June 3, 2025 • 34 mins
What does it really mean to live life on your own terms?
Melissa Joy, CFP®, is joined by Sherita Janielle—digital marketing consultant, and entrepreneur who pulls back the curtain on what it looks like to redesign your life after a major transition, reject societal timelines, and prioritize fulfillment, flexibility, and financial sustainability.
After a career in finance, Sherita transitioned to entrepreneurship. Following her divorce, she took a leap and embraced a life she once never imagined—working remotely while traveling the world. But this conversation goes far beyond digital nomadism. It’s about crafting a life that aligns with your values, your energy, and your vision of success—whether that means flying across continents or simply living more intentionally at home.
Melissa and Sherita dig into:
- Rebuilding life and finances post-divorce
- Why location independence can actually be more affordable than city life
- The power of saying "no" to society’s expectations (and "yes" to your own)
- Building authentic community while traveling solo
- The importance of not making long-term decisions in a temporary mindset
- Why it's okay to change course and not have it all figured out
This episode is for anyone questioning the status quo, navigating a life transition, or dreaming of a different kind of success.
Connect with Sherita:
- Get the Digital Nomad Blueprint
- Instagram: @sheritajanielle
- Website: modernwomanagenda.com
The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only. No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https:...
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast.
I'm Melissa Joy, a certifiedfinancial planner and the
founder of Pearl Planning.
My goal is to help youstreamline and organize your
finances, navigate big moneydecisions with confidence and be
strategic in order to grow yourwealth.
As a woman, you work hard foryour money and I'm here to help
(00:21):
you make the most of it.
Now let's get into the show.
And I'm here to help you makethe most of it.
Now let's get into the show.
Just a quick note before wedive in.
The information that we shareis meant to educate and inspire,
not serve as personalizedfinancial advice.
Everyone's situation is unique,so be sure to consult with your
own financial professional forguidance that fits your life.
And just so you know, theopinions shared in this podcast
(00:45):
are my own and those of myguests, and they don't
necessarily represent those ofany organizations that I'm
affiliated with.
For more important disclosures,please go to our webpage at
pearlplancom.
Now let's get started.
Welcome back to the Women'sMoney Wisdom Podcast.
I am thrilled.
Today we're going to be talkingabout something that I think
(01:07):
for many of you, is completelyout of the box, a new
perspective.
Hopefully it gets you thinking.
We're joined by Sherita Janelle, and she is the epitome of
living her best life, accordingto her, which we love to hear
from a woman where they can justsay, yep, I've got it figured
out for myself.
She is a globe-trotting digitalnomad who has explored over 45
(01:30):
countries.
She is seamlessly balancing herwork as a digital marketing
manager more on that later witha lifestyle of adventure, and
she's embracing life after 40.
Sherita is unapologeticallyherself embodying confidence and
authenticity in every aspect ofher journey.
If your attention is not piqued, I don't know if you're
(01:51):
listening.
Sharita, welcome to the podcast.
This is going to be fun.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Thank you so much for having me, Melissa.
I know we said we're going totouch on that later, but we work
together on a regular basis.
I'm like the manager of thisshow almost that's right.
It's so funny to be on theother side of it and be involved
in it and not just editing andwhatnot.
So this is exciting.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
So thank you for having me.
Well, for listeners out there,Sherita makes this podcast
possible because she, in thebackground, in conjunction with
the marketing company we workwith, Idea Decanter, produces
these episodes, gets them out,launches them each week, keeps
(02:34):
us on task, and so.
But it's time to put Sherita infront of the camera, because
she also lives an amazing lifewhile doing that, and that's
what we're going to talk abouttoday.
So tell me a little bit aboutwhy we're talking Sherita.
So tell me a little bit aboutwhy we're talking Sherita.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Tell me about how you live, I will say that this has
not always been my life.
So I, you know, I did not wakeup like this, as Beyonce says.
You know, I've had a veryinteresting past.
I actually I studied finance.
I was a corporate accountant.
For many years I lived in NewYork.
I worked as a commercialactress as well.
I was a model.
I've kind of like worn a lot ofdifferent hats.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I was a model.
You just sneak that in there onthe side.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I'm like, I'm like, I'm a, I'm a accountant, but a
model by trade, so, yes, butit's one of those things that
you, it's kind of I I've ledlike an oxymoron kind of life,
because not a lot of peopleenjoy Excel, spreadsheets and
painting, so you know thingslike that.
(03:31):
But with my, with my life,halfway, you know, through my
journey in New York city, Ilaunched a website.
It was called busy wife, busylife, and it was my way to kind
of brand myself as a on-cameratalent, and little did I know at
the time that blogging was itsown business or it was about to
be, because this was, this wasback in like 2014, 13, 14, when
blogs were still very new and Ijust, you know, I started
(03:55):
figuring it out, as I do withmost things in life.
That's a little uh Marie, uhfolio.
She always says thateverything's figureoutable.
Yeah, but I did, and so Istarted learning a lot of
marketing skills from that.
I started working with brands,I learned how to design websites
, I learned about thesemarketing concepts that,
(04:15):
thankfully, you know, I didn'trealize was setting me up for
like my next life, which is thislife.
And yes, now I work as a digitalmarketing consultant within the
financial services industry andI work remotely.
And yes, now I work as adigital marketing consultant
within the financial servicesindustry and I work remotely.
And after my divorce, which was, you know, a long, arduous
process, I said to myself youknow, I don't have to be
(04:37):
anywhere, so let me go beanywhere I want to be.
And I took to the sky.
People always laugh at me.
Now they're like where do youlive?
I'm like in the sky.
You can deliver my mail toDelta Airlines, they'll make
sure it gets to be.
And I took to the sky.
People always laugh at me.
Now they're like where do youlive?
I'm like in the sky.
You can deliver my mail toDelta Airlines, they'll make
sure it gets to me.
Does?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
that actually work.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
No, it does not, it does not, it does not.
But you know, they do know, youknow my normal seat number.
They're like oh, miss Rankin'swelcome to see you again.
So I've made friends withflight attendants at this point.
But yes, it is, it's anunconventional life.
The quote unquote digital nomad.
I know a lot of people thinkthat this is some like you know,
bros, this is traveling theworld.
(05:11):
You know that's, that's um, Ithink one of the, the, the
thoughts of it.
But it's, it's really not um,it's, it's nomading, is is not
and it's, it's not as, uh, I say, backpacking or anything like
that, as you might envision.
You know I, I travel around, Idecide where I'm going to stay
for a month or two months and Ikind of, as I say, set up shop
(05:32):
there and I build a community, Ilearn about the surroundings.
You know I start immersingmyself in the cultures, I make
new friends.
I joined a gym and you know II'm almost like chasing summer,
because I haven't reallyexperienced a winter in in many
years and I'm originally fromDetroit, so I know what that's
like.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Oh, no way, I didn't know that so it's.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
it's just, it's a very different lifestyle, and a
lot of people are including mymother at times are a little
confused, but it's.
It's very, I would say,fulfilling, especially because
I'm living life on my terms andI think a lot of people they
can't say that for many reasons,whether it's fear or just
things that are confining themor they just haven't figured out
(06:18):
how to cut the ties of thingsthat aren't making them happy or
fulfilled.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Well, let's pause for a moment.
Just in your own words, howwould you define digital nomad
and just give people like justthe generic definition of what
you are doing today?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I would say, a digital nomad is someone who
works remotely, who does not, isnot tied to any particular home
base, that can work in any timezone that is conducive to their
work schedule, and they traveleither with a visa or without a
visa, working within the visitorvisa of that particular country
(06:55):
, and they literally go fromplace to place, and it may be
two to three places a year, itcould be six to 12.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
So it's really up to you and your schedule, so tell
me what your 2025 is going tolook like.
I know you've been in Centraland South America this year,
right, yes?
And so tell me where you'vebeen and where you're going.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
So I spent the first quarter of the year in Buenos
Aires, and then I did a littledetour to Mexico City, which is
amazing, by the way.
I'm spending the summer inEurope.
I will probably be returning toMexico City in the fall, and
then I'm hoping to go to CapeTown for winter.
So yes, that's that time zone.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
It's going to be a toughie, but it's actually the
same as it's the same as EuropeLike.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
OK it's just yeah, so it's straight down.
So as long as you, I'm a nightowl and it works for me.
So you know, I've been on callsbefore people like what time is
it?
I'm like 10, 30 PM.
They're like, is that fine?
I'm like, yes, dinner juststarted here.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
So I love it.
So you have.
How did you make that?
So I know you had the desire toyou know, kind of let's
rearrange my life based on theterms that I find desirable.
How did you actually figure outhow to do this, because the
logistics sound like a challengeto me, like you're figuring out
a living arrangement for aperiod of time You're not just
(08:15):
showing up in hotels, I'massuming.
So how did you get the nuts andbolts?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Well, you know.
So I will say that.
So I am.
I was.
I did win a contest a littlecouple years ago that did give
me a lot of hotel points, so Idid start out like that, but
that was not sustainable forlong-term.
But I will say, what I do is Idid my research.
Surprisingly, there's a very,there's a very large community
and there's a lot of resourcesout there.
So I started doing research.
(08:41):
I started figuring out, okay,where is going to be affordable
to actually get an Airbnb or ashort term rental?
I started, you know, looking atflights, trying to decide you
know what makes the most sensein regards to flying places, how
long, you know.
I mean, I said, maybe this isthe strategic spreadsheet side
of me, with budgeting andwhatnot.
But and then you and a lot of Imean honestly, other than
(09:03):
places like you know,switzerland and France and and
you know parts of Japan, I guessyou know the U?
S has a larger, you know ahigher cost of living than a lot
of you know all of SouthAmerica and parts of Europe.
So, with regards to budgeting,it is a little easier when you
are traveling, it was just funnylittle easier when you are
(09:27):
traveling.
It was just funny, this onewoman.
She met me and she called methe richest homeless person she
knew.
And you didn't mind that youweren't offended.
No I looked at her like she wasridiculous because I'm like, I'm
not homeless, I'm just I don'thave, I'm unhoused at the moment
, but it's not, it's, it's notas if I'm I'm living on the
street.
So yeah, so I mean, I pickthese Airbnbs, I decide, you
know, and then sometimes you can, you know, and there's, there's
(09:48):
what you can negotiate with the, with the Airbnb host.
You know, if you're staying fora period of time because they
want their place rented, theywant someone to take care of it,
If they know you're, you'reprofessional and you're going to
take care of a place.
(10:09):
People can be anti-Facebook, butit has a large group of,
especially women.
There's a lot of womeninternational groups.
There's a group called GirlsGone International and you add a
city and there's a group ofwomen in that city who are
expats.
There's generally women in, andthen these women are happy to
help, to give advice, questions,to meet up for coffees, for
(10:32):
drinks, to be friends, and youwould be surprised how many
people are just willing to be apart of a community, because
there's a lot of like-minded.
You know souls out there whoare doing the same thing and
they know what it feels like tobe alone and they want to
provide that support Are thosegroups where you're going to to
establish a community when youget there?
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Because I'm just amazed, if I landed in a new
city for a month, I'd probably,you know, hopefully I'd know two
people, but I'm just not.
I don't have the muscle memoryof establishing new networks
that quickly.
How are you feeling comfortablein the communities where you're
getting experience?
It's not just you know, like Idon't know.
The other tourists that youknow arrive into parties week.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
I don't know.
The other tourists that youknow arrive into parties week.
Well, I was.
I am a little outgoing, so thismight not be, for if you are a
total introvert then this mightbe not the lifestyle for you.
So generally what I do is Iwill go on the networks prior to
me arriving, I post a photo, Ipost a little blurb about myself
and I say, hey, I'll be herefor you know X amount of days or
(11:35):
X amount of weeks or months orwhatnot Would love to meet up.
These are my hobbies andinterests and you would be
surprised It'll be 10, 15 people.
Oh, my God, I'm here at thesame time Because generally
these nomads, there's calendarsthat we kind of.
There's this unknown, unspokencalendar that we kind of follow
and people are just ready to sayI would love to meet up.
(11:55):
Yes, I love working out.
I, you know, I love board gamesor I love, you know, I'm a big
coffee enthusiast.
There's people who wouldliterally like to do whatever it
is that you're generallyposting and it's very easy to to
make these connections and,like you said, and these are
like-minded women, you feel safe.
There's no men in these groupsand whatnot, so it feels like a
safe space.
I had a whole crew ofindividuals in Argentina.
(12:19):
We had a weekly brunch that wewent to.
It was four of us and thesewomen some of them were from the
US, some was from the UK, sothese are international, you
know, travelers and they wereall there for about six weeks to
two, three months, and I'm nowI met another, the girl I met in
Argentina.
We end up meeting up in MexicoCity.
I'm meeting another friend inEurope later this summer.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
So it is really, if you think that you're alone, I
guarantee you are not and that'sand that is, that's a
comforting feeling to havetalked about potentially
relocating internationally, andone of the concepts I introduced
is it doesn't have to be adecision where you literally
(12:58):
just make a commitment for yourwhole entire life and leave.
This is a great way to test thewaters for trying out different
places, even potentially, ifyou'd like a second residence,
figuring out before you committhings like that.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Exactly, and a lot of countries especially, I know, I
believe, spain and Portugalthey have like a non-revenue
visa.
So if you are retired andyou're trying to just try a new
place, you can get a visa to gothere and not work as long as
you're not making any income andyou're living off of your
current assets.
So there's, I mean, they'reencouraging this kind of travel.
(13:34):
So it is becoming a lot easierto take advantage of these
opportunities, these visas, andreally explore a lifestyle that
you might not have thought thatyou even wanted or was available
to you.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Well, I want to ask a few like kind of financial
planning related questions.
First of all, I heard you sayand this is an important part of
these decisions you arethinking strategically in terms
of budget, you are analyzing,you know how much, since you're
working too, you're making,you're spending and it's not
just YOLO.
You know, like I do think thisis an important component is
(14:08):
like you do still need, for mostpeople, some constraints on you
know what you spend versus whatyou make and things like that.
How have you tackled that sideof things to make sure that the
math, math in terms of yourchoices.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
I'm not girl mapping these trips, I'm actually
mapping these trips, so, yeah,so, like I said, so, as I look
at these Airbnbs, you know somecountries like the UK or, sorry,
argentina and South Americagenerally doesn't don't have
taxes on their Airbnbs.
When I go to Mexico City,there's almost a 15 to 20% tax
on them.
So I have to lower my budget inregards to what I'm spending
(14:47):
because I know that I'm going tobe paying an extra three $400
in tax.
That, you know I didn'tanticipate in Europe is they
don't have tax.
So it's certain things likethat that I take into
consideration.
You know, I look at flights, Ilook at eating costs and whatnot
and a lot of, and exchangerates and whether or not it's
better to pay with card or withcash or exchange all at once, or
, you know, certain economiesare a little more stable than
(15:10):
others.
So you know, so I do, I takeall that into account.
I literally I do research.
I'm like how much is the normal, you know nomad spending on
meals and whatnot?
I look at the I call it the thecocktail, my, my, my, my.
I look at cocktails in my way.
What is it If I go out to drink?
How much is it?
For?
You know, a good cocktail Is it.
Is it $15?
Or can I get a good cocktailfor eight dollars and then I can
(15:32):
like plan my my weekend budget?
Speaker 1 (15:34):
this is helpful as well yeah, so it it there.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
this information is available and if you think about
, you know, I guarantee though,if you think about how much
you're spending in the US, morethan likely it is less.
And but it said I love to cook,so I go to the grocery store,
I'm buying, I'm buyingnecessities, I'm cooking for
myself, I'm having yogurt in mynormal routine in the morning.
So you know, I'm literallydoing the things that I would do
(15:58):
had I been in the US, and it'sstill coming out to being
cheaper.
So I mean, you have to takeinto account that you don't have
to have homeowners insurance,car insurance, car no, you know,
gas, things of that nature, andso when you get rid of a lot of
these expenses and a lot ofthese places you know are very
(16:20):
walkable, you take the Metro, soyou take into your
transportation costs intoconsideration as well.
So, as you look at your fullbudget, you can still come out,
especially if you live in amajor, a major US city.
You will come out ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
I love it.
One other thing you mentionedinsurance is that you may not
need, but how do you make surethat you're covered for medical
care?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
So I will say I am living life on the edge because
I have medical insurance in theUS.
I go to, you know, I get all mycheckups when I come and come
back to the to the US.
But surprisingly, you know,I've had people who've had to go
to the doctor out of thecountry.
It's not as expensive.
You're not going to get a billfor $20,000 if you need to call,
you know, an ambulance or go toa hospital.
(17:03):
You know, I see videos online.
A woman literally had her bill.
She had to go to the emergencyroom get a test done.
It was $181.
So you know, even if you havesome of these costs, they're not
going to be outrageous.
So I mean, you kind of, I guess, have a little discretionary
fund for things of that nature,the just-in-cases and like
things.
I always realize that you canalways come home so if something
(17:25):
is starting to go wrong you canpack your things up and get
back on a plane and go to, youknow, our medical services here
in the US.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, so you're not uninsured, you're just not
getting, you're not purchasinginternational insurance.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
No, that's just something I haven't done yet.
I'm generally a very healthyperson.
I would say if you have healthconcerns, this might be
something to consider as well.
But yeah, I and a lot of that'sthe thing too, though A lot of
countries you can walk intopharmacies and just buy
medication if something's wrong,so you can say, oh, I'm not
feeling well, and you can buystuff over the counter, so you
don't necessarily have to go toa doctor to treat things as much
(17:56):
as we do in the US.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Yeah, In many countries pharmacists are
actually the medical dispenserskind of first.
Exactly, that's super helpful.
I think so.
Probably half of you, Well, athird of you, are listening and
thinking no way, I'm like here,this feels good.
A third are listening like,sign me up, I'm going.
And I hope there's anotherportion of you that are
(18:19):
listening and hearing that youdon't need to benchmark your
life to societal normsnecessarily.
I think that you know,especially in the age of social
media, which you've capitalizedupon and are actually teaching
people how to live this life onsocial media, which we'll talk
about in a moment you but youcreated a different footprint
(18:41):
for, or blueprint for, yourself.
That you know.
I think, more and more we'repressured to be the same as
everybody else and you know,have some societal norm that
really no one has, and you havereally been inquisitive of
yourself to say what brings mefulfillment, happiness,
contentment, what could I take,what could I subtract and what
(19:04):
could I add?
What kind of lessons learned doyou have from taking this leap?
That your mother may say whatthe heck are you doing, Sherita?
But then you know others of usare like oh my gosh, tell me
more.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Well, you know it's, it's almost like you have to
think about your life and Ialways say what do you value,
what's most important to you?
And if you are leaning into thethings that aren't, then it's.
I decided it was time to make achange.
I and I decided it was time tomake a change.
I looked at what I was able todo in the career that I had.
Like I said, I was workingremotely and I know a lot of
people were working remote.
(19:36):
They were called to go back tothe office.
They may feel that they'rechained to a desk and they're
looking for other positions, butI was fortunate enough to be
able to take my skill set, workwith a company and consult in a
way that allowed me toprioritize.
I say living versus just working, because in New York I was.
I was at one point in New YorkI had three jobs.
(19:57):
I was a model, I was in office,I was a waitress at the same
time and I was just you knowit's, it's a lot.
And then you kind of step backand I and I know a lot of people
and I admire them, even like mybest friend.
She has this amazing career andthe C-suite job and I love her
for that.
And I just I knew that that wasnot the life that I wanted to
(20:18):
live.
I did not want to, I didn'twant, I didn't want my success
tied to how many meetings I hadin a day.
You know how much I could bemaking for the company.
And I just started looking atmyself and trying to decide what
makes me happy, what.
What am I fulfilled doing?
And when I wake up in themorning, I love my job, I love
what I do.
So I don't feel that that it'staking away from the life that I
(20:38):
want to live.
I I chose not to have anychildren.
That was also a choice that Imade.
I know some women.
You know that choice is madefor them.
But you know you have to dealwith the cards that are, that
are dealt to you and for you,and I just decided to take
advantage.
And and I would say, the lessonthat I've learned is that
you're going to have people whodoubt you.
You're going to have those whoquestion you and you just have
(20:59):
to be steadfast in your owndecisions and know that if these
people are not paying yourbills, they're, they're, they're
not with you 24 seven, and youhave to live for, for yourself,
and that's just that's how.
And people are like oh, I feelbad, I'm supposed to.
No, no, you're supposed to bedoing what brings you joy.
To an extent, of course, like Isaid, I work, I'm healthy and
(21:21):
all those things, and I thinkthose are the most important
because life is short and youknow, and I also know that when
you put off like these big tripsand these big adventures until
you're until later in life,sometimes it's not promised to
you.
So I just, I prioritized doingthe things that I can do now
versus putting them off untillater.
You know when I'm supposed tobe enjoying retirement, like so
(21:44):
it's just, I just restructured,structured my life and you know
who knows where this is going tolead me.
I said I won't be travelingforever, but I hope that I
inspire women to kind of take aleap that might sound
unconventional and do things youknow for them, because we
support so many people, whetherit's, you know, at work, we, you
(22:05):
know, we are the multitaskingQueens.
Generally, you ask a man, hecan't even answer a question and
write something down at thesame time.
So it's just, you know, I, I,just I love the life that I've
built, and I hope that I inspirepeople to do the same, if it's
if it's something they want todo.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Yeah, and it the life that you build may be, you know
, a master garden.
It doesn't have to be travelingthe world.
Everybody's a little bitdifferent, and it can be a
little bit of everything, butnobody's going to stop your life
and tell you now it's time todo the things that you would
prefer to prioritize.
And so I do think a financialplanner engagement can be
(22:45):
assistive, because our role isnot to judge whether that what
you desire is worthy of yourpursuit.
Our job is to help you achieveyour aspirations and also
objectively tell you when thereare, you know, deficiencies or
weaknesses or gaps in a gameplan that might leave you either
(23:09):
your current or future selfvulnerable and it's like.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
It's like what are your goals?
Is it sustainable?
Those are, those are like thequestions that are asked and
answer.
And for me especially, I saidcoming out of the divorce, it
was almost this was the mostsustainable thing, because I
wasn't ready to, you know, setup shop, as I say, get all of
these bills.
I knew that I could be incontrol of how much money I was
spending every month, live aslavish or as inexpensively as I
(23:36):
chose at that time, and it gaveme the flexibility of knowing
that.
You know, I'm not tied down tosomething right now if I wasn't
comfortable with, if you know, Iwasn't sure about my actual
income or expenditures.
You know it's a daunting.
It's like from going from amarriage to.
You know it's a daunting.
Is it from going from amarriage to a single life?
It's a daunting thing.
Restructuring.
You know you went fromsometimes splitting things to
(23:58):
now everything falls on you.
So you're just like, okay, howcan I make this sustainable for
me?
And, like I said, it's notabout, it's not about jumping on
a plane and going around theworld, it's whatever.
You know, maybe it's startingthat business, Maybe it's, like
you said, starting that garden,maybe it's starting your Etsy
shop, like whatever it is thatyou want to do.
It's leaning into those fearsand having that doubt of can I,
(24:20):
should I?
And kind of just casting thataside and saying yes, I can.
And guess what If it doesn'twork out?
It doesn't work out, but youdon't know, unless you try.
And that's always like mymindset, because I said you
don't have to do somethingforever, but if it's something
you want to do, give it a try.
You can always change your mind.
Plans are always subject tochange is what I always say.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
And I think, just while we're on that topic of
divorce, I think so many peopletry to recreate the house and
the you know like, how can Imake everything the same when
everything has changed?
And there is this period oftime post-divorce, during and
post-divorce that is highlydisrupted, where you know
decision-making may bediminished, making maybe
diminished.
Just you know you're making acommitment for how you think
you're going to feelpost-divorce, that it may or may
not feel right for you afteryou've gotten you know kind of
(25:16):
all of the disruption out of theway.
So I that that fragile period,tender period, post-divorce is
one where people often try toset a table that isn't one they
really want to be sitting at.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Exactly.
You shouldn't make long-termdecisions when you're in a
temporary mindset, and I just Ido believe that and, like I say
you, a lot of emotions go intolife changes and trying to set
yourself up and feeling thepressure of, okay, I need to do
this now, I need to do this.
No, I'm like I realized that Ineeded to relax, I needed to
chill, I needed to be in a spacethat wasn't going to be
(25:51):
demanding.
I was like there was no way inheck.
I was going back to New YorkCause that's like.
It's like, oh, just the nice,calm city of New York.
No, so you know, said no one.
So you know you have to findthe space for yourself to grow
to, to really, if you said, ifyou're thinking about doing
something life change orsomething large, or something
big that's different from whereyou are, be in a space that
(26:14):
allows you to flourish in that,whether it's around a network of
individuals who support you or,like I said, even if you lower,
if you're lowering yourexpenses, so you have room to do
that.
The hardest thing to try to dois to build things when you're
doing everything else at thesame time, because I'm not sure
if you said I think you havesaid this before that you can
have it all, but just not all atthe same time, so you've got to
(26:38):
make decisions sometime on whatis important and what you're
going to do at that moment.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Yeah, and one of my favorite sayings is you can have
anything but not everything.
So you know, there there doesneed to be some discernment.
Is there anything that you feellike you miss the most?
Or you know, like every my, Ilove the aggregate of my life,
but I got to this city and itwas the worst, or anything like
that.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Um, you know, I said I've, I've been, I've been smart
, I said I've done my researchto where.
You know, every time before Iget on a plane, I think to
myself what are you doing?
And then I get there and I'mlike this is amazing.
So you know, and then I'malways sad, like to leave, and
my friends were like you havesaid you could live everywhere.
I was like no, no, no, so.
So I just think it's I, I, I.
(27:21):
I don't have any regrets rightnow.
I think the only the only thingI would have regretted if I
haven't.
I didn't try this out and youknow, I almost stopped traveling
last year because I felt like Ishould and I realized I wasn't
ready.
So I'm going until the feeling,the spirit no longer moves me,
as I would say, and we'll justsee.
Like I said, I will see wherewe're going.
(27:41):
Life, like always, you know,sends signs and opportunities
your way and you just have to beready to receive them.
So this is the space I'm inright now and, like I said,
we'll see what next year brings.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Yeah, Well, a couple of lessons learned from our
conversation.
First of all, I think everyonehas permission to grow, Grow as
a person, grow in theirrelationship with their values
and their self and what bringspurpose and meaning to your life
.
And I think sometimes we forgetabout that.
Sometimes we're, you know,everything's external, it's kind
of happening to us, it's ourto-do list.
(28:15):
Sometimes we're you knoweverything's external, it's kind
of happening to us, it's ourto-do list.
And so I really hear from youthat growth mindset which I do
think you know kind of bringsfulfillment.
And also, you know, whateveryou're doing today isn't always
permanent.
So you have the power to bothdream.
And then you just described.
I don't know if I'll always bedoing this, but this is right
for me.
Right now I don't know if I'llalways be doing this, but this
(28:36):
is right for me right now and Ithink that that is a really
powerful way to buildexperiences and a journey, that
it is right for someone, thatthat leaves you without regrets,
and so if anyone feels inspiredbased on this conversation, it
doesn't have to be that you're,you know, hopping continents all
the time, although it may be.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
It may be, I mean it's actually it.
It's a more, it's affordabledecision at this rate, and I
mean I'm so ready.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
But I've got this office that I also love.
That brings me a lot of joy aswell, as you know, tweens and
teens that are a little moreplaced here.
But I just love the story ofwhat you're doing.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Children need routines and stability.
So I do know people who aredoing this with kids at a very
young age, who are under the ageof five, which is definitely
doable as well, and then they'vebeen traveling, they've decided
to settle in a differentcountry long term and then have
them go to school there.
The kids become more bilingual.
So I mean there's differentways for everyone.
(29:35):
I'm not saying you have to justbe this single woman.
I mean I know people who travelwith their partner.
So it's there, there arecouples that do this as a, you
know, as a way to explore, andit's just kind of.
It's an unconventional life,but it's one that you know is
for me desirable.
And, as I said, I realizedafter having a network of people
that I'm meeting in thesedifferent cities, that it's
desirable to many.
(29:57):
So, um, like I said, don'tthink you are alone, but you had
to.
I had to pare down a lot ofthings, you know the things that
I travel with and things Ithought were important.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Yeah, like, what's the weight of your luggage when
you're going to the, when you?
Speaker 2 (30:09):
head to Europe.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
I am 50 pounds.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
I'm 50, 51.2 sometimes.
So yes, so yeah, so I, you knowit's like I don't know if I can
do that.
That when you, when you, whenyou check your bag and you, I
can, I know what it feels likenow and I drop it on the scale
and I'm like boom, like yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Well, I'm glad it's always summer, because I would
really struggle if it was.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Exactly, though it's always summer.
You think about the itemsyou're going to pack and you
have a washer and dryer and youand you have to think to
yourself I don't know thesepeople, I don't care if they see
me in the same outfit time andtime again.
So you know, it's not like thateither, and you can always buy
things.
Sometimes, when you'retraveling, you can buy things
that you can't get at home.
So that's great as well.
(30:49):
Yeah, so I, I do, I I travel.
I say some people travel alittle lighter than me, but I
have, I have my bag, I do have alittle carry on, I always have
my computer and and yeah, soit's just, I make it, I make it
work, a smart packing and decide.
You know, I say this wasn'tabout fashion, but it's like
having a color scheme.
You're either going to be likeneutrals or blacks and whites
(31:11):
with some splashes.
So you got.
So this way you don't have tobring everything.
You can bring outfits and mixand match and whatnot, which is
also economical and it also thathelps the budget.
You, you're not sitting inSpain ordering on Amazon either.
So it's like, yeah, I sit hereand I've like think about.
Every time I come back.
I'm like click click, clickorder and how much money I'm
saving, because I realized Idon't need anything else.
(31:31):
I'm good, I'm good, yeah, soeither way it's a savings all
around.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Well, your message has been that if you, if this is
something you're desiring,you're not alone.
You just need to find thecommunity you are teaching
people about the life of adigital nomad.
Tell people where they can findyour content and your lessons
learned.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Yeah, so you can find me on Instagram.
That's my most popular platform.
I'm at Sharita Janelle.
That's Janelle J-A-N-I-E-L-L-E.
There will be a link in theshow notes and then I'll also
within my link in bio.
I have a link to my DigitalNomad Blueprint, which is a
38-page comprehensive guide togetting started on this journey,
(32:12):
and I want to help you thinkabout the mindset find remote
work, where to go, how to go,how.
To date, we didn't talk aboutthat either.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Oh yeah, that's a whole entire episode.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Maybe we'll do a follow-up on dating and the
economics of that you know andtravel.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Please, I would love to especially like post-divorce.
Let's do that episode.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
So I have all of that information in the guide.
Divorce let's do that episode.
Yes, so I have all of thatinformation in the guide.
There's also worksheetsavailable that have templates
for trying to find consultingwork, remote work as well.
I really, you know, I don'twant to gatekeep anything and,
like I said, if you have anyquestions, if you just reach out
to me, I answer every singleone of my DMs personally as well
(32:53):
.
I also have some information onmy website too, at
modernwomanagendacom.
I've written some articlesabout traveling and my
experiences as well.
There's over 400 articles onthe site as well, because it's
shifted from Busy Wife to thatAswath Recipe, so it's a little
bit.
It's a busy woman's guide inthe modern world, so we'll put
it like that.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
So yes, well, keep being amazing and keep being
yourself, sherita.
And also, since we have thewoman behind the scenes on
camera today, thank you so muchfor all the work that you do to
make the Women's Money WisdomPodcast a success.
We really appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Thank you so much.
It was funny when you asked meto be on and I was just like I
don't do anything financial andthen I was thinking but my life
is so, yes, yes it sure is, andthis is exactly the
conversations that we need tohave.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
Not everything is a spreadsheet.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
Although sometimes it is, but these conversations
really, to me, are so impactfuland you would be surprised how
often you know I'm going to bebringing this conversation up in
my conversations with clientsas well.
So thank you for sharing.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Well, I appreciate you and all the work you do to
help women in the Dexter andjust in the whole online
community as well.
So thank you so much, Melissa.
Have a great week.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Thank you for listening to the Women's Money
Wisdom Podcast.
If you found value in thisepisode, the best way you can
support the podcast is toforward an episode to a friend
or leave a review.
Go to pearlplancom and thepodcast link to get all the
resources and links mentioned.
Welcome to the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast.
I'm Melissa Joy, a certifiedfinancial planner and the
founder of Pearl Planning.
My goal is to help youstreamline and organize your
finances, navigate big moneydecisions with confidence and be
strategic in order to grow yourwealth.
As a woman, you work hard foryour money and I'm here to help
(00:21):
you make the most of it.
Now let's get into the show.
And I'm here to help you makethe most of it.
Now let's get into the show.
Just a quick note before wedive in.
The information that we shareis meant to educate and inspire,
not serve as personalizedfinancial advice.
Everyone's situation is unique,so be sure to consult with your
own financial professional forguidance that fits your life.
And just so you know, theopinions shared in this podcast
(00:45):
are my own and those of myguests, and they don't
necessarily represent those ofany organizations that I'm
affiliated with.
For more important disclosures,please go to our webpage at
pearlplancom.
Now let's get started.
Welcome back to the Women'sMoney Wisdom Podcast.
I am thrilled.
Today we're going to be talkingabout something that I think
(01:07):
for many of you, is completelyout of the box, a new
perspective.
Hopefully it gets you thinking.
We're joined by Sherita Janelle, and she is the epitome of
living her best life, accordingto her, which we love to hear
from a woman where they can justsay, yep, I've got it figured
out for myself.
She is a globe-trotting digitalnomad who has explored over 45
(01:30):
countries.
She is seamlessly balancing herwork as a digital marketing
manager more on that later witha lifestyle of adventure, and
she's embracing life after 40.
Sherita is unapologeticallyherself embodying confidence and
authenticity in every aspect ofher journey.
If your attention is not piqued, I don't know if you're
(01:51):
listening.
Sharita, welcome to the podcast.
This is going to be fun.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Thank you so much for having me, Melissa.
I know we said we're going totouch on that later, but we work
together on a regular basis.
I'm like the manager of thisshow almost that's right.
It's so funny to be on theother side of it and be involved
in it and not just editing andwhatnot.
So this is exciting.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
So thank you for having me.
Well, for listeners out there,Sherita makes this podcast
possible because she, in thebackground, in conjunction with
the marketing company we workwith, Idea Decanter, produces
these episodes, gets them out,launches them each week, keeps
(02:34):
us on task, and so.
But it's time to put Sherita infront of the camera, because
she also lives an amazing lifewhile doing that, and that's
what we're going to talk abouttoday.
So tell me a little bit aboutwhy we're talking Sherita.
So tell me a little bit aboutwhy we're talking Sherita.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Tell me about how you live, I will say that this has
not always been my life.
So I, you know, I did not wakeup like this, as Beyonce says.
You know, I've had a veryinteresting past.
I actually I studied finance.
I was a corporate accountant.
For many years I lived in NewYork.
I worked as a commercialactress as well.
I was a model.
I've kind of like worn a lot ofdifferent hats.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
I was a model.
You just sneak that in there onthe side.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I'm like, I'm like, I'm a, I'm a accountant, but a
model by trade, so, yes, butit's one of those things that
you, it's kind of I I've ledlike an oxymoron kind of life,
because not a lot of peopleenjoy Excel, spreadsheets and
painting, so you know thingslike that.
(03:31):
But with my, with my life,halfway, you know, through my
journey in New York city, Ilaunched a website.
It was called busy wife, busylife, and it was my way to kind
of brand myself as a on-cameratalent, and little did I know at
the time that blogging was itsown business or it was about to
be, because this was, this wasback in like 2014, 13, 14, when
blogs were still very new and Ijust, you know, I started
(03:55):
figuring it out, as I do withmost things in life.
That's a little uh Marie, uhfolio.
She always says thateverything's figureoutable.
Yeah, but I did, and so Istarted learning a lot of
marketing skills from that.
I started working with brands,I learned how to design websites
, I learned about thesemarketing concepts that,
(04:15):
thankfully, you know, I didn'trealize was setting me up for
like my next life, which is thislife.
And yes, now I work as a digitalmarketing consultant within the
financial services industry andI work remotely.
And yes, now I work as adigital marketing consultant
within the financial servicesindustry and I work remotely.
And after my divorce, which was, you know, a long, arduous
process, I said to myself youknow, I don't have to be
(04:37):
anywhere, so let me go beanywhere I want to be.
And I took to the sky.
People always laugh at me.
Now they're like where do youlive?
I'm like in the sky.
You can deliver my mail toDelta Airlines, they'll make
sure it gets to be.
And I took to the sky.
People always laugh at me.
Now they're like where do youlive?
I'm like in the sky.
You can deliver my mail toDelta Airlines, they'll make
sure it gets to me.
Does?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
that actually work.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
No, it does not, it does not, it does not.
But you know, they do know, youknow my normal seat number.
They're like oh, miss Rankin'swelcome to see you again.
So I've made friends withflight attendants at this point.
But yes, it is, it's anunconventional life.
The quote unquote digital nomad.
I know a lot of people thinkthat this is some like you know,
bros, this is traveling theworld.
(05:11):
You know that's, that's um, Ithink one of the, the, the
thoughts of it.
But it's, it's really not um,it's, it's nomading, is is not
and it's, it's not as, uh, I say, backpacking or anything like
that, as you might envision.
You know I, I travel around, Idecide where I'm going to stay
for a month or two months and Ikind of, as I say, set up shop
(05:32):
there and I build a community, Ilearn about the surroundings.
You know I start immersingmyself in the cultures, I make
new friends.
I joined a gym and you know II'm almost like chasing summer,
because I haven't reallyexperienced a winter in in many
years and I'm originally fromDetroit, so I know what that's
like.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Oh, no way, I didn't know that so it's.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
it's just, it's a very different lifestyle, and a
lot of people are including mymother at times are a little
confused, but it's.
It's very, I would say,fulfilling, especially because
I'm living life on my terms andI think a lot of people they
can't say that for many reasons,whether it's fear or just
things that are confining themor they just haven't figured out
(06:18):
how to cut the ties of thingsthat aren't making them happy or
fulfilled.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Well, let's pause for a moment.
Just in your own words, howwould you define digital nomad
and just give people like justthe generic definition of what
you are doing today?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I would say, a digital nomad is someone who
works remotely, who does not, isnot tied to any particular home
base, that can work in any timezone that is conducive to their
work schedule, and they traveleither with a visa or without a
visa, working within the visitorvisa of that particular country
(06:55):
, and they literally go fromplace to place, and it may be
two to three places a year, itcould be six to 12.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
So it's really up to you and your schedule, so tell
me what your 2025 is going tolook like.
I know you've been in Centraland South America this year,
right, yes?
And so tell me where you'vebeen and where you're going.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
So I spent the first quarter of the year in Buenos
Aires, and then I did a littledetour to Mexico City, which is
amazing, by the way.
I'm spending the summer inEurope.
I will probably be returning toMexico City in the fall, and
then I'm hoping to go to CapeTown for winter.
So yes, that's that time zone.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
It's going to be a toughie, but it's actually the
same as it's the same as EuropeLike.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
OK it's just yeah, so it's straight down.
So as long as you, I'm a nightowl and it works for me.
So you know, I've been on callsbefore people like what time is
it?
I'm like 10, 30 PM.
They're like, is that fine?
I'm like, yes, dinner juststarted here.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
So I love it.
So you have.
How did you make that?
So I know you had the desire toyou know, kind of let's
rearrange my life based on theterms that I find desirable.
How did you actually figure outhow to do this, because the
logistics sound like a challengeto me, like you're figuring out
a living arrangement for aperiod of time You're not just
(08:15):
showing up in hotels, I'massuming.
So how did you get the nuts andbolts?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Well, you know.
So I will say that.
So I am.
I was.
I did win a contest a littlecouple years ago that did give
me a lot of hotel points, so Idid start out like that, but
that was not sustainable forlong-term.
But I will say, what I do is Idid my research.
Surprisingly, there's a very,there's a very large community
and there's a lot of resourcesout there.
So I started doing research.
(08:41):
I started figuring out, okay,where is going to be affordable
to actually get an Airbnb or ashort term rental?
I started, you know, looking atflights, trying to decide you
know what makes the most sensein regards to flying places, how
long, you know.
I mean, I said, maybe this isthe strategic spreadsheet side
of me, with budgeting andwhatnot.
But and then you and a lot of Imean honestly, other than
(09:03):
places like you know,switzerland and France and and
you know parts of Japan, I guessyou know the U?
S has a larger, you know ahigher cost of living than a lot
of you know all of SouthAmerica and parts of Europe.
So, with regards to budgeting,it is a little easier when you
are traveling, it was just funnylittle easier when you are
(09:27):
traveling.
It was just funny, this onewoman.
She met me and she called methe richest homeless person she
knew.
And you didn't mind that youweren't offended.
No I looked at her like she wasridiculous because I'm like, I'm
not homeless, I'm just I don'thave, I'm unhoused at the moment
, but it's not, it's, it's notas if I'm I'm living on the
street.
So yeah, so I mean, I pickthese Airbnbs, I decide, you
know, and then sometimes you can, you know, and there's, there's
(09:48):
what you can negotiate with the, with the Airbnb host.
You know, if you're staying fora period of time because they
want their place rented, theywant someone to take care of it,
If they know you're, you'reprofessional and you're going to
take care of a place.
(10:09):
People can be anti-Facebook, butit has a large group of,
especially women.
There's a lot of womeninternational groups.
There's a group called GirlsGone International and you add a
city and there's a group ofwomen in that city who are
expats.
There's generally women in, andthen these women are happy to
help, to give advice, questions,to meet up for coffees, for
(10:32):
drinks, to be friends, and youwould be surprised how many
people are just willing to be apart of a community, because
there's a lot of like-minded.
You know souls out there whoare doing the same thing and
they know what it feels like tobe alone and they want to
provide that support Are thosegroups where you're going to to
establish a community when youget there?
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Because I'm just amazed, if I landed in a new
city for a month, I'd probably,you know, hopefully I'd know two
people, but I'm just not.
I don't have the muscle memoryof establishing new networks
that quickly.
How are you feeling comfortablein the communities where you're
getting experience?
It's not just you know, like Idon't know.
The other tourists that youknow arrive into parties week.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
I don't know.
The other tourists that youknow arrive into parties week.
Well, I was.
I am a little outgoing, so thismight not be, for if you are a
total introvert then this mightbe not the lifestyle for you.
So generally what I do is Iwill go on the networks prior to
me arriving, I post a photo, Ipost a little blurb about myself
and I say, hey, I'll be herefor you know X amount of days or
(11:35):
X amount of weeks or months orwhatnot Would love to meet up.
These are my hobbies andinterests and you would be
surprised It'll be 10, 15 people.
Oh, my God, I'm here at thesame time Because generally
these nomads, there's calendarsthat we kind of.
There's this unknown, unspokencalendar that we kind of follow
and people are just ready to sayI would love to meet up.
(11:55):
Yes, I love working out.
I, you know, I love board gamesor I love, you know, I'm a big
coffee enthusiast.
There's people who wouldliterally like to do whatever it
is that you're generallyposting and it's very easy to to
make these connections and,like you said, and these are
like-minded women, you feel safe.
There's no men in these groupsand whatnot, so it feels like a
safe space.
I had a whole crew ofindividuals in Argentina.
(12:19):
We had a weekly brunch that wewent to.
It was four of us and thesewomen some of them were from the
US, some was from the UK, sothese are international, you
know, travelers and they wereall there for about six weeks to
two, three months, and I'm nowI met another, the girl I met in
Argentina.
We end up meeting up in MexicoCity.
I'm meeting another friend inEurope later this summer.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
So it is really, if you think that you're alone, I
guarantee you are not and that'sand that is, that's a
comforting feeling to havetalked about potentially
relocating internationally, andone of the concepts I introduced
is it doesn't have to be adecision where you literally
(12:58):
just make a commitment for yourwhole entire life and leave.
This is a great way to test thewaters for trying out different
places, even potentially, ifyou'd like a second residence,
figuring out before you committhings like that.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Exactly, and a lot of countries especially, I know, I
believe, spain and Portugalthey have like a non-revenue
visa.
So if you are retired andyou're trying to just try a new
place, you can get a visa to gothere and not work as long as
you're not making any income andyou're living off of your
current assets.
So there's, I mean, they'reencouraging this kind of travel.
(13:34):
So it is becoming a lot easierto take advantage of these
opportunities, these visas, andreally explore a lifestyle that
you might not have thought thatyou even wanted or was available
to you.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Well, I want to ask a few like kind of financial
planning related questions.
First of all, I heard you sayand this is an important part of
these decisions you arethinking strategically in terms
of budget, you are analyzing,you know how much, since you're
working too, you're making,you're spending and it's not
just YOLO.
You know, like I do think thisis an important component is
(14:08):
like you do still need, for mostpeople, some constraints on you
know what you spend versus whatyou make and things like that.
How have you tackled that sideof things to make sure that the
math, math in terms of yourchoices.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
I'm not girl mapping these trips, I'm actually
mapping these trips, so, yeah,so, like I said, so, as I look
at these Airbnbs, you know somecountries like the UK or, sorry,
argentina and South Americagenerally doesn't don't have
taxes on their Airbnbs.
When I go to Mexico City,there's almost a 15 to 20% tax
on them.
So I have to lower my budget inregards to what I'm spending
(14:47):
because I know that I'm going tobe paying an extra three $400
in tax.
That, you know I didn'tanticipate in Europe is they
don't have tax.
So it's certain things likethat that I take into
consideration.
You know, I look at flights, Ilook at eating costs and whatnot
and a lot of, and exchangerates and whether or not it's
better to pay with card or withcash or exchange all at once, or
, you know, certain economiesare a little more stable than
(15:10):
others.
So you know, so I do, I takeall that into account.
I literally I do research.
I'm like how much is the normal, you know nomad spending on
meals and whatnot?
I look at the I call it the thecocktail, my, my, my, my.
I look at cocktails in my way.
What is it If I go out to drink?
How much is it?
For?
You know, a good cocktail Is it.
Is it $15?
Or can I get a good cocktailfor eight dollars and then I can
(15:32):
like plan my my weekend budget?
Speaker 1 (15:34):
this is helpful as well yeah, so it it there.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
this information is available and if you think about
, you know, I guarantee though,if you think about how much
you're spending in the US, morethan likely it is less.
And but it said I love to cook,so I go to the grocery store,
I'm buying, I'm buyingnecessities, I'm cooking for
myself, I'm having yogurt in mynormal routine in the morning.
So you know, I'm literallydoing the things that I would do
(15:58):
had I been in the US, and it'sstill coming out to being
cheaper.
So I mean, you have to takeinto account that you don't have
to have homeowners insurance,car insurance, car no, you know,
gas, things of that nature, andso when you get rid of a lot of
these expenses and a lot ofthese places you know are very
(16:20):
walkable, you take the Metro, soyou take into your
transportation costs intoconsideration as well.
So, as you look at your fullbudget, you can still come out,
especially if you live in amajor, a major US city.
You will come out ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
I love it.
One other thing you mentionedinsurance is that you may not
need, but how do you make surethat you're covered for medical
care?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
So I will say I am living life on the edge because
I have medical insurance in theUS.
I go to, you know, I get all mycheckups when I come and come
back to the to the US.
But surprisingly, you know,I've had people who've had to go
to the doctor out of thecountry.
It's not as expensive.
You're not going to get a billfor $20,000 if you need to call,
you know, an ambulance or go toa hospital.
(17:03):
You know, I see videos online.
A woman literally had her bill.
She had to go to the emergencyroom get a test done.
It was $181.
So you know, even if you havesome of these costs, they're not
going to be outrageous.
So I mean, you kind of, I guess, have a little discretionary
fund for things of that nature,the just-in-cases and like
things.
I always realize that you canalways come home so if something
(17:25):
is starting to go wrong you canpack your things up and get
back on a plane and go to, youknow, our medical services here
in the US.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, so you're not uninsured, you're just not
getting, you're not purchasinginternational insurance.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
No, that's just something I haven't done yet.
I'm generally a very healthyperson.
I would say if you have healthconcerns, this might be
something to consider as well.
But yeah, I and a lot of that'sthe thing too, though A lot of
countries you can walk intopharmacies and just buy
medication if something's wrong,so you can say, oh, I'm not
feeling well, and you can buystuff over the counter, so you
don't necessarily have to go toa doctor to treat things as much
(17:56):
as we do in the US.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Yeah, In many countries pharmacists are
actually the medical dispenserskind of first.
Exactly, that's super helpful.
I think so.
Probably half of you, Well, athird of you, are listening and
thinking no way, I'm like here,this feels good.
A third are listening like,sign me up, I'm going.
And I hope there's anotherportion of you that are
(18:19):
listening and hearing that youdon't need to benchmark your
life to societal normsnecessarily.
I think that you know,especially in the age of social
media, which you've capitalizedupon and are actually teaching
people how to live this life onsocial media, which we'll talk
about in a moment you but youcreated a different footprint
(18:41):
for, or blueprint for, yourself.
That you know.
I think, more and more we'repressured to be the same as
everybody else and you know,have some societal norm that
really no one has, and you havereally been inquisitive of
yourself to say what brings mefulfillment, happiness,
contentment, what could I take,what could I subtract and what
(19:04):
could I add?
What kind of lessons learned doyou have from taking this leap?
That your mother may say whatthe heck are you doing, Sherita?
But then you know others of usare like oh my gosh, tell me
more.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Well, you know it's, it's almost like you have to
think about your life and Ialways say what do you value,
what's most important to you?
And if you are leaning into thethings that aren't, then it's.
I decided it was time to make achange.
I and I decided it was time tomake a change.
I looked at what I was able todo in the career that I had.
Like I said, I was workingremotely and I know a lot of
people were working remote.
(19:36):
They were called to go back tothe office.
They may feel that they'rechained to a desk and they're
looking for other positions, butI was fortunate enough to be
able to take my skill set, workwith a company and consult in a
way that allowed me toprioritize.
I say living versus just working, because in New York I was.
I was at one point in New YorkI had three jobs.
(19:57):
I was a model, I was in office,I was a waitress at the same
time and I was just you knowit's, it's a lot.
And then you kind of step backand I and I know a lot of people
and I admire them, even like mybest friend.
She has this amazing career andthe C-suite job and I love her
for that.
And I just I knew that that wasnot the life that I wanted to
(20:18):
live.
I did not want to, I didn'twant, I didn't want my success
tied to how many meetings I hadin a day.
You know how much I could bemaking for the company.
And I just started looking atmyself and trying to decide what
makes me happy, what.
What am I fulfilled doing?
And when I wake up in themorning, I love my job, I love
what I do.
So I don't feel that that it'staking away from the life that I
(20:38):
want to live.
I I chose not to have anychildren.
That was also a choice that Imade.
I know some women.
You know that choice is madefor them.
But you know you have to dealwith the cards that are, that
are dealt to you and for you,and I just decided to take
advantage.
And and I would say, the lessonthat I've learned is that
you're going to have people whodoubt you.
You're going to have those whoquestion you and you just have
(20:59):
to be steadfast in your owndecisions and know that if these
people are not paying yourbills, they're, they're, they're
not with you 24 seven, and youhave to live for, for yourself,
and that's just that's how.
And people are like oh, I feelbad, I'm supposed to.
No, no, you're supposed to bedoing what brings you joy.
To an extent, of course, like Isaid, I work, I'm healthy and
(21:21):
all those things, and I thinkthose are the most important
because life is short and youknow, and I also know that when
you put off like these big tripsand these big adventures until
you're until later in life,sometimes it's not promised to
you.
So I just, I prioritized doingthe things that I can do now
versus putting them off untillater.
You know when I'm supposed tobe enjoying retirement, like so
(21:44):
it's just, I just restructured,structured my life and you know
who knows where this is going tolead me.
I said I won't be travelingforever, but I hope that I
inspire women to kind of take aleap that might sound
unconventional and do things youknow for them, because we
support so many people, whetherit's, you know, at work, we, you
(22:05):
know, we are the multitaskingQueens.
Generally, you ask a man, hecan't even answer a question and
write something down at thesame time.
So it's just, you know, I, I,just I love the life that I've
built, and I hope that I inspirepeople to do the same, if it's
if it's something they want todo.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
Yeah, and it the life that you build may be, you know
, a master garden.
It doesn't have to be travelingthe world.
Everybody's a little bitdifferent, and it can be a
little bit of everything, butnobody's going to stop your life
and tell you now it's time todo the things that you would
prefer to prioritize.
And so I do think a financialplanner engagement can be
(22:45):
assistive, because our role isnot to judge whether that what
you desire is worthy of yourpursuit.
Our job is to help you achieveyour aspirations and also
objectively tell you when thereare, you know, deficiencies or
weaknesses or gaps in a gameplan that might leave you either
(23:09):
your current or future selfvulnerable and it's like.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
It's like what are your goals?
Is it sustainable?
Those are, those are like thequestions that are asked and
answer.
And for me especially, I saidcoming out of the divorce, it
was almost this was the mostsustainable thing, because I
wasn't ready to, you know, setup shop, as I say, get all of
these bills.
I knew that I could be incontrol of how much money I was
spending every month, live aslavish or as inexpensively as I
(23:36):
chose at that time, and it gaveme the flexibility of knowing
that.
You know, I'm not tied down tosomething right now if I wasn't
comfortable with, if you know, Iwasn't sure about my actual
income or expenditures.
You know it's a daunting.
It's like from going from amarriage to.
You know it's a daunting.
Is it from going from amarriage to a single life?
It's a daunting thing.
Restructuring.
You know you went fromsometimes splitting things to
(23:58):
now everything falls on you.
So you're just like, okay, howcan I make this sustainable for
me?
And, like I said, it's notabout, it's not about jumping on
a plane and going around theworld, it's whatever.
You know, maybe it's startingthat business, Maybe it's, like
you said, starting that garden,maybe it's starting your Etsy
shop, like whatever it is thatyou want to do.
It's leaning into those fearsand having that doubt of can I,
(24:20):
should I?
And kind of just casting thataside and saying yes, I can.
And guess what If it doesn'twork out?
It doesn't work out, but youdon't know, unless you try.
And that's always like mymindset, because I said you
don't have to do somethingforever, but if it's something
you want to do, give it a try.
You can always change your mind.
Plans are always subject tochange is what I always say.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
And I think, just while we're on that topic of
divorce, I think so many peopletry to recreate the house and
the you know like, how can Imake everything the same when
everything has changed?
And there is this period oftime post-divorce, during and
post-divorce that is highlydisrupted, where you know
decision-making may bediminished, making maybe
diminished.
Just you know you're making acommitment for how you think
you're going to feelpost-divorce, that it may or may
not feel right for you afteryou've gotten you know kind of
(25:16):
all of the disruption out of theway.
So I that that fragile period,tender period, post-divorce is
one where people often try toset a table that isn't one they
really want to be sitting at.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Exactly.
You shouldn't make long-termdecisions when you're in a
temporary mindset, and I just Ido believe that and, like I say
you, a lot of emotions go intolife changes and trying to set
yourself up and feeling thepressure of, okay, I need to do
this now, I need to do this.
No, I'm like I realized that Ineeded to relax, I needed to
chill, I needed to be in a spacethat wasn't going to be
(25:51):
demanding.
I was like there was no way inheck.
I was going back to New YorkCause that's like.
It's like, oh, just the nice,calm city of New York.
No, so you know, said no one.
So you know you have to findthe space for yourself to grow
to, to really, if you said, ifyou're thinking about doing
something life change orsomething large, or something
big that's different from whereyou are, be in a space that
(26:14):
allows you to flourish in that,whether it's around a network of
individuals who support you or,like I said, even if you lower,
if you're lowering yourexpenses, so you have room to do
that.
The hardest thing to try to dois to build things when you're
doing everything else at thesame time, because I'm not sure
if you said I think you havesaid this before that you can
have it all, but just not all atthe same time, so you've got to
(26:38):
make decisions sometime on whatis important and what you're
going to do at that moment.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Yeah, and one of my favorite sayings is you can have
anything but not everything.
So you know, there there doesneed to be some discernment.
Is there anything that you feellike you miss the most?
Or you know, like every my, Ilove the aggregate of my life,
but I got to this city and itwas the worst, or anything like
that.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Um, you know, I said I've, I've been, I've been smart
, I said I've done my researchto where.
You know, every time before Iget on a plane, I think to
myself what are you doing?
And then I get there and I'mlike this is amazing.
So you know, and then I'malways sad, like to leave, and
my friends were like you havesaid you could live everywhere.
I was like no, no, no, so.
So I just think it's I, I, I.
(27:21):
I don't have any regrets rightnow.
I think the only the only thingI would have regretted if I
haven't.
I didn't try this out and youknow, I almost stopped traveling
last year because I felt like Ishould and I realized I wasn't
ready.
So I'm going until the feeling,the spirit no longer moves me,
as I would say, and we'll justsee.
Like I said, I will see wherewe're going.
(27:41):
Life, like always, you know,sends signs and opportunities
your way and you just have to beready to receive them.
So this is the space I'm inright now and, like I said,
we'll see what next year brings.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Yeah, Well, a couple of lessons learned from our
conversation.
First of all, I think everyonehas permission to grow, Grow as
a person, grow in theirrelationship with their values
and their self and what bringspurpose and meaning to your life
.
And I think sometimes we forgetabout that.
Sometimes we're, you know,everything's external, it's kind
of happening to us, it's ourto-do list.
(28:15):
Sometimes we're you knoweverything's external, it's kind
of happening to us, it's ourto-do list.
And so I really hear from youthat growth mindset which I do
think you know kind of bringsfulfillment.
And also, you know, whateveryou're doing today isn't always
permanent.
So you have the power to bothdream.
And then you just described.
I don't know if I'll always bedoing this, but this is right
for me.
Right now I don't know if I'llalways be doing this, but this
(28:36):
is right for me right now and Ithink that that is a really
powerful way to buildexperiences and a journey, that
it is right for someone, thatthat leaves you without regrets,
and so if anyone feels inspiredbased on this conversation, it
doesn't have to be that you're,you know, hopping continents all
the time, although it may be.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
It may be, I mean it's actually it.
It's a more, it's affordabledecision at this rate, and I
mean I'm so ready.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
But I've got this office that I also love.
That brings me a lot of joy aswell, as you know, tweens and
teens that are a little moreplaced here.
But I just love the story ofwhat you're doing.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Children need routines and stability.
So I do know people who aredoing this with kids at a very
young age, who are under the ageof five, which is definitely
doable as well, and then they'vebeen traveling, they've decided
to settle in a differentcountry long term and then have
them go to school there.
The kids become more bilingual.
So I mean there's differentways for everyone.
(29:35):
I'm not saying you have to justbe this single woman.
I mean I know people who travelwith their partner.
So it's there, there arecouples that do this as a, you
know, as a way to explore, andit's just kind of.
It's an unconventional life,but it's one that you know is
for me desirable.
And, as I said, I realizedafter having a network of people
that I'm meeting in thesedifferent cities, that it's
desirable to many.
(29:57):
So, um, like I said, don'tthink you are alone, but you had
to.
I had to pare down a lot ofthings, you know the things that
I travel with and things Ithought were important.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Yeah, like, what's the weight of your luggage when
you're going to the, when you?
Speaker 2 (30:09):
head to Europe.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
I am 50 pounds.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
I'm 50, 51.2 sometimes.
So yes, so yeah, so I, you knowit's like I don't know if I can
do that.
That when you, when you, whenyou check your bag and you, I
can, I know what it feels likenow and I drop it on the scale
and I'm like boom, like yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Well, I'm glad it's always summer, because I would
really struggle if it was.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Exactly, though it's always summer.
You think about the itemsyou're going to pack and you
have a washer and dryer and youand you have to think to
yourself I don't know thesepeople, I don't care if they see
me in the same outfit time andtime again.
So you know, it's not like thateither, and you can always buy
things.
Sometimes, when you'retraveling, you can buy things
that you can't get at home.
So that's great as well.
(30:49):
Yeah, so I, I do, I I travel.
I say some people travel alittle lighter than me, but I
have, I have my bag, I do have alittle carry on, I always have
my computer and and yeah, soit's just, I make it, I make it
work, a smart packing and decide.
You know, I say this wasn'tabout fashion, but it's like
having a color scheme.
You're either going to be likeneutrals or blacks and whites
(31:11):
with some splashes.
So you got.
So this way you don't have tobring everything.
You can bring outfits and mixand match and whatnot, which is
also economical and it also thathelps the budget.
You, you're not sitting inSpain ordering on Amazon either.
So it's like, yeah, I sit hereand I've like think about.
Every time I come back.
I'm like click click, clickorder and how much money I'm
saving, because I realized Idon't need anything else.
(31:31):
I'm good, I'm good, yeah, soeither way it's a savings all
around.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Well, your message has been that if you, if this is
something you're desiring,you're not alone.
You just need to find thecommunity you are teaching
people about the life of adigital nomad.
Tell people where they can findyour content and your lessons
learned.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Yeah, so you can find me on Instagram.
That's my most popular platform.
I'm at Sharita Janelle.
That's Janelle J-A-N-I-E-L-L-E.
There will be a link in theshow notes and then I'll also
within my link in bio.
I have a link to my DigitalNomad Blueprint, which is a
38-page comprehensive guide togetting started on this journey,
(32:12):
and I want to help you thinkabout the mindset find remote
work, where to go, how to go,how.
To date, we didn't talk aboutthat either.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Oh yeah, that's a whole entire episode.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Maybe we'll do a follow-up on dating and the
economics of that you know andtravel.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Please, I would love to especially like post-divorce.
Let's do that episode.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
So I have all of that information in the guide.
Divorce let's do that episode.
Yes, so I have all of thatinformation in the guide.
There's also worksheetsavailable that have templates
for trying to find consultingwork, remote work as well.
I really, you know, I don'twant to gatekeep anything and,
like I said, if you have anyquestions, if you just reach out
to me, I answer every singleone of my DMs personally as well
(32:53):
.
I also have some information onmy website too, at
modernwomanagendacom.
I've written some articlesabout traveling and my
experiences as well.
There's over 400 articles onthe site as well, because it's
shifted from Busy Wife to thatAswath Recipe, so it's a little
bit.
It's a busy woman's guide inthe modern world, so we'll put
it like that.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
So yes, well, keep being amazing and keep being
yourself, sherita.
And also, since we have thewoman behind the scenes on
camera today, thank you so muchfor all the work that you do to
make the Women's Money WisdomPodcast a success.
We really appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
Thank you so much.
It was funny when you asked meto be on and I was just like I
don't do anything financial andthen I was thinking but my life
is so, yes, yes it sure is, andthis is exactly the
conversations that we need tohave.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
Not everything is a spreadsheet.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
Although sometimes it is, but these conversations
really, to me, are so impactfuland you would be surprised how
often you know I'm going to bebringing this conversation up in
my conversations with clientsas well.
So thank you for sharing.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
Well, I appreciate you and all the work you do to
help women in the Dexter andjust in the whole online
community as well.
So thank you so much, Melissa.
Have a great week.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Thank you for listening to the Women's Money
Wisdom Podcast.
If you found value in thisepisode, the best way you can
support the podcast is toforward an episode to a friend
or leave a review.
Go to pearlplancom and thepodcast link to get all the
resources and links mentioned.
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