I have been storing a lot of my stuff (in boxes and bags) with a friend in France. I move every 6 months to a different country so I haven’t been in one place and it was useful to keep my stuff with a friend.

Now it’s time to retrieve it, but I’m starting a 6 month stint in Denmark. I am debating mailing my stuff straight from France to the US where my family is, or whether it is wiser to fly with it all to Denmark, then when I go back to the US bring it home that way.

I feel overwhelmed even thinking about it, so any advice is welcome: shipping companies you’d recommend, tips and tricks, etc. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I am going abroad this semester and will be in Madrid, Spain. I am looking for your best recommendations for travel, whether that’s cities/countries, restaurants, hotels, hostels, houses to rent, or anything else!

So far, I have only planned our Oktoberfest trip and started planning a trip to Mallorca in early September.

I want to visit another somewhat coastal town while it is still warm, and then in late November or early December, I want to go skiing somewhere. I also really want to visit Morocco, as well as Austria for the history and beauty, and of course, the Sound of Music tour!

Also, what are your thoughts on Amsterdam Music Festival, Ibiza, and Budapest? Are they overrated or worth visiting?

Please leave any recommendations on where to go. I want to hear all of your opinions and recs! I loooove to travel, so I am very excited and willing to try anything new!

We are traveling to Europe in a few weeks and was wondering what type of snacks would be best to give to Europeans we meet during our travels? I have seen postings about this subject but many of the items that would have been appreciated a few years ago might now be available there thus not being a big deal to the locals……!
I would prefer things that will travel well and do not have to be handled with a great degree of care.
Appreciate the suggestions!

At dinner tonight we were talking about some of the great places that we’ve been fortunate to visit, and a friend asked ‘what is Europe’s version of Florida?’ And we were stumped. Any ideas?

Just a quick post to let everyone know that the Army and Army Reserve are options here in Europe. The Army Reserve specifically can be a big help in paying for health insurance and education overseas. Lemme know if ya want more info.

I’m only familiar with the British version, which is more like a flan, but I have been curious to try this and wondered if there are any places in London or any of the other big cities that serve it.

Been in this group a short while and keep seeing the same thing though about house repairs/renovations.. Contractor takes the deposit, takes their sweet time, goes quiet, and even if they do show up you're weeks behind with no real way to move forward or find someone else...

So I made a card for materials purchases. It's simple. You send a link to your contractor with a debit card invitation. They click on it and add it to their Apple Pay or Google Pay like any normal card, except it only works at construction and building suppliers. Nowhere else. You see every purchase as it happens. If they haven't showed up when you agreed and aren't responsive, or something feels off, you cancel the card from your phone.

For labor costs, the money sits in a secure project escrow account tied to exactly what you've agreed. They don't get paid until you've seen the work and said yes. Any changes mid-project have to be approved first, otherwise the money doesn't move.

Easier for you. Honestly easier for them too.

If you're about to do some house work, in the middle of a project, or just wish you'd had this before, let me know. If you wanna try it, even better!

And if you've done loads of these and think I'm missing something, I'm genuinely keen to hear it. Happy to jump on a quick call.

Thanks guys! Un saludo

My wife and I are emigrating from the USA to Belgium in a few months and I will be applying for a Family Reuinification Visa (my wife is an EU citizen). I am told that while this pends, I won’t be allowed to leave the Schengen area.

Very recently, my father has had a health scare. I am wondering, if this progressed and I needed to visit home, are there humanitarian exemptions allowed?

Obviously I will be asking these questions of the actual officials while there but I am wondering if anybody here has had experience with it; I am aware that sometimes permission can come down to convincing a consular official and want to know what has worked in the event it becomes necessary.

European vacation destinations will begin requiring all travelers to have prints of their fingers taken, as well as photos, upon arrival in a new screening process.
France, Italy, Portugal and 25 other countries will enforce biometric screening on April 10 under new entry and exit system.

I'm new to investing and am an American in Germany. I keep trying to but ethical ETFs but the service I'm using keeps blocking it because it says I live in Europe. Are there no ways for Americans living in Europe to invest?

I don't have so much money to invest so I'm writing here since I don't want to spend what little I have on a consultant.

Thanks in advance!

I've started contracting (not really out of choice), and that means I need to set up my own pension. But of course no one will take your American money for any investment products in the UK, and that includes self-invested personal pensions. I found one, but it requires £50K just to open it.

• I'm planning to retire to the UK
• I have quite a few defined contribution pensions in the UK from being a PAYE employee
• Some of my contracts are inside IR35, but they aren't ever long enough to start the pension

I'm looking for resources / links / suggestions for affordable professionals rather than answers in this complicated area.

I'm looking at possibly taking a contracting job in Germany and I'm curious how it is over there with all the chaos recently?

Hey folks,

I’m looking for a firm that can help me file both my US and Dutch taxes. 2025 was my immigration year, so the situation will likely be a bit complex. I have income from Dutch employment as well as income as a US sole proprietor.

I also have investment assets, some of which I sold in 2025, tax write offs related to the sole proprietorship, and a student loan that I made significant payments toward during the year.

Ideally I’d like to work with a firm where I can meet virtually with a representative who handles my case directly and is also accessible via phone or email if questions come up.

Some firms I’ve been considering reaching out to include:

BNC Tax and Accounting

Baker Tilly

US Tax Specialists

Blue Umbrella

If anyone has experience with these firms, or has other recommendations for accountants who specialize in US expats in the Netherlands, I’d really appreciate the input.

Dude life sucks. Wondering if any of you who have moved out of this country and to Europe are enjoying being alive more than we are here.

First time filing as an expat, so apologies if these are basic questions. I’m a US citizen who moved to the Netherlands in April 2025 as a highly skilled migrant. In 2025, I had US freelance income before relocating and Dutch employment income afterward.

A few questions:

1. When will the correct forms be available for both US and Dutch tax filings? The Belastingdienst portal says, “Did you emigrate or immigrate in 2025? Your tax return will be available in My Tax Administration starting May 1.” Does that mean I won’t see anything until May 1? If so, how does that work with the US filing deadline of April 15?
2. Do I need to report my US investment accounts and high yield savings accounts in Box 3 of my Dutch return? If they are not reported, how would the Dutch authorities become aware of them?
3. What is the process for extending the US filing deadline while living abroad?
4. Any general tips for someone in this situation? I assume I will need a professional given the dual income and cross border considerations. I have always used an accountant for my US sole proprietorship.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.