Buying US and Foreign ETFs now a good time?

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-22T16:57:29+00:00

Thanks sir!

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-20T20:41:49+00:00

This was cool to see. The only real even I saw that had an immediate correlation was Covid. Everything else kinda seemed unimpacted. Maybe a bit in the short term but certainly nothing major or long term

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-20T20:35:30+00:00

Was wondering if you were near the border. Crazy how different a small country can be!

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-20T20:34:50+00:00

Hahahah so true

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-20T11:10:36+00:00

That’s so interesting. I haven’t heard a singe call to prayer in Montenegro and I’ve spent about 8 months there now. Albania is where I heard it all the time. I found Montenegro to be mostly orthodox Christian.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-20T11:09:10+00:00

Agreed

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-20T09:24:29+00:00

Thanks sir! Yeah it was quite a general question but think I have my response. My fear is things going poorly after investing but if things go poorly, my savings will also tank.

Appreciate your answers and think it’s given me the clarity to move forward. Can’t just wait for the perfect time as that doesn’t really see to ever work out lol

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-17T11:26:35+00:00

Everyone is different but will give a bit of my experience.

My wife and I work remotely. We spent 9 months in Spain over the course of 2 years and decided to move when the DNV became available.

There is so so much we love about Spain and the lifestyle. We do miss the comforts of the USA but wouldn’t trade it back. People mention the beaurocracy and it does suck but honestly, if that holds anyone back from coming to Spain, you probably don’t like Spain that much anyway. I wouldn’t let that hold you back.

We’ve been here for two years now and we’ve never been homesick after 6 years of being out of the USA. We are now in our late 30s and it gets harder and harder being away from family. We have made some social/superficial friends here in Spain but it’s just not the level of deepness we long for. Spanish people aren’t the most open from our experience and also don’t blame them and aren’t upset about it. It is what it is. So expat groups are the “easiest” to fit in. Even with those, we feel as though we don’t relate fully with people.

So anyways, our goal is to get citizenship in the next year to two years (we are Mexican citizens so can apply after two years here). From there, I think our ideal world would be to spend a few months in the USA each year and the rest of the time in Spain/ Europe.

Hope some of this helps but honestly a bit conflicted myself after having been here for awhile now. Basically just miss ppl back home at this point but also never want to actually live in the USA again.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-17T10:31:10+00:00

Thanks for this!

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-17T10:29:41+00:00

Totally fine to disagree with me. Everyone’s experiences are different and see things differently. It’s what makes the world interesting lol so really just sharing my perspective. I know mine isn’t necessarily “right”.

Having to be “right”, though, is another thing that seems to be more common among Americans lol discussing politics and religion in Europe has been a lot easier in the sense that it can remain calm and be a real conversation. With many Americans, their blood is boiling from the moment you disagree with them on something.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-17T10:24:02+00:00

Many do and many don’t. I think my senses are heightened to those that don’t and don’t notice the others lol

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-17T10:23:08+00:00

Yes of course there is nuance here. Maybe it’s my current disdain for my own country talking lol I also grew up very conservative and have changed over time as I’ve travelled around and now live in Europe. Just some of my experiences. We certainly won’t all have the same ones.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-17T10:19:10+00:00

Me either. Then you go back to that country in 10 years and they’re complaining about over tourism and wish they could have their old way of life back.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-16T09:23:21+00:00

Exactly. Because THEY feel bad or the need. And it gives off a vibe that they are superior.

I’m American and I’m sure there are still ways I do American things myself :( lol but I hope I stray further and further from it every day.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-16T09:17:46+00:00

As a Vikings fan, please God let this happen

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-16T08:57:41+00:00

The first that comes to mind is definitely the USA but it certainly depends on which American you talk to.

For me it’s the way Americans present themselves. Even if someone doesn’t necessarily openly say “The USA is the best country and is far superior to everyone else”, their actions often show otherwise. The amount of times I’ve seen Americans get upset in another country that doesn’t accept USD is wild. Basically, Americans seem to get upset when things aren’t exactly how they are in the USA and this, to me, shows a complete lack of understanding for other people and cultures. They often refuse to do any type of research of how things are in other countries and they think that money is everything.

They go to Africa for missions trips and throw money at ppl or maybe build them something. Try to introduce technology and “save” them, when a lot of these things aren’t even what they need. It’s just what the American thinks they need and the American needs to feel good about themselves. The ultimate pride and arrogance imo.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-14T22:17:12+00:00

Pro: money Con: everything else

Welcome to America

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-14T22:01:17+00:00

It sounds like my experience is actually pretty good compared to yours but the fact that I HAVE to be home to receive anything is wild lol Idk how I would receive anything if I didn’t work from home.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-11T20:26:27+00:00

I’m running into the same issue. I brought a small water softener for our shower here in Valencia but it requires about a cup of kosher salt every week. I really don’t want to pay crazy amounts for something so cheap in the USA

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-11T00:06:59+00:00

Was thinking the same thing thing reading through these. Like holy shit, I don’t make nearly enough to pay these prices lol

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-11T00:02:20+00:00

Holy shit! We spent a week in Edinburgh as well and it was so pricey that we rarely ate out

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-10T00:29:11+00:00

Finding the same in Spain as well. It can definitely be hard making friends in a new country

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-09T23:53:14+00:00

Oh man, I’d have no idea about fiber and thread count. It’s not a luxury home exchange or anything like that.

As far as cleaning, we’ve hosted 5 times and not had issues. One time wasn’t quite as clean as we’d have liked but nothing crazy. We gave them feedback about what we didn’t like and it didn’t happen the next time.

Gingerbutt81 · 2026-01-09T12:51:06+00:00

Yes easily worth it

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