15 Financial Tips before Becoming an Expat

7. Determine how to Call Home before Moving

Although it seems like small stuff, taking some time to determine one or many options on how to call home (and receive calls) will help save money and frustration for new expats. The number of options to be able to make phone calls via VOIP (voice over IP) technology has significantly grown over the past decade. Whether electing to use Google Voice, Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Magic Jack, or another technology, everyone will have varied needs for how they will need to be able to call home. Some of the apps or programs will provide expats the ability to receive calls with a local phone number in their home country, while others will simply provide a free or low cost means to make outgoing phone calls. It is increasingly rare for expats to simply rely on old school calling cards today, although they may have their place in one’s communications plan depending on the destination country.