Single mom who left US for ‘a better life’ explains how she’s financially better off in Europe
An American mom says she's better off after ditching the US for Europe - in more ways than one.
Many of us dream of living abroad, whether it's to bask in warmer weather, appreciate different cultures or escape the 9-5 hustle, if only temporarily.
Taking part in a Reddit AMA, a woman who did exactly that explained why she'll never be returning home.
The poster, who identified herself as a Black American woman and single mom, says she barely saw her three-year-old daughter due to 'working so much' in the US, admitting she was 'completely miserable.'
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She says that, despite working, she had been living paycheck to paycheck and relying on multiple government benefits just to survive.
“I had a mental breakdown one day,” she wrote. "...and just decided f**k it - I need out of this matrix.”
The poster moved to Europe - more specifically, Albania - located along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, bordering Montenegro, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia and Greece.
Having never left the US before, it was a huge step, but one she isn't regretting.
The mom chose the country out of practicality; Americans get one year visa-free in Albania, but she also 'loved how they have beautiful beaches and also mountains, so best of both worlds.'
Having set up her own travel and content business, she says she is now able to claim residency for five years, and at seven can apply for citizenship.
The poster admits she worries about money way less than she did in the US, despite earning significantly less.
In response to one curious Redditor, she broke down the numbers.
"My rent alone in the US was 2K. Now my bills are only about $800/month for everything and it's a lot easier to come up with that every month.
"But I do work and while I make less money here, my quality of life is significantly better."
Perhaps the biggest relief, she says, has been the cost of healthcare.
Her daughter has already been hospitalized twice in Albania, most recently for a virus and asthma flare-up.
“They gave her the exact same treatment she got in the US,” the individual wrote. “And it was completely free for a four-day stay.”
Another social media user commented that it must've been a relief to go to the hospital and 'not drown in debt.'
“It is SUCH a relief,” she responded, adding that out-of-hours doctor visits typically cost around €30.
Now approaching her second year abroad, she says she has no plans to return to US soil.
The woman particularly enjoys the Albanian culture, as she explained: "There's a saying here 'Avash, Avash,' which means slowly, slowly.
"People actually take their time and will sit and have coffee every day for hours, catching up with friends and family."
She continued: "I feel like here things are much more slow-paced and village-minded. In the US, everything is rushed. We get our coffee to go, our food to go - it's just go go go."
While she acknowledges that moving countries isn’t for everyone, she insists Albania is often misunderstood.
“It is 100x safer here than it is in the US,” she claimed. “I wouldn’t count Albania off your travel list. Come see for yourself.”
Topics: US News, Travel, Europe, World News, Money, Reddit, Social Media
Ellie Kemp