30M, tired of 9–5 after 16 years of work – what skill should I learn to go remote?
I’m 30 years old and I’ve been working since I was 14. I started in hospitality and later worked in manual labor and mechanical jobs. I also completed a mechanical apprenticeship and studied mechatronics engineering, but I never really worked in that engineeringfield.
I’ve realized over the years that a traditional 9–5 environment really doesn’t suit me. I’ve always preferred working independently and I’ve been able to push through physically and mentally demanding jobs, but I don’t want to continue that path long-term.
Right now I’ve saved around 20'000€ and I’m trying to make a change towards a remote lifestyle where I can work from different countries. I’m open to learning new skills from scratch – I currently don’t have strong programming experience (only some basic C from university).
I’m motivated, disciplined, and I can learn consistently if I have a clear direction.
I’ve traveled a bit (Vietnam for two weeks, which I really liked). I could also imagine living in places like Thailand, Portugal, or Brazil, but I’m open to other suggestions.
My main questions are:
- What skill would you start learning in my situation to become remote?
- Is 20'000€ enough to start this transition safely?
- What path would realistically give the highest chance of success for someone starting from scratch at 30?
Appreciate any honest advice.