Cara West and her family embarked on a transformative journey in June 2024, relocating from the U.S. to the serene Greek island of Syros. Their move was spurred by a desire for a more peaceful and affordable lifestyle, following the unsettling 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The family's expenses initially surged during their transition to Greece, yet they anticipate significant savings in the future. With the first and last months' rent, flights, visa applications, and attorney fees totaling $5,880, their monthly outlay in June 2024 reached approximately $15,000.
West, a luxury travel concierge and content creator, earns a six-figure income, allowing her husband to cease working. Despite this, they previously felt constrained by a "paycheck to paycheck" existence in the U.S., even with higher earnings there. Their relocation is part of a broader plan to manage their finances better, including tackling over $60,000 in credit card debt accumulated by the end of last year. By lowering their living costs in Greece, they see a viable path to financial recovery.
"I feel like when we were living in the U.S., even though we were making more money, we still felt like we were living paycheck to paycheck and we just couldn't enjoy the little things," – Cara West
Before settling in Greece, the West family spent roughly a year living nomadically in countries such as Portugal and Belize. This exploratory phase allowed them to experience different cultures and lifestyles, ultimately guiding their decision to establish a permanent home on Syros. The relocation has brought about a significant lifestyle shift, emphasizing family time and a slower pace of life.
"has been the biggest change for our family — to be able to spend more time with each other, to just have a slower pace of life," – Cara West
The move to Greece has not only provided a more fulfilling life but also introduced them to new cultural experiences and opportunities for personal growth. West expresses a newfound appreciation for the little luxuries that are more affordable abroad.
"but once we came here to Greece and just to many other countries in Europe, we were able to afford those little luxuries." – Cara West
Looking ahead, the West family is optimistic about their financial future. They plan to leverage their lower living expenses in Greece to pay off debt and seek guidance from financial advisors on how best to manage their resources. This strategic approach aims to ensure their money works for them effectively.
"Next year is going to be such a huge transition for us in being able to have the resources to put towards getting the assistance that we need [and] having a financial advisor who can tell us where to start putting our money so that our money is working for us," – Cara West