Now on the final day, we’re focusing on books and products that will help you prepare for this momentous move, whether it’s a guide to a country of interest or a program to help you determine the steps you need to take to get yourself from Point A to Point B.

Excelsior!

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Twelve “Prep the Move” Tools
Eleven Shiny Tech Tools
Ten Expat Books
Nine Freelance Tools
Eight Live Workshops
Seven Expat Movies
Six Travel Skill Sets
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money

Preparing to Live Overseas

1. 52 Days To Your New Life Overseas — with extra holiday savings

   Kathleen Peddicord has used her 25 years of writing about the expat life, and 13 years of living as an expat in four different countries to create a guide to take future expats — step by step — from our home countries to our lives abroad. You can read my review here.

   And the best news is, you can save a bundle if you grab it by December 24. Just click here to order and use the coupon code 52OOPS. (You won’t get the savings unless you use the coupon!)

2. Cheap, Safe, and Friendly: The World’s Top Retirement Havens 
   There are places, the world over, where people are friendly, crime is almost non-existent, health care is excellent, and prices for everything from homes to groceries and doctors’ visits could make you think it’s 1953 again. 
   Places where it is possible to reduce your retirement cost of living, perhaps dramatically…while increasing the quality of your life. 
    We have prepared a series of five Country Retirement Reports that contain complete details on retirement opportunities in some of the world’s top retirement havens right now. 
   Go here now to learn more

   

3. Revealed: The World’s Top Undiscovered Retirement And Investment Haven

   I’ve found the city that I believe is on track to become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations, for both retirement and investment.

   This overlooked destination checks every box:

   • Perfect weather…it’s springtime all year long… World-class health care (5 of the best hospitals in all Latin America are here)…
   • Very affordable cost of living…
   • And the real estate? It’s a screaming bargain, both to buy and to rent… Plus, the people are friendly, the streets are clean and safe, the infrastructure international-standard…with its restaurants, cafes, galleries, and shops, this place feels more European than Latin American…

   
   Go here now to learn more
   
   
   

4. Interested in Panama? Here´s US $3,000 To Launch Your New Life There
   And that´s only the start of what we´re prepared to do help you realize your dreams in the world´s #1 retirement, lifestyle, invesment, and overseas haven…Learn how to earn free admittance to every Panama conference we hold…
   Plus, right now you can arrange to pay for your membership in installments. 
   This couldn´t be easier. And the opportunities in Panama right now couldn´t be bigger. 

   Go Here Now To Learn More About This Special Offer

   
   

5. If Europe Hits Your Hot Buttons. . . Here´s What To Do If Developing World Living Isn´t For You
   
   Not everyone is cut out for life in the Tropics or the developing world…
   If you´re more interested in Old World living, consider France. 
   France is the good life defined. The food, the wine, the art, the shopping, the history…
   And here´s what you may not realize about France: Living here, even in Paris, can be far more affordable than you might ever imagine. 
   Go Here Now To Learn More

   
   

6. Exotic — and Incredibly Affordable — Asia, Home of the World’s Cheapest Retirement Havens

   Amidst vistas of nearly indescribable beauty, you can pay US$100 a month for rent, spend only 1% of the usual cost of health care, and eat a full lunch for only 50 cents.

   The world doesn’t get any cheaper.

   This land of ancient kingdoms, emperors, explorers, adventurers, traders, and pioneers is also beautiful, safe, welcoming, and, in some parts, completely at peace.

   Go Here Now For More Details

   
   

7. If the Land of Vino and Tango Appeals. . .

   
   Own Your Own Vineyard In The Next Napa

   Live your dreams and plan for your retirement with a 12% annual yield.

   Here´s how to own your own vineyard, at a fraction of the price you´d find elsewhere
   
   

8. An English-speaking Paradise On The Caribbean
   
   
   Belize is a tiny, under-populated, under-developed country (there are but three highways in the whole place) blessed with a long Caribbean coast and a sprinkling of islands just offshore fringed by white sand and palm trees. It´s quintessential Caribbean served up for the non-jet-setter. For, while Belize is more expensive today, certainly, than it was the first time I set eyes on it, more than 20 years ago, it still can be called a bargain. 
   Plus, Belize has a great deal to offer beyond its Caribbean coast and islands. Inland, in the Cayo, Belize is a land of off-road mountain, jungle, river, cave, and waterfall adventures. And that´s not to mention the countless (and sometimes undiscovered) Mayan ruins. 
   Would it be a “good” place to live? Not for everyone. Belize is a 21st-century corsair´s playground, a frontier where you make your own way and the government interferes nearly not at all. This is a country for independent thinkers and self-sufficient sorts. 
   On the other hand: Belize is, in fact, one of the easiest places in the world to obtain foreign residency. It´s also one of the best tax havens in the world…
   Go Here Now To Learn More

   
   

9. Overseas Retirement Letter, and Bonus Report on Seven Places to Retire on Social Security Income Alone
   The average Social Security payment in the United States is slightly less than US$1,200 per month. If you qualify for Social Security, you can receive your monthly payment almost anywhere in the world. You can even have it direct-deposited to your overseas account in many countries. Then, Social Security check in hand, even if you have no other retirement income whatsoever, you could retire quite well in seven places our editors have identified. 
   A new report has just been prepared, detailing everything you need to know about receiving your monthly Social Security payments overseas. 
   Plus, this current special report introduces you to the seven most Social Security-friendly overseas retirement havens. 
   It can be yours free with our compliments when you take this opportunity to become a subscriber to the flagship retire-overseas publication, the “Overseas Retirement Letter.” 

   Find out how to receive your free copy of this new report here

   
   

10. Ecuador is consistently rated one of the best overseas retirement destinations. Learn all about it in the Ecuador Owner’s Manual New 2010 Edition
11. Mexico Owner’s Manual
12. France: The Owner’s Manual

So there you have it! I hope you’ve enjoyed our Twelve Days of Christmas gift ideas for expats and plan-to-be expats.

Merry Christmas!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas. . .

On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Ten Expat Books
Nine Freelance Tools
Eight Live Workshops
Seven Expat Movies
Six Travel Skill Sets
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money

Ten Expat Books

1. Expat Women Confessions. Expat Women: Confessions — 50 Answers to Your Real-Life Questions about Living Abroad addresses 50 of the most pressing issues facing traditional expat women. But while the background and situations may be different, the issues we wrestle with are pretty much the same.
2. Practical Guide to a Successful Expat Assignment
3. The Global You
4. Should I Stay or Should I Go?
5. How to Retire Overseas
6. The New Global Student
7. Almost French
8. Hard Things Survive, a Christmas time expat novel by Sujata Massey
9. Death in the Andamans, a Christmas time expat mystery by M. M. Kaye
10. A Town Like Alice. It’s a classic tale of overcoming tragedy and making the transition from one country to another.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas. . .

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Eleven Shiny Tech Tools
Ten Expat Books
Nine Freelance Tools
Eight Live Workshops
Seven Expat Movies
Six Travel Skill Sets
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money

Eleven Tech Tools to Ease Your Expat Life

Technology has made it so much easier to live anywhere in the world without losing touch with friends, loved ones, clients and customers in other places. Here are just a very few of my favorite technologies that make expat life easier.

1. Amazon Kindle. Get free shipping until Christmas!
2. VPN (Virtual Private Network), such as Hide My Ass (yes, they really call it that). Save up to 24% if you sign up before January 1!
3. Another VPN, Hotspot Shield
4. Evernote
5. Register a Domain Name
6. Get website hosting with Dreamhost
7. Get website hosting with Bluehost
8. Get website hosting with Host Gator
9. iStock Photo. Use the coupon code CELEBRATED until December 31 for 20% savings!
10. Hootsuite, the Social Media dashboard to help you manage multiple accounts
11. Pressreader. For the newspaper junkie in your life, there’s the ultra-convenient PressReader application for iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows smartphones and tablets. Offering an incredible selection of over 2,000 full-content publications from 95 countries, expats won’t miss a beat as they’ll be able to read their favorite newspapers, both from home and locally, on the day they’re published with every article, advertisement, crossword puzzle and cartoon presented in its original context! PressReader is free to download however titles are purchased on a pay-as-you-go basis at $0.99 a pop, or downloaded in conjunction with a paid subscription to PressDisplay.com – a perfect gift for the holidays! Visit www.pressreader.com for more information.
12. Bonus! Get Transparent Language for Mobile for only $2.99 — a whopping 62% off, but only if you order right away — December 20th.

Coming up. . . Day 12 and the last day of our 12 Days of Christmas guide to expat gift giving this season.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

On the Eighth Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Eight Live Workshops
Seven Expat Movies
Six Travel Skill Sets
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money

Live workshops and conferences can really ease the expat’s transition to a new country or a new portable career. Here are just a few of the many that we recommend.

Photography and Writing Workshops

#1. The Ultimate Money-Making Photography Workshop

Learn how to take your camera with you when you travel, and earn money while you do it. Turn a hobby into an portable career income stream to support you in your untethered expat life.

You’ll explore exciting Phoenix, AZ with experts and other attendees, learning to take saleable pictures.

This is their only live workshop this year, and if you enroll before December 31 you’ll save $350.

Click here to learn more.

#2. Ecuador Travel Writing (and Spanish Immersion) Experience

“Experience” is the only word that describes this very special program.
Spend seven fun-filled days in Ecuador. You’ll explore, you’ll study Spanish using a powerful immersion method, and you’ll learn to turn adventures like this into profitable writing assignments. Save $300 now with the Early-Bird Discount.

Learn more about the Experience here.

#3. Lose Your Writer’s Block in San Francisco

Experience the beautiful city of San Francisco while learning how to travel the world for free.

It’s a three-day workshop in one of the most unique cities in the US and learn how to turn your future travels into a career that will support you overseas. All the good stuff from the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program (above), live and in person. And if you register before December 31, you’ll save $340.

Learn more about this exciting workshop here.

Expat Conferences

So far I’ve been to two of the conferences put on by Live and Invest Overseas, and found them both informative and helpful. Here’s a list of their upcoming country get-togethers — you can use this link, then click on the particular conference you’re interested in.

#4. Colombia, January 2012
#5. Mexico, February 2012
#6. Europe, April 2012. I know, Europe’s not a country, but this conference will discuss all of Europe and will be held in Dublin, Ireland.
#7. Nicaragua, May, 2012
#8. Belize, June 2012
Bonus. Panama, July 2012

Click here to find out more about the conferences.

On the Ninth Day of Christmas. . .

On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Nine Freelance Tools
Eight Live Workshops
Seven Expat Movies
Six Travel Skill Sets
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money

So here we are, on the Ninth day of Christmas already. Here are nine freelance tools — books and programs to help you develop other types of portable careers in areas like social media, video marketing, graphic design and others we don’t talk about nearly often enough.

1. Social Networking: The 21st Century Way to Find New Clients
2. How to Create Irresistible Offers
3. Marketing With Video Online For Profit
4. Desktop Marketing for Success, Independence and Income
5. Graphic Design Success
6. The Versatile Freelancer
7. Secrets of Becoming an Internet Research Specialist
8. Become a Social Media Expert
9. Freelance Website in Four Days’ Express

Just three more days to go. . . stay tuned!

PS. To answer the question posed in the headline, “what do internet research, social media and dancing girls have in common?” the answer is. . . they’re all featured in the Ninth Day of Christmas of our expat guide to gift giving.




]]> http://futureexpats.com/internet-research-social-media-dancing-girls/feed 0 http://futureexpats.com/sixth-day-of-christmas http://futureexpats.com/sixth-day-of-christmas#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:30:24 +0000 FutureExpat http://futureexpats.com/?p=5864 Christmas gift buying for expats — it’s a minefield. That’s why we’re offering our 12 Days of Christmas guide to presents that will help the expats you know with their untethered lives and portable careers, and won’t take up room in a suitcase or container.

Almost halfway through. . . here we are on Day 6 already!

Let’s keep rockin’ this ditty.

The Sixth Day of Christmas

On the Sixth Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Six Travel Skill Sets
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money



“What on earth is a travel skill set?” I hear you ask.

I’m glad you spoke up. It’s the only phrase I could think of that fit the song and came anywhere close to describing this category. Basically, this is a list of six programs that will help you earn money from your travels.

Who among us hasn’t dreamed of lounging in a hammock at a white-sand beach sipping an exotic, fruity drink and then getting paid for doing it? Ah, the glamour of the travel writer’s life. . .

And you can learn how to be a travel writer — the writing part and the business part — from the first two programs on today’s list.

#1. Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program

Learn more about it here.

#2. MatadorU Travel Writer’s Program

It’s a dynamic program for launching your travel writing career. Learn more about it here.

#3. MatadorU Travel Photography Course

Is photography your thing rather than writing? Learn how to support yourself overseas as a travel photographer.

Learn more about it here.

#4. Travel Writing Tips and Tricks

Can’t beat the price on this one (it’s free!). Click this link for information about 15 travel magazines you could sell your stuff to.

#5. Experience the beautiful city of San Francisco while learning how to travel the world for free.

It’s a three-day workshop in one of the most unique cities in the US and learn how to turn your future travels into a career that will support you overseas. All the good stuff from the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program (above), live and in person.

Learn more about this exciting workshop here.

#6. Ecuador Travel Writing Experience

“Experience” is the only word that describes this very special program.

Spend seven fun-filled days in Ecuador. You’ll explore, you’ll study Spanish using a powerful immersion method, and you’ll learn to turn adventures like this into profitable writing assignments.

Learn more about the Experience here.

And on the Seventh Day. . .

Wow! Seven down and only five more to go.



On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Seven Expat Movies
Six Travel Skill Sets
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money

#1. Flower Drum Song

Young girl from China and her father land in San Francisco where she’s been promised to a local nightclub owner as his mail-order bride. General misunderstandings and confusion reign until the right couples end up together.

Read a review here.

#2. The Holiday

Charming Christmas romantic comedy about an American movie-trailer maker and a British journalist who swap homes over Christmas. One of my faves.

Read a review here.

#3. Across the Universe

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I never thought I’d like a movie based on Beatles songs performed by non-Beatles, but it completely won me over. Young British lad visits the US during the 1960s. Lots of period highlights.

Read a review here.

#4. Victor Victoria

One of the late great Blake Edwards’ masterpieces. Young British opera singer finds herself penniless in Paris in the 1930s, hooks up with a nightclub singer and becomes a star. With a few twists and turns along the way, of course.

Read a review here.

#5. Chocolat

A perpetual traveler and her daughter wind up in a small French village where they meet lots of interesting people and transform the town.

Read a review here.

#6. Anna and the King

A remake of the classic Yul Brynner/Deborah Kerr version (which was a remake of the Rex Harrison/Irene Dunne version). This one stars Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat, and it’s the best. Based on the true story of an English lady who came to the court of the King of Siam to teach his children.

Read a review here.

#7. My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Though not technically an expat movie (because the protagonist isn’t technically an expat) it shows cultures colliding and some of the characters are expats. Another one of my favorite films.

Read a review here.

Bonus Discs: Expats in Space

Firefly was a short-lived but wonderful TV series. Later, creator Joss Whedon turned it into a movie called Serenity. Where we go globe trotting, they go planet hopping — what can be more expat than that?

Read the review here.




]]> http://futureexpats.com/sixth-day-of-christmas/feed 0 http://futureexpats.com/on-the-fourth-day-of-christmas http://futureexpats.com/on-the-fourth-day-of-christmas#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:30:55 +0000 FutureExpat http://futureexpats.com/?p=5816 Let’s move right along with our gift list for the untethered expat blogger.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money



#1. Blog Masters Club

Blog Masters Club is a highly structured, step-by-step coaching program that will teach you how to create, build and run a profitable, professional blog. Created by successful professional blogger David Risley, this is a kick-ass, no holds barred program to help you get your blog up and running, fast.

If you’re just starting your blogging career — or if you want to catapult an existing blog into high gear — Blog Masters Club will give you what you need.

Here’s my review.

More Information and Free Report

#2: Inner Circle

Also from Blog Master David Risley, the Inner Circle is a private coaching environment for bloggers who are serious about creating real businesses with their blogs. For members, Dave offers regular

• Workshops
• Interactive content
• Webinars
• Live Coaching with Q&A
• Phone calls
• Forums
• Direct access to Dave and his expertise

Click here to find out more.

#3. Wealthy Web Writer

The Wealthy Web Writer is a terrific hangout for anyone who wants to make a living writing online.

If you’re a trained copywriter, you can learn how to adapt your writing and your strategies for today’s internet.

You can learn to

• Specialize in SEO or PPC
• Write emails that get results
• Get clients for your web writing business

In one place, we get ongoing education, feedback, motivation, information, direction and inspiration. We also get forums, videos, webinars, teleconferences, and access to people who are successfully rocking the world of online writing.

Get More Information Here

#4: Third Tribe

I really love the Third Tribe. The brainchild of Copyblogger Media’s Brian Clark and a few other well known content marketers, it’s a community of inter-preneurs (is that a word? Internet entrepreneurs. . .). We get Q&A calls, seminars, loads of great information, and a supportive community.

Technically, Third Tribe is closed to new members right now, but I’m including it here because there are plans to open it up again in the New Year. If you go there now, you can sign up for a free, 20-part online marketing course. Then, when it opens up to new members, they’ll let you know.

It’s worth the wait. . .

Go here for more information.

On the Fifth Day

This is the verse of the song that everyone loves. Even if you don’t remember any of the other words, you’ll holler out “five go-ooold rings” with joyous abandon. (Some versions say “five golden rings,” but I’m a purist.)

So what, I hear you wondering, are the five gold rings of this little ditty? Well, since I’m primarily a writer, that’s my gold standard. So here I give you, for the Fifth Day of Christmas. . .

On the Fifth Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Five Writing Resources
Four Exclusive Clubs
Three Premium Blog Themes
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money




#1. Copywriting 2.0: Your Complete Guide to Writing Web Copy that Converts

What the bleep is “copywriting 2.0″? you may be asking.

It’s simple — it’s copywriting for today’s web.

Back in the early days of the internet, just having a website was enough. No longer.

Now you need a good website, with worthwhile content. And that requires people to write it.

A qualified web copywriter can earn a very good living, and as an expat, all you need is your laptop and an internet connection.

And some training, of course.

Nick Usborne created this program, and he’s one of my favorite copywriters/instructors/mentors. Nick’s been a successful web copywriter for over a decade, and now he’s spending as much time teaching and coaching as he is writing for clients.

Which is really good for us. Because Nick not only teaches you how to write copy, he teaches you the business of copywriting.

Click here to learn more

#2. Secrets of Writing High-Performance B2B Copy

If you’ve thought about creating an untethered career as a copywriter but a little part of your soul shrinks at the thought of writing those endless sales letters, B2B (business to business) might be your niche.

B2B still requires great research and writing skills, and you can make a consistently great living with it. It’s an enormous market, and growing exponentially as more businesses bring their business promotions to the web.

Not sure if you’re cut out for B2B copywriting? Click here to take a short quiz.

More information about the Secrets of Writing High-Performance B2B Copy Program

#3. Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting

Forget the laid-back, B2B copywriting shtick. You want your writing to get in people’s faces and persuade them, in no uncertain terms, to click that link, lift that barge or tote that bale. You want to write sales letters and compete head-to-head with other successful copywriters to see whose letter gets the best results.

This is your program, baby!

#4. E-Mail Copy Made Easy

All forms of online copywriting are in high demand today, and the need for people who can write e-mails that get results is booming.

This program was created by an incredibly successful e-mail copywriter, and has helped hundreds of other writers achieve success crafting e-mails. He’s created a step-by-step program that he refers to as a “paint by numbers” system.

Click here for more information

#5. How to Write Your Own Money-Making Website

Need a retirement income but don’t have the savings, the IRAs, 401(K) plans, pensions, etc.? Or maybe you’re way too young to retire but you still want a retirement-level income?

You can create a website that will generate a good cash stream, in just a few hours per week. (Nick’s earning over $5,000/month with just one of his sites, and he has several.)

Nick Usborne — remember Nick? I mentioned him in #1 above — has also created a program to help you create a website that will generate that retirement-level income. And it ties directly into the SBI! offer mentioned previously (on the First Day of Christmas).

If creating a passive income online is what you’re all about as an untethered expat, check this out.

Wow, all this writing stuff feels like a lot of hard work. On our Sixth Day of Christmas, coming up, we’ll kick back and have some fun.




]]> http://futureexpats.com/on-the-fourth-day-of-christmas/feed 0 http://futureexpats.com/on-the-second-and-third-day-of-christmas http://futureexpats.com/on-the-second-and-third-day-of-christmas#comments Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:00:51 +0000 FutureExpat http://futureexpats.com/?p=5809 Still pondering what to get for that expat or future expat on your Christmas list? I thought I’d have some fun with the run-up to Christmas and one of my favorite Christmas ditties. Between now and December 25, I’ll bring you the 12 days of Christmas, shopping-for-expats style.

Each day we’ll focus on one aspect of expat or plan-to-be-expat life.

Ready?

On the Second Day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money.



Book #1: How to Become a Successful Freelance Blogger

Don’t want to maintain your own blog but still want to earn money blogging? Freelance blogging is the answer, and this guide by my friend Paul Cunningham will show you how. Here’s my review.

Learn More about How to Become a Successful Freelance Blogger here.

Book #2: 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, Revised and updated for 2012

If you plan to blog as part or all of your expat portable career, get a jump start with the new, revised and enlarged 31-day plan. Here’s my review of the new version and the original book.

For dramatically better results from your blog, I highly recommend this ebook program. It worked for me! Learn more about it here.

On the Third Day of Christmas. . .

On the third day of Christmas, my expat gave to me
Three Premium Blog Themes,
Two Blogging Books
And a website for to earn some money.



If you plan to support yourself overseas using a blog, you need to do it professionally and that means using a premium theme. I work regularly with themes from three companies, and I recommend them highly. They all make gorgeous, useful, functional themes.

Whether you plan on offering your services, selling products, offering updated news or displaying your portfolio, you’ll find themes that will work for you from these vendors.

All of them also offer excellent customer support.

Genesis Theme Framework and Child Themes by Studio Press

This is a rock-solid theme framework. That’s really all I need to say about that. . . In addition to the framework, you need a “Child Theme.” That provides the decoration, the look and feel you want for your blog.

Future Expats runs on the Genesis Framework with the Prose Child Theme, in case you were wondering.

See all the Genesis themes here.

Elegant Themes

I’ve built several sites using Elegant Themes. (You can see them here and here if you’re interested. There’s another one in progress here.)

If you’re just starting out or not very technical, an Elegant Theme might be easier to work with than Genesis.

See all the Elegant Themes here.

Woo themes

Woo themes are extremely versatile, and they have the best e-commerce functionality of the three I’m recommending here. So if you’re planning to sell products, this is the theme designer you should be looking at.

They also offer a Full range of pages for any style of website. (Here’s an example of one that’s launching shortly.)

See all the Woo Themes here.

Are you getting some ideas about what to get the expat blogger in your life for Christmas? Leave a comment!




]]> http://futureexpats.com/on-the-second-and-third-day-of-christmas/feed 0 http://futureexpats.com/on-the-first-day-of-christmas http://futureexpats.com/on-the-first-day-of-christmas#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:30:02 +0000 FutureExpat http://futureexpats.com/?p=5794 Still pondering what to get for that expat or future expat on your Christmas list? I thought I’d have some fun with the run-up to Christmas and one of my favorite Christmas ditties. Between now and December 25, I’ll bring you the 12 days of Christmas, shopping-for-expats style.

Each day we’ll focus on one aspect of expat or plan-to-be-expat life.

So, get your carol book out, brace yourself for bad puns, and here we go.

On the first day of Christmas, my expat gave to me. . .
A website for to earn some money.

Site Build It!

Got some extra Holiday cash you’d like to spend? Why not give yourself a new life next year?

Huh?

Well how about creating that portable career you’ve been dreaming about?

Site Build It! (SBI for short) provides a unique approach to creating a profitable website. Whether you’re selling a service or a product of your own, or creating an income stream based on affiliate links and advertising, SBI! provides some serious guidance, hand-holding and an excellent arsenal of tools.

Simply put, SBI! helps you build a successful online business. It’s more than hosting or site-building. It’s really a complete, step-by-step process that provides all the tools you need for getting traffic, sending out e-mails, adding a blog, and monetizing your site. And you don’t have to be a techie to use it. It’s as simple as sending e-mails and word processing. Take a look…

Here’s a Video Tour

Buy One, Get One Free

And if you hurry, you can take advantage of their Buy-One Get-One-Free Holiday Special that will give you their best price of the year. And they offer a No-Risk Money-Back Success Guarantee that means you have nothing to lose.

Don’t think you want or need two SBI! sites? Buy one for yourself and give one to another portable careerist!

More Information

Unless you don’t move in time to take advantage of their Special that is. Then you’ll miss out on a great deal. That offer ends at midnight on January 4, 2012.

Stay tuned for Day Two. . .

What’s the best expat gift someone could give you this Christmas? Mine’s an intangible — some understanding from my mother-in-law. Care to share yours? Use the comments below.




]]> http://futureexpats.com/on-the-first-day-of-christmas/feed 0 http://futureexpats.com/black-friday-shopping-list-for-untethered-expats http://futureexpats.com/black-friday-shopping-list-for-untethered-expats#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:00:37 +0000 FutureExpat http://futureexpats.com/?p=5663 If you’re about to move abroad, you certainly don’t want to collect more doodads, tchotchkes, knicknacks and other stuff you’ll have to store or move. So what do you give a soon-to-be expat for Christmas? I thought we could join the rest of America in some Black Friday shopping, but for things that will help you create the untethered expat life you’re looking for.

I’ve divided them into categories for you. At the top, the Time Sensitive Sales are special deals that will expire after this weekend. Below those I’ve divided them into our two main categories, Prepping the Move and Portable Careers. These are top-quality items I recommend.

All of them make wonderful Christmas gifts for that hard-to-buy-for expat on your list.

Time-Sensitive Sales

50% Off all Host Gator Website Hosting Black Friday Only, expires 11:59 PM EST on November 25.

31 Days to Build a Better Blog, Revised and updated for 2012. If you plan to blog as part or all of your expat portable career, you can get a jump start and save 25% through next Tuesday, November 29. Learn more.

25% off everything at StudioPress
Using the code THANKS at checkout (don’t forget that), you can save 25% off of anything you’d like at WordPress design shop, StudioPress. All you need to do is use the code THANKS when you check out and you’ll save 25% on anything and everything at StudioPress.com. This deal ends promptly at 7:00 pm Pacific time on Monday, November 28, 2011. Hurry up and claim your new WordPress theme before the code expires!

Premise for WordPress Get the best WordPress landing page plugin for sweet savings over Black Friday weekend. Only $95 for Premise Ultimate. All you need to do is use the code THANKS when you check out. This deal ends promptly at 7:00 pm Pacific time on Monday, November 28, 2011. Hurry up and get Premise Ultimate before they come to their senses!

International Coach Academy teaches you everything you need to know to become a certified life coach. It’s a growing field, and coaches — especially expat coaches — are in high demand. They’re offering 22% off if you enroll in their premier course before November 30.

Entire Live & Invest Overseas Bookstore!. Country reports, conference recordings, monthly Overseas Retirement Letter, the whole enchilada. Click here for more information.

Prepping the Move

Technology and Entertainment

I’m an avid reader, and I love to re-read books as well. Parting with my extensive library would be torture. Fortunately, we live in the digital age. With my trusty Kindle e-reader, I can get almost everything in a digital version.

There are quite a few choices now, unlike when I bought my first-generation device. The two I recommend are the Kindle Touch 3G and the new Kindle Fire.

Kindle Touch 3G

With this device you can download books from almost anywhere in the world, even if there’s no WiFi available, using the 3G network. There’s no charge for this connectivity. The device holds about 3,000 books, and newer features including borrowing Kindle books from your local public library in the US.

There’s a built-in browser, so you can even use it for light web surfing.

This Kindle uses e-Ink technology, which is easy on your eyes and allows you to read even in bright sunlight. Excellent battery life, lightweight, and available for either $149 or $189.

Click here for more information or to purchase the Kindle Touch 3G

Kindle Fire

This is Kindle’s latest offering, just released earlier this month. Think of this Kindle as a “tablet lite” more than an e-reader. Yes, of course you can read your Kindle books on it. But it comes in color, not e-Ink, has a fully functional web browser and allows you to download apps like a tablet.

You can stream videos, listen to internet radio, and lots more.

If you read for hours at a time, this is probably not the best choice for you as the display will not be as easy on the eyes. Also, because this is a lighted display, it’ll wash out in full sunlight. But if you want something you can surf the web with, enjoy some apps with, and do some reading with — all in a brilliant color display — this is the Kindle for you.

Click here for more information or to purchase the Kindle Fire

Books, Movies, Music and More

If you absolutely, positively need to have wrapped packages under a tree, take advantage of Black Friday specials throughout Amazon.com.

Narrowing your Country/City Search and Planning

After lots of searching and a few false hopes raised, I finally found something that will actually help you plan your overseas move, step by logical step.

52-Days to Your New Life Overseas

 

Don´t Let Another Single Day Pass You By–Launch Your New Life Overseas Now




It took me more than 12 years to launch my live overseas adventures…

Today, 13 years later, I´ve reinvented my life from Baltimore, Maryland, to Waterford, Ireland…then from there to Paris and on to Panama City, where I´m living today…

My advice to you?

Don´t let another single day pass you by.

Leverage my experience to launch your own dream retirement overseas in as few as 52 days from today.

That´s a specific promise that I mean literally and that I take seriously.

Research and reading will get you only so far. To make your live- or retire-overseas dream come true, you need a detailed plan. Here´s mine…for you…

Here´s How




Specific Country Information

There’s tons of good information available about specific countries. Here’s a representative sampling:

Panama:

• Live & Invest in Panama Home Conference Kit
• Panama Bridge Kit
• Panama Starter Kit

France:




Not everyone is cut out for life in the Tropics or the developing world…

If you´re more interested in Old World living, consider France.

France is the good life defined. The food, the wine, the art, the shopping, the history…

And here´s what you may not realize about France: Living here, even in Paris, can be far more affordable than you might ever imagine.

Go Here Now To Learn More




Asia: Yes, I know, Asia’s not a country. . . Around Asia

Colombia:

 

Revealed: The World’s Top Undiscovered Retirement And Investment Haven

I’ve found the city that I believe is on track to become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations, for both retirement and investment.

This overlooked destination checks every box:

Perfect weather…it’s springtime all year long…
World-class health care (5 of the best hospitals in all Latin America are here)…

Very affordable cost of living…

And the real estate? It’s a screaming bargain, both to buy and to rent…
Plus, the people are friendly, the streets are clean and safe, the infrastructure international-standard…with its restaurants, cafes, galleries, and shops, this place feels more European than Latin American…

Go here now to learn more




Argentina: The Argentine Vineyard Buyer’s Guide

Upcoming Country Conferences

The right conference can be a great way to jumpstart your transition from future expat to expat. I’ve attended two. One was specific to Panama, and the other took a broader view with information about 20 countries that should be on your radar for overseas retirement.

I recommend the functions that Live and Invest Overseas puts on. You can see a list of their upcoming events here.

Portable Careers

Writing

Travel Writing

There are two programs I recommend for future travel writers.

MatadorU Travel Writing Course A dynamic program for launching or advancing new media and travel writing careers is based on 12 weeks of rigorous coursework, including lessons, recommended reading, and weekly assignments critiqued by editors and peers. As a graduate, you’ll have lifelong access to the curriculum, all the forums and future Bonus Modules.

Learn more about it here.

AWAI’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program. It’ll take years off your learning curve on both the writing and the business sides of developing your career as a travel writer. Learn more about it here.

Copywriting

Copywriting 2.0 Your Complete Guide to Writing Web Copy that Converts. The market for copywriting is huge, and the market for web copywriting is exploding. Highly successful copywriter Bob Bly has called this program “the Bible of website copywriting.”

Learn more about copywriting for the web and this program here.

Secrets of Writing High-Performance B2B Copy takes your copywriting skills and shows you how to use them to specialize in writing for the B2B business to business) market. Learn how to take advantage of this $55 billion a year market — that’s not a typo.

Learn more about Business-to-Business Copywriting here.

Blogging

Blogging for Expats. First, although it’s not something you can buy, if you haven’t been following my Blogging for Expats tutorial series, check it out.

How to Become a Successful Freelance Blogger. Don’t want to maintain your own blog but still want to earn money blogging? Freelance blogging is the answer, and this guide by my friend Paul Cunningham will show you how.

Learn More about How to Become a Successful Freelance Blogger here.

31 Days to Build a Better Blog, Revised and updated for 2012. If you plan to blog as part or all of your expat portable career, you can get a jump start and save 25% through next Tuesday, November 29.

I highly recommend this ebook program, which I followed earlier in my blogging career. Learn more about it here.

Studio Press Premium WordPress Themes 25% off everything at StudioPress over Black Friday weekend.

Using the code THANKS at checkout (don’t forget that) you can save 25% off of anything you’d like at WordPress design shop, StudioPress.

1. Get the Genesis Framework for only $45
2. Snag most Genesis / design combos for a song and save close to $20
3. Wipe the entire shop clean and get the StudioPress Pro Plus All-Theme Package. Get Genesis plus every design they’ve made, plus every design they make in the future, and save more than $74 off the regular price and over $875 off the retail price — and that’s just the existing 43 designs!

All you need to do is use the code THANKS when you check out and you’ll save 25% on anything and everything at StudioPress.com. This deal ends promptly at 7:00 pm Pacific time on Monday, November 28, 2011. Hurry up and claim your new WordPress theme before the code expires!

Take Advantage of the Studio Press Black Friday Sale

Premise for WordPress
Get Premise Ultimate for only $95

Copyblogger Media just released version 1.2 of their Premise landing page software for WordPress, and it includes lots of cool new features and refinements. Most impressive of all is the introduction of an innovative 8th landing page type — the social sharing page. Premise Ultimate usually goes for $165, as it gives you:

1. All the landing pages you can build
2. Use on as many domains as you want
3. Access to ongoing optimization seminars
4. Copywriting advice from inside WordPress
5. 1,100+ custom graphics by Rafal
6. Unlimited technical support
7. Unlimited updates (you’ll thank yourself for this next year)

During their Thanksgiving sale, you can get Premise Ultimate for only $95. Yes, really. Just use the code THANKS when you check out and you’ll save $70 on the best landing page software available for WordPress. This deal ends promptly at 7:00 pm Pacific time on Monday, November 28, 2011. Hurry up and get Premise Ultimate before they come to their senses!

Photography

Turn Your Pictures into Cash. Photography is amazing. It can feed the soul and inspire people. It also provides a measure of freedom I suspect you value highly. You can live wherever you like, work whenever you feel like it.

Learn how to turn photography into a portable career that can support you wherever you live or travel.

MatadorU Travel Photography Course is based on 12 chapters of rigorous coursework, including lessons, recommended reading, and weekly assignments critiqued by editors and peers in Photo Labs. As with their Travel Writing program, graduates have ongoing access to the forums and new modules.

Learn more about it here

Coaching

Life coaching is a growing field, and expats and finding it meets all the criteria for a worthwhile and rewarding portable career. Get your training and certification from the International Coach Academy.

Enroll in the Certified Professional Coach Program before November 30 and save 22%.

Click here for more information about International Coach Academy’s course.

Websites

How to Write Your Own Money-Making Websites. Not exactly blogging and not exactly a corporate website, learn how to create a content-rich site that provides an ongoing income — in just a few hours per week.

The traditional approach to savings and retirement doesn’t work anymore.
It’s time to take control!Turn a few “spare-time” hours a week into $750 … $1,500 … $3,500 and up per month.
Money that comes in whether you’re working, sleeping, playing golf, or relaxing on the beach.


Learn more about creating your own money-making website here.

Site Build It. Combine the fantastic tools and guidance available at SBI with the Money-Making Websites program above for incredible results. They’ve just upgraded the tools for building the site itself, keyword research and more.

Learn More About Site Build It here.

Website Hosting and Domain Name Registration

Dreamhost. Optimized for WordPress hosting, Dreamhost offers lots of “unlimited” features including:

• Disk storage
• Bandwidth
• Domains Hosted
• Email Accounts
• MySQL 5 Databases

DreamHost has also gone green — they’re carbon neutral.

Find Out More

Blue Host also offers a slew of “unlimited” features, including:

• Disk storage
• Bandwidth
• Domains Hosted
• Email Accounts
• MySQL 5 Databases

They’re a couple of dollars less than DreamHost.

Find Out More

Host Gator is also greening up, having purchased Renewable Energy Certificates for its servers.Their least expensive plan only allows for one domain to be hosted, but if you move up to the next plan, you’ll get unlimited disk space, bandwidth and domains.

50% Off all hosting plans today only, until 11:59 PM EST.

Find Out More

NameCheap domain name registration. Great prices and service for domain name hosting.

Find Out More

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? Check out our Resources section.

Note: Many of the links here are affiliate links. That means if you purchase something you’ve clicked on, I’ll earn a small commission. I only recommend products or services I have used myself, or from a company I’ve done business with and have a high level of confidence in. You can see my entire policy here. Buying from affiliates helps keep this website running.

photo by djlicious on flickr




]]> http://futureexpats.com/black-friday-shopping-list-for-untethered-expats/feed 3 http://futureexpats.com/merry-christmas http://futureexpats.com/merry-christmas#comments Sat, 25 Dec 2010 12:00:36 +0000 FutureExpat http://futureexpats.com/?p=3329

May all your expat dreams come true.

Photo by kissyface on flickr




]]> http://futureexpats.com/merry-christmas/feed 0 http://futureexpats.com/christmas-in-mexico http://futureexpats.com/christmas-in-mexico#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 03:49:03 +0000 FutureExpat http://futureexpats.com/?p=1102 Guest Post by Suzan Haskins, International Living


Christmas Tree at National Palace, Zocalo

Ah, Christmas in Mexico. There’s nothing better.

Before Dan and I moved from the States, back when our son was a teenager, we always went on holiday for Christmas…one year to Belize, another year on a cruise to the Bahamas. But more often than not, we went to Mexico.

We have fond memories of Christmas Eve dinners at El Pescador, in my opinion the best seafood restaurant in the “old town” of Cancun (if there is such a thing in such a new city). One year our friend bought all the red roses being sold by a pretty little dark-eyed beauty, and he gave one to each woman in the restaurant, including, of course, our little salesgirl. After dinner, we always peeked in on Christmas Eve service through the open doors and windows of Iglesia Cristo de Rey.

And we laugh at memories of the year my husband gave an impromptu performance with a roving mariachi troupe during Christmas Eve dinner in Playa del Carmen.




This year, though, we’re happily staying home. Sometimes I have to pinch myself…because now we live in Mexico. In Merida, where we live, there won’t be a shortage of things to do during the holidays. Christmas music in the parks, Christmas trovas (typical Yucatecan romantic music) in concert halls, and a special Christmas children’s choir in one the oldest cathedral in the Americas across from on the city’s huge main plaza.

This year, though, we’re happily staying home. Sometimes I have to pinch myself…because now we live in Mexico. In Merida, where we live, there won’t be a shortage of things to do during the holidays. Christmas music in the parks, Christmas trovas (typical Yucatecan romantic music) in concert halls, and a special Christmas children’s choir in one the oldest cathedral in the Americas across from on the city’s huge main plaza.

The plaza is decked out for the holidays, of course, as are most city parks, streets, and intersections. A nighttime drive down the Paseo de Montejo is spectacularly sparkly, with millions of twinkling yellow lights wrapped around the palm trees that line this gorgeous mansion-flanked boulevard, known as Merida’s Champs d’Elysee.

Our son (now in his 30s) and his girlfriend are here in Merida for Christmas. We’ve spent some time sightseeing in this beautiful city we now call home. (No matter how long you live here there is always something new to discover.)

We were with friends on Christmas Eve, dining on traditional holiday fare, both ours and Yucatecan. Tonight we’ll dine with them under the stars …the weather couldn’t be lovelier than at this time of year.

In two days, we’ll pile in the car for the three-hour drive to the Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. We’re treating ourselves to a four-night stay at a luxurious beach spa resort. (You won’t believe how little this is costing us…but that’s a report for another day.)

New Year’s Eve will find us at Lake Bacalar, near the Mexican border with Belize. Dan and a friend plan to grab their guitars and serenade us long into 2010. As is tradition in Mexico, we’ll all be wearing red underwear for good luck. To hedge our bets, at the stroke of midnight we’ll eat 12 grapes for good luck in each of the coming months of the new year.

But seriously, I feel lucky already…




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