Why I Don’t Paywall My Newsletter That Includes Remote Job Links

…and how it just landed me my first Buy Me a Coffee tip

When I started on Medium (an amazing SEO tool) nearly three months ago, I signed up for Buy Me a Coffee, mostly because it is what the platform Medium ties to their built-in tip button. But I figured, why not? If someone found my writing helpful, maybe they’d want to say thanks.

Since then, I’ve added the link to my blog and my websites as well. Still, the balance stayed at $0.

Until a few days ago.

My first tip came in, and it wasn’t just a “thanks for the vibes” kind of tip. Someone landed a remote job through my newsletter and left a thank-you. It wasn’t just validation. It was proof of purpose.

And yeah, I screenshotted it immediately, as seen above.

It made me think about why I do this in the first place, and why I’ve kept everything open and accessible from day one.

I don’t paywall my writing, not on my blogs, and not in my newsletter. Why? Because it’s meant to help people. And because I will die on this hill: no one should have to pay to look for work.

Let’s be real. If you’re looking for work, chances are you need money. Paying just to apply, especially to some vague, overhyped role that might ghost you anyway, is broken system energy. We don’t play that game here.

I started Join Me Abroad to help people find real alternatives. I’m an expat, a writer, and someone who’s been through the mess of figuring out how to live and work outside the usual systems. The site offers visa information, personal blogs, digital downloads, and of course, my free newsletter with curated remote job leads and expat-friendly tips.

And look, I’m funny (most of the time), I give solid book recommendations, and I try not to sound like a brochure. But I know people mostly subscribe for the jobs. And honestly? That’s fine. That’s the point.

So how do I make money?

Good question.

Instead of charging job seekers, I make income a few other ways:

• Employers can pay to have their listings included (not all are paid, some I include just because they’re good).
  

• I use affiliate links, always marked, always optional.
  

• And I offer professional services, resume reviews, writing, and one-on-one planning sessions. These are paid, through my own site.
  

This model lets me keep the helpful stuff free, without burning out or begging for crumbs.

I believe in transparency, so let me be real with you: it’s slow going. This isn’t one of those “I made six figures in my first month” stories. It’s more like, one reader at a time. One subscriber. One coffee.

And honestly? I'm grateful for every single one.

Because when you’re building something from scratch, especially something that isn’t exploiting desperation or clickbait, it takes time. There’s no shortcut. No viral growth hack. Just showing up, writing what matters, and hoping it lands in front of the right person on the right day.

That tip? It wasn’t just money. It was proof that someone out there found real value in what I made. That it worked. And that matters a lot more than metrics ever will.

So yes, the newsletter is free. But coffee isn’t.

If my work helps you out, feel free to fuel the mission here: buymeacoffee.com/joinmeabroad

And if you haven't already you can subscribe to the free newsletter anytime at https://joinmeabroad.com/subscribe