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Having the freedom to work from any place in the world, travel to a new and amazing destination, and not be confined in an office environment sounds like a great idea that seems too good to be true. You can make this dream come true. More and more people are choosing to work remotely on flexible hours instead of 9 to 5. If you have an employer and a digital nomad job that lets you work remotely, then you are close to being a digital nomad.

When people hear a ‘digital nomad’, they start to picture who has all the time and spends their time basking on the beach and drinking while working on their laptop. This is not the true representation of their lifestyle. Sun, sand, and a laptop is not a practical way to work. There is also poor Wi-Fi at the beach, which is important for remote work.

A more realistic illustration is slightly less scenic locations like hostels/hotels, co-working spaces, cafes, or rented rooms used for working. One thing that has made nomadic life an attractive option is traveling and earning money at the same time. It lets you explore new places, immerse yourself in new cultures during your free time, and meet new people. If you want to do this, you must have a workspace that encourages productive work.

One of the best ways to travel and earn is TEFL or teaching English as a foreign language – we’ve created this piece as a guide to the basics.

What is TEFL?

What work do digital nomads usually do? Graphic design, social media management, translation, web design, and programming are some of the most common sources of income – any type of job that allows you to work freelance falls into the category –is one of those.

It stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and being qualified lets you access many job opportunities around the world. The market for teaching English online is growing fast and it is great for those who are on the move. It is also very flexible when it comes to working hours, but you should always remember about time differences because they can have a big impact on your working hours.

Becoming TEFL qualified

How can you qualify for this?

The first thing you need before teaching English online is to get your TEFL qualification. You need to get a minimum of 120 hours of TEFL training because it makes you eligible for the widest range of job opportunities. There are a lot of courses you can do online that are going to help you a lot. TEFL courses will show the different technologies used for teaching such as live chat, e-mail, and video conferencing. You also get to learn more about promoting your TEFL lessons, recruiting students, and setting up your site.

Budget

One benefit that many digital nomads get is the living costs can be way lower compared to home. You should keep in mind you need money for flights and accommodation. Be careful with your traveling costs because they can add up pretty fast. Keep extra money for additional costs like airport transfer costs. It is important to know when you are going to be paid and how long it takes for the money to get into your account.

Download some budgeting apps that help in planning out finances for the month because paydays are not consistent each month. Mint and YNAB (You Need a Budget) are some apps you should check out because they help in tracking the money you are spending on groceries, bills, shopping, eating out, etc.

Suppose you want to make some extra money with TEFL. In that case, you can source tutoring work and picking-up short-term teaching with language camps, companies, and schools (it is important to know the visa regulations of the country concerning in-country work). With time, you are going to figure out things and it becomes easier to make money when you need it.

Be Savvy with Transfer Fees

There are a lot of different ways of saving money when it comes to transferring and withdrawing your money when you are traveling. TransferWise has become one of the best digital banking services because it offers you a borderless account. This is going to help you a lot because you don’t have to pay outrageous exchange rates and transaction fees. Another option to reduce exchange rate fees is to use pre-paid services like Revolut. They have become a popular option because you can exchange currency at good rates and you can use the cards all over the world. You don’t have to stress yourself too much as you move from country to country.

Prioritizing Internet Access

A reliable internet connection is one of the most important things to consider as you plan your travel. It is hard to work remotely or make money living as a digital nomad when you don’t have a strong internet connection you can always depend on. It would be best if you did as much research as possible on the workspaces where you are based. Some places you can find more information about a workspace are online reviews of hotels, hostels, cafes, etc. You need to have a stable and reliable internet if you want to teach English online.