I won’t lie—this journey has been a mix of excitement and nerves! I am thrilled to start my first blog. This has been a goal for some time now, and to see it come to light is like a dream come true.

I’m 43, originally from South Africa, and after three wonderful years in Costa Rica, my husband Jethro’s job brought us to the stunning Málaga, Spain. I have been an expat wife for 5 years now. I’m ready to share my story of my highs, lows, and complete meltdowns.  I am not the only expat spouse or partner out there, I know many others have and are experiencing the same turmoil. This is the main reason for my blog to show you that you are not alone and that you can do anything you put your mind to.

The most challenging part of moving abroad has been losing my financial independence. I’ve always earned my own money, and suddenly spending money that I had not earned myself felt awkward. My husband reassures me that it’s “our money,” but it doesn’t quite feel that way to me.  I needed to earn my own money and unfortunately, due to visa legalities in Central America, I had to get creative.

When my husband would go off to work,  my daughter would be out with her new friends. I would often feel isolated and alone, struggling with a sense of not belonging in my new environment and wondering if I had made the right decision. One of my biggest struggles has been feeling like I’ve lost my sense of purpose. After years of a fulfilling career, waking up in the mornings, left me wondering if I should even get out of bed. I went from achieving so much to questioning my value, and it weighed on me not having any family or friends within a 12,141 km radius. Yes, I could connect with someone at any time, thanks to the internet, but not being able to hug my mom or just go and have a coffee with a friend is something that I had taken for granted. Of course, there were other challenges, like learning a new language, trying the local food, and learning new cultures, but these all seemed less significant.

After meeting other Expat spouses and partners, whether online or in person, I found that regardless of where they were from in the world, they all share similar sentiments to mine.  This inspired me to share the knowledge I have and the insights I’m currently seeking to learn. The reason I started this blog is to document my journey, celebrate my successes, and support others along the way.

I’ll be sharing tips and tricks to help you feel valued, find your purpose, and reclaim your financial independence. Let’s embark on this journey together!

It’s time to Hustle!