chasing your dreams. one year travelling and working

Chasing dreams!

Sunday 20 December 2009

Nomadz.nu

Who?Who?


Around the globe

What?


Where?

Cape Town, Thailand, Buenos Aires


The idea


We’re all f* crazy

We’re all f* crazy, racing the rat race, going faster,wanting more.Wake up, work, sleep.On and on...


Trapped on a train

Sometimes its feels like you’re trapped on that ongoing train, without an end.


Sometimes we need to stop

To take distance. See things from a perspective.Have a clear view on things.


To dream...

How we want our life to be. To choose our own track rather that finding ourselves suddenly on a wrong track.


But...

Although we like vacation, we don’t need a full year being ‘off’ our grid.Nor do we feel like giving up what we’ve built.


Luckily.

There is connectivity nowadays. And loads of internet. And skype.And countries full of those.


So we’ll be working


1 year in Belgium

A year in Belgium means: 365 days. 1 city trip. 1 week away. 1 3-week vacation. Many weekends with family+friends. Loads of work.


1 year abroad

A year abroad means: 365 days. 1 city trip. 1 week away. 1 3-week vacation. Many weekends with family+friends. Less work.


equals

More time to be busy with what we like.

Like photography.


equals

More time to be busy with thinking of what we want.


equals

More time...


equals

Money (time is money)


equals

We’ll be rich ( joking :) )


Steps to take


1/Decide

Really: the hardest one.


2/Prepare

Which is a lot of talking and organizing. Start reading. Make lists where and what. Start dreaming...


3/Announce

Tell everybody, long time in advance so they can prepare and anticipate. So you can meet before you go. Family often needs time to adjust to the idea


4/Sell out

Rent out the house (or sell)Sell the car, and get rid of all the overkill you have at home


5/SaveSaveSave

Works well with n°4Make an estimate what 1 year abroad will cost. Tell friends/family that you want cash instead of presents. The money is for just in case


6/Don’t buy

Probably even harder than n°1There is no use in buying anything at all. You only have 2 suitcases to take. So don’t fill them up with nonsense...


7/Decide where to go

Ha! Hard one...There are 197 countries in the world. And they are all as fascinating...We opted for slow travel. It’s cheaper. We choose 3.Check ticket prices. Get to know someone at airstop/connections.


8/Practical stuff

Go to the dentist, to the doctor, get those vaccinations. Talk to the insurance guy. Take care of the passports and visa. Go to the bank and get that mastercard. And cancel the internet, the telephone. Make sure to have time. Cause they’re not fast...


The budget


None

Really...


Ok. Just a tiny bit

We sold everything we didn’t need any more. Like books, old cameras, stuff lying around. We asked for money instead of presents. Which earned us our tickets.(2*3*700 euro)


The house?

The house is rented. With all furniture. Paying the mortgage. Eliminating costs


The car?

The car is sold. In fact anything loosing value at home has been sold.Including old computers, screens, cameras.


It doubles as a saving account

We might need it. But in fact we don’t want to.


The plan


So how do we live?

How will we live when no money?


We’ll work!

Not that hard. Isn’t it?


No waitressing, or field work

The same we’re doing here. (webdesign)For the same clients.Because we can.


Side note: check with your accountant !

It is complicated! Its BelgiumI’ll save you the details...But being independent meanspaying taxes. Social security.Etc. Go and talk to your accountant to check it out.


The tools


Things we have at home

As a webdesigner I need:a decent portable + a bigger screen (which is pretty cheap these days) + pc to check IE6/7/8 + installed software, internet, mobile number to be in touch with my clients, backup disks to ensure all is saved when the harddisk fails on me or the computer gets stolen, a place to set all this stuff up (called office), an account to get paid on, an accountant that takes care of the taxes, insurances, a website to promote myself, networking opportunities to sell my services


Things we need abroad

The same


The setup


Macbook Pro

+ Installed software+ VMware for PC emulation


Wireless internet

via Telenet WorldHotSpots= worldwide wifi access in hotels, starbucks, etc.


Local number

via Nomado.eu= a local Belgian number= VOIP= international calls at low cost= on iPhone + computer (SIPphone)


Backupping

online via BackBlaze + Nomadesk.comoffline via Firewire HD & Superduper


Internetbanking

Any bank will do...Just make sure to have more than one.Have 2 creditcards and check beforehand if they’ll work


PDF Invoicing

So you can mail your clients + accountant instead of snailmail.


International insurance

Also for your material. And if possible pay by Visa Business Silver / Mastercard Gold. They offer theft + loss insurance on stuff bought with the card


Each other :)

Well..


Nice tips

Best way to get networking opportunities abroad.-Contact the embassy-Check Twitter on #cityevents-Talk on Facebook and meet friends of friends...


[email protected]

www.monuments.nuwww.matuvu.nu

www.flickr.com/matuvuwww.linkedin.com/in/matuvu

The nomadz

[email protected]/photos/emoy

www.nomadz.nuon facebook: nomadznuwww.twitter.com/nomadznuwww.www.flickr.com/nomadznu


mailto:[email protected]


http://www.monuments.nu

http://www.monuments.nu

http://www.matuvu.nu


http://www.linkedin.com/in/matuvu












http://www.nomadz.nu

http://www.nomadz.nu

http://www.twitter.com/nomadznu

http://www.twitter.com/nomadznu



Foto’s by IneBehalve die van geld via Flickr

The nomadz


chasing your dreams. one year travelling and working

Travel

money time

long time

week vacation

family friends

city trip

wrong track

thatongoing train

feels likeyoure