Slow progress is still progress ✨

Issue 3: 8 min read

🚚 Dani’s Doings: Ya girl is officially moving to Spain NEXT MONTH! A timeline breakdown of how we got to this point + a resource for those who want to move to another country on a Digital Nomad Visa (age 35+ friendly!)

💸 Money Matters: The economy continues to be on fire, but what’s new?

✈️ Travel Tings: Tips on how to save money on travel, plus more!

🫶🏽 Community Corner: My updated top travel picks on Amazon, and a call for your referrals to support me in my creator journey 🙏🏽

It’s official! I’m moving to Spain NEXT MONTH! 🇪🇸✈️🚚

The flights are booked and my boyfriend and I are officially moving to Spain on December 2, 2023. It’s been such a wild (and tedious) 13 month ride to get to this point, but we couldn’t be more excited! Here’s the timeline of the whole process:

👩🏽‍💻 August 1, 2022: At my last job, I began leading a Product Marketing team where my direct reports and cross-functional teams were mostly based in Europe. I started learning how to navigate the timezone challenges.

🤔 August 6, 2022: I tweeted that I’d like to take advantage of a Working Holiday Visa in Europe while I was still met the requirements (under 35). It’d also help solve my timezone challenges with work. I started looking into the visa process.

🇵🇹 August 20, 2022. After speaking with my boyfriend about it, we decided we were going to make it happen together. Portugal (Lisbon, specifically) was our top pick.

🏠 January 29, 2023: I sold my first home! I decided (for maaaaany reasons) that I did not want to rent it out while I was away and would rather just sell it completely. I, along with all of my belongings, moved in with my mom in the suburbs temporarily.

😬 February 7, 2023: My partner and I went to Portugal to check out Lisbon and Porto to confirm that’s the place we wanted to move. We weren’t feeling it after all. We made a plan to visit Malaga in a few months as the backup plan.

👋🏽 May 4, 2023: I got laid off from my job (after taking an 8-week stress leave due to burnout). This was OK though because the visa my partner and I were pursuing was not contingent on work sponsorship from any company. The plan continues!

🇪🇸 May 24, 2023: My boyfriend and I landed in Malaga. We stayed for a week, fell in love with it, and decided that’s where we wanted to move.

▶️ August 22, 2023: We officially kicked off the visa process to move to Spain.

📬 September 27, 2023: We officially got our visas in the mail! Watch me open it (and slightly ugly cry) here.

✈️ December 2, 2023: We leave for Spain!

It took just over a year, but slow progress is still progress. We already found the apartment we’ll live in until at least May, and we could not be more excited to see where this journey takes us. If we absolutely love it, we may look into Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa to extend our stay 👀.

Speaking of Digital Nomad Visas, they’re a great alternative for anyone who isn’t eligible for the Youth Mobility/Working Holiday Visa. Here’s a list of some countries that currently offer this + the requirements.

• The new TFSA (tax-free savings account) contribution limit for 2024 is $7000 (up from $6500 in 2023). Source. This is personally my faaave account to invest in and enjoy tax-free gains. You can learn more about TFSAs here. For my U.S. readers 🇺🇲, the Roth IRA 2024 contribution limit will also be $7000. Source.

• A new study by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) shows that Canadian tech workers make a whopping 46% less than their U.S. counterparts. **pretends to be shocked 😑**. Source. I personally learned this early in my tech career when chatting about pay transparently with my U.S. co-workers.

• The super popular budgeting app, Mint, is shutting down. Source. For those looking for a great alternative (in spreadsheet form), check out ohhyoubudget’s budgeting dashboards (and her TikTok for awesome budgeting content)!

• Canada’s grocery stores are pledging to help freeze food prices. The Prime Minister even said that Canada could impose new taxes on grocery store chains if they don’t come up with a plan. Source. I’d like to see it, because food prices are out of control. Speaking of food prices, a new report from Food Banks Canada shows food bank usage across Canada is the highest it’s been since they started surveying in 1989.

• Mortgage rates are at their highest point in 23 years. It probably won’t get any better in November. Source. It’s looking really scary out there for home ownership (and rent isn’t much better).

This month’s sponsor: Mydoh

November is Financial Literacy Month, and if there’s one thing I know about money management, it’s that building financial literacy as early as possible in life will give you a head start at achieving financial freedom. 

That’s why I love Mydoh! Mydoh makes it easy for teens to build good financial habits like tracking their earnings and saving for their goals. Parents can get involved too by conveniently paying their kids’ and teens’ allowance directly through the Mydoh app!

Download the Mydoh app today and use the code DANICA15 for a $15 credit.

• New press feature alert! I was featured in MoneySense and I’m sharing allllllll of my travel hacks to help you save money on your next trip. Read the article here.

• National Geographic released their “30 most exciting destinations to visit in 2024” list. Their picks are… interesting? Lol. Read them here.

• Carnival Cruises passengers won a lawsuit against the cruise line after there was a COVID-19 outbreak on board in March 2020 that was linked to 900 cases and 28 deaths. The ruling marks the first-ever successful class action lawsuit against a cruise operator! Source.

• The new Europe travel authorization requirement (called ETIAS) that will require Canadians and U.S. citizens to pay 7 euros (or ~$10.25 CAD/$7.40 USD) to enter 30 countries in Europe has been delayed from 2024 to 2025. Source.

• Airbnb’s CEO said their platform is “fundamentally broken” as its profits are shrinking, and its competitors like Vrbo are eating them upppp. Source.

• I just updated my fave travel products list on my Amazon storefront, which you can check out here! This travel mirror has been a lifesaver for getting my makeup on point in dark hotel rooms 💁🏽‍♀️.

• As holiday shopping season is among us, this is your reminder to use Rakuten to earn cashback on your purchases. I’ve earned over $1000 from using it 🤑! Here is my referral code to get you an extra $30 bonus when you sign up, and here’s a video breakdown on how it works.

• A callout for partnerships: A lot of my business comes through referrals from y’all, and I appreciate it (and you) so much! If you work for/with a company that would be interested in partnering with me on anything travel or personal finance related in 2024, please hit me up! I’m also open to new press opportunities or podcast features and speaking opportunities.

_{These may include affiliate links where I earn a small commission (and you pay nothing!), which helps me to continue to grow and produce content like this newsletter. Thanks for your support!}