How (&Why) I Quit My Job & Moved to Spain

I probably did the craziest thing I've ever done—I quit my stable, salaried job as a middle school teacher to move to Spain… and make only about 20% of that salary! Here's how & why.

My first week in Sevilla, Spain: Plaza de España

Yes, you read that right—I left a stable job making $55,000 a year to move to Spain and earn less than $10,000 a year. Crazy? Maybe. But let's talk about how & why I did it.

Let’s Start from the Beginning…

I started teaching in 2019, right after graduating college. Even before I had a full-time job, traveling was always a passion of mine. So when I became a teacher, I loved that I had summers off and plenty of breaks and holidays which seemed like the perfect opportunity to travel more.

Except… it wasn’t perfect. Most people don’t have summers off, and extended breaks aren’t common outside of teaching.

I managed to convince my friends to take trips with me here and there, but I still found myself wanting more, so by 2021, I had somehow figured out a way to travel almost every other month. If I had even one person willing to go with me, I was booking a trip! But at that point, travel wasn’t just a hobby anymore—it became a form of escapism. Teaching middle school is stressful, and post-pandemic, it felt even more exhausting.

As much as I loved teaching, the burnout was real. Even with summers off, it wasn’t enough to reset my mind. I found myself wondering"How can I take a long-term break, still do what I love, and get paid for it?" Then one day, the answer found me.

The Moment Everything Changed

I was watching a random YouTube video about a girl (Gabbie) who moved to Spain to teach English—but only part-time. She talked about working just four days a week for a few hours, traveling on long weekends, and living her best life abroad in Spain.

That was all I needed to hear. Within minutes, I started researching the program she mentioned and quickly realized it could be the perfect plan. A sabbatical year where I could live in Spain, teach part-time, travel as much as I wanted, and even explore my passions—content creation, starting a travel blog, and maybe even (finally) becoming a consistent YouTuber.

Everything sounded perfect—until I saw the pay. When I found out the salary was only €700-1,000 a month, I snapped right back to reality. But after diving deeper, I saw so many people that seemed to be thriving in this program. With a lower cost of living in Spain and some smart financial planning, I decided to make it work. So, I went for it.

I applied to the NALCAP Auxiliares de Conversación program in February, received my acceptance a few months later, got my visa in July, and by September—just a week before my 26th birthday—I was on a one-way flight to Spain.

How I Made It Happen

If you’re considering moving to Spain or just curious about how I did it, here’s a breakdown of my process:

1. Researched Where to Live – I originally wanted to be in Valencia but due to common payment issues in that region, I ultimately chose Andalucía (Southern Spain) for its warm weather, affordability, and culture.

2. Applied for the Auxiliares de Conversación Program – This is a government program where native English speakers work as language assistants in Spanish schools. Applications normally open in early February and close in April.

3. Joined Facebook Groups – I found support communities for Auxiliares, which were super helpful for application tips, FAQs, and connecting with others who had done the program.

4. Got My School Placement & Applied for My Visa – After getting accepted into my assigned region, I waited for my school placement before handling the visa process.

5. Saved as Much Money as Possible – Since the program salary is low, I focused on building up my savings before moving.

6. Got My Visa & Booked My Flight – By the end of July, I had my visa in hand and booked my flight to Seville, Spain.

Was It Easy? No. Worth It? Stay tuned to find out.

The process wasn’t as smooth as it sounds, but thanks to the Facebook groups and support from others in the program, I figured it out step by step. And just like that, I became a temporary resident of Spain.

Stay tuned for more about my life abroad—how I adjusted, what I’ve learned, and whether this adventure turned out the way I imagined. 😉

Also, check out my vlog series on TikTok & YouTube called "Living abroad diaries" to follow my journey too.