This first-person account originates from an in-depth conversation with Gabriel Filer, a 34-year-old professional currently residing in Sydney, Australia. The following narrative has been carefully edited and structured for coherence, conciseness, and readability.\n\nIf you have a personal story to share about your own experience leaving the United States, you are invited to reach out to the reporter directly at ccheong@businessinsider.com.\n\nFrom childhood, Gabriel possessed a boundless curiosity about the world beyond Middletown, Connecticut, the small American town in which he grew up. He recalls gazing upward at the vast open sky and wondering what life might look like beyond the familiar streets of his hometown. This early fascination with distant places gradually evolved into a deep, mature interest in global exploration and cross-cultural experiences.\n\nBy the time he reached adulthood, Gabriel’s desire to experience foreign environments had solidified. In 2019, at 28 years old, he finally traveled to Australia — a trip that would irrevocably change the course of his life. Captivated by the country’s natural beauty, friendly culture, and atmosphere of balance, he found himself falling in love with the place almost instantly. When the world entered the unprecedented era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the time of reflection led him to seriously consider making Australia his permanent home once international borders reopened. The increasing social and political unrest that he witnessed in the United States further reinforced his conviction that he might thrive elsewhere.\n\nBefore Gabriel could relocate, he established a series of ambitious yet carefully planned financial goals. He owed more than $90,000 in student loans and knew that achieving debt freedom would be a critical first step toward long-term stability. In addition, he aimed to accumulate a six-month emergency fund and set aside sufficient resources to cover relocation-related expenses — including visa fees, legal consultation costs, and the logistical challenges of moving abroad.\n\nThrough consistent discipline and methodical budgeting, Gabriel achieved what many young professionals find daunting: he succeeded in paying off his overwhelming student debt in August 2023, less than four years after committing fully to the process and nearly a year before his planned relocation. This period required immense personal sacrifice, particularly the decision to live with his parents for an extended 7.5 years. Yet, he acknowledges that sharing a household with his family was the single most effective factor that allowed him to concentrate his income on eliminating debt rather than on rent or living costs.\n\nGabriel’s financial journey began with a foundation of education and hard work. After completing his undergraduate degree in community, environment, and planning in 2013, he earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning in 2016. At age 25, he returned home after graduate school, grounding himself financially while preparing for the next chapter. His frugal habits, developed during his upbringing, guided his every decision. Once he entered the workforce in 2017 as an urban planner at age 26, he immediately prioritized saving and investing, directing a portion of each paycheck into a brokerage account. By the end of 2019, he had managed to accumulate around $47,000 — a substantial sum, though still insufficient to offset his $90,000 student loan balance. During the years between 2019 and 2024, his annual income steadily grew from approximately $40,000 to $65,000, reflecting his professional advancement within the field of urban planning.\n\nEarly in 2020, determined to take control of his debt, Gabriel committed to paying $1,000 each month from his salary toward his student loans. By May of that same year, he added a new dimension to his financial strategy, allocating between $1,000 and $2,000 monthly to his brokerage account. Through a combination of diligent saving, accrued interest from his investments, and previously accumulated funds, he achieved a major milestone in October 2021 — paying off $65,600 of his total loan balance.\n\nHe describes the federal student loan payment pause during the pandemic as a crucial opportunity — almost a once-in-a-lifetime financial window. Since his loans were temporarily interest-free during that period, every payment directly reduced his principal balance. Meanwhile, the reduction in daily expenses due to lockdowns played in his favor: with no commute, minimal spending on fuel, and no social outings, he could redirect his disposable income toward debt repayment. His parents, generously refusing to charge him for rent or groceries, further strengthened his financial momentum.\n\nBy maintaining this disciplined approach, Gabriel’s monthly take-home pay of roughly $3,400 between 2021 and 2023 covered his essential needs while allowing him to save an impressive proportion of his earnings. He kept meticulous records of every transaction using the Apple Notes app, tracking outflows with precision and a sense of accountability. Once bills were paid, he would strike through the expenses, transforming the act of budgeting into a visual affirmation of progress.\n\nIn August 2023, shortly before the end of the pandemic-related student loan pause, Gabriel made the decisive final payment that completely cleared his debt. The relief and sense of accomplishment that followed were profound, marking the culmination of years of restraint and perseverance.\n\nWith his financial obligations finally behind him, Gabriel turned his focus toward accumulating savings for relocation. Over the months leading up to his move, he built a strategic reserve of more than $38,000 by April 2024, designated both for emergency use and for the various costs associated with international migration. Among those expenses were visa application fees and legal services. Knowing that the immigration process could be complex and bureaucratically demanding, Gabriel retained an immigration lawyer to help him navigate the detailed requirements. He also joined a Facebook group for migrants relocating to Australia, where he benefited from peer support, shared insights, and the reassuring presence of others embarking on similar journeys. This network became a valuable source of both knowledge and encouragement.\n\nSeeking to strengthen his professional ties before arrival, Gabriel contributed remotely to an Australian nonprofit organization as a virtual volunteer. This initiative not only enriched his résumé but also enabled him to establish meaningful contacts and obtain Australian references in advance. These proactive steps proved invaluable. When he finally arrived in Sydney in April 2024, he already possessed a foundation of credibility in his field.\n\nWithin just two months of settling into his new life, Gabriel secured a position as a grants officer in the education sector, earning a salary of 113,575 AUD — equivalent to roughly $73,700 USD — surpassing his income in the United States. His initial rented apartment, priced at about $1,645 per month, struck him as significantly better value compared to what he could afford in a major American city. By June 2025, he had reached yet another milestone: finalizing the down payment on his own home. After years of cohabiting with his parents, the joy of having a personal space and the freedom to host guests felt deeply rewarding.\n\nReflecting on his transformation, Gabriel expresses a strong preference for life in Australia over the United States. He highlights the widespread friendliness of people, the accessibility of affordable healthcare — noting that even routine pharmacy visits cost far less than in the U.S. — and, above all, the superior work-life balance. In Australia, finishing the workday does not carry a sense of guilt or pressure to overextend, a stark contrast to the burnout culture he once felt trapped in.\n\nFor Gabriel, the relocation represents far more than a change of scenery; it embodies the culmination of years of planning, courage, and financial accountability. What began as a childhood wonder about the world beyond Middletown has blossomed into the life he had long envisioned — one defined by independence, fulfillment, and stability. He believes that leaving the United States was not an escape but an act of self-discovery, one that required faith in his ability to start anew. As he puts it succinctly, moving to Australia was a dream finally realized — the tangible result of daring to step outside the comfort zone that once confined him.\n\nIf you, too, have a story to tell about uprooting your life and moving beyond U.S. borders, the reporter invites you to share it at ccheong@businessinsider.com.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/living-with-parents-back-home-paid-student-debt-move-australia-2025-10
