"Moving abroad is often painted as a romantic leap - a bold woman, a plane ticket, and an "Under the Tuscan Sun"-esque dream. And sure, it can be that. But many not-so-glamorous spreadsheets, late-night money panics, and small acts of courage go into making that dream even remotely possible. I'm a solo female freelancer who recently moved from the United States to Florence, Italy, with my 60-pound dog, Archie, in tow."
"Like many American freelancers abroad, I'm still paid by my clients in US dollars. However, I pay for my rent, utilities, groceries, and dog food in euros. And when the dollar dips and the currency exchange rate isn't in my favor, things can feel expensive, fast. When I went to pay July's rent, the dollar had dropped enough that I owed nearly $300 more than the month before."
"After nearly a year of research, I decided Italy was the most logistically and financially feasible choice for me ... even though I'd never been to the country before. The visa seemed accessible to me, the city was walkable, and Florence had the right mix of history, beauty, and a central location to help me figure out where I might want to land long term."
A solo female freelancer moved from the United States to Florence, Italy, with a 60-pound dog after nearly a year of research. The visa appeared accessible, the city was walkable, and Florence offered the right mix of history, beauty, and central location. Preparations included canceling a US lease, arranging a pet mover, and lining up client work; arrival occurred in mid-June with rent pre-paid. Clients still pay in US dollars while everyday expenses are in euros, creating currency-exchange vulnerability. A July drop in the dollar increased the rent obligation by nearly $300, prompting budget adjustments and financial stress.
Read at Business Insider
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