our needs. We have and do use air bnb, but prefer not to. When we do, we still try to find out if they are local. Our hopes are that the money we pay stays within the community where we are living.
It’s been a YEAR already? Damn time has been flying.
A huge shout out for Matt’s Master RUclips course. I took it earlier this year and can honestly say it’s awesome. Matt is the man we can all learn something from, plus his humble, self effacing humour is a gold. If you’re on the fence, just go for it. You’ll love every moment!
Their chemistry has different level.
It's entertaining as always when they're together in front of camera.
Great video :) loved the RUclips plug too 😂
Best way to do it financially? Buy a property in both locations, use Airbnb to rent it out whenever you're in the opposite location. Seriously
Lol, you literally have to be rich in the first place
@@vivoosan you most definitely do not need to be rich to buy a house
@@MorganWalser how so?
@@vivoosan I'm guessing you've never bought a house? To buy your first home in the United States it requires zero money down. You just have to have decent income. Bought mine 7 years ago only making $17 an hour. I do realize that houses are more expensive now, but the interest rates are also much lower
@@MorganWalser I see! No I haven't but thanks for your answer, I was a little bit hopeless on that, hope I can buy someday
It'd be expensive initially, but if you ultimately buy an apartment in each city, then airbnb it out when you're not there, it'd give you a fixed address in each city and remove a lot of the complications you had.
That would require you to have capital to buy properties which a lot of young people doing this dont have
Its more realistic to rent in custom contracts.. 1 year Max. Airbnb was a stretch. Expensive minimalism is not minimalism
I like this lifestyle. Being a digital nomad but not always on the go-go-go mindset. Staying somewhere for 6 months to 1 year at least. Then to a different place
I told my daughters many times that all choices have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. You simply choose what works best for you at that time. Be flexible and try new things. If it works, great. If not, you can always adjust.
This is something I think about a lot, everything has pros and cons. People seem to see a lot of one or the other until they're actually in it.
u and nat fr have the best chemistry haha! thanks for being so open about the mistakes and struggles y'all had along your journey. def appreciate that when social media is often just a highlight reel.
I really feel this.. ive been a “bougie nomad” for almost a year now. Switching houses every two weeks is def not that romantic like ppl think
I would like to say thank you, i am grateful for what is happening but it is still hard and most of the ppl around are looking at me being the crazy one
I'm making a similar leap, selling everything and moving to Berlin, Germany. Someone I've told put it well, they respect that my fiance and I are taking control of our lives, not staying complacent. Cheers to you both for making the leap!
Can we get more of Natalie's outros moving forward ❤
So fun to see the basics haven't changed! I have sold off most everything twice to do extended adventure travel in the US, and had much the same experience. It is 14 years past my last 'sell-off,' and I still keep my life simple. These days I have my condo setup with the idea I would just rent it fully furnished for 3+ months while I am traveling. (HOA required 3 month minimum lease.)
The Rock picture is still the best thing you've ever owned
Dawg, y'all are meant to be together, every time you danced on the next point I laughed lol.
I came here to learn how to invest after listening to a guy on radio talk about the importance of investing and how he made $460,000 in 4 months from $160k, somehow this video has helped shed light on some things, but I'm still confused, I'm a newbie and I'm open to ideas.
Investing in stocks is a good idea, a good trading system would put you through many days of success.
Having monitored my portfolio performance which has made a jaw dropping $370k from just the past two quarters alone, I have learned why experienced traders make enormous returns from the seemingly unknown market.
Interesting. I have a lump sum doing absolutely nothing at all in my bank account, I wanna get something started with it. You seem to be doing excellent for yourself, how do you achieve this?
@Jennifer Nancy Exactly, the trick is to diversify your investment, don't panic when everyone else is and invest consistently.
@@Jody8337 Do you trade on your own?
This is exactly what I wanted to see! This is definitely something I am going to try, but I want to do it internationally! Thanks for the inspiration as always Matt!
I’ve loved the journey yall and glad there’s other folks on the planet like me. Hope our paths cross soon. Being nomadic is such a freeing journey. And the unknown when you are traveling can be exciting.
If you want to live the nomad life you have to get rid of everything... Yes, everything! I did it for two years in Spain. I just had the clothes that I wore and a spare set in my pack. Toiletries and some basic long-life food (for emergencies, when I had no money or couldn't source any affordable cooked food.) Finally a tent and a roll mat. That was it. I stayed in hostels and with friends where I could and the rest of the time I slept in forests, fields and beaches. I even slept on a park bench at one point when I accidentally left my tent at a hostel. I showered at swimming pools and kept on foot when I wasn't sleeping. It was a great life, hard but great. True freedom.
At last! We've found Ted Mosby's successor, the true *El ganso con la riñonera* !!
No you don't. And that's coming from an immigrant and a nomad. Don't go around telling people how many possesions they should have and how frugal they should live - that's plain bad.
@@chibiquatre You are not a nomad, just a middle-class idiot with a laptop and way too much time on your hands. You will soon own nothing and you will be much happier.
This makes me feel more single than I already am.
I cannot stop laughing watching Natalie at the end. 😂 Great advice because a lot of people don't talk about the drawbacks of the nomad life.
I come here to find 3 views and yet 8 likes. This is the unconditional support you have, Matt.
I really like your approach to everything: slow and steady. This video is an inspiration to what I'd like to do (not for the same reasons, though) as a future digital nomad. Settle down a few months in one place, immerse myself in the culture, come back to Canada, then rince and repeat as I see fit. Cheers!
Matts laugh from the heart is so great & cute! I need to hear this more often :D
*“It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.” - Bertrand Russell*
MOOORE EPISODES WITH NAT PLEASE....!!! I soo enjoyed watching the two of you.
Matt, Natalie. Oh my god, where to start? My husband and I have been living very similarly for the past few years. It's HARD. Really hard. We have lived in vacation rentals, furnished long term hotels and hotels with kitchenettes off and on for several years now, interspersed with a year here or two years there leasing houses and moving our stuff in. We are exhausted by it, and the longer we live this way, the harder it is. I have some acquaintances that split their time between Canada and Mexico and have been doing it for years now and they have some hacks to doing it that they just won't talk about (like how they make money etc) but what I do know is that they have a "permanent" place in Canada that they live in the summer and lock up and head south in the winter and they have a "permanent" place in Mexico where they winter and lock up and leave to return to Canada in the spring. He could spend his whole life in Mexico and she could spend her whole time in Canada, so this is their compromise. I also know that they don't own the places they live in, they have some weird arrangement because they don't sublet to others as far as I know when they leave and they leave their stuff there and just travel with their three pets(!!!!) and clothes. They make it look pretty seamless, but again, there's some financial details missing from this that make the whole thing possible for them in a way that most people don't have. But there's so much you said that I can agree with. These experiments are incredibly expensive. They are uncomfortable. They are a massive time suck of energy and money and everything. Our current lease ends this spring and we can't wait to get out of here, but we are unsure of where we are going next and I'm sick of dragging our crap around the country and just want to toss a match on the pile of it and walk away, but that's hard too. I don't want to sign another lease when we leave here. But I also don't want to live in another vacation rental. We have spoken over the years of getting an RV, and there's a lot that makes sense about that, but also many difficulties that keep us feeling it's not quite the right move either. I'm curious, are you part of any online communities where people are living like this and talking about it? I would love to connect to other people that are trying to make things work, too.
I like how you prioritize your values...and your family....and thinking of it as an investment...not a cost. Can't put a price tag on time with family. ❤
Being a digital nomad can be both exciting and challenging! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Yeh I remember moving to the UK and the whole documentation process is totally a pain between countries. And the UK from Australia is such a common path but it's like a surprise for both governments to handle these type of things.
Can totally relate to the idea that nomadic lifestyles are actually supportable.
The truth is you never set out to make a bad decision. You always make the best decision you can at the time with the information you have. And all you can do is learn and improve.
Best RUclips channel out there, right? I love the spontanaity of this. You guys are so natural and authentic and I really enjoy that! Keep the good stuff coming!
"Oh, no, f**k me it's not like we were having a conversation"
"Great!"
XD
Where's the puppy Matt? WHERE'S THE PUPPY?
edit: also we stan the return of the biceps! ❤️
And the baby’s lol
Matt is not any unhappy person and I don’t think I’ve seen him smile and laugh this much in a video
I love it ☺️☺️☺️
MY FAV COUPLE ON THE INTERNET! legitimately.
Totally relate to what you both said about living like a digital nomad - I spent my final year of college in Korea hopping from Airbnbs to being with relatives during the pandemic. Found out I want to live a life where I can go back and forth between the US and Korea, but figuring out the dual citizen thing (and everything that came with living in a “digital democracy” of sorts) was super challenging - will have to unpack that in my own video LOL. Loved this video & keep us updated!!
I just love seeing you and Natalie happy. It makes me happy
Natalie is like ice cream on pie in these videos.
Pie is great on its own, but adding ice cream on top makes it so much better.
Nailed it
I can’t stop singing “experiments are expensive” in a robot voice 🤖 😂
Love the confidence and energy of Nat!
Ooooh love to see this title 😀 Can’t believe it’s been a year already!
I think the thing I've learned the most from your videos is:don't be afraid to try new things, and if things don't go perfectly, it's not a fail, it's a learning experience. I really appreciate that, and it's changed the way I do things a lot
I'd love to know more about why you've chosen to live this nomad life. Why nomad it when it's not completely comfortable for you both? I'm genuinely curious! Because there are people who van life it - they just live in a van and wash outside or live in hostels etc (which I could NEVER do). But you guys seem to be trying to do a middle-ground - where you get rid of your stuff, but then want a steady place for a long period of time despite not wanting it to be a REALLY long period of time. Do you want to travel the world? I'd love to know more! Do you genuinely want to be nomads or are you both grappling with the idea that you don't feel at home where you are and you're still searching for that place? Seriously, I think we'd all love a series all about this!
They literally say the entire reason they did this was to be closer to family.
@@average_coverage You don't have to be a nomad to be close to family though? Like why not rent one place and visit family twice a year or four times a year? It doesn't make sense now to have a home-stead for just that reason alone
Hey YOU, incredible person reading this...The truth is you are confident and good enough already with who you are, where you are at and what you have right now to have the success you want in life. Don't let others define what “success” is for you. Get up, learn that skill and go after it! I believe in you so much! Have an awesome day! - Love, Nat ❤️
Thanks for making this video, Matt! I’m at a cross roads with living in LA for 7 years now (originally from NJ) and have been thinking about making the move home to be closer to family for awhile now. The idea of parting ways with my friends and lifestyle here is really hard but family is family.
I appreciate both of your insights so much.
That extro though!! We need more videos like this and Natalie has to do extrooo pleasee!!
It's all very tricky, when you shack up with someone from another country. We started off with wonderful plans about 6 months here, six months there. For me, anyhow, I've had to choose. It's really hard to try to put down roots in two places. I still have two 'homes' but, essentially, you can only live in one place. Good luck, guys!
Natalie needs to star in the videos, her funny personality & charismatic screen presence is off the charts! Pls never do another video without her in it!!
This was so interesting to watch! Leah and I have been contemplating a more mobile lifestyle for a while and this uhhh... didn't make it easier? lol
Maybe rent the camper van once again? Been long since that video. :))
I feel like I JUST watched your video about you guys selling all your things! WoW!
Nice video Matt!
We've been digital nomading for the last 3 years with my wife, visited tons of countries and destination, and honestly we came up to the same conclusions. Especially about an uncomfortable part of that journey.
We recently shared the tips for digital nomads in a video, and many of them are very similar to yours.
It's lots of fun, but this lifestyles' comes with many trade-offs.
Matt stoping trying to be something and just be yourself, good luck!
You're in Philly now? So that clone of you I saw in town might have actually been you? Welcome or welcome back, and I expect to see lots of Philly locations in your upcoming videos!
Related to the part about how the world isn't set up for nomads, you got the double-whammy of also being self-employed. You can generally compensate for one with the other, but if you're moving and you're self-employed, then nobody wants to do business with you. The first time I bought a place was more about having equity to compensate for lenders being standoffish whenever I said I wasn't a wage slave.
I tried the whole nomadic lifestyle through aribnb the past year as well. I hated it. There is way too much thinking that goes into it, you're forced to move around due to visa stuff which means the bonds you create with people is bound to be superficial and as you said; it's super expensive living situations + the home you live in is not curated to you and ultimately doesn't fit your needs.
Some countries are now offering a nomad/remote work visa. I think the visas are about 3 months to 1 year and in some countries it allows you to open a bank account in their country.
Absolutely love what you guys shared. Thanks for the insight.
I love the emptiness so much...as the house was empty, it gives the impression that I can breathe better...in fact, it's really cool, you two!
Guys this video made me feel so validated in so many experiences moving from place to place the past few years that I've never really seen recognized anywhere else. Thank you!
I'm not quite a nomad (yet?) but as someone who relocated to 2 different countries in 3 years, I can relate to much of the stuff.
"You will own nothing and be happy."
Krause Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum
Except for the rich. They will own everything and will be happy.
@@liraop exactly
I enrolled in Matt's Master RUclips course a few days ago and, I have to say, it's brilliant. If you're on the fence then I suggest just going for it. It's worth every penny.
OMG. I love when Nat makes her appearance on the Channel!! She's hilarious!!!😊
We found ourselves nodding along to this video so much! We've been living the nomad lifestyle for the last 2 years while we wait to be let back in to Sydney and there are certainly some frustrations with living this lifestyle. We signed up for a grocery loyalty program the other day and had no address to give them. Online shopping when you love around frequently is almost impossible as well. There are lots of positives as well, but this way of living definitely isn't for everyone.
TOTALLY agree!
The nomad life is fun & airbnb'ing is too, but after a while you need a place to call home. That's just yours.
It's like babysitting is cool, but sometimes you wanna raise the kid your way? Idk that was weird.
I like all of your videos, but I really loved this one, not only by the topic of it, which was very interesting, but the conection between the both of you.
This is Kevin from the wonderfull and contradictory land of Venezuela.
Thanks for being open about your challenges!
Great talk about this! Totally on point. Living a Nomad Life is surely challenging but when you get the hinge of it and if it’s really for you, it’s a total game changer!
I enrolled in your course Matt! As a filmmaker, I know the equipment and production stuff, but I struggle with all the other stuff including coming up with ideas. My ultimate goal is to leave the 9-5 in five years so I can really build up content creation and make the transition with little struggle.
Matt you and nattalie are just awesome , u guys brought a smile on my face .. wish u good luck , love from India .. wish too meet u once , as you such an inspiration for me in so many ways .. GOD bless u both
I loved Natalie's sign off 🤣
Life is expensive regardless of how you do it, time with loved ones is never wasted. COVID has taught us all not to take anything for granted.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
I have a slightly different question for you, Matt: How did you transport all your camera equipment on the plane when you flew around the world? I mean, I always worry about having my main camera in my carry-on pack, but how do you do that with so much gear?
Thanks for sharing
This is so refreshingly down to earth. It's nice to see people normalise stability and know that the nomad life isn't for everyone
I love videos w Natalie !!!
Hey Matt ,
I really enjoyed watching this one! Its been refreshing to have a peek into the life of a digital nomad and the struggle of many who work 40 hours a week. These topics were certainly some fresh new additions to the themes and narrative you usually explore in your videos.
I would love to have more videos of you and Natalie conversing about your experiences, and dissecting topics and perspectives that you both find interesting.
Looking forward to more niche content from you and waiting to see what you show us!
Love from India
PS: Congrats on your master youtube course!
Brilliant video, loved the content and you and Natalie have amazing chemistry, having both of you in this video worked really well.
These 15 min just made my day. 😄 I love whenever you bring Natalie in the videos.
A Natalie RUclips channel! I’m here for it! 😍👍🙌🙌
They look adorably wise together
love what you guys are doing - so cool!! life is short - do your own thing!!
Natalie sign off was priceless holy sh*t
Loved this video haha. The vibe, you two are gems (great info/insights as well but that is per usual) ending 11/10. Wish you guys the best for what's to come 😊
I love this! Because it’s an honest view of being a digital nomad! Everyone right now is selling it as the only way you should be living. Ty!
Thank you guys, it is so insightful and useful! 🙏🙏🙏
I love these videos about the splitting time! Most people who publish content like this, have the ability to buy citizenship by investment and therefore they don’t have worries about making it work… hearing a real couple navigate a very doable, but complex thing is awesome! I’m someone who tries to split time between Baltimore, MD which is on the east coast USA and London in the UK.
The point about this experiment bringing you closer to family is powerful.
Natalie is so funny. I like her personality.
We need more videos with Nat, she is such a gem
I am 12 and am being homeschooled this year and we have been staying in air bnbs and our cabin, and yes air bnbs are quite expensive especially for 4 people. Also the zip code and address thing is so fucking annoying.
*One day I’ll be able to do that too* 🙏❤️
( _in the meantime I’ll just enjoy the process_ 😊)
thank you for sharing your experience ! you r awesome guys !
They are super cute! And Nat should have her own show :D