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Abstract

ar, a little voice has been whispering in my ear, telling me it might soon be time to go home.And for the most boring of reasons. Financial reasons.I was displeased when I first heard that voice telling me to go back to Australia and sort my money situation out. But I’ve been listening to it lately.Without going into the dreary details of my financial situation, I have expenses in both Spain and Australia. My Spanish salary doesn’t cover that and I’m not putting anything towards my retirement which is looming ever closer.On this platform, I read about retirees struggling financially and it’s scary. People who worked hard all their lives who are one mishap away from homelessness. That could be me.They tell us money isn’t everything. But it kind of is.The biggest protection I can think of from the manure the world could potentially throw at me is financial independence. I’m a long way off from that, but I have a better chance (for a variety of boring reasons) of achieving that in Australia.I hate that money is the reason I’m probably leaving my beloved Barcelona but leaving now means I can come back.So I made a kind of compromise. I’ve given myself a final 18 months here — eking out the joy of every day — and then I’ll move back to Melbourne and j

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ump into mega-saving mode.Deciding whether to go home is a process many expats go through. Even when you love where you live, there are things that draw you back home — homesickness, a relative in need of care, health, visas or, like me, money.I’ve always been impatient. I’ve done things people often wait for retirement to enjoy. Before, I couldn’t wait. I think I can now, though.Even if you do have to go home, whether you want to or not, that doesn’t mean you have to stay home. Use the good reasons you came home to stop yourself from feeling down and get to work on your next plans.When I see the lifestyle my retired, financially independent expats friends in Barcelona enjoy, I know I can wait.What about you? Have you struggled with the question of moving back home even when you love the expat life? Let me know what you did in the comments.If supporting writers is on your agenda, why not become a <a href="https://nicscurry.medium.com/membership">Medium member</a>? I receive a wee commission, and your praises soon I’ll be a-whistlin’. Plus, you can read everything, which surely will make your good heart sing.<figure id="7087"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*L8sXwjc-xcmvrxZGMAGkxg.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></article></body>

The Ultimate Expat Question: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Deciding to return to your home country

There comes a time in every expat’s life when you have to decide if you’ll stay where you are or move on.

I absolutely love living in Barcelona. I love my friends, my job, the city and the lifestyle in general. Summer, sea, tapas, Gaudí — what’s not to love? Moving over here in the crazy year that was 2020 was one of the scariest and best things I ever did.

Moving Countries During a Pandemic

Why I moved from Australia to Spain in 2020

nicscurry.medium.com

I’m so happy I made that move but for the past year, a little voice has been whispering in my ear, telling me it might soon be time to go home.

And for the most boring of reasons. Financial reasons.

I was displeased when I first heard that voice telling me to go back to Australia and sort my money situation out. But I’ve been listening to it lately.

Without going into the dreary details of my financial situation, I have expenses in both Spain and Australia. My Spanish salary doesn’t cover that and I’m not putting anything towards my retirement which is looming ever closer.

On this platform, I read about retirees struggling financially and it’s scary. People who worked hard all their lives who are one mishap away from homelessness. That could be me.

They tell us money isn’t everything. But it kind of is.

The biggest protection I can think of from the manure the world could potentially throw at me is financial independence. I’m a long way off from that, but I have a better chance (for a variety of boring reasons) of achieving that in Australia.

I hate that money is the reason I’m probably leaving my beloved Barcelona but leaving now means I can come back.

So I made a kind of compromise. I’ve given myself a final 18 months here — eking out the joy of every day — and then I’ll move back to Melbourne and jump into mega-saving mode.

Deciding whether to go home is a process many expats go through. Even when you love where you live, there are things that draw you back home — homesickness, a relative in need of care, health, visas or, like me, money.

I’ve always been impatient. I’ve done things people often wait for retirement to enjoy. Before, I couldn’t wait. I think I can now, though.

Even if you do have to go home, whether you want to or not, that doesn’t mean you have to stay home. Use the good reasons you came home to stop yourself from feeling down and get to work on your next plans.

When I see the lifestyle my retired, financially independent expats friends in Barcelona enjoy, I know I can wait.

What about you? Have you struggled with the question of moving back home even when you love the expat life? Let me know what you did in the comments.

If supporting writers is on your agenda, why not become a Medium member? I receive a wee commission, and your praises soon I’ll be a-whistlin’. Plus, you can read everything, which surely will make your good heart sing.