Are you thinking about becoming a Digital Nomad Family? Let me tell you, contrary to many prejudices and limited mindsets, it’s easier than you think! Because the nomadic life is not exclusively reserved for young, childless people – families can also escape the rat race.
We took the plunge into life as a Digital Nomad Family in 2019. Back then, we booked a one-way ticket to Thailand with our two-year-old daughter, Lila. Today, there are four of us, and we can’t imagine a different lifestyle. Let me show you how we approached it.
The Biggest Changes You Will Face as a Digital Nomad Family
But first, let’s start with some fundamentals. Because life as a full-time traveling family is profoundly different from conventional life at home. Is it easier? Absolutely not! Can it make you happier? One hundred percent!
Missing Routines
The biggest change for us was the fact that established routines no longer exist. And that’s something that makes life with small children more difficult. Especially when you move to a new place, you have to get used to everything again: a new bed, a new environment, a foreign language, cultural differences, etc. Even the simple task of “finding a good breakfast cafe” can be an exhausting undertaking. That’s why I advise you: Say goodbye to the idea that you will keep all your routines and procedures the same. Make friends with the fact that you have to be more flexible and adaptable. That can also be a great thing, believe me!
More Time Together
Although this may be one of the reasons why you wanted to become a Digital Nomad Family in the first place, it can also be very challenging to spend a lot more time together. From now on, it will probably no longer be the case that you all say goodbye to each other at 8 a.m. and only meet up again in the evening (at least that was our daily routine in Germany). Especially when you are relocating, you will have to work well together as a team.
In our case, my husband and I also often work together, whether at home, in a co-working space, or in a café. What’s more, you usually don’t have any friends in your new place of residence in the first couple of days/weeks, so you automatically do a lot more on your own as a family. This adjustment can be a challenge at first. But I can say from experience that you quickly get used to it, and it takes your relationship with your partner and children to a new level. I can no longer imagine spending less time with my family.
No Support From Family and Friends
In Germany, we were used to our parents, godparents, or even neighbors looking after the children from time to time. We had a good social network and many people around us whom we trusted. As a Digital Nomad Family that regularly changes location, things are different. You have to pay people to look after your children. And finding a good nanny that you trust and that the kids love is hard (in this article I describe how we find wonderful nannies in Asia).
So, be prepared that it will be much harder to have a date night or to get support with childcare in general. On the other hand, for parents who currently have less support at home, the nomadic lifestyle can also be a blessing. This is because nannies are much more affordable in many parts of the world than in Western countries. On top of this, in Southeast Asia, for example, children are much more loved, accepted, and welcomed in society. That makes life as a family so much easier!
Fewer Toys for Everyone
Goodbye to material ballast! This change may be difficult for many, but for us, it was quite easy and even a bit healing. As a nomadic family, you have to limit yourself to the bare essentials. In our case, this means that most of our clothes have to be practical, and we can only have a maximum of two pairs of shoes each. We have a small suitcase with the technical equipment we need for work and a small suitcase for the children’s toys. Plus a large suitcase with clothes and that’s it. In my opinion, having to live with less makes you more creative, more environmentally friendly, and freer in your mind.
Your Problems Shift
I found this change particularly interesting. When we became a Digital Nomad Family, I thought that all our problems would disappear. I thought wrong! They just change. In conventional life in Germany, I used to worry about things like the weather, lack of family time, and the high cost of living. Today, I worry about things like schooling for my children, deciding where we’re going to move to next, and socializing.
So it’s not that you’re suddenly carefree, but you’re faced with new challenges. However, I also have to say that you get more and more practiced and relaxed. This means that it becomes easier every year to plan a move, look after a new school, and make new friends.
A Lot of Criticism
Unfortunately, this is part and parcel of all drastic life decisions. And especially when it comes to children, we parents are already used to criticism, right? Be prepared for everyone, really everyone, to tell you what they think of your decision, how terrible it will be for your children and how much this person would never go down this path. Most of the criticism is either out of concern (usually from family members who only want the best for you) or jealousy (from people who actually think it’s great but would never dare to do it themselves). The most important thing here is to realize that this criticism is not your problem. Spend more time talking to people you can learn from and who will support you. Those who criticize you now out of jealousy will soon no longer be in your life anyway.
How to Become a Digital Nomad Family
The Decision Making
Once the idea of becoming a Digital Nomad has been sparked, you should have a family meeting and brainstorm. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Can we really imagine being away from family and friends for long periods?
- Are we open and flexible enough to get in touch with foreign people and cultures (over and over again)?
- Can we generate income while traveling? If not, how much time do we need to make it possible?
- Can we legally pull our kids out of their current school institution?
- Are we willing to decide for our children to live drastically different lives?
- How great is our need for security, and what do we need to do to satisfy it?
- Which country do we want to travel to first as a Digital Nomad Family? What might a life there look like?
The Preparation
We started preparing about a year before our life as a Digital Nomad Family was to start. These included various aspects. To make it more transparent for you, I have ordered them chronologically.
1 Year before the Start
Job
That’s a big step: quit the job! Dizzy and I both started our own businesses and had a year to build our client base. We needed to start so early beforehand because it still allowed us to meet our clients in person, get to know them, and build a trusting relationship.
But of course, there are several alternatives. Maybe you don’t have to quit your job at all, but your employer allows you to work remotely.
Information and Inspiration
Not a week has gone by that we haven’t read about other Digital Nomad Families. We have watched vlogs and documentaries, read blogs, and researched through portals like Nomad List to be as prepared as possible.
6 Months before the Start
Apartment
We started looking for a new tenant for our apartment early on and discussed the detailed handover. That way, we had no unpleasant surprises regarding painting and renovations.
Dealing with criticism
Yes, they will come: the critics. We were criticized by pretty much everyone for our decision. With the family, it was understandable because, of course, grandparents don’t want to let their children and grandchildren go. But there was also a lot of uninformed spite from the surrounding community.
Unfortunately, you have to stand above that. Try to explain objectively that you have considered this decision carefully and that you think it is the right one. It was a long, hard process for us.
3 Months before the Start
School and Kindergarten
We canceled the kindergarten and all state subsidies a few months before we started. In Germany, that was a huge step because you wait about a year to get a childcare place here. Nobody voluntarily cancels it.
Contracts
Electricity, water, telephone, internet, bus ticket, and so on – you may now free yourself from all you needed for your old life. Cancel everything on time and revoke all your direct debit authorizations.
My tip: Go through your account transactions and check all debits so you don’t forget any contractual partner.
Health Insurance
Please do not forget this point! We have canceled our statutory health insurance in Germany and arranged a five-year travel health insurance plan with Hanse Merkur. This insurance does not cover vaccinations or scheduled births, but it does cover emergencies, hospitalization, and treatment. We have used the insurance very, very often. I wrote a blog article about the best health insurance for Digital Nomads. I hope it helps you!
Belongings
Now it’s time to part with your belongings. It’s difficult at first, but it gets easier, believe me! We sold almost all of our furniture, decorations, and clothes and ended up with four boxes still stored in my parents’ yard.
My tip: Digitize as much as you can to safe space (e.g. photos, documents)! And give items you care about to people you care about.
Taxes
If you want to try the Digital Nomad Family life first, you don’t have to worry about this point yet. You will probably continue to pay your taxes in your home country. After two years, when we finally decided to deregister from Germany, we changed our tax structure.
Savings
Everyone has a different need for security. Ours, despite children, is not so high. Our emergency reserve when we started was just $10,700 (10,000 EUR). I know of people who began their lives as a Digital Nomad Family with much more. But also of some who had less.
Accounts and Finances
For a Digital Nomad Family, paying the fewest possible fees when withdrawing money, having reasonable exchange rates, and being protected against theft and card loss are essential. We have spread our money across different banks and credit cards. It was divided between DKB, the online bank N26, and Wise. On top of that, we chose an Amex card to collect and redeem points when flying. Here, too, there are countless possibilities. Check out which offer suits you best.
Retirement Plan
A difficult topic! Especially for Digital Nomad Families, who generally have a different relationship to a conventional life with pensions and such. Therefore, again: everyone has a different need for security. We let our old fund pension savings plans continue to run. In the meantime, we believe more in other investment opportunities and are more broadly positioned.
2 Weeks before the Start
An Assistant at Home
You will most likely need a home address for correspondence (for example, for sending new credit cards). This means you will need someone to receive your mail, store it, and send you important things. In our case, this task is done by my mom and my brother. And they do a great job! But don’t worry if you can’t find a helper. Many professional companies will provide you with an actual address, take your mail, scan it, and email it.
Equipment
Take an afternoon and check through all your gear: Do you have everything you need for the job? Do you have enough suitcases? Is there anything you need to order or get? My most extensive advice here is: relax! We were a bit overprepared at the beginning. You can get most of what you need anywhere else in the world (and usually even cheaper than in Europe). Here’s a list of apps you might need.
2 Days before the Start
Party Time!
This was the most challenging part for me: The farewell! To make it easier and more beautiful for everyone, we decided to have an afternoon farewell party for friends and family. That way, the goodbye was not so sad; everyone could laugh together and leave us with good wishes.
The Start into Life as a Digital Nomad Family
Now, the day has come. You have completed everything, are on your way to the airport, and can hardly believe your luck. Congratulations on making it this far! 99.9 percent of the people out there will never dare to take this step. The best – and probably most challenging – time of your life is waiting for you!
Digital Nomad Family Trends and Stats
The landscape of Digital Nomad Families is increasingly becoming a focal point of research and discussion. A 2024 survey by Cloudwards reveals that a significant 24% of American Digital Nomads are navigating the nomadic lifestyle with their children. This demographic trend highlights a shift toward families seeking adventure, cultural exposure, and adaptability for their children alongside their professional commitments.
From an age perspective, the Digital Nomad community is diverse, with Millennials making up 47%, followed by Gen Z at 17%, and Gen X at 23%. Interestingly, the Baby Boomer generation (born 1948 to 1964), once constituting 27% of Digital Nomads, saw a decline to 13% post-pandemic, reflecting a shift towards younger Digital Nomads. Globally, Digital Nomads come from various countries, with over half (52%) originating from the United States. Other significant contributions come from the United Kingdom (8%), Russia (5%), Canada (4%), Germany (3%), and France (3%).
As for earnings, a notable portion (36%) of Digital Nomads report annual incomes between $100,000 and $250,000, significantly higher than the average working American salary of around $60,000 in 2024.
Are you planning to become a Digital Nomad Family? Check out my book “Become a Digital Nomad in 6 Months”. Thanks for reading!
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