What if the money part was easier than you think?
In this episode of Expat on a Budget, I talk with Leizl Smith, a South African expat who met her Dutch husband on a cruise ship in 2004, spent nearly a decade raising and homeschooling two kids while living half the year at sea, and now earns her entire living online — enough to cover the mortgage and then some, working about three hours a day. She’s currently in the Netherlands and packing up for her next chapter: a move to the Caribbean island of Curaçao.
We get into the thing most people are too afraid to ask about: how you actually pay for a life abroad. Leizl is refreshingly honest about the road it took to get here — the high-ticket affiliate venture that left her so discouraged she nearly walked away from making money online for good, the long stretch of working hard for almost nothing, and the quieter shift last year that finally made it click.
If the money question is what’s been holding you back, this conversation might change how you see what’s possible.
We also get into:
how she covers her mortgage working roughly three hours a day
the affiliate model she swears by — and why she loves not having to create the product
the expensive detour that nearly made her quit
how she uses AI to create content (and photos) without being “techy”
getting stranded in Costa Rica in 2020 and how that reshaped everything
why she believes you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin
If you’ve ever told yourself you couldn’t afford to leave, or that you’re not tech-savvy enough, or that it’s too late to build something new — this one gently calls that bluff.
Leizl’s takeaway: the thing that finally worked was the one she almost scrolled right past.
Find Liezl and Learn More About Her Flexible Income Club!
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You can also find a video of this podcast on YouTube if you’d rather watch there 😃
Ready to Plan Your Own Move?
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Personalized Consulting: I offer à la carte Consultations, an asynchronous Async option for busy schedules, and comprehensive Packages.
Online Class: Learn my entire framework in my “How to Move Abroad” course, designed to take you from start to dream destination.
Free Resources: If you’re just starting, check out my free “How to Live Abroad” series.
I also have some amazing offers from International Living that may interest you!
If you’re specifically interested in moving to Portugal, this is a great resource: Portugal Made Easy
There’s also a wonderful guide to help you Live Better Overseas
And this!!! How to Move out of the US
My Expat Toolkit (The Tools I Use & Trust)
Banking & Money:
Wise: For transferring money internationally. Use my referral code for a fee-free transfer up to $600.
Charles Schwab: The best bank account for expats. No foreign transaction fees and unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: My go-to credit card for travel hacking and earning points, with no foreign transaction fees.
Travel & Connectivity:
ExpressVPN: The VPN I use to keep my connection secure. Get three extra months with my link.
eSim Nomad: The most reliable eSIM I’ve found for staying connected on the go.
Home Exchanges:
Kindred: The home exchange platform I used to stay in a gorgeous L.A. bungalow for three weeks.
HomeExchange: The world's leading home exchange platform, connecting over 200,000 members across 155 countries for reciprocal or points-based home swaps.
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