7 money moves for living abroad

Maintain a good credit score

Although you may have a brag-worthy credit score when you leave the country, if you live abroad for an extended period, that score may vanish. This could spell trouble when you return home. 

"The first thing most people want to do when they move back to the U.S. is buy a car and a home. However, most are surprised to find out they have no credit score and cannot buy a home until they re-establish their credit," says Todd Huettner, a mortgage broker at Huettner Capital in Denver.

Fortunately, the solution is simple: Remember to use a U.S. credit card a few times a year, says Heuttner. Buying a couple of books or DVDs from Amazon.com -- and paying your debt on time -- can keep your score pristine.