A 33-year-old mother relocated her family from Texas to Greece and is now thriving: "Our life is so much more fulfilling here."

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In 2022, after the birth of their daughter, Cara West and her husband Harley made the decision to sell all their possessions and attempt a life abroad.

Their decision was influenced by several factors. Firstly, they received a $10,000 hospital bill following the birth of their daughter. Additionally, as a contractor for a German company, West was not eligible for the same year-long paid maternity leave that her full-time colleagues received.

After becoming a mother in the U.S., she realized that the country does not truly support families and mothers and children, as many things came to light.

West contemplated exploring how other countries assisted parents and considered relocating her family abroad.

In May 2022, when the deadly mass shooting happened at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, West decided it was time to make a change. She and her family resided in Austin, which is approximately three hours away.

Unfortunately, it wasn't surprising to me to hear the news of the school shooting," West says. "In that moment, I knew I needed to get my daughter out of the U.S. for her safety.

Two years and 14 countries later, the family has decided to settle in Syros, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, as digital nomads.

West, 33, is a luxury travel concierge and travel content creator who works remotely from Greece and is on track to earn over $136,000 in 2024. Her husband, 33, left his job as a restaurant manager in Texas to be a stay-at-home dad.

She says that it's a dream lifestyle which she never thought would be possible and she wouldn't trade it for anything.

First stop: Portugal

West and her husband opted to experience life abroad for three months through Boundless Life before fully committing to an expat lifestyle.

West chose Portugal as the location for the organization's fully furnished private apartments, co-working spaces, and educational centers.

"West stated, "This was the ideal solution for our needs. We could try it out to determine if it's something we could see ourselves doing.""

West, who worked as a food blogger in addition to her full-time job, saved around $10,000 of her earnings from that venture.

West landed her current role as a luxury travel concierge right before they left for Portugal, so she left her previous job and her husband decided to take unpaid time off from his job for the duration of their stay.

In January of the previous year, the family arrived in Portugal and immediately observed the slower pace of life, which enabled them to spend more quality time together as a family compared to their life in the U.S.

She says, "I could see the happiness in my husband's eyes, the radiance on his face, the amount of time we were spending together as a couple and as a family."

Harley, West's husband, was initially reluctant to relocate their family outside the U.S. However, after spending three months in Portugal, he fully embraced the idea.

Selling everything to leave the U.S.

West and her husband, after being enamored with their first international living experience, returned home with a resolute determination to relocate outside of the United States.

To travel full time and move abroad, the couple would need money. They had already reduced their living space from a two-bedroom apartment to a one-bedroom unit to save on housing costs. Next, they sold off as many possessions as they could, including furniture and one of their cars, according to West.

"Because we didn't have a home or any assets to sell, we had to think creatively," she explains.

The couple used the money they earned from selling their belongings to help pay off their husband's debt, which enabled him to quit his full-time job and become a stay-at-home dad. Meanwhile, West continued to work remotely and generate income through content creation, she adds.

Eventually, their sacrifices paid off. After their Texas apartment lease ended in July 2023, they packed up for Belize, their next stop as digital nomads. After living nomadically for almost a year, the couple decided to make Syros, Greece their home base in June.

""She wanted to be in a tranquil location by the water, and that's what she found in Syros," she says."

Pros and cons of life abroad

West claims that the slower pace of life and lower cost of living in Greece have greatly impacted her family's lifestyle.

"In the United States, productivity is highly valued and one's worth is tied to it, whereas in Greece, rest is highly valued."

The family loves discovering new places, sampling exotic cuisine, and visiting different countries, such as Albania and Italy.

"Getting around the country is quite simple. You can utilize ferries or flights," West remarks. "Living here in Greece has greatly enriched our lives."

Rewritten sentence: "I'm looking for a place to stay in the city for a few nights."

West, a Black woman, feels more comfortable being herself in Greece where she doesn't have to worry about racial microaggressions like in the U.S.

""I'm just seen as an American here without any concerns about being followed or treated differently due to my skin color," she remarks."

The safety of her family is what contributes to the peace she feels while walking the streets of Greece with her daughter.

Although it's been challenging to miss family gatherings, I would sacrifice anything to maintain this lifestyle.

How they spend their money

Here's how West and her husband spent their money in June 2024.

• The couple's moving expenses totaled $5,880, which covered their first and last months' rent for their apartment in Greece, as well as flight costs, digital nomad visa application fees, and attorney fees.
• Credit card payment: $4,221 toward credit card bills
• Food: $1,952 on dining out and groceries
• Housing and utilities: $1,428 for rent, Wi-Fi and utilities
• Medical: $1,278 for international health insurance, doctor visits and prescriptions
• Discretionary: $446 for clothing and makeup
• Gym memberships, Netflix, HBO Max, and Apple storage subscriptions cost $131 per month.
• Phones: $192 toward phone bill
• Transportation: $78 for a rental car and gas

West states that the family's spending in June, following their official move to Greece, was significantly higher than typical.

They paid an attorney to help them apply for their digital nomad visa, in addition to the cost of their flight to Greece and the first and last months rent for their apartment.

The couple's credit card debt, which exceeded $60,000, felt nearly "impossible" to pay off while they were living in the U.S., she says.

I strive to allocate as much of my extra income as possible towards reducing our credit card debt.

The couple plans to work with a professional and begin saving for retirement after paying off their credit card debt.

"The upcoming year will be a significant transition for us as we gain access to the resources necessary to obtain the assistance we require, including a financial advisor who can guide us in investing our money for optimal growth," she remarks.

Plans for the future

West doesn't plan to permanently move back to the U.S., although she doesn't anticipate her family remaining nomadic indefinitely.

"Living abroad is truly more fulfilling and enriching," she remarks. "Experiencing the world, meeting new people, learning a new language, and immersing oneself in different cultures and traditions is a unique and special experience that we don't often have in the United States."

West is eager to expand her family now that she has established Greece as her permanent residence.

The couple intends to enroll their daughter in school when she is old enough and connect with international educational centers that cater to nomadic families and their children.

"She can have social engagement while still learning through travel, which is a great way for her," she remarks.

West initially felt discouraged from moving abroad due to the lack of families like hers and similar financial backgrounds. However, she aims to motivate others to embrace the opportunity of living abroad and overcome any fears they may have.

"Becoming a digital nomad or an expat living abroad may present challenges, but it is achievable if you remain focused and continue to manifest your goal."

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