My EXTREME budget to move | Saving 80%

[@SustainablyVegan]

Happy Sunday everyone! It feels like AGES since we've done a premiere - really looking forward to chatting to you all, all about budgeting, my extreme budget to move abroad and how I'm going about saving 80% of my income. Big disclaimer, since January I have not had to pay rent so this is a massive privilege contributing to my savings goals. If I was still paying rent in London I would be able to save around 50% of my monthly income to reach my goals by October!

[@fibromiteready2fight809]

As an American teen on SSI (Supplemental security income) due to disability and poverty, watching budgeting videos and how much effort goes into to saving really cements how the legal inability to save on ssi is designed to keep people in poverty.

[@raapyna8544]

Similar in Finland - you need to dry up your reserves before you can get supplemental income, and the buroucracy is unreliable schedule-wise. They might pay you late or not pay you for a month if you make a mistake or try to change from one kind of income to another. Meanwhile you have to pay rent and food every month.

[@ChampagneandWaffles]

While you may not be able to save in a traditional bank account, you could save cash or buy other assets like silver or gold.

[@lynnoorman2144]

@@ChampagneandWaffles um I get the impression that you have no idea how little social security money is in most countries. The money is just enough to live on - very very frugally. You might do what I did and have a penny jar into which, at the end of the week, all change went but seriously silver and gold??? I think not!

[@ChampagneandWaffles]

@@lynnoorman2144 I can only speak for the US, which is where the comment I was replying to was talking about it. Yes, social security is a very small amount and saving would still be very difficult. However I bought a silver coin for less than $50 recently. If you were able to save $1/week, you could buy one silver coin in less than a year. It is not a large saving, no, but again I was replying to the original commenter who mentioned how hard it is to legally save while on SSI. Since you are limited as to how much cash you can have, I was offering an alternative idea to cash.

[@AmandaJYoungs]

I was appalled when I realised that in the UK, one of the richest countries in the world, our state benefits system doesn't even pay you enough support to keep you at the poverty line! There is a lot wrong with the system here, and it sounds like it's much the same in the USA from your comment.

[@marycharlebois6627]

A budget is not just a collection of numbers but rather it is an expression of our values, goals, and aspirations. Over time… a budget creates freedom and generates empowerment. I’m really looking forward to hearing your opinions and strategies for budgeting, Immy, as well as those of others here in the comments. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💰

[@rh7968]

Ok oh I like this

[@site_is_down]

This is really a great definition of what a budget is - from an emotional, psychological and spiritual aspect. Thank you for your insights!

[@marycharlebois6627]

@@site_is_down Thanks for taking the time to share this awesome compliment. I appreciate your kind words. Have a great upcoming weekend. Ⓜ️ary

[@Sky-Child]

This is the best way to describe/think about a budget ever. Wonderful!

[@marycharlebois6627]

@@Sky-Child Thanks, I really appreciate your kind words. Ⓜ️ary

[@alexfrei8662]

It's so moving to see how you are dealing with your relocation, while doing literally the same thing! Me and my husband plan to move to another country in sept\oct, because of war. We are from Moscow, and it keeps harder and scarier to stay in Russia with anti-war views each week. I moved from city to parent's countryside house, and currently going through aaaaall my belongins (wich is a lot!), again and again, and going on the budget to save as much as I can for moving and living in the free world. Your videos and your journey fills my heart with warmth and hope.

[@marycharlebois6627]

Sending you support and strength Alex as you and your husband plan for a more liberating life and a secure location to live. Sending warmth and hope to you. Ⓜ️ary

[@alexfrei8662]

@@marycharlebois6627 thank you!

[@raapyna8544]

I watched Vika do a similar move recently. She and her husband and daughter moved to Georgia for now. I wish you well in you preparations and hope you can do a little bit of dreaming while you're at it.

[@alexfrei8662]

@@raapyna8544 thank you!

[@Veracity13]

This war made me think what if Putin would want to attack Estonia and I will have to flee like millions of Ukrainians… This thought put me into the saving mode - if I only have to grab my elderly mom, my cat and passport, I’d better have enough money (cash or debit card) to be able to buy a ticket and survive in another country without work for a few months… Scary thoughts those are… Thank you for being anti war

[@majabrynskog7739]

The cost of living crisis is becomming more and more real. Id like to hear your thoughts on frugality vs sustainability! Where do they overlap, where are they in direct conflict to each other? Btw really enjoyed your video on zero waste and self optimise. Wise words. Thanks!

[@site_is_down]

Hello Maja, I think there's no real distinction as to frugality and sustainability, perhaps they can both complement each other (well, that's just my thoughts 😅) If you're fond of learning things about financial matters, I hope you can visit my channel as you may find some of my videos interesting. See you around 😊

[@SustainablyVegan]

Hey Maja, thanks to you comment I've now made a video on frugality vs sustainability! xx

[@dolunayd296]

Great tips about saving money ♡ It just suddenly made me feel sad that I have to live in extreme budget every single day in Turkey because of the extreme price of everything and low salary in my (and almost any) job. Sometimes, for people who live in third world countries, it is hard to look how European people live their lives but watching you give me a cozy and hopeful feeling everytime. Thanks for sharing!

[@lilylebowsky5908]

I so do not understand this;; TURKEY is soo self sufficient great large population, it really is quiet strong so not sure why this struggle. Hope you get on ok, also consider if you have any space to plant your own food even indoors

[@Liza_newman]

I hope that this isn’t invasive/ pushing a boundary but id be super super interested in a discussion around the decision to move to the US with the differences in healthcare and political climate (gun laws for example). I’m in the UK and my fiancé is Dutch and we are in a place where we are trying to decide where to stay (we currently just travel back and forth) and its a very difficult decision factoring in that in the Netherlands healthcare is private but schools here are better and our children would likely have a better education here. if its something you’re comfortable in talking about it would be interesting to learn about thoughts you have around it! ❤️

[@numivis7807]

Maybe just try both? My boyfriend is from New Zealand and i lived there with him for the past 2.5 years. Now we are moving back to Germany because I want to start studying and it’s for free in Germany. I think planning and Just deciding things sounds good on paper but it doesn’t mean that it will feel right. It can be helpful to just try it out in one country for some years and see how it feels. :) the UK and the Netherlands are close together and both really great places to live.

[@Liza_newman]

@@numivis7807 I think its what we will do if im honest! we have a lot of privilege in immigration because they’re very close and my partners job can be transferred to the UK as a highly skilled immigrant so i think it’ll end up being a case of living in the and seeing how we like it as a couple haha. Its great hearing about other couples like us so thank you for your input i really appreciate it!!

[@amandanevius4764]

She said in an earlier q&a video that they’re doing the US first and later bringing him to the UK because it’s easier for some reason. I think it’s in the q&a she did with her fiancé?

[@Liza_newman]

@@amandanevius4764 ah thank you!

[@jillbeans1573]

I had no idea that visas cost so much. I'm a bit shocked. I do have one possible suggestion. Consider having your partner contact a couple of local bike shops to have them be on the lookout for a good used bike for you. If the shop knows that they have a buyer for a trade in, they could let him know. You might then sell your bike in the UK and save that shipping cost. Just a thought.

[@Eucis93]

What helped me to save on an extreme budget was to start by establishing an emergency fund. I didn’t even think to start saving towards my actual goal (well, for me it was a debt, not a goal 😅) before that. I knew there would be months where my bills were higher or I had an unexpected expense and wouldn’t be able to meet my saving goal, and I didn’t want to compromise by saving less simply because I hadn’t planned for that one extra expense. Some people like saving the same amount every month, I personally like to ”super save” during the summer months and save less during winter. My expenses are around 50-60% less during summer so I usually have an annual period of extreme budgeting to boost my savings 😊

[@marycharlebois6627]

From my experience, budgeting isn’t about restricting what you can spend… instead it’s about creating possibilities through self-discipline. The budgeting experience can be a bit of a roller coaster, but one needs just a little bit of grit to work through the lows. It goes back to that saying “Discipline = Freedom”. Great video Immy… also… I would love to learn about your vision board concept. This sounds like a very versatile and helpful tool. Thanks for the awesome video today!! Thanks also for your fantastic content on Patreon. Love it all!! 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💕

[@LeahandLevi]

This was a big reason why our move to the Netherlands got cancelled. The logistics of moving our life to another country (the Netherlands in particular) was VERY expensive and complex. As self employed people it makes everything more difficult somehow. Our revised plan to drive to Mexico and back has somehow been a lot cheaper and easier to organize... we hope to make the move one day but it will have be another time. 😢 Good luck with your move Immy! Maybe we can connect on our trip?

[@SustainablyVegan]

Yeah I totally understand that! That's honestly WILD that it is cheaper for you to drive to Mexico... WILD! Maybe when we move back to Europe you'll both be on your way too. Guys... not even a question haha we MUST connect. It was be awesome !! xx

[@LeahandLevi]

@@SustainablyVegan Yay! I'll dm you about where you're living!

[@simones.3811]

Great video! Definitely encouraging me to start being more conscious of my spending habits! Just wanted to make sure you also keep in mind healthcare costs when moving to the U.S. because we don't have universal healthcare coverage like the UK does

[@Angie-cm4si]

So excited for your new chapter across the pond.... that bus journey is expensive slightly less here in London ❤❤❤

[@neurolotte2406]

Very honest video, I appreciate how you recognize the privileges you have in your situation. Would you show us how you create the digital vision board? I think I'm not alone when I say that it would be tremendously useful! Thank you!

[@site_is_down]

I agree! Very straightforward and very informative at the same time.

[@goaticorn8702]

Happy for you making big moves and changes! I'm sure you've done a lot of reading on where you'll go and what the political climate is like and etc but I do always feel obligated, when I see things like this, to let people know the state of our country in case they are unaware or may not realize the significance. The economy has been struggling (as in every country, ofc) and we will, at this point almost certainly, be entering an economic downturn soon. This will make it infinitely more difficult, regardless of where you end up, to find and then keep a job. We're setting ourselves up for a baaadd time rn. Additionally, there's a large legal case currently being looked at being overturned with regards to women's rights. It doesn't really matter which way it goes, there will almost certainly be riots/at the very least unrest from either side of that bill. I have chosen to forgo summer/early fall travel this year for that reason. It would be worth looking at what places have had the worst riots in recent years to inform. (Portland was among the worst places. I had family just outside of Portland who remained fine though. Drove through 2021 and it looked hella bad still) Along this vein, the next presidential election will also, almost certainly, be particularly violent. It has the potential to be a turning point for our country. I am planning, and hoping, to be out of the country before vote counts start come in and, like many people (on either side, lol, I hear it from conservatives and liberals) am considering setting myself up to be able to leave permanently if necessary. Might be worth budgeting for a visit back to your home during that time. In conjunction with the legal case being overturned above, while I don't know your opinions on anything abortion-esque, should the legal case be overturned abortion laws will be individual to each state and VERY specific. These rules vary from any time, a certain amount of months, or 6 weeks. In some states there will be no exceptions for medical risk unless you are actively dying. I would strongly encourage you, if you haven't already, to look at a list or map of what states will have what rules and choose accordingly because getting out of those states, should you need to, may prove difficult later on due to financial or legal restrictions. Lastly, I feeeeell like I should warn you that your particular lifestyle of zero waste and focusing on less consumption etc is highly politicized in the US and in many rural/conservative areas, even within our most liberal states, you may find yourself somewhat, uh, well *harassed*. You can certainly live in these areas and maintain your lifestyle but you'd need to be quiet about it. Also, most areas of the US don't have bulk stores. Those are kinda easier to find in big cities or random hippie enclave towns. Lmao. You can order bulk online from a few places I believe but it's more of a hit or miss kinda thing. Anyways, the hope here is not to scare you away or whatever just provide insight in the event your partner has not already.

[@Kittenmom2]

I’m been doing the fire movement for the last 3 years. I save 65% of my income. It’s hard but definitely but you can do it

[@lynnoorman2144]

And so worth retiring early! I retired at 58 - 10 long frugal years to save up for it. My friends of the same age still in the teaching profession are all exhausted and beginning to get ill before they can enjoy the freedom of retirement. I am still having to be frugal, and, with the cost of living crisis, I'm having to double down on a few things but my frugality is now a habit so it won't impact me too much.

[@shannonchristie-wickham8453]

I live the idea of a project board or something tangible to look at. It will help me when making decisions. Learning to cook healthy, inexpensive meals needs to be a priority, too

[@HolisticTake]

Congratulations! I'm happy for you! I'm interested in how you'll make a vision board digitally and be able to keep it in the forefront of your mind digitally

[@jocelynk3489]

What a great video. I went vegan just over a month ago, so budgeting my time has been the biggest roadblock. I’ve been relying on packaged foods, but I’m trying to nail down some staples to prepare at the beginning of the week. Thank you for all that you do- you were definitely a contributing factor to my decision.

[@marycharlebois6627]

Hey Jocelyn… if I could make one tiny suggestion that was really helpful to me when I went plant-based I would say to learn as much as you can about pulses and legumes. They are so versatile and have been a huge staple in our diet. They are good sources of protein and fibre. They are also very budget friendly and easy to work with in your kitchen. Ⓜ️ary🌿

[@jocelynk3489]

@@marycharlebois6627 thank you so much! Lentils have been a saving grace right now- I’ll definitely be expanding my knowledge!

[@teengodees4040]

Hi Jocelyn, I can think of the following recipes that, at least for me, are relatively quick and simple. First: roasted chickpeas. So far, my favorite versions are seasoning them with paprika, roasted garlic, and salt, or salt and Italian seasoning. Because I am using canned chickpeas, I tend to rinse them and leave them in water for at least 1/2 an hour. After that, I turn on the oven and place them in the oven dish and let them cook until they look relatively dry. After that, I take them out, throw my seasonings to taste along with avocado oil (you can use whatever oil you like), and put them back in. My oven does not have temperature measures except high, medium, and low, so I tend to know when they are ready because they look crispy and start to smell divine.

[@teengodees4040]

Another recipe I can think of is with tofu. You can make tofu scramble, or you can fry your tofu. In this case, you can cut your tofu into cubes and season them with salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Or even with the same seasonings, I mentioned for the chickpeas. On this occasion, I recommend avocado oil over any other oil because it remains stable when heated. I prefer to season my tofu before cooking it, and basically, you will know it is ready because it becomes crispy and golden. If you are adding minced garlic, wait until the tofu is golden to add it., just a tip that works for me. Also, if you have vegetables and legumes, you can make what I call "leftovers pasta." Basic ingredients would be an onion, bell pepper or sweet pepper, carrot, mushrooms, OR chickpeas. Throw everything to cook in a pan with a little bit of water and cover it to allow all vegetables to cook. Once they start to soften, add salt and pepper to taste. Meanwhile, cook your pasta of choice in boiling water with a bit of salt. Once both things are cooked, you can make a sauce with hummus (the youtube channel "tasty" has a good hummus recipe) by taking hummus and mixing it with water and yellow mustard. Add water by bits until you get the consistency you like. Then mix everything together.

[@teengodees4040]

I'm on the sweeter side of breakfast, so I would usually bake things like muffins, sweetbreads, pancakes, or oatmeal. When it comes to oatmeal, this is my recipe: 1/2 cup of oats, 1/4 cup of almond flour, 1/2 cup plant milk, 1/2 cup water, 1-2 tbsp flaxseeds, hemp seeds or chia seeds, a pinch of cinnamon, agave syrup to taste. I mix all ingredients together in a bowl and add a handful of mixed berries and a tbsp of peanut butter. When it comes to almond flour, I just buy a bag of almonds and turn them into flour by throwing them into my blender. Adding them into my oatmeal adds protein and helps keep me fuller. When it comes to sweet bread (banana bread, chocolate bread, pumpkin bread I would recommend you to check out the web page of the KZbinrs "make it dairy-free" since they have straightforward and delicious recipes for these types of breads. Hope this helps!

[@theresalwayssomethingtobui944]

The stuff with the visa and bank accounts and social security number is bonkers! But yeah, having a buffer is important. Thanks to you talking about money I am working again on planning a budget for the very long term goals like getting an extra private pension fund or life insurance. Thank you!

[@ZeroWasteFamily]

This is so inspiring and good luck to you. This video bring me back to 5 years ago when my husband decided to be a stay at home dad so we lost his income but learned to live on an extreme budget and funny how all three kids remember this time as the best despite that we spend no money.

[@JehanineMelmoth]

Good luck! All you skills re sustainability will serve you well.

[@leahaf808]

Love this! I'm definitely interested in how you balance shopping at zero waste places for food, and extreme saving - while great, those places are pretty expensive compared to big supermarkets. Would you maybe incorporate some yellow-sticker shopping? Also the idea of selling your unused things is one of the most sustainable ways of decluttering imo - if someone's buying your stuff, you know that they want it. Excited to see how this goes - best of luck!

[@leilathecuttlefish]

I'm moving to France soon, so love the budgeting and downsizing videos

[@khabibpogosyan2587]

Good luck with everything with moving to US! Healthcare in US not cheap even with insurance, life happens, anyway, I hope everything works out!

[@endersmith162]

I'm doing a no-spend challenge for the month of June! Only thing I can buy is fuel for getting to work. Finally going to whittle down my freezer and pantry. Best wishes on your plans!

[@embraceintentions]

Paying yourself first and learning to do more things yourself are going to be incredibly useful on your extreme budget journey. Sounds like you have a really exciting future to look forward to 💚 Good luck with the budget!

[@sadiebelcreations]

Saving this so I can watch it next time I'm thinking of making a stupid purchase! I love the idea of the vision board too, definitely going to try that. Thank you!!

[@lettucespace]

Honestly, you can get a bike here for cheaper than the price of shipping I'd imagine. Craglist and local good wills/FB boards will have plenty options within 40-80 USD.

[@gettingtherenow]

It's awesome to know that you are coming to the US. I hope we could meet (fingers crossed). I went through the same journey over the last 2 years. I moved from India to the USA. I was saving 80% of my salary for months so I could have this cushion to move. I am glad I did that but still, the INR to USD was not profitable for me at all. I ended up spending most of that money in trivial things like credit card interest ( I had a flight canceled when I was frantically booking any flight to come here during peak covid and that refund came after almost a year of my moving here so I had to pay for the interest of the Credit card), small makeup things I need to do my makeup on our wedding, just trivial wedding stuff like a small piece of jewelry elt, AND of Indian food.. Whenever I was getting homesick, I was ordering Uber eats Indian food (a big mistake).... anyways things were not bad as I still had some and I am glad I saved all that so I could get a sense of being independent. The hardest thing was not being able to earn for the last 1 year. I just now got my Greencard after a complete year and I am so glad. Now I can work and also now my husband and I can be a little relaxed for the next two years. If you need any help understanding anything during this process then do let me know... II would love to help you. Also, I am secretly hoping that I can meet you at some point here in America. Love your Chanel.

[@Its_thatgirl_leah]

Instead of shipping your bike, you should check with your airline to see if they allow recreational equipment as checked luggage. I know American Airlines here in the USA allows it. You just have to follow their criteria for checking recreational equipment.

[@ylime133]

So happy to hear your Visa is moving forward! I'm sure that takes a big weight off your shoulders. Congrats! ❤

[@ulrikas]

Very interested in these kind of budget / minimalistic living videos. Looking forward to hear your thoughts and experiences on how living on a small budget is going the upcoming weeks!

[@HeyItsBonnieBee]

I needed this, because I'll need to go low budget in order to afford 1 month of volunteering and climbing the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania next year! :)

[@teengodees4040]

I am also moving countries, but it is to continue with my graduate education, and I have found myself in a similar situation. As I am preparing to move from my parent's home, I have been gifting, selling, and donating things I know will be valued by others more than I in the future. That said, because of all the expenses (paying rent for my new apartment, food, second-hand furniture purchases, etc.) I have been doing my best to save money by selling vegan homemade desserts before it is time for me to move. This has allowed me to purchase things I need while considering that what I am buying can last me for the upcoming years. While on the other hand, trying my best not to touch my savings in my bank account.

[@mathildelonborg]

Tracking your spending for a while can pay off big time in the coming years. I am so happy that I was very focused on our spending and kept updating our budget the first four years of living away from our parents (I married at 20). I think some of our friends and family thought I maybe cared a bit too much and would turn in to a penny pincher but the opposite happened. I rarely think about money now because we always spend within reason and know exactly where our limits are without thinking about it. It is so much easier spending money when you have a great feel for where they are going - and you simply don’t get that feel for it without tracking for a while. It also helps for us to have separate bank accounts for different things. One for gas, one for food, gifts etc. - even if it means having several debit cards. Makes it easy for us to see if we don’t live within our budget. And the money for investments go out first thing so we never have that money at hand. Makes it seems like it’s not there at all.

[@site_is_down]

I agree! It's very important to keep track of your spending so you'll know what makes you overspent and so you'll also know where to lessen the focus of spending.

[@whatruthreads]

I moved abroad 6 years ago and o saved enough for almost 6 months. I was so lucky I was in work straight away and I have never dipped in to my 6 months emergency fund. I’m currently in the process of moving back to the U.K. and going back has been more expensive than leaving!

[@affordableliving2756]

Thanks for explaining everything. :) It will be really interesting to see your progress in this / any lessons learned that you feel like sharing. :)

[@aleksmedis6698]

Thank you for making this video- I'm in throes of visa paperwork at the moment. I'm just moving because I really want to live in Europe and don't want to let Brexit steal my dreams. Annoying that I couldn't move over earlier (when I could've moved visa free and stayed under the withdrawal agreement) but can't change that and yes, constantly hit with all the costs (a medical check/xray for example- to move from the UK to Europe seems crazy, not like tuberculosis is common here). Feeling very lucky I was able to get a job there though and reminding myself that even having this money to spend is a privilege. Been let down by my agent who's meant to be helping me so keeps being pushed back- aiming for mid September at the moment. Luckily I'm a supply teacher so I can just keep working and leave as soon as I can- although coming up to August when I won't be able to work is stressing me. I can't save anywhere close to 80% of my income but doing my best, 100% bike transport, no shopping (remembering I'll have to ship any 'new'[read: second hand but new to me] items helps) and no eating out- olio helps for both essentials and treats as people often give away baked goods around me (I'm a freegan- if it's vegetarian and not like milk or cheese I'll eat it if it's being thrown out). Anyway, thank you for the video and making me feel not so alone in how hoop jumpy and financially draining moving is- even just over the channel. Also struck by all the costs in my new country- my regular medication is going from £10 to £120, and I have to pay insurance on top of that, plus £30 to see the GP! I'm sure you're having similar shocks with living costs you need to consider in the US but not in the UK.

[@arinaira1417]

Wow! That's really helpful. I'm so bad at budgeting...

[@shelleyk92]

You should consider doing KZbin lives. You will probably get a significant amount of super chats and should help you ramp up your savings pretty quickly. 🥰

[@cathylynnpietranton]

Immy great video and good luck on your budget journey ❤

[@milikoshki]

I moved from the US to the EU. Moving internationally is such a bear, but at some point it will be in the rearview. Good luck!

[@Nina-jo8bm]

Having moved from Europe to the US and back I can say that you should reallyyyy think about what you want to bring. Things like sheets, bed frames and even pots and pans have different sizes in different countries. So it will be hard to fix them, sell them, buy additional things like an extra set of bed sheets etc. Some of my pans from the US did not fit on my German stove top. 🤣 In retrospect I should have moved a lot less stuff, maybe even just three suitcases instead of shipping things. The cost and hassle of shipping things was just not worth it if you have good second hand options in your area.

[@Ruth_Rosa]

Wishing you all the best as you move! Budgeting is definitely a great tool for freeing up the future. My partner and I have been tracking absolutely every expense for years and we've found it really empowering as we've gotten more in control of our money. Also, i think it exists in the UK as well, but if you haven't heard of it, don't forget to look up the Buy Nothing Project! It's a hyper local gift economy, and my local Buy Nothing group has been a tremendous help, both in getting unneeded stuff out of my home and helping meet some of my needs. 💙

[@site_is_down]

I hope you and your partner can continue to make money matters an open discussion because I believe that it is really important for partners to tackle financial things out. It creates a special bond and it makes the relationship stronger.

[@leatherandlace73]

CONGRATULATIONS on your upcoming move to the States! Just a suggestion, I would find out how much bikes will be in the city you are moving to before saying you are going to ship your bike. Buying a used bike might be cheaper. Also, if you are keen, babysitting children in your new neighborhood will get you some cash without having a social security number.

[@acutelyamanda]

Me, an American, trying to figure out where in the US you found to move that's "very" bikeable.....? ....Portland Oregon??? On a serious note, how are you going to manage passive income while you're in the US waiting for your SS#? Are you allowed to earn passive income and it just can't deposit into the US bank? (This is slightly me asking if we should expect you to vanish for a few months until you're legally allowed to work).

[@smilelovedancealot]

I went through the exact same thought process when she mentioned bikeable 😂 My mind immediately jumped to Portland as well

[@lettucespace]

Even without SSN, passports and other forms of foreign IDs can be used to open checking/saving in many US banks. So, she can still have a US bank account as a foreigner with foreign income. Alternatively, she can just use her UK bank to get passive income, and use a UK credit card here in the US with an international fees charged for each transaction.

[@willbesprog]

Related to money, but not necessary for right now; as and when you are married (I’m guessing you’re doing the fiancé visa K1 process based off what you’ve described), it is valuable to apply for an ITIN number with the IRS as soon as possible. It means that you and your partner will have the option to file your taxes as “married filing jointly” which does come with financial benefits, and you’d be able to declare any of your UK based earnings and bank accounts too. It’s a pain in the butt, but further into the green card process having joint tax returns is a major benefit because it proves your life together is just that, a life together, not just to get you into the country. An ITIN doesn’t give any of the benefits of an SSN, so you still wouldn’t be able to get a bank account etc, but it is needed for tax season! I personally have been able to maintain my UK bank account, and work around transferring to my husband’s when needed via PayPal, and while it’s less than convenient, and I’m glad to have a US one now, it’s still useful to have when it comes to purchasing gifts for family back home to not incur international fees.

[@oohlookatthatdoggo]

Omg your buses are so expensive. Thats obscene!

[@carlosgato3693]

Good luck on your journey. Why aren't you allowed to work immediately once you get there? (if I may ask), up to a year, impossibilited is a very long time. Years ago, i've became unemployed, with too many credit cards to pay (it was difficult employed, imagine otherwise). After I got a job, I started to pay as much as I could of all the credits I had (best decision and not planned at all). It took me months to be credit free, but it gave me a sense of freedom. Then, and for the first time of my life I started saving money. I don't have a specific goal but it's saved for a rainy day. Also, it allowed me to help some friends. Being in a rented room is bittersweet: good because it's cheaper and I can save money, but not good because I wish I had my own space, but renting/buying a home it's so freaking expensiveeee!

[@Mariana-up3sm]

Hey Amy, loved your video ! i have a thought concerning shipping your bike,, it might help you.. I migrated from South America to Europe some years ago and in that time i decided to sell my second hand bike before moving and saved the shipping fee + the money from the bike. The first thing i did when i arrived to destination was to search a similar bike in the second hand market in France..of course it is a little bit time consuming and there is the emotional attachment issue to deal with, but also shipping big things can be stressful, expensive and time consuming..

[@Ally-ug3nq]

🎉 Congratulations🎉 - 13 months is a while for a Visa update / first approval! I live in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 and on a Spouse Visa and know how nerve racking, patience, costs and information that my husband and have had to learn. My 5 year spouse visa ends next year and I will then move onto the next step so I can permanently stay in the country. I have been in Wales for nearly 6 years now and came on a Working Holiday Visa first and then moved onto a Spouse Visa. I hope you enjoy spending the time with your parents, family and friends as once your in the USA, homesickness may come about sooner than you think so build happy memories as much as you can before you leave, take photos and videos so you can look and watch them when homesick. UK Visas do seem a little different than the USA ones but countries have different rules...so I'm only stating what I have had to go through with staying in the UK 🇬🇧 I'm from Australia 🇦🇺 and my husband is Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Have a fun🎉 week✨ Immy!!! I liked your openness🌈, rawness💕 and realistic🌷 views on everything that is happening to you currently 🙂 It's a whirlwind of emotions that can take it's tole and one tip I have is take it slow, talk to your partner and express how you feel❤

[@moneytherapy333]

If you see 90 day fiancé on TLC, it's all about the 90 day visa for couples, their visa process, their struggles to get married on 90 days and support their spouses until they are able to get the green card and settle in, I know all this info that you mention just by watching the show!

[@stephaniedadzie2647]

Thank you so much for the video. Very informative and important especially for these times. Would like your opinion on side hustles?As I know that your trying to save money but have you thought also about ways to increase your income? Asking as I'm starting my debt-free journey and am working towards paying off my student loans.

[@dianaalcobia1178]

I have been tracking my expenses since I decided to leave the UK for good and go travel around the World. I settled down now in my home country, Portugal, at the Portuguese islands, and keeping track of my expenses has given me so much more finantial freedom. This is because I feel like I know where I am investing my money on, I can make future plans in terms of finantial budgets with much more security and not feel worried that I will run out or spend badly my money. This also allowed me to create my own business because I noticed that I do not need a fixed income to feel finantially 'safe'. My income is very variable and I keep track of it and spend it wisely.

[@janetstonerook4552]

You may now need to be a bit more severe in getting rid of things before your move. Sell, donate, toss, make the move easier and your shipping much lighter. Especially if you and your partner are going to move into an apartment, your space is going to be limited. Any technology or clothing items you take need to be used, not stored, once you arrive in the U.S. Sell them now if you aren't going to be using them once you arrive. (My last move I spent a whole summer trying to bring most all my items back from the city to the family home I'd inherited in the country. Once I got them here, I realized I had duplicates or triplicates of so many things and ended up giving them away to charities here. I was yet a lot of energy! )

[@TheFreakMelanie]

honest question (no hate whatsoever, just curious). You said you wont be able to earn money in the US for up to a year before getting your social security number/bank account. Are you still able to earn money from KZbin/social media during that time period?

[@karolinax1712]

Super! Please more movies about saving money cooking🙂

[@keishamurray2711]

How does your KZbin income work when you move? Since you won't have a Social Security number at first, does it go through the UK, paying taxes and such, until you get one?

[@yasminmarques8193]

Hi, you are such an inspiration to me and I always learn a lot from your videos. But I am a curious soul and please forgive me if I'm being too intrusive... may I ask why you both decided to move to the USA instead of England? Because I remember you saying in one video that you would never live there.

[@Blue-pb7kz]

I'm curious, if you can't work for a year, will you still be on KZbin? Also, like another comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts about moving to the US considering healthcare, political climate, gun violence etc. Asking because I live in the EU, and was considering going to the states for grad school (the degree I wanted wasn't offered in my home country), but I also can't imagine making a life in a country without guaranteed sick and parental leave and healthcare and being scared of being pregnant OR of the idea that if I had kids I'd be sending them to schools with gun drills and metal detectors, and all the other things I'm sure you've had to consider! Trying to figure it out, so it's super interesting to hear your thoughts on all of it!

[@rosegreensummer]

the bus is expensive everywhere isn't it? No chance of walking or cycling here

[@leahmcdermott4189]

£5.10 bus fare? 😳. That is daylight robbery! Where do you live in the UK? I live in London and it’s pretty cheap over here. £1.65 per bus journey and £2.50 per underground (train) journey 💕

[@phillippinter7518]

That's the most expensive non luxury, city bus ride I've ever heard of (excludes busses that take you across long highways, different cities and such)

[@teenaklein7664]

Just here to say you don't need an SSN to open a bank account (I didn't have one)

[@cfloster]

What city will you be in the US?

[@BBoPPo88]

You should still be able to make money from youtube though? I was watching Lisa Lansing a few days ago and she mentioned that youtube pays you based on your country of nationality for tax etc reasons. I don't know how accurate this is but it might be worth looking into. You also don't need a social security number to open a bank account. You don't really need an SS for most things here unless you're looking to get employed locally. They will give you an SS with a greencard anyways.

[@charleylouise3900]

I’m confused - what will this mean for your income through videos? Will this mean the US government takes all the money you earn from videos in that time? Or will it stay in a uk bank account that you can’t access?

[@momnahyasin3126]

Can you not still earn from youtube through your uk accounts?

[@alexandratsk6157]

Or you could get a second (part-time) job as well..?

[@SustainablyVegan]

Yeah that's a great idea, I've been looking into my local options!

[@user-ee2sr4md4m]

I’m going to be honest you’re much better off having him move to the UK the US is a literal hellhole right now

[@carahrichardson9588]

As a US citizen I can tell you the US is horrible. I wish I could get out of here.

[@SustainablyVegan]

Well there are many reasons as to why we've chosen to live in his country for a few years, and it wasn't a choice made lightly.

[@leandracooper1534]

When move mi feel free message me for tips.