*Think financial independence look up Donald Nathan Scott.*

I’ve known Jess for over 20 years and she’s the REAL DEAL. We served in the Marine Corps together all over the globe, and she’s literally part of my family. Enjoy your success, Jessica!!! #SemperFi

I'm so impressed with her life. Serving her country and then creating an amazing life for herself and her family as well as a second career. You go girl!!!

Her situation doesn’t apply to most Americans..she’s apparently married to a dutch guy and gets a lot of benefits through her husbands job

Minus all the agreements and disagreements from many folks from, near or have been to the area; I am happy that she has found her happy place, feel safe and secure with her family, was brave enough and fortune enough to leave the U.S.

I respect a person who has served our country abroad in many countries throughout most her adult life and finally find somewhere she can settle. Yes America is not what it used to be.

Every time an American speaks about how much they love living in Europe, comment sections get flooded with people either attempting to bash Europe with cookie cutter statements or try to convince the internet how great America is.

Her life looks so peaceful and stress-free, love it

$60 for child care could NEVER happen in the states 😭

She seems genuinely happy. ❤

Every time I watch one of these videos I start asking myself what country do I want to move to and how much money do I need?

If you can afford a house that is almost twice the average price in Belgium, means you have high income and can live comfortably. Maybe 5% of the people in Belgium can pay a mortgage of almost 3000 USD a month. They are considered high income persons so they certainly more than 50% tax.

It’s a good reportage actually. That’s how chill and easy the life of an average European is. And I find it funny how my fellow Americans try to hate on it, you guys just need to go and touch some grass.

I had the same experience: I lived abroad then moved back to the US, and got laid off from my dumb job. The demon who laid me off didn't turn its camera on (it was also in the middle of the pandemic). I realized that the way people are treated in the US is not normal. I don’t know what’s more frightening: the experience of being treated sub-humanly, or realizing the psychology of people who do so

Glad to see another Marine Officer doing well! Semper Fi.

I left America in 2007 been in Europe since 2015 this is very accurate

Brussels is such a cute (and underrated) city. And so accessible to all of Europe. Jessica’s home and family are lovely!

Please also put social media of these guys in the description every time that helps us to follow

Loved this, Jessica looks so fulfilled… so beautiful to watch ❤️

It's always difficult to uproot yourself from a familiar environment and settle in another country. I'm sure she and her family had to face a lot of bureaucratic crap along the way to arrive at this point of her migration journey. She makes it sound easy but that only speaks to her intelligence, tenacity and positive spirit. Personally I'm really glad that she presented an overall optimistic outlook in the clip because let's face it: who wants to watch a 10 min clip about someone's miserable existence in another country when there's misery aplenty in our own backyard? PS: Thank you for your service! :-)

What a beautiful family and Jessica is a strong, sweet person. Wishing you all the best :)

As a belgian, i can confirm that our country is lovely but the daycare is certainly not 60 per month. It depends mainly on your salary ( if you go to a state nursery) but private nursery is about 600 to 800 eur per month

I am glad that you have your child in a safer school environment. Kudos to you both.

This was refreshing to see Jessica's reasons why she and her husband left the U.S. to raise their daughter in Belgium. Thank you for your USMC service. Looking forward to your cooking videos.

Moving to another country (especially legally!) is a privilege, but it is available to many more people than one might think. Especially young people, getting education in another country is a great way to see the world, and even to save some money, considering US tuition costs. Let's hope for a peaceful, friendly future where being a foreigner does not mean isolation, but instead learning and flourishing.

Love your story! I also moved to Europe to find safety and happiness.🌻🌻🌻

Awesome…thank you for sharing your story. Good for you finding your way to a new country, after so many years of hard work. Also, for the later in life education. Really amazing. Wishing you and your family all the best!

I mean, if you can buy a home in Brussels, you can live in Brussels LOL

I live (and grew up) near the Belgian border in Luxembourg and my life could not be more different from this. Just saying....

Jessica's experience in Belgium highlights the profound impact that lifestyle, cost of living, and cultural exposure can have on personal happiness and family life. It's a wonderful reminder of how a change in environment can enrich our lives and broaden our perspectives. 🌍

Ooh-rah!! I am from the Bronx and retired from the military after 32 years in service. I got wise about my finances in my late 30s and good to see fellow vets doing great.

Good for her. People are entitled to do what makes them happy. Lots of people changed their lives post-pandemic. I live in DC and love it (things are starting to re-stabilize after all the effects of the pandemic) but I can understand why she and her family made the move. She served her country and now she gets to put her and her family first.

The best thing about Brussels is the train to Antwerp ♥

Please make more videos in Europe. Thank your CNBC Make It! I like this video and also the one in Denmark

🌹I'm 51 and feel bad for younger generations. They wants so much - a big house, new car, vacations, designers clothes etc.. and feel deprive whenthey have to sacrifice. I was the same way but some things changed as I got olderI stopped wanting all that stuff and just feel content having a big stack of cash saved and invested to help me stay afloat through retirement

Wow, that's an absolute dream! The most amazing duplex apartment in a unit with 2 others in a quiet Brussels neighborhood. Well located for food culture and international travel, amazing she could make a living out of it. Very wholesome video, congrats to Jessica!

So, we judge people for drinking wine on Monday afternoons here in States? That's news to me. 😂

she is very lucky to have a husband that supports her in a first world country

I will not visit Brussels again. I had three issues in this country. I visited London and Paris during this period in with no issues. 1. Needed to switch hotels after front desk clerk entered my room without knocking. He said he needed to explain that I had to pay additional tax. Yeah right 2. I witnessed people being robbed in plain sight. You have to look over your shoulder in Brussels. 3. My flight from Brussels to London was fine. The baggage employees went on strike and the crew did not inform the passengers that we were flying to London without our luggage. We found out an hour after we waited at baggage claim for our luggage that it did not arrive. I needed to stay in London and change plans in order to receive my luggage two days later.

Help me here. I'm torn between moving countries and staying put where I currently reside. There's this voice in my head that says there really is no "paradise" in the world as we know it today

It's always the American income that allows them to do this.

Geweldig. En hoe leuk dat je helemaal op je gemak bent. En grappig dat je man uit Rotterdam komt. Woon ik vlakbij Overschie). Gaaf wat jullie gedurfd hebben. Brussel is geweldig. Prachtig en bourgondisch! Geniet ervan ! You guys made a big step moving to Europe. Puerto Rico is a Heaven as well imo. Enjoy !! Geniet ervan 👌🏾🙌🏾🌹🐞

Smart move. Quality of life is most important.In the US there is just respect for the dignity of a person.

So glad for you… pls stay there!

Out of all the financial institutions on KZfaq you are the only one who gives the easiest way to get rich. Financial education is indeed required for more than 70% of the society in the country as very few are literate on the subject ....Imagine investing $1000 and receiving $9,000 in 4days.*

Some of these bot comments are crazy 😂

What a great segment! Thank you.

I am happy for her and her family.

Good luck❤it's very nice in Brussels

Judge you for drinking wine on a Monday afternoon in the states? Honey, we invented the 3 martini lunch 🍸

I am delighted for you, truly!!!😀

I'm an American who lived in Belgium long enough to become Belgian. There are a ton issues with her story. 1) The government doesn't provide healthcare. Belgium's healthcare is administered through non-profit insurance agencies and private doctors. The government reimburses part of the cost, but doesn't directly run care facilities. 2) Co-pays are way higher than 2-3 EUR a month. A general consultation runs you 10-20 EUR. Sure, it's lower than the US, but it isn't "dirt cheap." 3) Belgium has some of the worst traffic in Europe, and people definitely get angry and honk while sitting in daily gridlock (a lot of that comes from the backwards tax policy of making it cheaper to give employees a company car than a meaningful pay raise. Not only is this horrible for the environment, but it hampers wealth-building and risk-taking since people hesitate to change jobs out of fear of losing their German automobile). 4) 3,000 EUR a month is crazy expensive for a mortgage for many parts of Brussels. They were able to afford that due to their high income they made living in the US 5) Belgian workers effectively can't be fired, which creates poor service and labor inefficiencies. Getting fired is like winning the lottery (2+ years of unemployment and paid holiday while being unemployed). That cost falls back on the consumers. It'd be nice if CNBC would talk to Americans who have lived overseas for more than 5 years. There's a lot of stuff these green expats just don't know or miss. It's kind of embarrassing as a long-time European resident to see these misrepresentations of US vs European life.

FATCA is manadatory ALL countries (i think non-Nato countries are excluded)* Wonder what her social media income looks like. Either way, do what's best for you and your family. Unfortunately majority are too stressed and dehumanized to be able to think and and make a plan to change and let's not forget access. All things considered, good for her.

This is the life we could have in the United States. People, please vote for public transportation and dense housing.

I hear you, no pressure about anything... Love Amsterdam....

What a beautiful story ❤

If anything, Gid forbid happens to my husband - I would definitely move to Europe. Either Spain or Italy - absolutely 💯

There was a all greek restaurant at the heigh of shoe shop liessens serving calamares zuflakis and tzsikis in the 70 ies. A volvo dealers ship with the 264 in the showroom ...You litrelly missed it all. Drivever with white gants in rolls royces and bentleys opening doors

I am happy 😁 and grateful to God for everything ❤️. I can't wait to relocate too 😮

Most rich people stay rich by spending like the poor and investing without stopping then most poor people stay poor by spending like the rich yet not investing like the rich but impressing them

Good for you!!! Arriba Boricua!!

I'm 45 and had the same brown couch when I was a kid!

What a great video. Glad she likes living in Belgium. I love it too here ❤

55% tax is CRAZY! Though having that level of security might be worth it...

It's so fun and fascinating to hear life storiy and anecdotes of different people with distinct origins and walks of life

Enjoyed watching this video! You have a beautiful family!

On the chaussée de louvain ( the house just before the american pharmacy now) sat 1 traiteur. You could find there very posh and exotic food ready made in plates. I still remember the smell of that shop and how fancy that was while looking at the nylon panties and lace bra lacletes of posh chicks coming to order with dogs we had never seen ( pitbulss)

I am glad this worked out for her but as a POC that lived in Europe, I got treated very differently. Your job opportunities are very limited, the money is not as good as US, forget about any kinds of promotions since you are a foreigner, and it’s not easy with cultural and language barriers. I hate these types of videos, they show the very glamorized side of it. I fell for it thinking Europe is some utopia and went to a country that is consistently top 5 for happiness and top 3 for wealth and I was miserable with no friends.

Brussels is basically the Washington DC of Europe. Traffic is terrible because so many people work in the city and because the EU and NATO offices are headquartered in Brussels. Just move to Leuven or Ghent or if you can afford it Bruges... Bruges is so beautiful!

I’m in DC every single day and live just moved over the boarder from DC into PG (neighboring county). The DC area is hard to compete with as far as resources and accessibility. Things can get expensive tho.

I’ve been to Brussels and yes I love Europeans. They have the best cities, food and architecture. Cheers to a good life god bless

Can you please do an episode of Netherlands??

I always wonder how you know whether to communicate in French or Dutch. Does it depend on the city?

driving from JFK into midtown under that tunel (we also say under the tunnel where it is in the tunnel as a mtter of fact) breathing NYC air seeing shop owners preparing...is a mere recollection Fine America

I enjoyed this video🙏🏿😊

It´s simple, EVERY country is way more "happier" living then USA

🤔 Hold on, did she say the 55% of their pay that goes to Belgium is justified, because Belgium’s welfare system provides financial security?

I’m a black American woman living in the US and videos like this make me want to move to Europe. I’m sick of the racism, traffic, sprawling suburbs where you don’t see anyone outside or walking around, car centric design/culture, gun violence, unaffordable housing prices, childcare, healthcare, and higher education, as well as only 2wks PTO. Some comments though are making me think that even still, quality of life in the US is better than Europe? What’s the truth?

Of course... No brainer. Be happy!!!!

The grass always seems greener at the other side

Let's go to Belgium...

I would love to live somewhere in Europe, except the taxes would put me off. We pay 35% or something in Australia as middle income earners, and I feel like that's bad enough! Although we do get a good quality of life for it

standing in my garden talking nicely to my dog... to the left a 10 meter fence with three big birches at the neighbor. In front a very nice wooden garden house covered with a shale roof. Then an open space whee I have view on meadows with horses land an 5 million villa with tilleuls and on the right a 20 meters green hedge. The next villa sits at 6 meters. L'art de vivre and quality of life.

Who knew that living like a upper class in another country with US income and money makes you "happier"?...Oh right that will happen in any country if you have money $$$ I forgot!

Wow! The happiness and aura that the US CAN NEVER give many immigrants. You ma'am look Sun kissed and happy. God bless you. I tap into your amazing blessing for a tall gentleman husband.

It’s a very nice city. I enjoy visiting it. Not sure about living there

Love the shot of the kitty :)

If you live in another country why you have to send your numbers to The US? I mean you have emigrated? Right? I dont understand that.

What a beautiful life in Belgium

I'm praying to buy my apartment 🙏🏽

Brussels life is definitely the good life ❤️🇧🇪

The U.S. economy can actually get better if only the govt can start making better decisions for the sake of it's citizens, cos' they've really made life more difficult for its residents. Hyperinflation has left the less haves bearing the brunt of the burden. Its already eating into my entire $620k retirement portfolio. Like where else can we invest our money with less risks?

Welcome in Europe🤩

Love their story.

Congrats!!!

Huh? Literally never seen anyone get judged in the US for having wine in the afternoon.

The American dream is to be able to immigrate to a better country without having to worry about the violence, politics, & lack of quality education & healthcare. It’s sad she had to participate in the US military industrial complex, but I completely understand since they purposely/nefariously use it to make working class people (especially POC & 1st generation/immigrant folks) join in order for them to elevate their financial status & class

I agree with her, DC is getting out of control and becoming a lot like New York!!

Brussels has very beautiful arquitecture and it's a nice place, but I would never live there because of the weather. It's always cloudy and dark and me coming from Spain cannot survive that. I've been 12 years living abroad in North Europe and I cannot stand Belgian or North Germany weather (let alone Finland, Norway and Sweden) it kills me.

55% taxes?