From Barista to Digital Nomad: How a 23-Year-Old Found Financial Freedom and a Global Career in Budapest
Denae McGaha, now 30, traded her barista job on Whidbey Island, Washington for a teaching position in Budapest, Hungary, at age 23. Faced with the prospect of spending her entire savings on a move to New York City, she chose a different path, embracing the opportunity to work abroad and explore the world. Now, seven years later, McGaha has managed to build a thriving remote digital marketing career that allows her to enjoy a comfortable life in Budapest, work just 25 hours per week, and pursue her dreams of becoming a digital nomad.
Key Takeaways:
- Leaving a barista job for a teaching position in Budapest: McGaha’s decision highlights the potential benefits of taking a risk and exploring new opportunities, especially in countries with teacher shortages and affordable living costs.
- Landing a remote marketing job and embracing flexible working: McGaha’s success as a remote marketer demonstrates the increasing demand for remote work and the rise of globally-focused companies. She emphasizes the advantages of working across different time zones and the potential for increased productivity in such an environment.
- Enjoying financial freedom in Budapest: McGaha’s experience highlights the lower cost of living in Budapest compared to major cities in the U.S. Her ability to reduce her work hours and still maintain financial stability speaks to the potential for a comfortable lifestyle in cities with lower living expenses.
- Navigating visa requirements and chasing the digital nomad dream: Understanding visa requirements is crucial for working and living abroad. While visa rules are constantly changing, McGaha’s use of different visa categories demonstrates the importance of staying informed and planning ahead. Her desire to become a digital nomad underlines the growing interest in remote work and travel.
Landing a Remote Job Abroad
McGaha’s teaching contract in Budapest came with a furnished apartment and a monthly stipend, effectively covering basic living expenses. Despite her initial love for teaching, she lost her job in March 2020 due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seeing this as a turning point, McGaha re-focused her efforts on her long-held dream of a marketing career. She dedicated herself to her blog, which detailed her experiences as an expat in Budapest, and actively promoted her work on various social media platforms.
This effort, coupled with her passion for marketing, attracted the attention of businesses seeking help with their online presence. She even received an offer from a Philadelphia-based marketing agency, Consumer51, through Instagram, highlighting how her online presence had become a valuable tool for career advancement.
The agency, known for its remote-first and international approach, saw no difficulty in employing McGaha from Budapest. McGaha recommends potential remote workers target organizations that embrace remote work or explicitly mention advantages of having employees in different time zones.
Achieving Financial Freedom, Working 25 Hours per Week
Budapest’s low cost of living compared to major US cities, such as New York or Seattle, allowed McGaha to reduce her work hours without compromising her financial security.
She now works 20 hours a week at Consumer51, supplementing her income through freelance writing and her blog. This flexible work schedule allows her to enjoy greater freedom and allocate more time for personal pursuits.
McGaha’s success in Budapest provides a compelling example of how balancing work and life can be achieved in a location with a lower cost of living.
Chasing Dreams of Becoming a Digital Nomad
McGaha’s journey has not been without its hurdles. She has had to navigate shifting visa requirements. While she’s currently eligible for an extension, she’s looking forward to exploring the digital nomad lifestyle.
Her ability to travel while working remotely demonstrates the growing trend of location-independent work. McGaha’s story offers inspiration to individuals seeking a more flexible and fulfilling work-life balance.
McGaha’s success in Budapest shows us that financial freedom isn’t limited by location. It’s a testament to the power of pursuing your passions, embracing remote work opportunities, and adjusting your lifestyle to maximize the potential of your income. Her story serves as a reminder that the world is a vast and diverse canvas, offering endless possibilities for those willing to explore.
