My Referral Page
Resources for living a nomadic life
I am often asked about services I use as part of my nomadic life. This resource will be updated as necessary. If I’ve missed something, leave me a comment.
How do you get your mail?
I have used PhysicalAddress.com since early 2021. My monthly cost for the service is $9.98. However, I prepay for a full year to receive a 20% discount. The service includes 30 envelope scans and up to 10 pages of content scanning. The cost for additional scans is 20¢ each. Additionally, I can pick up mail at their Atlanta location when I am in town.
The service includes a physical address in one of eight cities. These are:
Atlanta, Georgia
Boise, Idaho
Las Vegas, Nevada
Wilmington, Delaware
Dallas, Texas
Orlando, California
Laguna Beach, California
New York, New York
Rates are as low as $7.98 per month with local pickup available.
How do you handle banking and ATM withdrawals?
Capital One Checking/Savings and Schwab Bank Investor Checking
I moved to Capital One after Ally Bank posted that they will no longer support voice over IP (VOIP) phone services like Google Voice for two-factor authentication (2FA).
I have had accounts with Capital One since January 2023 and have not experienced any authentication issues. There is no guarantee that Capital One will not join Ally and prohibit Google Voice for 2FA. For now, I am happy with my new bank.
Schwab’s Investor Checking account is a must-have for anyone that travels internationally or with limited access to their primary bank by ATM. The account includes an ATM card that will give you fee-free access to ALL ATMs. Yes… they will reimburse you for all ATM fees you incur at the end of each month.
What do you do for TV?
Netflix, Freevee, PlutoTV and YouTube
I primarily watch my shows and movies through my Macbook Air. If I decide to enjoy my entertainment on the big screen, I use a Thunderbolt to HDMI cable. If you aren’t a Mac user, an HDMI to HDMI cable is also available.
A VPN service is essential to fully access each of my entertainment services. Without a VPN, many US-based streaming services, including Freevee and Pluto, are not available. Additionally, my Netflix library would be limited outside of the United States. To bypass these licensing restrictions, I use Surfshark. At a cost of just $2.49/month (with a two year subscription), the service is very affordable. You can also try it free for 30 days.
How do you get mobile (cell phone) service?
I use Google Voice to maintain a US phone number.
I have phone service in Mexico with Telcel. The cost for my service is $200 pesos for 30 days. The Paquetes Amigo sin Límite 200 plan I purchase includes unlimited calls/texts and 3GB of data for 30 days. The plan includes unlimited use of WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media apps. I have found that if I renew my plan before the 30 day mark, the unused data will carry over to the next billing period. Additionally, my service works in the United States and Canada. However, WhatsApp and social media apps will count toward my data when traveling outside of Mexico.
When traveling outside of North America, I use Airalo (use referral code KEVIN7270 to get $3 off). The service allows me to purchase an eSIM prior to arriving in a new country. When I reach my destination, I switch on the new eSIM, and I’m set. They also offer a global eSIM that includes service in 84 countries.
What about healthcare and medical insurance?
IMG Global
I spend the majority of my time outside of the United States, so a traditional health insurance plan will not fit my lifestyle. As of January 1, 2023, I no longer maintain a standard US health insurance plan. Instead, I have a global policy with IMG Global.
My IMG Global medical insurance is the silver plan that includes $5,000,000 in coverage and carries a $5,000 deductible. With this plan I covered for up to six months in the United States each year. Additionally, the deductible on this plan is cut in half if utilized outside of the US.
The cost for my global insurance policy is less than half of what a traditional insurance policy would cost in the US. With my global policy I can receive medical care anywhere in the world. You can read more about insurance from IMG Global and the policy I have here.
I have not filed a claim with the provider yet, so I cannot personally speak of the claims process. I will update when/if (hopefully never) need to use my insurance.
It is important to note that this plan does not cover routine medical checkups. I pay for routine medications and medical care out of pocket while out of the US at a much lower cost.
How do you book flights?
I always begin my search with Google Flights… even if I am booking an award travel ticket. The search engine will display flights across multiple airline. However, the site also includes bookings through travel agencies. I never book with these travel agencies, as I prefer to book directly with the airlines or partners I trust.
I will also pull prices from the Chase and Capital One travel portals to determine if the prices are similar to the airline prices. If so, I consider booking my flights here as the extra rewards from the credit cards may be worth it.
If award travel is involved, I use Seats.aero or POINTSYEAH to determine availability. Both of these services are free.
Which credit cards do you use?
I like to travel for free, so I sign up for credit cards often. I achieve free travel through signup bonuses. Many cards regularly offer a bonus of 60,000 to 100,000 points/miles for charging a specific amount to the card in a limited timeframe (usually 3-4 months).
These are the cards I keep “in my wallet”. (Well, I technically don’t keep them in all in my wallet, but I do keep them after I have achieved the signup bonus.) You can view the current bonus available by clicking the card images.
The Capital One Venture X card is my go-to card with benefits that include:
2x points on all charges
$300 annual travel credit for bookings at Capital One Travel
10,000 miles anniversary bonus
$100 credit for Global Entry of TSA PreCheck
Unlimited access for up to three people at Priority Pass airport lounges (over 1,300 locations worldwide)
No foreign transaction fee
The card carries an annual fee of $395, but more than pays for itself with the annual travel credit and anniversary miles.
I use the Bilt Mastercard (from Wells Fargo) to pay my HOA payments on my condo in Atlanta. The card benefits include:
1x point on HOA fees. These fees are paid without an additional charge. Five transactions per month is required to receive the points.
3x points on dining
2x points on travel
No foreign transaction fee
No annual fee
For many credit card holders, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the holy grail of cards. For me… meh.
However, I feel the card is essential card to adequately navigate the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, as you must have one of three Chase cards to transfer points to airlines and hotels. These cards are the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve (with a massive $550 annual fee) and Ink Preferred (keep reading for more info).
The others credit cards I recommend for great sign-up bonuses are business cards. You will need to have a business to apply for these cards. However, most cards have loose terms as to what qualifies as a business. Many times this can be as simple as reselling merchandise on eBay. The benefits of these cards should not be overlooked.
Chase Ink cards are notorious for offering amazing sign-up bonus… often as much as 100,000 points. I currently have the Business Preferred, Business Unlimited and Business Cash.
Both the Cash and Unlimited cards are available with no annual fee, and the Preferred is $95/year. The Ink Preferred can be used as a substitute for the popular Chase Sapphire Preferred since the card allow you to transfer point within the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem. Additionally the Ink Preferred offers 3x on travel and shipping, whereas the Sapphire preferred is 2x on travel and 1x on shipping.
Note: I do not use these cards internationally, as each of them has a foreign transaction fee.
American Express Blue Business Plus
Many people love the American Express Membership Rewards ecosystem. While I am not a fan of cards with high annual fees and limited returns, I can appreciate a solid card with no annual fee.
The AMEX Blue Business Plus is this card for me. It allows me to achieve Membership Rewards points with no annual fee. With 2x points on all purchases (up to $50,000 per year), the AMEX can be a solid “daily driver”.
Note: I also do not use this card internationally, as it has a foreign transaction fee.
If the spend on any of these cards is too high, you may want to consider the Freedom Unlimited or Freedom Flex. Both of these cards offer a $200 bonus with a low spend requirement.