Starting Over. Living Abroad. Figuring It Out Along The Way.

The REAL side of living abroad solo: the money, moving, loneliness, and everything they leave out of the beautiful travel guides and short aesthetic videos.

START HERE

A woman in a pink athletic outfit standing on a wooden bridge in a lush green garden, with trees and plants surrounding her.

A woman with short red hair and glasses wearing a white dress with a cut-out design, smiling and raising her arms in a happy pose outdoors. In the background, there are pink promotional signs, green trees, buildings, and a clear blue sky.

Hey there, I’m Monnie!

Hey there! Some call me Monica, Monnie, Nikki, Doctress, or Moe, and honestly, I answer to all of them lol.

In 2025, I sold, donated, and let go of about 90% of what I owned and left the United States to travel full-time.

But, My Checked Baggage isn’t just about where I go. It’s about what happens when you decided to build a completely different life.

I share what I’m learning about living abroad full-time, including what costs, how I find housing, how I navigate new countries, and the practical things I’ve had to figure out along the way.

A colorful illustration resembling a postage stamp featuring a woman with natural hair, earrings, and jewelry, surrounded by butterflies and a scenic green landscape. Text indicates current location and date range: 'United States, Sept-Oct 2026'.

Thinking About Moving Abroad?

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you leave. But there are some things you definitely want to think through first.

Download my FREE Moving Abroad Planning Workbook, created for women who are seriously considering living abroad but don’t know where to start.

Inside, you’ll work through:

Choosing and comparing countries
Money and banking abroad
Visas and important documents
What you’ll need during your first 30 days
Questions I wish I had considered before leaving the U.S.

[GET THE FREE WORKBOOK]

Recent Blog Posts!!

A woman with long braids, wearing glasses and gold earrings, is sitting at a small wooden table near a window with a scenic view of the ocean, writing in a notebook with a laptop and a cup of coffee on the table.

How I afford to live abroad full-time

Colorful illuminated sign spelling out 'CARTAGENA' with each letter depicting local scenes and landmarks. A woman is standing in front, making a heart shape with her hands beneath the sign on a beach at dusk.

Cartagena, Colombia: Where to Stay, What to Do, and the Energy of Each Area

A cheerful woman with red hair, green glasses, and a green tank top stands outdoors, holding a green parrot on her hand. The background shows trees and fruits. The image promotes a guide on preparing for full-time nomad life abroad, with a list of topics like visas, budget, income, and housing, and images of a passport and a notes pad.

How to Become a Full-Time Nomad (Before You Book the Flight)

Illustration of a woman with short red hair and green glasses at an airport, holding a smartphone displaying Popcorn Mobile service, with an airplane taking off outside and airport signs in the background.

Best (and less expensive!) Unlimited Phone Plan that works around the world!

Large colorful outdoor sign with portraits of smiling people, advertising a city festival called 'Salvador 477 anos' from March 21 to April 5, 2026, in Salvador, Brazil.

Things to Do in Salvador, Brazil: Best Attractions, History & Cultural Sites

A woman with curly hair looks out a window at a scenic coastal city. In front of her, there are travel planning items including a passport, a notebook with research topics, a laptop with 'plan, prepare, live freely' on the screen, a mug saying 'New country, new chapter, new life,' a camera, and a pen.

What You Need To Know Before Moving Abroad Legally

A detailed world map showing continents, countries, and oceans with labels and topographical features.

How Different Continents Shape You Emotionally, Spiritually & Mentally as a Traveler

A US passport and a plush teddy bear on an airport seat next to a rose gold carry-on suitcase.

How to Extend Your Brazil Tourist Visa (Complete Guide)

Promotional poster with the question 'What does 'Gingo' mean?' and topics such as history, context, meaning, culture, and respect, featuring a woman with curly hair and a backpack on a colorful street.

The Word “Gringo” in Latin America, History, Context, and Why It Can Feel Offensive

A woman with red hair and glasses smiling, holding her hand on her chest, with a Brazil flag and a cityscape in the background. The image features text about currency exchange rates and understanding currency differences when moving abroad.

How Currency Exchange Rates Affect Your Cost of Living Abroad

A Black woman wearing sunglasses and a white shirt sitting on a ledge in a colorful, historic street.

Some Call It “Respectability Politics” When It’s Really Just Reading the Room Abroad

View from a window showing a sunset sky with pink and orange clouds over a city with apartment buildings and rooftops near the ocean.

Emotional Weight of Starting Over Alone in A New Country

Where I’ve Been So Far!

Egypt
Ghana
Kenya
Dubai
Not yet
Cuba
Jamaica
Puerto Rico
Belize
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Honduras
not yet
Canada
Mexico
United States of America
Brazil
Colombia

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PODCAST

“May we remain bestfriends with our inner child as we travel the scenic route of life” —Me

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Featured Blog Posts

A woman wearing a face covering and sunglasses sitting on a white quad bike in a desert with pyramids in the background.

My Passport Stories: Where I’ve Been So Far 🌍✈️

A woman with short dreadlocks, wearing glasses, a red scarf, and a black leather jacket, standing on a sandy beach with leafless trees and a body of water in the background.

My First First-Class Flight: A Little YOLO, A Lot of Baggage

Woman sitting on a rooftop ledge with a cityscape in the background, wearing a sun hat, black tank top with butterfly design, patterned shorts, and sandals, smiling with arms outstretched in Egypt.

Stepping out on faith…AGAIN

A woman sitting cross-legged in a desert landscape, smiling and reaching out with her right arm, wearing a black t-shirt and yellow pants.

Things to do in Egypt Solo!

Thinking About Moving Abroad?

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you leave. But there are some things you definitely want to think through first.

Download my FREE Moving Abroad Planning Workbook, created for women who are seriously considering living abroad but don’t know where to start.

Inside, you’ll work through:

Choosing and comparing countries
Money and banking abroad
Visas and important documents
What you’ll need during your first 30 days
Questions I wish I had considered before leaving the U.S.

[GET THE FREE WORKBOOK]