- Beth McCarter and her husband pulled their children out of school to try the world school three years ago.
- They maintain a modest budget by renting their accommodation, spending less and adopting slow travel.
- She is criticized by her in-laws but has no intention of stopping homeschooling and traveling the world.
“Look, kids, the shark is right under the boat!” I shout, pointing to the disappearing fin. My 7 year old daughter holds her nose and dives.
“Wow! » shouts my 5-year-old son, already halfway up the boat's ladder. I take a quick photo and rush after them. I'm just as excited to see the shark up close.
It's Tuesday and technically we're “at school.” Instead of drawing different ecosystems sitting in a classroom, today's lesson plan includes snorkeling off the coast of Tahiti to observe blacktip sharks in their natural habitat.
Even though it's not an ordinary school day, it's the usual fair since I left my teaching job to homeschool my kids more than three years ago. Since then, we have traveled throughout Europe, Mexico, French Polynesia, and most of the southern United States, all on a modest budget.
Traveling was always in the plan
Our transition to world school It took a long time to come.
Back in college, before I got married, I told my now husband that I never be happy to settle down. “Alright, let’s travel the world!” he said.
The traveling didn't start right away, as we took a few years off to have children and launch our careers. But after teach in Texas For 7 years, gun violence and the school system's disregard for the well-being of staff pushed me to accelerate what had always been my project.
After my husband landed a job that allowed him to work online, I quit my job, we took the kids out of school, rented our house, and moved to France for three months.
Adjust our lifestyle
We learned the hard way that it's easier to finance a global education when you don't have a lot of debt. Our first trip was planned without addressing this issue, because at the time, buying plane tickets seemed much more appealing than paying off old credit cards.
Nowadays, we look for the best travel deals before deciding on a plan. Our biggest find was when we paid less than $200 a piece for tickets to France from the US, including our pets.
To enjoy the world school without the stress of money, we need to balance our financial responsibility with our desire to travel.
We started downsizing early and tried to embrace minimalism whenever the kids would let us.
Choosing what to do with our car and house was another important piece of the puzzle. Now we rent our home so we can continue to build equity while someone else pays the mortgage. We keep our car at my parents' house and also sleep with them when we are in town in exchange for helping out on the farm.
These days, our family is constantly on the move. We take road trips in the USA and make sure you venture abroad at least once a year. We homeschool and work full time on our laptops on the go.
To maintain our sustainable lifestyle, we constantly adjust our budget. Back when we were teachers, we would go to the mall and end up blowing our budget. Now we know how much we enjoy traveling experiences rather than mindlessly shopping and eating out. We save as much as possible and we are always looking for ways to increase our online income.
We found this balance frugal living and quality of life is essential to achieving our global education dreams while maintaining financial stability.
Our new strategy
Our ability to continue traveling depends on a combination of strategic choices.
We kiss slow journey. This means spending extended periods of time in each location to minimize transportation costs and take advantage of discounts for longer stays. When we were in Europe, we were surprised to find that renting a car for a few days cost more than an entire month of accommodation.
We opt for free pet care opportunities when available. We once spent Christmas vacation for free at a house near Disney World in exchange for seeing a few slobbering bulldogs.
When it comes to international travel, we select our next destination based on how affordable the tickets are. Although we would love to return to Asia and Europe, our budget often forces us to explore closer to home at the moment.
A passive income stream, such as selling a digital product, can be helpful. I wish I had learned more about passive income sooner. The only downside is that it may take some time to develop. I've put several years of work into this project, but now earn a small income each month from blog posts I've written about travel and homeschooling that include links to travel products. affiliation.
Global school is not an endless vacation
There were plenty of mishaps along the way: My kids both caught COVID-19 in Tahiti, and I sprained my ankle in a rabbit hole in the French countryside. We have also been criticized for our choice to travel. My in-laws are particularly disapproving and are openly against homeschooling.
The biggest setback of global schooling has been the lack of “adult” time. Finding personal space is difficult when you stay in hotels or small Airbnbs.
I did it for my inner child
The global school, for me, also means realizing my childhood dreams. I'm traveling for my 11-year-old self, who spent countless hours dreaming of traveling and watching “House Hunters International.” My current lifestyle is, in many ways, a heartfelt celebration of the dreams of my inner child.
In this way, it’s about setting an example for my children. I believe it is essential for children to see their parents, especially their mothers, pursuing their own happiness and achieving their dreams.
My own mother sacrificed everything to be able to homeschool me and my siblings. Since becoming a parent myself, I have realized that giving up everything for the sake of your children is not healthy for you or them. By making my travel dreams come true, I'm showing my children, especially my daughter, that your dreams shouldn't die when you become a mom.
The global school is not just about education and exploration; for me, it is a journey of self-discovery and an example of empowerment for my children.
Beth McCarter is a certified teacher and the creator of The homeschool graduate.
Do you have a personal essay about life abroad or parenting that you want to share? Contact the publisher: akarplus@businessinsider.com.