How to invest savings when moving abroad in 2-3 years
Investing with a short two-to-three-year timeline and an upcoming international move makes standard growth options too risky for safe capital access. This leaves people unsure whether to use high-yield savings accounts, short-term Treasuries, or employer retirement matches that carry heavy vesting penalties upon departure.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Putting money into a high-yield savings account (HYSA)4 people mentionedDid this help you?
- 2Putting money into a high yield savings account (HYSA) instead of the stock marketDid this help you?
- 3Maxing out a Roth IRADid this help you?
- 4Investing in a standard brokerage account with low-risk index funds like VOO or VTDid this help you?
- 5Contributing to an employer-matched 401(k) up to the matchDid this help you?
- 6Keeping money in a local credit union that pays zero interest for safety.Did this help you?
- 7Using SGOV or equivalent Vanguard funds for state tax advantages.Did this help you?
- 8Putting short term money in a high yield savings accountDid this help you?
- 9Using risk free instruments like CDsDid this help you?
- 10Parking money in a high-yield savings account (HYSA) instead of the stock market for short-term horizonsDid this help you?
- 11Keeping funds in a standard separate savings accountDid this help you?
- 12Rolling 30-to-90-day treasury billsDid this help you?
- 13Using a flexible certificate of deposit that allows early withdrawalDid this help you?
- 14Putting money into a high-yield savings account instead of investingDid this help you?
- 15Following the personal finance wiki flowchartDid this help you?
- 16Purchasing Treasury billsDid this help you?
- 17Opening certificates of deposit (CDs)Did this help you?
- 18splitting funds between treasuries and a high yield savings accountDid this help you?
- 19avoiding auto roll over featuresDid this help you?
- 20Leaving savings in a high-yield savings account (HYSA)Did this help you?
- 21Investing in T-Bills instead of Notes or Bonds to avoid uninvested coupon paymentsDid this help you?
- 22Using total market funds like VTI, global diversification like VT, or sector-specific growth funds like VGT, VUG, and VFMF, or shifting away from 100% equities to manage risk.Did this help you?
- 23Investing in the stock market through ETFs despite the riskDid this help you?
- 24Buying tools like a power washer or lawn equipment to do side gigsDid this help you?
- 25Taking on a side job or donating plasmaDid this help you?
- 26Investing in education or certificationsDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I am looking to buy a brand new car in probably 6 months and want to put down as much as I can up front. Where can I invest my money? I'd keep adding to it what I save each week. I want to be able to make a couple grand hopefully within 6 months. Is that possible?”source ↗
“Problem is, I have no way of knowing if I'll need it in 2 months, or in a year. It's currently segregated just to a separate savings account, but is there anything I could do with it to hope for at least a marginal return?”source ↗
“I’m 26F wanting to invest for the first time.”source ↗
“Mind you I might move to a different country in 2-3 years.”source ↗
“Please give me tips on how much to invest and where to invest.”source ↗
“What's the best way to invest the money if I want to access it again in a year?”source ↗
“I'm considering shifting this to a CD or to Treasury bonds which would mature the month before the project begins, since I don't need the liquidity in between.”source ↗
“Seems like this would be a low risk way to boost the savings. Am I missing something?”source ↗
“Need advice on where to park money for next 10-12 months.”source ↗
“Given fluctuating interest rates, where do you guys suggest to park the money until the move?”source ↗
“What about 401k? My employer will match 3% next year and its vested. So I lf I leave , I get 20% of it only.”source ↗
“Thank you. I was looking for a more personalized advice”source ↗
“It depends on your risk tolerance. For example, if you need the money for a down payment or other fixed expense in 5-7 years and don't want any risk of a net loss after 5-7 years, then don't invest 100% in VOO (or other equity). There is a significant risk that it will be down when you need it.”source ↗
“Don’t invest money you need in two years. Put it in a HYSA.”source ↗
“If you want guaranteed money before November, you need a job that pays you.”source ↗
“I had my emergency fund plus some in a discover hysa and about a year ago I had 6k stolen out of it, it was returned like a month later once they investigated but it still makes me extremely cautious about putting money in different places.”source ↗
“Now I'm wondering if I should bother with another hysa or use sgov or the others that pay like 4% to 5% (can't remember the name of them).”source ↗
“And if that is better then I also don't know if I should use fidelity or Robinhood.”source ↗
“I I’m wondering if it’s best to invest or save my money.”source ↗
“Should I just put all of my paychecks in a HYSA/ invest it all/ put some in a HYSA and invest the rest???”source ↗
“I have some treasuries but subconsciously I fear putting everything in it. And I don’t auto roll over for the same reason.”source ↗
“What would be the best ETF to invest in?”source ↗
“Right now I have $2000 and wanna make a bit more money. I need to make some money before November.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 7How are you actually supposed to spend invested money?
- 8Where should I invest money I need in two years?
- 5How to save money for a future nonprofit tax-free
- 15Should I invest a lump sum all at once or spread it out?
- 2Should I invest my house down payment in the stock market?
- 26How to start investing with very little money