Saving While Working Abroad, The Untold Realities and How I Hit My Financial Goal
Many dream of working abroad to earn and save, but few speak about the silent battles of debt, inflation back home, and personal sacrifice. Here’s my detailed journey of saving while working abroad and how I eventually made it.
Saving While Working Abroad My Full Story of Struggle, Sacrifice, and Success
Like most people from back home, I dreamed of going abroad not for fun or vacation, but to work, earn, and finally break the cycle of financial instability. my expectations were high. I thought I would land, get paid well, and start sending money and saving in no time. But nothing really prepred me for the reality I met when I arrived.
The Anticipation: Big Dreams, Bigger Plans
Before traveling, I had a plan work abroad for 2–3 years, save a solid amount, pay off my debts, start building a house, or even open a business. I borrowed money to pay for my travel documents, visa, training, and flights. That meant I was already in debt before earning a single coin. But I told myself, “once I start working, things will fall into place.”
Settling Abroad: Shock, Stress & a Salary That Looked Bigger Than It Was
When I arrived, the cost of settling in shocked me. Rent deposits, transportation, daily meals, unexpected charges, and medical tests ate up my first month’s pay, almost to zero. My job was nothing close to easy. Long hours,[waking up 2 in the morning sleeping 11pm at night] I little rest, and adapting to a new culture wasn’t something anyone warned me about.
My salary sounded good in local currency, but after converting it to my home currency and deducting expenses, it wasn’t as magical as I expected. I quickly realized: “Being abroad doesn’t automatically mean you’re doing well.”
Challenges Faced While Trying to Save
1. Inflation Back Home
Every time I sent money home, I realized things had changed. Food was more expensive, building materials had doubled in price, and family needs kept increasing. What 10,000 shillings could do a year ago now needed 15,000 or more. Inflation made saving even harder, it felt like chasing a moving target.
2. Pressure from Family and Friends
The moment people knew I was abroad, the expectations skyrocketed. Everyone assumed I was rich. I constantly received calls like:
- “Can you help with school fees?”
- “Tunaomba mchango ya harusi/funeral.”
- “Mama hana chakula. Tumetoka mbali.”
Saying “no” felt like betrayal. But saying “yes” too many times was digging myself into deeper trouble. I had to learn how to draw boundaries without guilt.
3. Debts I Carried with Me
I didn’t travel for free. I had loans to repay. Some had interest. So while others were enjoying their full salary, I was operating with half or less. Some months, I saved nothing at all. I was simply surviving.
4. Mental and Emotional Strain
Living abroad isn’t just physically draining — it’s emotionally tough. Homesickness, working holidays, missing family events, and even doubting my purpose at times made it harder to stay focused. When you’re tired and stressed, saving is the last thing on your mind.
5. Temptation to Spend
Being abroad means seeing a better lifestyle. You see people buying new phones, wearing flashy clothes, eating out, going on trips. The pressure to “fit in” or reward yourself can kill your saving plans slowly. I had to fight the desire to spend just to feel successful
How I Managed to Save Despite the Challenges
1. Created a Realistic Budget:
I wrote down all my monthly income and expenses. I cut luxuries, no unnecessary shopping, no eating out unless planned. I made sure every coin had a purpose.
2. Joined a SACCO and Chama:
I joined a trusted savings group where I committed to saving a fixed amount monthly. Knowing others were watching my savings helped me stay disciplined.
3. Automated My Savings:
Before I touched my salary, I would send a portion to my savings account or to a project back home. That way, I only spent what remained.
4. Focused on Clearing Debts First:
I listed all my debts, from biggest to smallest. i started clearing them one by one. Every debt cleared gave me more breathing room to save the next month.
5. Converted My Goals into Visuals:
I created a vision board and stuck it on my wall, a picture of a house, a plot of land, the business idea I wanted. Seeing my goals daily gave me strength not to give up.
6. Sent Home Money for Projects, Not Just Consumption:
I stopped sending money blindly. I started channeling it into projects, small investments, a livestock project, or materials for my house construction. That way, even if I had little cash, I had assets growing.
Did I Hit My Target? Yes, Eventually, With Patience
It took longer than I thought, and the road was tougher than expected, but yes I did it. I cleared all my travel debts, helped support my family in emergencies, and started building a simple home. I saved enough to come back home with something tangible not just memories and worn-out shoes.
The Motivation Behind My Success
I didn’t want to be one of those people who came back home after years abroad with nothing to show. I’d seen too many stories like that. My motivation wasn’t just money it was freedom, dignity, and purpose. I wanted to prove to myself that this sacrifice had meaning.
💡 “Your vision must be bigger than your location. A visa may take you far, but it’s vision and discipline that bring you back with something real.beyond the Hype of Working Abroad
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Working abroad doesn’t solve your problem
Working abroad is not a jackpot. It’s a serious commitment. If you go without a plan, you’ll come back with pain. But if you go with purpose, and save with discipline, you can return transformed financially and mentally. It’s not easy, but it’s possible
