Can’t stop, won’t stop talking about what still blow sour mind in Portugal after living here for the past 16 months.

We talk about the things that still shock us (in a good way) and how those same things keep us feeling so grateful to be immigrants in Portugal.

Key Travel + Move Abroad Resources:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies

Can’t stop, won’t stop talking about what still blow sour mind in Portugal after living here for the past 16 months.

We talk about the things that still shock us (in a good way) and how those same things keep us feeling so grateful to be immigrants in Portugal.

So good that we have a Part 2 coming next week!

Key Travel + Move Abroad Resources:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies

This week’s podcast episode had us discussing things we thought we would miss when we moved abroad but surprisingly we don’t miss much at all!

When you are making a choice to leave the home you’ve known, it can feel daunting to think about these kinds of comforts that you fear missing- a home you and your partner built, your favorite bourbon or even the car-centric lifestyle you’ve always been used to…

But honestly, we’ve realized that a simple, peaceful life here makes those things seem so insignificant after our move abroad to Portugal 16 months ago now.

So lean in - and know that some things are worth missing and sometimes are the very thing you give up for a better life abroad.

Key Travel + Moving Abroad Resources:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies

Cheers, y’all!

Meredith + Mark

After 40 episodes (yay!) of this podcast documenting our move from the US to Portugal in late 2023, we get one question the most often.

How do I know WHERE in Portugal is the best place to move for me and my family?

We spend this episode walking through five easy steps to help you narrow down your list of potential locations.

* Consider climate. This will help you weed out the areas that are too hot, too cold or too wet for you.

* Coastal or inland? Is your heart set on beach life or are you open to other options?

* What size of a place do you envision for yourself? Big city, small town, tiny fishing village?

* Will you have a car or no? How much will public transportation be a part of your daily life? This will weed out any areas where public transportation is not readily available or close by. If you will have a car, this one doesn’t matter!

* Let us build your customized scouting trip itinerary for you (starting at just $149)! ➡️https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/lets-start-planning-your-portugal-adventure

Moving abroad from the US to Portugal has taught us a LOT about ourselves but one thing we are both struggling with after taking a mini break from traditional work is this feeling on some days that our worth is tied up in our work.

And when that traditional work is no longer a part of everyday life, that worthiness issue can rear it’s ugly head.

On this episode of the podcast, we talk about corporate indoctrination, how we can battle any feelings that we are being unproductive without traditional work and analyze what’s really going on… because neither of us have plans right now to return to those golden handcuffs of corporate life.

Key Resources:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies

How much did we save to move abroad? How much does it actually cost to move to Portugal? What if your situation doesn’t look like ours?

We finally talk about the financial side of our move - after lots of hesitation!

But with more and more people truly considering leaving the USA and moving abroad, we thought it was important to be transparent so that you can create the right financial plan for yourself.

Ultimate takeaways here:

1 - Approach your move abroad with a positive outlook - no matter what your financial situation currently is.

2 - Surround yourself with the right advisors to help you.

Some of our best partners can be found here:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies

If you’re trying to decide if moving to Portugal’s Algarve region is the right place for you, tune in to our most recent podcast episode! We talk through the pros + cons of living in the Algarve as we hit our 6th month here in Tavira and 16th month in Portugal after moving from Charlotte, NC in 2023.

Key Resources:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies

Highlights - Too Long, Didn’t Watch

Pros - slow pace of beach life is good for the central nervous system, weather/climate + no immediate need to be fluent in Portuguese can give you a soft landing (although not a pass to NOT learn the language)

Cons - less frequent public transportation, proximity to the nearest emergency hospital + not as “cultural + authentic” as other areas of Portugal

[Tavira, Portugal - April 2025]

How are Americans perceived now in Europe? We talk about this through some specific experiences we’ve had meeting people from all over the world while living here in Portugal - their questions, our conversations + feeling this need to make sure they know really quickly that we aren’t THOSE KIND of Americans.

Truth hurts. Our American brand is blemished bigly.

Key Resources:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies

Mark + I have a “healthy” conversation about:

* Parents and medical emergencies

* Establishing medical care here in Portugal + our experiences so far in the Algarve

* Recent Portuguese Festivals + Events we attended

* Our new upcoming content: Portugal Junkies Day Trip Diaries

* Customized Itineraries + 1:1 Calls

Key Resources:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies

Mark + I continue our conversation and download of the big culture shocks we experienced over the break in the USA and what life looks like 15 months after moving abroad to Portugal.

Key Resources:

www.stan.store/portugaljunkies