OT: Quitting the Rat Race

[Trekhawk]

No, we don't have anything like that. Most of us work for companies, that if they give you vacation (normally not more than 1 month a year) they take it away if you don't use it in the next 2 years, so you can't even save it up!

Yep I know what you mean about your normal leave each year. Its the same in Australia most people get around 4 weeks paid leave a year and in most cases are not allowed to save it up. This is where Long Service Leave is nice but I must say that getting the time at work to take it can be a problem. A lot of people in Australia work there whole life and never take their Long Service Leave they just get paid out for it when they retire. It can work out to be a rather large sum of money for people that have worked for years but it really defeats the whole purpose behind LSL which was to allow people to take a break from work and recharge and perhaps reconnect with the world outside of work.

[li10up]

It may be a long shot, but worth a try: what about applying for a sabbatical? There may not be a formal program, but it might be something to explore. You never know. You could save up some $ and see if you can get a year off; maybe something like Trekhawk is talking about. There are some companies that offer this, or are open to it. If it is just the time, it might be worth it to the company. It's a way to keep good workers from getting burned out. You might start a trend!

A sabbatical would be great! I approached the boss last year about that...after hinting time and again that I want to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. He told me that if he could let me off for 6 months then apparently they don't need me. And I wonder why the morale in the office has gone down hill over the last few years (since he took over).

[wabisabi]

Oh, that's too bad. I am (was!) all too familiar with that kind of short sighted attitude; it's almost impossible it seems to have our whole selves honored in too many of our workplaces.

[mimitabby]

Mimitabby - I've never been a person to live in debt. So that isn't an issue for me.


You all are giving me some things to think about. Just don't know how to figure out how much $ I'll need to quit work for a year without ending up in the poor house.

Lightenup (Gosh I JUST Figured out what your handle meant!)
I didnt know how old you were ... you sounded youngish. Now i see, you
HAVE been around the block. glad you're not into debt!

[margo49]

. it's almost impossible it seems to have our whole selves honored in too many of our workplaces.

that is so well-phrased or as my (late) Dad would have said
" You spat a bib-full "

[li10up]

Lightenup (Gosh I JUST Figured out what your handle meant!)
I didnt know how old you were ... you sounded youngish. Now i see, you
HAVE been around the block. glad you're not into debt!

That's a reminder to myself not to be so serious and worry about stuff so much. I think it's part of my nature though. I am young - at heart at least.

I've always been good with my finances. I just can't seem to figure out how much to have tucked away to quit my job, take a year off work, and then find another job - hopefully something I'll enjoy. I know it can be done I'm just not sure how to go about making it work for me. The fear of change can be a powerful thing.

Oh, that's too bad. I am (was!) all too familiar with that kind of short sighted attitude; it's almost impossible it seems to have our whole selves honored in too many of our workplaces.

I agree, very well said.

[farrellcollie]

I've always been good with my finances. I just can't seem to figure out how much to have tucked away to quit my job, take a year off work, and then find another job - hopefully something I'll enjoy. I know it can be done I'm just not sure how to go about making it work for me. The fear of change can be a powerful thing.

I agree, very well said.

I really do suggest the Tightwad gazette (check the library)- it has info and life stories of people who have managed to save for all kinds of life changes. some even say how they figured out how much they needed to save to do what they wanted to do.

[DebW]

So let me revise my original question. How can I quite the rat race for just one year? I really don't want to stay in the I.T. field even though the money is good. I just don't enjoy it. So, I'd like to take a year off. I want to spend 6 months of it thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail and the other 6 months just riding my bike, decompressing and "finding myself."

For info about the AT and the expense of a 6-month thru-hike, check out whiteblaze.net (maybe you already know it). Trailjournals.com is another good site. You can get by with $3000-$5000 for a 6-month hike if home expenses are minimal and you already own the gear.

[eofelis]

I really do suggest the Tightwad gazette (check the library)- it has info and life stories of people who have managed to save for all kinds of life changes. some even say how they figured out how much they needed to save to do what they wanted to do.

The Tightwad Gazette helped me out a lot!

I don't think I've actually even been in the rat race!

I'm 38, in college full time. I'm a senior and will be for 2 more years. I haven't worked a regular job for a few years now. My tuition is paid with grants and scholarships, plus I get a bit more for living expenses. I live in a 1 br apt with bf and 2 cats, and 11 bikes! I have a 1991 Subaru, it looks and runs good still. I can walk or bike to most places I need to go. No cell phone, no cable, dial up internet free through the college. I've been debt free since the early 1990s.

My goals in life are to keep it simple and to choose my responsibilities wisely.

[eofelis]

I still don't know what I want to do with my life. Anyone else out there in their 40s and still not know what they want to do for a living? It's embarrassing and frustrating!

I'm a geologist-in-training but I'm not sure if I really want to do it for a real job. I just really love rocks. I love going to school too. Maybe I'll just go to grad school.

[Dogmama]

My tuition is paid with grants and scholarships, plus I get a bit more for living expenses. I live in a 1 br apt with bf and 2 cats, and 11 bikes! I have a 1991 Subaru, it looks and runs good still. I can walk or bike to most places I need to go. No cell phone, no cable, dial up internet free through the college. I've been debt free since the early 1990s.

You rock! <huge groan>


Seriously, I work at a major University with kids that are in debt over 6 figures with college loans. In many cases, their chosen profession pays almost nothing. But they refuse to cut back on cell phones, manicures, designer clothes, etc.

Had one in my office last week complaining about how a scholarship she was given messed with her financial aid portfolio I wanted to say, "Just pay it back. I have lots of other students who will gladly take $4,000/semester of free money" - but grad students are "golden" in my dept.

[Bad JuJu]

Seriously, I work at a major University with kids that are in debt over 6 figures with college loans. In many cases, their chosen profession pays almost nothing. But they refuse to cut back on cell phones, manicures, designer clothes, etc.

Plenty of my students carry huge credit card debts, too. I don't know whether it's that nobody ever taught them about compounded interest or that they just never learned any fiscal responsibility at all. Probably both.

I also occasionally get a student who will blame her poor grades on having to work to pay for school. I do applaud the effort to remain debt-free, but usually, on closer investigation, there are other expenses the student doesn't want to give up, like the ones you mentioned, Dogmama. On the other hand, unless your parents have made some provisions for paying tuition, it can be very difficult to pay both living expenses and tuition these days, not to mention being able to afford your textbooks.

It's important to make good choices, but not everybody has been taught how to do that, and sometimes you just don't have a lot of choices.

[KnottedYet]

I have $5 in my savings acct. Maybe $200 in checking. $7,000 in my IRA and 401k. Owe $11k on my car, $8k on my student loans, $5k on my visa.

oops.

[Kitsune06]

Uh, yeah.
$5 in savings (just enough to keep it open... )
$50 in checking (hoping I don't need to get gas or do the gym EFT 'til fri)
owe ~500 on one acct,
$500 on the **** credit card again after the insurance deductible on my car, $2500 on the car....
then I have to try to figure out where, in between all these pressing bills, I'll be able to afford contacts because my 3yr old glasses prescription isn't quite doin' it anymore, and I really do need to have my asthma checked out.

Stupid rat race. Stupid under-paying jobs. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Every time I complain I get "You need a different job, dear." from DPITA. Thanks, I couldn't figure THAT one out on my own.

[li10up]

Uh, yeah.
$5 in savings (just enough to keep it open... )
$50 in checking (hoping I don't need to get gas or do the gym EFT 'til fri)
owe ~500 on one acct,
$500 on the **** credit card again after the insurance deductible on my car, $2500 on the car....
then I have to try to figure out where, in between all these pressing bills, I'll be able to afford contacts because my 3yr old glasses prescription isn't quite doin' it anymore, and I really do need to have my asthma checked out.

Stupid rat race. Stupid under-paying jobs. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Every time I complain I get "You need a different job, dear." from DPITA. Thanks, I couldn't figure THAT one out on my own.

This is exactly why I can't seem to quit the rat race. How can any sane person voluntarily go from a good paying job that allows her to save money to one where she may have to live paycheck to paycheck? I must be crazy for even thinking about this. I'm trapped!!!