How to make money as a nomad

Dreaming of a location-independent life, working from wherever you want? I promise I’m not selling an eBook at the end of this 😂

I see it on LinkedIn all the time: “here are the top five places to find remote jobs”. Gee, thanks Google. But it gets loads of engagement and clicks, so people keep regurgitating the same garbage lists over and over again.

With that in mind, I’ve instead written a guide on how to make money remotely, so you can actually start life as a nomad.

If you’re looking for where to find remote jobs… you can… ya know… Google it.

But if you want to know how to make money online… right this way chums 👇

• • A remote job: You’re working for somebody that’s happy to let you work remotely. The dream.
  • Self-employment: You work for yourself, so you can set your own rules and work remotely. Jackpot. Yes, it comes with the typical hurdles of running your own business but it’s freedom to do as you please.
  • A non-remote job: You’re working remotely without your employer’s knowledge or consent. This is a ticking time bomb. I’ve seen the most careful people get caught using VPNs, remote desktop setups—only to get caught out by the silliest of things. If this is you, work on Plan B immediately.
  • And finally, passive income: We’d all love this, but the likelihood is low. Stocks, crypto, property, pensions—there are countless schemes, eBooks and “courses” out there trying to sell you the dream. I’d avoid it like the plague. It’s a big pyramid scheme for most. So for the purposes of this blog, I’m not touching it.

Option 1: Get a Remote Job

Two options here:

1. Apply for a remote job
2. Make your current job remote

Applying for a remote job is like shooting fish in a barrel. There are hundreds of job boards. I like Remote Rocketship, but there are tons—specialist boards, sector-specific ones. Just ask ChatGPT “find me a remote job board for marketers” or whatever. Sales and engineering dominate, but there’s plenty out there.

The problem? If there’s 100 applicants for a regular job, there’s 1,000 for a remote one. It’s 10x more brutal.

Then you’ve got communities and services that can help—like Remote Rebellion. They offer “done with you” or “done for you” job hunt support. Not cheap, but they’ve got a good reputation.

Option 2: Make Your Current Job Remote

Usually the best route. You’ve already got a job, you’re probably well liked, and hopefully, indispensable. Start negotiating. Anticipate their questions and come prepared:

• A timesheet for the past 3 months—what you’ve done, recurring vs. one-off tasks, which can be done remotely, and what can’t
• Your employment structure—will you stay on payroll, go freelance, or go self-employed?
• How you’ll stay compliant—will you get a digital nomad visa? Will you be travelling often or based in one place?

Then comes the politics. Win over decision-makers one by one. Address each concern individually. Once everyone is on board, bring them together and present the final, polished case.

You’ll likely get a remote trial period, followed by full approval, and if you’re lucky your employer won’t change their mind after six months of enthusiastic agreement, two days before your departing flight after you sold your house. Yeah, that’s legit what happened to me. 🫠

Option 3: Work for Yourself

This is where I ended up. After my option 2 fell through, I applied for about 50 remote jobs—no interviews. Not even a sniff. Demoralising stuff, I can assure you. So I started building something myself.

• Freelance your profession: This is tough to start while on the road. Ideally, build your freelance base at home, get to a minimum viable income, then leap. Budget generously. Have savings. If you’re curious to see what I do, this is my consultancy here.
• Task sites: Fiverr, Upwork, PeoplePerHour—decent for gap-filling but low pay and high churn.
• Virtual Assistant: Start with Digital Nomad Kit. Great resource, especially for beginners.
• Language teaching: italki and Preply are your best options. You’re probably looking at around £10/hr at first, but good for getting off the ground, and you don’t need professional teaching qualifications, either!

Option 4 (kinda): Working Remotely on the Sly

I won’t go into this too much. It’s morally grey and extremely risky. Some people get away with it for years, others get caught over something stupid. If you’re in this boat, make a Plan B and fast.

If you want to read more about people doing this, head to /r/digitalnomad. But remember, everybody gets caught in the end.

Cutting Costs on the Road

At the beginning, it’s just about making it work. After a year or two, income stabilises. But to survive the early days:

• Cancel unnecessary subscriptions
• Cook at home
• Stay in hostels or shared Airbnbs
• Try TrustedHousesitters – free accommodation worldwide in exchange for house/pet sitting

Final Thoughts

If you made it this far, congrats. You’re already ahead of the 90% that just scroll past. Going remote is hard. It takes work, rejection, and sometimes a kick in the teeth. But it’s worth it.

Still unsure which path is right for you?

Got questions? Drop them in the comments or message me directly (contact form can be found in the footer) – I’m always happy to answer quick questions, but if you want proper detailed help on how to make this work then my consulting rate is £75/hour.