Welcome to the world of Julie B. Rose, where adventure meets savvy financial planning, and the spirit of wanderlust knows no bounds. As a seasoned travel coach, finance expert, and boutique travel advisor, Julie has crafted a unique path that intertwines the joys of travel with the practicalities of life.
Join us as we dive into Julie’s inspiring journey and discover how her innovative approach to nomadic living, group trips, and personalised coaching can transform your travel dreams into reality.
1. Can you share your journey to becoming a full-time nomad and what inspired you to make this lifestyle change?
It’s definitely been a journey! In the summer of 2020 on my 35th birthday I sold my house in Phoenix, Arizona and thus began my escape — but in actuality, the seeds of nomad life had been planted much earlier.
Previously, prior to the pandemic, and then differently, during the pandemic, I had dabbled in the nomad lifestyle. My job was fully remote, so from 2018-2020, every winter, I rented out my house during the Arizona tourist season and lived elsewhere for a time. I did a lot of international solo travel each year, and then I travelled a lot for work domestically. Typically, I would extend my work trips to nearby destinations, and work remotely — for example, a business trip to Seattle could turn into a week and a half in Alaska! But all that halted during the pandemic.
In March of 2020, I was nomading out in Austin, Texas. Like so many people, when things were shutting down, I felt lonely, isolated, and anxious in an unfamiliar place. But when I returned home to Phoenix in April, to my familiar place and things, I realised… I didn’t feel any better there. With all the toe-dipping into nomad life, I had become much less attached to my possessions and my old routines, and maybe, due to the world circumstances at the time, I felt more interested in freedom of movement, less of an emphasis on climbing the career ladder, and a call to outdoor exploration. Before I made the big decision to sell my house, I went on a solo road trip across the American West, hiking with my dog and working remotely, sometimes camping in my car. Not only did I survive, I felt like I thrived. So when I returned, I put my house on the market (it sold for asking price in the first showing) and began offloading everything I had. Less than 40 days later I was driving into the sunset, and a new chapter was born.
2. What are your top three tips for women who are looking to start their own nomadic journey?
The first piece of advice I have for wannabe nomads is to ask yourself what you really want, why you’re attracted to nomad life, and if you’re realistic about what you’re getting into. Can you afford it? Have you done the cost-of-living research? Can you handle variability or volatility in your budget? Do you like being alone? How comfortable are you meeting people spontaneously and making friends? What about leaving people behind or watching them leave, as nomads inevitably will? How often do you like to change environments, or do you crave routine? How comfortable are you with not knowing what’s coming? Are you interested because it’s trendy, or because it’s a lifestyle that is calling you? If you have no idea how to answer these questions, my first piece of advice is: you should probably experiment. Try out the nomad life on a small scale and see if you like it — go somewhere for a few weeks and work out the kinks.
My second and third piece of advice — because all the advice I have really deserves a blog all on its own! — is to fully weigh and understand the “start-up costs” and to do the cognitive and emotional work to discover where your discontent is coming from (more on this in the next answer!).
3. What are the biggest challenges you've faced while travelling solo, and how have you overcome them?
I am a big believer in abundance, so I try not to think of challenges as challenges but as opportunities. Everything difficult I’ve encountered has made me a stronger and more capable individual!
I sold my only piece of equity and the hallmark of the American dream (a house), because I didn’t want to be in one place, nor did I want the burden of upkeep from afar. I left my home, country of origin, and stability, because I knew there was more to life than the same day, lived over and over: the same daily routine, the same dates with the same men, the same work-spend-work-spend cycle. I quit my reliable source of income, a job, because I didn’t want to forfeit my energy, time, and attention to an employer, no matter what they paid me.
A person who sees problems, thinks: I have no home, no stability, no reliable income, and no partner to share my life with. A person who sees options, thinks: freedom to move around as I please and experience places and cultures all around the world, freedom to use my time in pursuit of my interests and passions, and a new ability to tap into a global dating pool to potentially find potential!
That being said, being a nomad can be stressful, exhausting, chaotic, and alienating. Doris Mortman said: “Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have”, and I’d perhaps add, if I may be so bold: “or where you are.”
Nomadism is not a magic cure. If you struggle with something at home, you will too on the road. (Maybe even more so, by facing it directly.) Once you’re taken out of your comfortable and safe and flat environment, and your realness and rawness is exposed, prepare to feel some intense emotions. I sometimes feel anxiety about blowing up my budget, stress about where to go and where to stay, tired from packing, unpacking, and navigating, and disappointed when some of the people I meet don’t show up for me the way I hoped they would. But growth happens outside of our comfort zone.
4. What financial advice would you give to other digital nomads?
My financial advice for digital nomads is the same advice I would give anybody who wants to have financial freedom and not be bound to an employer or a schedule:
There’s no magic, secret formula besides: 1) Spend less than you make, or make more than you spend and 2) Do it for as long as it takes to achieve your goals.
Sounds simple, right? But you’ll notice you’ll need to know a few things to figure all that out: how much you spend, how much you make, and what your goals are — a mental exercise in itself!
I sat down with this several years ago, and looked at ways to reduce my spending and increase my earnings. I set a savings goal and made daily choices that aligned with those efforts. After four and a half years, and after moving the goalpost several times — I was brave enough to leap.
Dollars and cents matter, but the right mindset is crucial when it comes to improving your finances or digging out of a financial rut. Keeping the following in mind has made all the difference for me: 1) radical change isn’t permanent (and can have radical results!), 2) incremental goals are more attainable, and 3) lifestyle creep comes with an opportunity cost to something better.
5. In your opinion, what are some of the best destinations for female digital nomads and why?
It’s wherever you feel the greatest well-being! It may be where you can learn what you want to learn or be who you want to be, where you can afford a better quality of life, or where you can meet the most like-minded people. I feel really at home in Latin American cultures, so Mexico City is one of my places, but there are other places in the world where I would try seasonal living. The best way to find out is to research and experiment! When I’m not in Mexico, I’m travelling and spending as much time in places that have interested me or that I’ve heard about, trying them on for size — there are so many factors that influence a place’s liveability, and it’s very subjective. Nomad life is not one-size-fits-all, but you can (and should) try them on!
6. How do you balance work and travel, especially when it comes to maintaining productivity and meeting deadlines?
Because I travel full-time, I don’t treat life as a vacation, I treat it as just that — regular life. Even though I might be in a new place, I resist common vacation urges: to slam through the tourist top 10 lists, eat out for every meal, and go-go-go all day long without rest. For me, travel is a marathon, not a sprint — it’s why I spend weeks in a place while vacationers may only spend days. I make time for work, rest, and adult-ing, which makes me feel like more of a local living life than a tourist.
With that in mind, I try to set a bit of a routine — I mentally block out portions of time to devote to responding to emails, to writing blogs, to publishing my social media, to everything else, and I keep a to-do list (because I get satisfaction from checking things off the list). And, maybe it’s contradictory, but I take A LOT of breaks — there’s nothing less creative than an overworked mind.
7. What has your experience been like living in Mexico, and what tips do you have for others considering making the move?
I’ve spent the majority of my “nomadic lifetime” in Mexico, driving 20,000 kilometres across the country by myself with my dog. I know that shocks a lot of people, including Mexicans!, but I have had overwhelmingly positive experiences. I’ve learned a lot: about the Mexican way of life, the culture, all the regional differences, and I really love it there — so much so that I’ve sought and obtained Mexican residency along the way. Safety is the biggest thing I get asked about, and in all that time — I’ve never felt any threat to my personal safety. Here’s what I do know: expats are not living in fear; tourists are not targets and violent crime rarely involves tourists; if you don’t buy or sell drugs, the cartel is not interested in you; keep your wits about you and use common sense, as you would everywhere; and remember that media headlines are, by design, sensationalist — do your own research on routes and cities you intend to visit; and take normal precautions.
If Mexico is calling you, travel, experiment, research, talk to experts, read my social updates and blog — but know that wherever you go, there will be a learning curve, everywhere has its idiosyncrasies, and no country is perfect.
8. What are some practical steps and considerations for setting up a life in Mexico as a female expat?
Nomad life is part research and part learning-on-the-go! For research and preparation (and connection!) the various blogs and Facebook groups for expats can be a great resource. On the ground in Mexico, there are also expat events or other activities you can take part in to meet people, ask questions, and gain insights. But remember, you can do all the research in the world, but the pieces won’t fall into place until you just leap.
9. Can you tell us more about your group trips and how they help female travellers build a supportive community?
International travel can be intimidating for a lot of reasons — the fear of going at it alone, the fear of getting it wrong, worry about safety and logistics, or maybe the lack of motivation to plan, decide, and book. I’ve been there, so my group trips have been such a dream in the making!
It’s been beyond rewarding and fulfilling to inspire people to travel more by providing 1) a safe, social, and supportive environment, and a 2) well-orchestrated and comprehensive itinerary. My trips are really perfect for people who love to travel, but are perhaps having a hard time finding like-minded people at home, at work, or elsewhere in their busy life — and want to SHARE IN THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES WITH OTHERS.
I've gotten some truly heartwarming and touching feedback from my group trips, and there are still a few spots left… coming up, we’re safari-ing in Kenya, celebrating Carnival in Brazil, exploring Iceland, and sightseeing in Egypt. Join us!
10. As a female entrepreneur yourself, what advice do you have for women looking to break away from the traditional workforce and pursue their own entrepreneurial endeavours?
We women have been conditioned to believe that being self-centred is wrong. We’ve been taught to give, give, give, to everyone around us and meet everyone else’s demands — at our own expense. We have been told not to love ourselves, not to believe in ourselves, not to trust our convictions — to be meek, modest, humble, sacrificial and obedient. And if and when we step out of line, we’re name-called: if you put yourself first, you’re “selfish.” If you think highly of yourself, you’re “stuck up.”
But who will put our dreams and aspirations first, but us?
Quitting has become a bad word, but it shouldn’t be stigmatised. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s OK to quit, and put your energy and effort towards something fulfilling. You’re not quitting or escaping your life, you’re embarking on a new chapter with the fruits of your last chapter. The same goes whether you’re becoming a nomad, leaving your country of origin behind, or leaving the traditional workforce — going against the grain is unexpected and not easy, but in my case… it has been the most fulfilling. ❤️
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