Year out at 30

Author
Discussion

torqueofthedevil

Original Poster:

2,068 posts

176 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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Anyone ever just packed up, left your job and gone doing your own thing for a year at 30?

I'm tempted but it just seems a shame after working through school, uni and a career for 10 years to leave now. Especially as I feel I'm on the cusp of moving up a step in my career.

I'm worried after a year, it'll take me ages to get back into being able to do my job.

I'm thinking of renting my house out. Selling my cars. Leaving my job and going to live and work in France. Basic job, no bills, no commitments to expensive belongings etc. learn French and just have a healthier standard of living.

Anyone done it?

Jazzy Jefferson

728 posts

140 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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I've not done it, but I turn 30 in a couple of months. So will keep an eye on this thread, it's certainly a tempting option isn't it.

BoRED S2upid

19,644 posts

239 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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Does your employer allow career breaks?

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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No but I did bin work and go to Uni to change career.

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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Im 27. My house is sold, just waiting for the ex's flat to go through. My Bike has gone and my car will be gone Sunday.

I quit my job a few weeks back and leave there in 3 weeks.

Once the house is gone through I have my 1 year Australian WHV where I am going to go with my suitcase and my bank card and see what life has to offer me.

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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I should also note, my dad thinks I'm mental and I'm stting my pants smile

WolfAir

456 posts

134 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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If you are in a position to drop everything, not have to worry about wife, child, mortgage and everything else that comes with it and refresh your perspective on life and what makes you happy, I would say go for it.
You may not get another opportunity like this again, your experiences may make you a better man, give you skills that maybe desirable for employment, should you come back, if you even decide to come back.
I would love to drop everything and travel, living day to day odd jobs just making enough to eat and have fun.

OzzyR1

5,701 posts

231 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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If you don't have any ties that keep you here, then go for it.

Likely in the next decade that you'll have to get sensible - meet a partner, perhaps get married, perhaps have kids etc.


I was lucky enough to take some time out after 4 years at uni, spent about 3 years travelling (age 22-25) with a mate. Did about 75% of the countries in Europe on a rail card (this was with the money we already and took about a year, no need to work, moving towns/countries every week or so, staying in hostels etc).

With very little cash left, flew to HK. Got jobs in a bar and a kitchen out there, accommodation/food thrown in. Two months there, went to east coat of Aus, bar jobs and whatever else we could earn money from for about 4 months.

Into Auckland, my old man felt sorry for me so sent us £2K (still grateful now). Hired a car, toured North and South Island for about 6 weeks, mostly pitching up and camping in tents every night and eventually settled in Christchurch. Worked there for about 10 months, went to Fiji for 3 weeks, then to LA and used our remaining funds to rent a basic Hertz car and drive cross-country to Miami


Best time of my life, wish I could do it all over again. Unfortunately, am late 30's and wife, kids, mortgage etc have kicked in. Annoying that the next time I will have that much free time is when I retire - quite a way in the future.


If you can't be bothered to read the above and have skipped to the last line - just do it if you have no ties, you won't regret it and you're a long time dead.


Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

158 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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OzzyR1 said:
just do it if you have no ties, you won't regret it and you're a long time dead.
^ This. No one on their deathbed says "I wish I spent more time in the office."

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
quotequote all
Troubleatmill said:
OzzyR1 said:
just do it if you have no ties, you won't regret it and you're a long time dead.
^ This. No one on their deathbed says "I wish I spent more time in the office."
David Brent?

Glade

4,256 posts

222 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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You've got longer to work than you've been alive.

1 year won't make a difference, Plenty of time to catch up.

Infact you probably won't slow your career down... plenty of people will still be doing the same thing this tine next year!

nigelonich

1,017 posts

219 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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Go for it as I cant see a downside. Made me think of this at first.

vinnie83

3,367 posts

192 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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I was 30 when I let my house out in Leicester and moved to London to study a college course with a hope of it getting me into Uni.

Not quite the same as you in the sense that I didn't want a break and then get back into my old life, I wanted to start toward a new one.

But it was extremely satisfying to leave something behind and out of mind and concentrate on what is ahead, not to mention the satisfaction in knowing you had the balls to do something and take a risk, rather than the wondering and thinking 'what if?'


sjabrown

1,910 posts

159 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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If you're in a position to do this and brave enough then why not?

I'm now 30, and spent long enough considering this but in the end didn't want to leave what I currently have, so now have the commitment of a house. Planning on taking some long holidays and changing my work life greatly though.

central

16,744 posts

216 months

Tonberry

2,078 posts

191 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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I turn 26 next week and am thinking of doing the same before 30, only it will be for life.

My outlook on life has changed drastically in the last two years where money and material possesions are no longer an end goal.

You'll be dead soon enough so crack on lad.

DonnyMac

3,634 posts

202 months

Wednesday 24th September 2014
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Tonberry said:
You'll be dead soon enough so crack on lad.
No school age children? Go.

Condi

17,089 posts

170 months

Thursday 25th September 2014
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Tonberry said:
I turn 26 next week and am thinking of doing the same before 30, only it will be for life.

My outlook on life has changed drastically in the last two years where money and material possesions are no longer an end goal.

You'll be dead soon enough so crack on lad.
Im 26 next week as well. beer

Nothing wrong with going and enjoying yourself while still young enough to do so. Did the whole travelling thing at 22 and 23, loved almost every second of it. Certainly now, when mortgage and commitments have started to appear looking back at being free to move from place to place is very appealing.

Remember, no matter where in the world you go its only 24 hours from home.

Quhet

2,409 posts

145 months

Thursday 25th September 2014
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I've just done it. I'm 25 and hated my job, girlfriend got offered a job in NZ for 6 months (she's a doctor) and I've moved out with her for a bit. I've been accepted onto a masters course from January but I'm probably going to defer it until September 2015beer

OzzyR1

5,701 posts

231 months

Thursday 25th September 2014
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Quhet said:
I've just done it. I'm 25 and hated my job, girlfriend got offered a job in NZ for 6 months (she's a doctor) and I've moved out with her for a bit. I've been accepted onto a masters course from January but I'm probably going to defer it until September 2015beer
Good luck for the future.

Only problem I had with NZ was that there wasn't much going on. Probably one of the best countries I've been to, toured North and South Island in detail. Lived in Christchurch for a while, loved Queenstown - did the AJ Hackett bungy off the Karwarau Bridge & Skippers Canyon, heli-skiing etc.

Might not have been in the right places but my overall feeling was that although I loved it, it would be a place to retire to. Don't think I could work there as a younger man but hope you have a ball and decide for yourself!