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The Digital Nomad Career Blueprint: Build the Work First, Then Take It Anywhere

January 21, 2026 by Randi Glazer Leave a Comment

By Camille Bruner

Aspiring digital nomads are people who want a location-independent career while traveling and living in different places. That dream is totally doable, but it’s not “quit your job + buy a one-way ticket” doable for most people. The reliable path is simpler (and less romantic): build a portable income engine, reduce lifestyle friction, and then scale your freedom.

The gist (read this if you’re in a hurry)

A successful nomad career usually comes from one of two moves: you either take your current skill remote, or you deliberately train into a remote-friendly field. Expect a ramp-up period where your goal is consistency—not constant movement. When your work is predictable, the lifestyle feels light; when your work is fragile, the lifestyle feels expensive (financially and emotionally).

Work modes that travel well

Work mode	What it looks like	Why it works for nomads	Common downside
Remote employee	Full-time job with a distributed company	Stable income + fewer client headaches	Time zone constraints, meetings
Freelancer/consultant	You sell a specialized service	High flexibility, you control scope	Feast/famine if you don’t market
Productized service	One clear offer (fixed price + deliverables)	Easier sales + repeatable delivery	Requires tight process
Online business	Courses, templates, apps, e-commerce	Scale potential	Takes time to build traction

Leveling up through school (without putting your life on pause)

Sometimes the fastest way to become more marketable as a digital nomad is to go back to school strategically—especially if you want access to roles that screen heavily for credentials or technical depth. For example, earning a computer science degree can build a deeper understanding of big data and data analytics, which can open doors to higher-paying remote roles. And because earning an online degree makes it easier to balance work responsibilities while you learn, you can keep income flowing while you upgrade your skills. If you’re exploring this route, here are the benefits of an online computer science degree in more detail.

Choose a career lane you can explain in one sentence

If someone asks, “What do you do?” and you need a five-minute explanation, you’re still searching. Clarity sells.

Here are portable lanes that consistently translate across countries and time zones:

Web development / software engineering
UI/UX design
Performance marketing (paid search, paid social)
Copywriting and content strategy
Video editing and motion design
Customer success / support (for remote-first companies)
Data analytics / business intelligence
Project management / operations

Pick one lane, then pick one “customer type” you like working with (startups, creators, local service businesses, nonprofits, etc.). That pairing becomes your first stable identity.

The “don’t get stranded” checklist (a practical how-to)

Use this as a pre-departure system—whether you leave next month or next year.

Lock your baseline budget: rent/backups, insurance, subscriptions, debt payments, and a cushion.
Define your work hours: when you’re available, and when you’re not—write it down.
Build a portfolio proof: 3–5 examples of work (even if they’re self-initiated).
Create one simple offer: who you help, what you deliver, and how long it takes.
Set up your “admin day” ritual: invoicing, taxes tracking, client follow-ups, backups.
Make your travel pace boring at first: stay longer in one place so work can stabilize.
Create a plan for bad weeks: a list of actions you’ll take if leads dry up or motivation dips.

Small note: this list looks unglamorous because it’s effective.

A resource worth bookmarking before you leave

If you’re actively hunting for remote work, We Work Remotely is one of the longstanding job boards focused on remote-first roles. It’s useful because listings often specify location eligibility (anywhere vs. region-restricted) and the categories span engineering, design, marketing, customer support, and more. Even if you’re freelancing, scanning postings can show you what skills are in demand and how companies describe roles (which helps you phrase your own offer).

FAQ

Do I need to be an entrepreneur to be a digital nomad?
No. Many nomads are remote employees; the lifestyle is about location flexibility, not business ownership.

How much savings should I have before I go?
Enough to cover a few months of living expenses plus a buffer for surprises. The exact number depends on your obligations and risk tolerance, but “barely enough for a flight” is a stress recipe.

What’s the biggest mistake beginners make?
Moving too fast. Rapid travel is fun, but it can wreck sleep, work focus, and budgeting—especially early on.

How do I know if I’m ready to leave?
When your work output is consistent for a few months and your schedule isn’t constantly on fire.

Conclusion

A good digital nomad life is built on boring things done consistently: dependable work, repeatable routines, and clear boundaries. Start by stabilizing your career container, then widen your map. When you’re not fighting your income, travel stops feeling like a test. It starts feeling like your life.

Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard and Hawaii Airlines

January 3, 2017 by Randi Glazer

For the record, I am not a fan of credit cards that earn miles. I’ve witnesses first-hand what my parents when through over the years with their American Airlines credit card with the limited number of seats allowed on any flight and the absurd things they needed to do to get the flights they wanted to Aruba over the Thanksgiving holidays year after year.

When my husband and I were returning from a trip to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines last year we heard about this great deal from Hawaiian Airlines Maste
rCard and decided to give it a try. I thought the benefits would help me change the negative perspective I’ve been harboring all these years from the American Airline’s credit cards. I can tell you in a nut shell – it did not.

For the past year I was a member of Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard I did receive 35,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days and a special promotional 15,000 miles on top of that which got us 50,000 in total miles allowing us to save about $500 on or next trip from California to The Big Island. We also were eligible for a one time 50% off discount towards a published round-trip coach fare for a companion ticket. This was a one-time 50% off discount and was valid for 13 months from the date I opened my account.

I also received my first bag checked for free however, Hawaiian Airlines does not check you through for your full flight if you go from Oakland to Kona (The Big Island). They count it as two flights (Oakland to Honolulu and then Honolulu to Kona) so I had the bag on my initial flight paid for ($25), but the bag on my second flight I had to pay $15 for, so the card does not save you from Hawaiian Airlines stupidity.

Unfortunately, after one year the perks on the Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard virtually stop and then you have to pay $89 a year to keep the card which makes no sense to me from an economical point of view.

After one year, you do not receive any additional miles unless the primary card member spends at least $10,000 in Net Purchases within each anniversary year. Once that amount has been spent, 5,000 bonus miles will be credited to your Hawaiian Miles account upon the card holder’s credit card account anniversary. That is a far cry from the 50,000 you get the first year as a perk.

If you are looking to go to Hawaii, I highly recommend it. You will love the island; any island you go to. The sights are breathtaking. If you are looking to use the Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard, I recommend to use it for one year for their first year perks and then cancel it as I did.

As a side note, I also do not recommend traveling on Hawaiian Airlines. Their customer service, in my opinion, is probably the worst in the industry that I have ever come across. This is not just my opinion. I have spoken to many people who have flown with them and also looked on their Facebook page. Their former customers feel similarly. The flight attendants need customer service training or really need to be fired quite honestly. I have made complaints from my last flight all the way up the line and the company doesn’t really care. The airline will cancel flights and be very, very slow to credit your money back for those flights. I am currently waiting on a credit for a flight they cancelled that is due to me from December 7, 2016 they have not credited me as of yet.

I won’t let how I feel about my flights on Hawaiian Airlines taint how I feel about Hawaii – it is a beautiful place to visit. I just do not ever recommend flying Hawaiian Airlines. If you do, you will be extremely disappointed.

When I closed my Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard account last week there were no questions asked – I guess because so many people have been closing them they are used to it. The people on the phone were very nice about it which was helpful.

CreditUpdates.com Partnering Up?

July 8, 2016 by Randi Glazer

CreditUpdates.com, an online credit report service, has become partners with ScoreApprove to create a service for real estate agents and their potential customers. This seems like the right move considering both companies’ dedication to serving their consumers and sterling track record. It seems that the goal of the partnership is in developing a new set of tools to help both ends of the real estate sales spectrum. This in addition to their other services, which come free as part of the new offer, will be a worthwhile boon to any potential home buyers and agents alike.

The Cost of Personal Underwriting Fraud

June 21, 2016 by Randi Glazer

Underwriting fraud occurs when an individual provides false information to a company for the purpose of their own personal gain. It can be as simple as registering your automobile in a state that has lower rates in order to save some money on your premium. As for home and properties, arson is one of the most widespread tools for property fraud. Fraud occurs in the world of health coverage when a patient withholds information about a pre-existing condition. In most states, this type of fraud is considered a felony or misdemeanor, depending on the crime. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the total cost of fraud is more than $40 billion a year. This total number also does not factor in health fraud. The Coalition Against Fraud reports are higher, claiming that $80 billion is lost annually. The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association estimates that the financial losses due to health care fraud are in the tens of billions of dollars each year. The Coalition Against Fraud also reports that Americans are tolerant of fraud however they shouldn’t be. Fraud inevitably translates into higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for consumers, as well as reduced benefits and coverage.

Home Mortgage Lending on the Rise and Credit Requirements Eased

May 31, 2016 by Randi Glazer

In yet another sign of the overall health of the real estate marketplace, the Federal Reserve reported that home mortgage lending was on the rise among residential properties. The demand for home mortgage loans also increased, according to the report, which has a number of implications for real estate agents as well as for the buyers and sellers of homes. These factors led to banks easing the credit requirements for potential homebuyers, a positive development for those who may have been otherwise boxed out from the market by more stringent credit demands.

Given the increasing demand for residential mortgage lending, it is not at all surprising that a company such asBoldLeads would also experience increased demand from real estate agents for its lead generation services. Agents seeking to capitalize on the residential market’s growing strength are certainly wise to focus on efficient practices in all of their professional responsibilities, and lead generation conducted through BoldLeads certainly qualifies in terms of added efficiency.While the Federal Reserve reported positive developments in residential home lending, the same was not true for the commercial sector. In fact, commercial real estate loans saw a significant tightening of credit requirements, which may be the result of the need to mitigate risk and guard against the potential for loss in the bank’s lending practices. Even though the news regarding the commercial side of real estate is not nearly as encouraging, the increasingly stringent credit standards may only be an outlier or a temporary measure for risk mitigation.

Luke Weil Advocates for More Extensive Financial Education Programs

May 31, 2016 by Randi Glazer

A recent report out of Costa Rica demonstrated the breadth of the economic impact stemming from a lack of adequate education regarding the use — or, perhaps more accurately, misuse — of credit cards, with the debt of Costa Ricans being equivalent to 3.2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. The country’s deputy minister of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), suggested that a lack of financial education focusing specifically on the use of credit cards may be part of the reason why Costa Ricans have taken on so much credit card debt in such a short period of time.

Luke Weil, an expert in economics, has been a longtime advocate for more extensive financial education programs across all ages and at all levels of schooling. It’s not difficult to understand why those who have not had the benefit of previous experience or education on matters of finance would not immediately recognize the adverse impact generated when one allows credit card debt to quickly accumulate, which is why so many finance experts have called for the expansion of education programs wherever possible.It’s clear that educational programs concerning basic financial issues are needed both at home and abroad, and most experts agree that these programs would be beneficial regardless of geography or demography. In Costa Rica and the United States alike, the widespread availability of educational programs would promote more responsible spending and saving while generating an endlessly positive overall economic impact.

Randi Glazer Evaluates Day Trading Through Investors Underground

April 11, 2016 by Randi Glazer

In recent months, there has been an increasing amount of discussion on the subject of day trading and the manner in which it is used by experienced investors to earn a comfortable living. Randi Glazer, a professional with a tremendous amount of insight and expertise that extends to a broad range of subjects, expressed a clear interest in learning more about day trading and the prospect of succeeding despite possessing only a relatively minimal amount of specific experience in this kind of investment strategy.

Through a membership with Investors Underground, Glazer was able to expand her knowledge base on the subject of day trading in relatively short order by taking full advantage of the many educational opportunities made available through the day trading community. She also learned quite quickly that she was hardly alone among those who joined Investors Underground and experienced such immediate success with nothing more than a working knowledge of day trading investment strategies.

Utilizing the daily scan sheets and following the strategic advice provided through the community forums, Randi Glazer was able to benefit in an immediate sense while continuing to broaden her knowledge base through the use of the training courses and webinars also provided by Investors Underground. In assessing her overall experience, Glazer indicated that while she felt it was advantageous to have some level of prior experience in day trading, it was not at all necessary given the manner in which Investors Underground supports its members through education.

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Banks Raising Credit Card Limits for Some Customers

April 9, 2015 by Randi Glazer

Money may be more available to the average citizen as banks raise their caps on loans, borrowing limits, and financial packages for all clients. Recently, and for the first time in a few years, people have more money in their pockets and in their bank accounts. Banks are responding by taking slightly bigger risks, which is good news to those who have faced trouble with damaged credit, late payoffs and similar financial tarnish.

But not everyone is pleased by the news. Some worry that the move is a potentially insensitive attempt, as part of a pattern, to create new leads for business—a move that will leave most carriers with debts they cannot pay off. Interest rates are low (although “poised to rise”), and the labor market is healthy, making it easy for banks to take a more daring stance.

Some speculate that engorging the market with loan money will lead to banks making demands that simply cannot be met. In February, credit card companies reportedly accepted more than three-fourths of the appeals for loans, putting a lot of money in the hands of eager clients that show promise of paying off debts.

Those considered prime-quality candidates for loans at a mid-range credit level are now seeing a 90% approval rating for loans while subprime clients still suffer to get the loans they need. Banks maintain high interest rates for lower-level candidates, and many who have taken out loans are already struggling to juggle the many accounts and payments on their plate.

As a result, subprime clients are increasing demands for temporary checks to help pay off standing bills. In recent surveys, subprime clients were shown to have taken on the most loan-related debt. For this, banks remain somewhat inflexible with borrowing policies and customers who miss credit card payments or take years to pay off debt in minimal increments certainly do not entice banks to loosen their standards.

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Tax Returns Made Easy

January 20, 2015 by Randi Glazer

The holidays are over, and as people are beginning to recover from end of the year spending many are looking forward to tax season. Yes, from middle of January until April collecting tax credits is at full force. Below are a few ways you can use these earnings to improve your personal finances, and bring yourself one step closer to financial security.

Pay Your Debt

There aren’t too many people out there who are completely free of debt. Whether it’s your mortgage, credit card payments, and even loans for the younger generations, we all have some sort of payment that is due in the near future. Depending on the interest rate, paying off these balances will greatly benefit you in the future and eliminate extra charges, and credit card fees that can add up to hundreds of dollars at the end of the year.

Replenish Your Savings Account

If immediate debt is not a part of your finances, one way to put your tax returns to good use would be by replenishing your savings account. End of the year spending can be a burden on most families, which means taking out more than expected from you SA. By adding this money, you are proving an emergency stash that can cover unexpected occurrences such as being laid off, medical expenses, and possible penalties that can truly set you back financially.

Invest

This suggestion is mostly directed towards people who are already financially stable and can afford to invest a large sum into real estate, as well as are able to acquire additional expenses. One area one can invest would be real estate. Taking advantage of decreasing prices and low-interest loans could be a great way for anyone to purchase their own home. This is a great goal that can truly pay off in the future.

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Digital Products Are Changing The Landscape of Finance

December 10, 2014 by Randi Glazer

Finance, both personal and otherwise, has long been an esoteric field, its intricacies walled off from those on the outside. But the way people consume financial services is changing, with ever-expanding digital capabilities more and more accessible. Writing for TechCrunch, Pierre Brais, argues that the stranglehold that the old world of large financial institutions has on these services is rapidly eroding.

Brais, a venture capitalist and founder of Olocode, a digital business card sharing platform, sees the disruptive forces of the internet radically reshaping the way we purchase and consume financial products. This democratization, in Brais’s view, will lead to continued innovation and lower costs.

Consumer Trust

Prior to the financial crisis, consumers and regulators alike were wary of trusting new entrants into the financial sector. But since that time, trust has shifted away from the big banks. Brais points to the JOBS Act and the FSA restructuring the U.K. as just a few of the ways that the landscape has become easier for startups offering financial services. Ironically, many of those entrepreneurs who are putting these products to market are former employees of the big banks, who understand the limitations of the large corporations.

Money Going Digital

Mobile payments served as the first wave of digital financial products on platforms like Square or Braintree, but companies like Dwolla and TransferWise are pushing towards money transferring and foreign exchange. And with digital cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin gaining traction, consumers are showing clear signs that they are becoming more comfortable with keeping their money within the digital realm. Large banks can be slow to respond to this rapid level of evolution that we are seeing in the digital finance realm.

Digital Currency Can Obviate Big Banking

Some predict that the third wave of digital finance, digital currency, can make the big banks obsolete. While such a bold prediction still lies entirely within the realm of speculation at this point, what is clear is that digital banking and digital finance has a way of eroding the need for an intermediary between savers and lenders, the primary function of the banking system. Brais predicts that more and more customers will be empowered by the nimbleness and freedom afforded by digital financial products, making it harder and harder for big banks to maintain control over finance.

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