Jessica Mendoza

In 2025, nearly four years after they first thought of moving abroad, the LeBlancs started their new lives.

They got an apartment in central Lisbon and enrolled their kids in a private school nearby, which cost about the same as their kids' after-school care in L.A.

And they ditched those long commutes.

Instead, they can walk their kids to school.

Stephanie, earlier you were talking about, you know, the changes that you made to your finances ahead of the move.

When you run the numbers now, how do your expenses stack up compared to when you were living in L.A.

?

Part of that richer life is simply working less.

Michael now mostly freelances rather than working nine to five.

Meanwhile, Stephanie has changed careers.

She now works in relocation services, helping other expats move to Portugal.

Our colleague Joe mentioned that this field of relocation services is now booming.

Lux Nomads, for example, is a company for the well-to-do.

GTFO Tours caters to Trump critics, and She Hit Refresh targets the biggest boom market of all, women.

A Gallup poll last year found that 40% of American women between the ages of 15 and 44 would like to permanently move overseas if possible.

But Europeans aren't necessarily so excited about their new neighbors.

Still, Americans continue to be drawn abroad.

And not just to Western Europe.

Even celebrities are promoting an international lifestyle to their followers online.

I haven't heard that song in a minute, but yes, sir.