From Bankrupt Airline to Barcelona Terrace

How I Went from Broke Single Mom to Remote Frontend Developer in 9 Weeks

Hi, I'm Åsa Eriksson.

Today I'm sipping coffee on my Barcelona terrace, choosing my own hours, and building a business that helps other single moms do the same.

But 8 years ago? I was completely stuck.

May 2017: The Day Everything Fell Apart

My marriage ended. My airline went bankrupt. And I was alone in Spain with two little kids - ages 5 and 8.

My Swedish friends were all moving back to Sweden for better jobs and higher salaries. But Icouldn't. I was stuck in a country with very low wages, no car, no savings, and an extremely small flat I was lucky to keep.

I felt emotionally numb and completely alone.

My parents were in Sweden. I had no network here. And I had absolutely no idea how I was going to support my children.

I tried graphic design. I tried translation work. Nothing paid enough.

I was desperate. And I was running out of time.

The Discovery That Changed Everything

Late one night, after my kids were asleep, I started researching:

"High-paying jobs with quick learning curve"

"Remote work from Spain"

"Career change for single moms"

That's when I found it - Software development.

And specifically, web development bootcamps where 95% of graduates got job offers immediately after finishing.

9 weeks. That's all it took. Not 4 years. Not a university degree. Not being "good at math". Just 9 weeks of intensive learning.

I borrowed money from my parents. I enrolled at Ironhack Barcelona. And I bet everything on this one chance.

November 2018: 9 Weeks That Changed My Life

Week 1: Studying at my new Bootcamp at Ironhack in Barcelona. What is CSS? I had no idea.

Week 4: Built my first interactive website. I couldn't believe I did that.

Week 9: Graduated from Ironhack on a Sunday and signed my first contract as a junior developer at Grant Thornton the following Thursday.

The same week I graduated from my Bootcamp I got hired at Grant Thornton, a famous international law firm.

I was a frontend developer and a UI/UX designer!

I had a salary that could support my kids.

I had skills that would work anywhere in the world.

I was free.

The Next 7 Years: Building My Career

I didn't stop at my first job. I worked hard. I learned constantly. I proved myself.

My career progression:

2018: Junior Frontend Developer & UI/UX Designer at Grant Thornton
2019-2025: Frontend Developer & UI/UX Designer at consultancy firm
Created web applications for Volkswagen
Designed user interfaces for international clients
Doubled my salary in 5 years

All while raising two kids. In Barcelona. One of Europe's most expensive cities.

And every single job? 100% remote.

I could work from my terrace. From a beach club. From Costa Brava on weekends.

I chose my hours. I chose my location. I was there for my kids' school events, sick days, and every moment that mattered.

This is what tech gave me: Freedom.

My Life Today: Barcelona, Coffee, and Complete Freedom

My typical day starts on my terrace in Barcelona.

Coffee. Laptop. The sound of birds flying over my inner garden.

Sometimes I take a break and lay on my sunbed, soaking in the Spanish sun.

I meet friends for lunch. I work when I want. I travel to Costa Brava or Formentera on weekends in summer.

My kids are 15 and 17 now - we've built this life together.

And here's what matters most:

✓ I never worry about money
✓ I choose my own hours
✓ I'm always there for my children
✓ I live in a sunny country I love
✓ I have work to offer no matter what happens in the world

People will always need websites. And I know how to build them.

June 2025: The Moment I Knew

I had been thinking about it for a long time. I had this knowledge. This experience. This entire journey from rock bottom to freedom.

And I kept meeting single moms who were exactly where I was in 2017.

Stuck. Scared. Alone. Not knowing where to start.

So I asked myself: What if I could show them the exact path I took?

What if I could compress my 7 years of learning into a clear roadmap?

What if I could create templates, systems, and products that help them move FASTER than I did?

That's when Tech Beach Mama was born.

My Vision: Help 1,000 Single Moms Build Remote Careers

Here's what I'm building:

The 90-Day Roadmap - The exact step-by-step path from zero to frontend developer
Premium Templates - Website templates you can use immediately to start freelancing or showcase your work
Component Libraries - Pre-built React components so you can build faster
The Complete System - Everything I learned about freelancing, pricing, finding clients, and building a business

My goal?

In 3 years, I want to have helped as many mothers as possible set up their own remote work - either working for companies or freelancing.

Because if I can do it at 43 with no tech background, no money, and two kids to feed...

You can too.

Beyond the Code: Who I Am

When I'm not building websites or teaching other moms to code, you'll find me:

🌊 At the beach - Costa Brava and Formentera are my happy places
👗 Dressed up - I love fashion and summer dresses
🥗 Eating great food - Healthy Mediterranean cuisine is my weakness
✈️ Traveling - Spain has endless beautiful spots to discover
👥 With my people - Friends and family time is everything
📚 Learning - I'm constantly improving my skills and studying new things

Three words that describe me: Social. Determined. Resilient.

What I'm most proud of: Showing my kids that hard work pays off, that it's never too late to start over, and that a struggling mother can become successful.

Let Me Be Honest With You

This journey wasn't easy.
I failed. A lot.
I doubted myself. Constantly.
I started "too late" at 43 (or so I thought).
I lived in a country with low salaries.
I had no network, no safety net, no plan B.

But here's what I learned:

"Your circumstances don't define your possibilities. Your decisions do."

I decided to learn. I decided to try. I decided to never look back on my failures.
And that's what made all the difference.
You have that same choice right now.