You don’t need a diploma, a trust fund, or a cushy remote job to start a life overseas. You need Wi-Fi, hustle, and a willingness to get uncomfortable. I left the U.S. with no plan, no special degree, and no savings to speak of—and I still managed to carve out a life abroad. If you’re tired of your country, your job, or just your own reflection, here’s how to make money abroad without a formal education.
1. Teach English (Even Without a TEFL)
You don’t need a degree to teach English, especially in places where demand is high and regulations are loose. Cambodia, for example, has countless private language schools willing to hire native speakers without credentials. It’s not glamorous, but it pays rent and buys you time to figure out your next move. Vietnam, Colombia, and parts of Eastern Europe have similar opportunities.
To find gigs:
- Try Dave’s ESL Cafe or TEFL.org’s job board
- Visit schools in person once you land
- Join local Facebook expat groups and ask around
2. Freelance Online (With Skills You Already Have)
You don’t need to be a coder or a crypto bro to make money online. If you can write, edit, design, or even just speak English, there’s freelance work out there. The trick is to start small: ghostwriting blog posts, writing Amazon product descriptions, editing video captions, or doing virtual assistant tasks.
Start with:
Build a simple profile, offer dirt-cheap rates at first, and focus on getting good reviews. Once you’ve got momentum, raise your prices and niche down.
3. Hostel and Guesthouse Work
Many hostels will give you a free bed, meals, and sometimes a small stipend in exchange for help at the front desk, bartending, cleaning, or organizing tours. It won’t make you rich, but it will stretch your budget and plug you into the local community fast.
Check:
- Workaway
- Worldpackers
- Just walk into hostels and ask
4. Social Media and Content Work
If you know how to take half-decent photos, write a caption, or post regularly, you can get small gigs helping local businesses with their online presence. Bars, cafes, hostels, tour companies—they all want Instagram clout but rarely have the time or skill to manage it.
Offer to manage their accounts for cheap, or trade posts for food, accommodation, or experiences. You’d be amazed how many doors open when you help a business look good online.
5. Odd Jobs and Under-the-Table Gigs
In many countries, especially in Southeast Asia and Latin America, you can find short-term, cash-based work just by showing up. It might be:
- Passing out flyers
- Helping an expat friend move apartments
- Bartending
- Fixing computers
- Teaching someone how to use Zoom
The money is inconsistent, but it adds up. These gigs are best found through word-of-mouth and expat groups.
6. Start a Microbusiness
Buy something cheap and sell it for a little more. That’s the core of most business, and you can do it from anywhere. In Cambodia, I knew a guy who bought used Kindles and sold them to expats. Another imported secondhand clothes from Bangkok and flipped them on Facebook Marketplace.
Get creative:
- Offer walking tours on Airbnb Experiences
- Sell handmade stuff at markets
- Dropship niche products online
7. Write (Like This)
If you’ve got stories, opinions, or even just a sharp point of view, you can write for money. Sites like International Living pay for articles about life abroad. You can also pitch blogs, travel sites, or even start your own Substack.
Start scrappy. Write about your visa run. Write about the worst bus ride of your life. Focus on something honest and useful, and someone will pay you.
Don’t Wait to Be Ready
You don’t need permission to leave. Nor do don’t need credentials. You just need to go. Once you land somewhere cheap with decent Wi-Fi and a handful of ideas, the rest tends to sort itself out. You’ll meet people. You’ll make mistakes. But you’ll find a way to make it work.
This life isn’t always easy—but it beats the hell out of waiting tables in a city you hate.
If you want help getting started, check out:
See you out there.