50+ And Just Getting Started? Here's How to Fund Your Next Adventure!
3 simple paths to create portable income and work from anywhere in the world
You’re Not Too Late — You’re Right On Time
Let’s just get this myth out of the way: if you’re in your 50s (or 60s, 70s, 80s etc) and dreaming of a life of freedom, travel, and a portable income… you haven’t missed the boat.
You might feel like the online income train left the station a decade ago. That it’s too late to start learning tech, building a business, or figuring out digital anything. But I come bearing great news!
There’s still a first-class seat with your name on it.
I know it can feel overwhelming. The fear of tech, the sneaky imposter syndrome, the paralysis of where to even begin. I’ve been there.
I remember publishing my very first $7 PDF, and feeling like I’d cracked the code when it made $28. I was hooked.
That tiny scrappy effort showed me what was possible, and kickstarted a journey that eventually led to multiple six figure product launches, and later, a 7-figure business.
But none of that would’ve happened if I’d waited until I had it all figured out.
So let’s skip the perfect plan and get real about what it actually takes to fund a freedom-filled life in your 50s and beyond.
The Truth About Funding a Nomadic Life
Forget what Instagram tells you. You don’t need a million followers or a million dollars to start travelling the world.
When we first moved to Thailand, we lived like kings for under $3,000 a month.
Beachfront apartment, scooter rental, massages, pad Thai on demand, and cold Changs while floating in the Andaman ocean. We were comfortable, not roughing it.
And that’s the magic of this lifestyle. You don’t need to earn big, you just need to earn enough.
For some, that might be an extra $500–$1,000 a month to top up a pension or cover flights and Airbnbs. For others, it’s $3k - $10k a month to go fully nomadic and fund a slower-paced life abroad.
I don’t know why we always equate freedom to seven figures or up. I guess it’s what we’ve been conditioned to believe. But far from the million dollar dream, true freedom is about choice.
What you want to work on, from where you want to work on it, with who you want to work on it with.
If you love what you do, while being able to do it from anywhere, and you earn enough to clock off at 2pm and go to the beach, or hike your fave mountain, or sit in a coffee shop with friends.
That to me is freedom.
The 3 Paths to Portable Income
In my experience, most portable income streams fall into three simple categories.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just pick a path that best fits your skills, interests, and desired pace.
1. 🛠 Freelancing & Remote Work
Perfect for: people who want to start earning quickly and already have professional experience
If you’ve worked in admin, marketing, teaching, customer service, or consulting, you’ve got portable skills.
Common roles include:
Virtual Assistant
Online Tutor or ESL Teacher
Freelance Writer or Editor
Tech Support or Customer Service Rep
Project Manager or Consultant
You can find jobs on platforms like Upwork, FlexJobs, or even Facebook groups. It’s fast, flexible, and requires minimal setup.
Great for:
People who enjoy working with clients
Those who prefer steady gigs
Anyone who wants quick wins without building an audience
2. 🧠 Digital Products & Online Courses
Perfect for: teachers, coaches, hobbyists, or anyone who loves to share what they know
This is how I got started, with a $7 PDF!
That evolved into a $30k course, a $117k launch, and eventually a thriving business.
Product ideas:
Mini-courses or eBooks (on anything from baking to budgeting)
Digital planners, journals, templates, design packs
Online workshops or tutorials
Audio courses or group coaching
You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to be one step ahead of someone else. It takes a little bit of setup, but once created these products can sell while you sleep.
Great for:
Creators who love teaching or documenting
Those willing to learn a few tech tools
Anyone who wants to earn more passively over time
3. 🎨 Print-on-Demand & Ecom Projects
Perfect for: creatives or tinkerers who love physical products or visuals
This includes Etsy shops, Shopify stores, and even Amazon FBA. My husband and I built and sold a 7-figure Amazon business, but I’ve also made smaller fun projects like journals, checklists, and planners.
Simple product ideas:
Custom tees, mugs, shoes, bags, jigsaws, wall art (you name it, print on demand companies offer so many products now)
Handmade jewellery or crafts (if you love making stuff)
White label or private label goods, either dropshipped or manufactured.
It’s a bit slower to build and depending on the model there may be some up front costs, but it’s great if you love creating or have a vision to create your own product line.
Great for:
Creatives and crafters
Visual thinkers and designers
People who want to build a brand or product line
What Most 50+ Aspiring Nomads Get Wrong
Here’s what I see time and time again…
❌ Waiting until they have “the big idea”
❌ Overcomplicating with funnels and branding before they’ve sold anything
❌ Thinking it’s too late to learn something new
❌ Believing they need a full business before they can travel
The truth is, small and scrappy beats big and polished. Every time.
You can’t get going unless you get started and so often getting started is held up by thinking too big and not just taking the first simple step.
Don’t start with a million-dollar vision board. Start with one idea, one offer, one person you could help.
You’ll learn more from launching a $27 digital planner than 12 months of planning ever could.
Messy momentum beats perfect procrastination.
Your First 3 Steps
Let’s get you moving. Not next year. Not after another course. Right now.
1. Pick Your Path
Are you a helper (freelance)? A sharer (digital products)? A maker (ecom)?
Circle one and stick with it for 90 days.
2. Test a Tiny Idea
Can you sell a $27 checklist? Offer tutoring? Launch a pre-sale?
Get one thing in front of real people this week, even if it’s not perfect.
3. Start a Simple System
You don’t need a funnel. Start with one lead magnet (freebie), one email tool (Substack or ConvertKit), and one way to grow your audience (like Substack or Instagram).
That’s your ecosystem. Build it slowly and simply.
If you need a bit more help and inspiration download my free guide “How to Become a Digital Nomad in Your 50s & Beyond”. It’ll walk you through these steps, plus give you examples and tools to make it real.
From Scrappy to Sustainable: My Story
I didn’t start with a grand plan.
I started with a laptop on a balcony in Cyprus with dodgy WiFi.
My first product made $28. My second made $30k. My third, $117k in 7 days.
Over the next few years, we hit seven figures, ran businesses from Thailand, house-sat across Europe, and turned this whole messy experiment into a lifestyle.
But it didn’t happen because I had a perfect roadmap. It happened because I started small, and kept going.
You’re Not Starting From Scratch — You’re Starting From Experience
You’ve already built a life. That means you’ve got stories, skills, and strengths that 20-year-olds don’t.
You know what lights you up. You know what you’re good at, and you’ve weathered your fair share of storms.
The resilience, clarity and confidence you have simply by virtue of having lived—is your superpower now.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign, let this be it.
It’s your time. And there’s a whole world out there waiting for you to show up.
Ready to Start Your Nomadic Lifestyle? Here’s How I Can Help You:
Join The 50+ Nomad Club — my free weekly newsletter for 8,000+ freedom-seeking nomads over 50. Get tips on travel, lifestyle freedom, and fun, flexible ways to fund your adventures. 🎁 Bonus: Get your FREE guide ‘How to Become a Digital Nomad in Your 50s & Beyond’ when you sign up. ✈️🌍
Join my FREE Facebook Group, 50+ Nomads! Connect with 20k+ like-minded travellers, share experiences, ask questions, and get inspired by others living the nomadic lifestyle. It’s a supportive space for anyone over 50 looking to explore the world. 🗺️🌍
Explore my blog, The Working Traveller
Your go-to resource for nomadic travel tips, destination inspiration, and practical advice on making money on the road. 👩🏻💻