Long Distance Relationships Require Money 💸 The Uncomfortable Truth

They say love is priceless, but have you ever tried paying for an international flight and a visa with just "vibes" and "hope"?

We recorded a video that I wanted to call LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT FOR THE POOR… but my husband said it was too controversial (watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify).

Of course, I understand how it can come across, but I still stand by the point that LDR can cause great stress if you’re not prepared.

We met in the US on a scholarship, thinking we’d avoid a serious relationship because we knew we had to go back to our respective countries. But love happens, and suddenly we were 16,000 kilometers apart with nothing but empty wallets and a lot of feelings.

If you're in an LDR, you know the "devastating" uncertainty of not knowing when you'll see your person again.

So today, grab a coffee ☕ (and maybe your bank statement), because we’re breaking down the uncomfortable truth about why Long Distance Rrelationships require serious cash, how to handle the "useless" fight against bureaucracy, and why a marriage certificate was our best travel hack.

The "Money Talk" You Can't Avoid

Let’s be real: long-distance relationships are definitely expensive. There is no other word for it. When we were students, the distance felt impossible because we were essentially unemployed and broke. However, that desperation can actually become your biggest motivation.

• The Hustle: Use the distance to finish your degree faster or grind for that promotion.

• The Sacrifice: We had to save for two and a half years just for our first trip to Colombia.

• The Reality Check: You can have all the love in the world, but if you don't know how to save and plan, meeting up will remain a dream.

My husband's words sum it up:

"It can either devastate you and you just break up, or it can extremely motivate you... to grow and earn more money."

Dancing with Bureaucracy (and Winning)

Planning a trip is one thing; actually getting past a visa officer is another. We learned the hard way that fighting against bureaucracy is useless. The rules won't change just because you cry about them.

When my husband’s three-month visa was partially eaten up by flight changes, we realized that moving from tourist visa to tourist visa was never going to work.

So, we did the "unthinkable": we got married. 💍

But don't rush into it! We were in a relationship for four and a half years before taking that leap.

• The Visa Hack: A marriage certificate made the process "super easy," turning a struggle into a five-year visa in just one month.

• The "Run Away" Plan: I (Luisa) actually wanted to visit India first to check for "red flags" and see if I needed to run away before committing! It didn’t happen that way, but thankfully, it still worked out well. 

• Neutral Ground vs. Home: People are different in their own surroundings; you don't truly know someone until you see them with their family and culture.

💡 Pro Tip: The "Plan C" Mindset

Always have a Plan A, B, and even C. If your visa gets denied or your job hunt fails, don't let it destroy you. You have to have a radical belief that you are meant for each other and find new ways to make it work.

🔥 The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, an international LDR makes you a better human by giving you perspectives on life, health, and money from the East, West, North, and South. It’s an expensive, exhausting journey, but experiencing the world together makes every saved penny worth it.

Are you currently surviving the LDR life? What’s your best tip for staying sane (and still having some money left)? Let us know on our Instagram or comment down below. 

About the Author

Luisa Trujillo is one half of Masala. She's a dreamer, believer, and achiever from a cozy coffee farm in Risaralda, Colombia. Being in an intercultural and interreligious relationship with an Indian 16,000 km away since 2019, she has gained a fair bit of insight into love, travel, and culture.

In her other life, Luisa has been a Coffee Grower, Digital Marketer, English as a Foreign Language Teacher, and Translator with a bachelor's degree in Modern Languages. Thanks to the latter, she is now fluent in Spanish, English, and French and has basic knowledge of Portuguese, Japanese, and Russian.

Relationships, coffee, languages, and a thousand miles later, she decided to start a community online to share her experience through Masala of Cultures along with her other half, Aswin.

Luisa's insights can also be found on other parts of the internet, including NVCC.