Jacking it all in
#1
Jacking it all in
OK folks need some opinions..........
Wife and I are fed up with lives in the financial industry (me in IT) and are thinking of selling up and moving to south of France - we are both pi$$ed off with just working to fund mortgages etc and not really 'enjoying' life per se given we only live once and all that. We are mid to late 30s and if we sell everything in the UK will be able to fund an income of around 12-15k pa net (ignoring mortgages/savings already live on that in Oxford) until early 60s when my final salary pension is available to the same kind of level. Now a big consideration would be living in a new mobile home (double glazing/aircon/satellite/central heating) in a nice place (already own one there) of say 40m squared with about 200m squared of land for a deck/pizza oven/bbq etc - location is about 90mins from Alps/Italy/Marseille. We are taking it very seriously and after all if we did it for a year or two and got fed up we can start again or do something completely different.
I always read about people who get out of the game and just do something different and live a little rather than being chained to a desk which we feel we are. Alternatively am always reading about people who are deemed successful yet spent most of their lives working and dying in their 60s and don't want to be one of them.
What do you think? Blimin scary from where I am sitting.
Thanks
Wife and I are fed up with lives in the financial industry (me in IT) and are thinking of selling up and moving to south of France - we are both pi$$ed off with just working to fund mortgages etc and not really 'enjoying' life per se given we only live once and all that. We are mid to late 30s and if we sell everything in the UK will be able to fund an income of around 12-15k pa net (ignoring mortgages/savings already live on that in Oxford) until early 60s when my final salary pension is available to the same kind of level. Now a big consideration would be living in a new mobile home (double glazing/aircon/satellite/central heating) in a nice place (already own one there) of say 40m squared with about 200m squared of land for a deck/pizza oven/bbq etc - location is about 90mins from Alps/Italy/Marseille. We are taking it very seriously and after all if we did it for a year or two and got fed up we can start again or do something completely different.
I always read about people who get out of the game and just do something different and live a little rather than being chained to a desk which we feel we are. Alternatively am always reading about people who are deemed successful yet spent most of their lives working and dying in their 60s and don't want to be one of them.
What do you think? Blimin scary from where I am sitting.
Thanks
#2
I can relate to how you feel. I took the whole of last year off, needed to get my head together and work out what I wanted in regards to life, career, and happiness.
I tip my cap with respect to you and your lady, as this is a big decision. Do you have any children ??
SBK
I tip my cap with respect to you and your lady, as this is a big decision. Do you have any children ??
SBK
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Personally i couldn't contemplate living in a mobile home for nigh on 25 years, regardless of the freedom it afforded. Horses for courses though i guess.
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If you are unhappy then give it a go, it takes ***** though.
A mate of mine has gone to NZ, he has been there for 7 months, he went with his GF who had a job to go to, he has now also found work.
I speak to him on SKYP and he will not be coming back.
They are in their late twenties/early thirties, no kids, they like open spaces, motorbikes, hunting and dogs....NZ is right up their street.
He likes the freedom of buying whatever gun he wants, and shooting what he wants on his land.
I wouldnt go, as I think my life is OK here, and I also believe that if you have kids it makes it more difficult.
A mate of mine has gone to NZ, he has been there for 7 months, he went with his GF who had a job to go to, he has now also found work.
I speak to him on SKYP and he will not be coming back.
They are in their late twenties/early thirties, no kids, they like open spaces, motorbikes, hunting and dogs....NZ is right up their street.
He likes the freedom of buying whatever gun he wants, and shooting what he wants on his land.
I wouldnt go, as I think my life is OK here, and I also believe that if you have kids it makes it more difficult.
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Stayed in a mobile home for the summer hols two weeks when 16? belonging to a friend of parents - place called Le Muy
Maybe it was just my first time abroad ,but i couldnt wait to get home , it certainly had no a/c - spent days roasting in the sushine out o reach of the coast went couple time to tropez etc in the car ( drove down from england in the holiday traffic :eeek: )
Spent airless sleepless nights listening out for mozzies despite sis insisting on all the windows being closed
Aparrently there was tennis availble - site ( mountian ) was owned by the resident 'mobil' home owners , i jus wanted to stay in the shade - it was seriously hot
edit : youll be bored within a month
Maybe it was just my first time abroad ,but i couldnt wait to get home , it certainly had no a/c - spent days roasting in the sushine out o reach of the coast went couple time to tropez etc in the car ( drove down from england in the holiday traffic :eeek: )
Spent airless sleepless nights listening out for mozzies despite sis insisting on all the windows being closed
Aparrently there was tennis availble - site ( mountian ) was owned by the resident 'mobil' home owners , i jus wanted to stay in the shade - it was seriously hot
edit : youll be bored within a month
Last edited by dpb; 14 September 2009 at 02:54 PM.
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#9
It sounds to me that you're both completely unsatisfied with your lives and should re-evaluate what you're doing, although the "let's jack it all in" is probably a knee-jerk reaction because it seems easier to walk away from the stuff in your life that needs "fixing" rather than working on it. IMHO.
BTW, this is a normal reaction to being in your mid-30's
BTW, this is a normal reaction to being in your mid-30's
#10
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agreed and is often cured by getting a hot bit of totty and banging the 4rse of it for a couple of years -- in a totally no strings attached mutally satisfying 100% sexual relationship
i would have thought anyway
i would have thought anyway
#11
Would think about this but not in Mid 30's as I am now as we have 2 very yound kids and it can cost plenty to bring them up
We are thinking of doing something similar but moving to somewhere like northern Vancouver, Canada but when we hit our Mid 40's and the kids are older
Plus we'll have plenty of money then and the housing market will have probably turned around and gone through another boom
I wouldnt consider jacking it all in unless I had in excess of £1m equity (I'm 36, wife is 35)
We are thinking of doing something similar but moving to somewhere like northern Vancouver, Canada but when we hit our Mid 40's and the kids are older
Plus we'll have plenty of money then and the housing market will have probably turned around and gone through another boom
I wouldnt consider jacking it all in unless I had in excess of £1m equity (I'm 36, wife is 35)
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I'm thinking the same way. Went to Vancouver last month to check it out. Apparently voted one of the best places to live on Earth 2 years running.
Great scenery, great weather (in the summer), houses pricey, but petrol 60p/litre. Even there I was bored $hitless in a week, but I didn't have MY car, MY motorbikes or MY mates there, so might be different if I lived there. The one huge plus is the people are very friendly and there is very little yobbish behaviour which is the main problem with the UK IMHO.
Living in a secluded village in France/Spain/Portugal was considered, but as dbp said, I'd be bored very quickly.
Great scenery, great weather (in the summer), houses pricey, but petrol 60p/litre. Even there I was bored $hitless in a week, but I didn't have MY car, MY motorbikes or MY mates there, so might be different if I lived there. The one huge plus is the people are very friendly and there is very little yobbish behaviour which is the main problem with the UK IMHO.
Living in a secluded village in France/Spain/Portugal was considered, but as dbp said, I'd be bored very quickly.
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I used to employ a lad who used to do reasonably well for himself, jacked it all in, declared himself bankrupt, had everything on finance took away from him, and he started again, this time spending more time with his kids, and generally just enjoying life even more.
He left me to go and deliver bread in a van, he still calls in now and again and gives me free cakes
He has never been happier!
He left me to go and deliver bread in a van, he still calls in now and again and gives me free cakes
He has never been happier!
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Reckon you'd get bored to be honest! How about doing it half and half? Spend 6months contracting in the UK and spend the summer living the South of France? You could afford a better life-style as well then.
#16
I did it differently and got a job out here in France; I knew that the first two years would be tough - job wise, but the lifestyle change has been great.
Spend most weekends in the mountains or on the coast, Lyon is a great town with plenty to do and see. I also have 50 days holiday a year and a work trip means flights/TGV to Paris, Munich, Toulouse, Strasbourg etc.
Problem is, I haven't set any personal goals apart from skiing more; I should go and learn a new language or complete a big ski / climb.
If you come out here, you should really have some goals in mind rather than just leaving the UK, as stated you would be bored or listless until returning.
Nik
Spend most weekends in the mountains or on the coast, Lyon is a great town with plenty to do and see. I also have 50 days holiday a year and a work trip means flights/TGV to Paris, Munich, Toulouse, Strasbourg etc.
Problem is, I haven't set any personal goals apart from skiing more; I should go and learn a new language or complete a big ski / climb.
If you come out here, you should really have some goals in mind rather than just leaving the UK, as stated you would be bored or listless until returning.
Nik
#17
I did it, but I came here to work. Its been 3 years now and I doubt I would go back to UK.
However, if I wasnt working, I would be bored senseless. You need to figure out how you will pass the time here. Sitting on the terrace looking at the mountains is nice, but you cant just do that forever.
However, if I wasnt working, I would be bored senseless. You need to figure out how you will pass the time here. Sitting on the terrace looking at the mountains is nice, but you cant just do that forever.
#18
I have had similar thoughts for the last couple of years .
Sell up everything here and go and live a simpler life in France .
A couple I know have done it ,albeit they are older than me at 50 ish(they are 50,not me ,) and they have no kids either.They live in Nimes area and worked out all the costs before going .Her sister has lived there years .
12k a year is all they need for everything .Growing their own veg etc ,get on great with the locals ,and are out socialising most nights .They have no intentions of coming back over here .
If I were to be made redundant ,then this would be a serious option for me .I am about to start a French course next week to learn the language and the next step is to try and sell a Rental property or two to fund a purchase over there,to use for holidays and to see how much we like the country .And after that who knows .
As for the caravan ,you can get very nice Static vans these days with aircon ,central heating etc ,so dont be put off with that option .
I firmly believe ,life is for living and if you dont try ,you dont know .!!!
Good Luck .
Sell up everything here and go and live a simpler life in France .
A couple I know have done it ,albeit they are older than me at 50 ish(they are 50,not me ,) and they have no kids either.They live in Nimes area and worked out all the costs before going .Her sister has lived there years .
12k a year is all they need for everything .Growing their own veg etc ,get on great with the locals ,and are out socialising most nights .They have no intentions of coming back over here .
If I were to be made redundant ,then this would be a serious option for me .I am about to start a French course next week to learn the language and the next step is to try and sell a Rental property or two to fund a purchase over there,to use for holidays and to see how much we like the country .And after that who knows .
As for the caravan ,you can get very nice Static vans these days with aircon ,central heating etc ,so dont be put off with that option .
I firmly believe ,life is for living and if you dont try ,you dont know .!!!
Good Luck .
#19
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was thinking about this for a whilw was going to sell one property in yhe uk and rent the other and buy a place in france while renting in the uk to keep a income . my advice is dont sell up in the uk rent it and use the money as a income as you wont be in the uk you cant get shafted for uk tax . then rent in france and live for free
#20
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work to live not live to work...thats my moto
a mobile home will lose money fast you maybe suprised how fast
just change your lifestyle to what will make you both happy....good luck
a mobile home will lose money fast you maybe suprised how fast
just change your lifestyle to what will make you both happy....good luck
#22
Cheers folks, to answer some of the questions.
- we have no kids
- no point paying off a mortgage on a house worth approx £500k (we should have that done by early 40s) to then not be able to use that £500k as I don't want to leave it to anybody else!!
- we already have a static van (circa 20yrs old) however as some have said modern vans are a world apart, some even come with velux windows
- we have ours on an excellent site where there is no renting and very little turnover and is about 5km from St Tropez
- been going to the same place for 30years so know the area/people/costs etc
- financially it is totally doable
- already speak reasonable french
- no interest in losing value as we wouldn't be selling
- ideally I would contract in the UK in winter and live there in the summer (was a contractor last winter) however given the state of the world have gone permie for the time being. This option might be the best option in the short term but the wife wants a total break from the UK. Quite happy to look into working in France at some future point...........
Just think there is more to life than looking out of a window sitting in an office. Everytime I think of somebody young dying (say McRae/Burns as good examples) I kind of think life is a bit short..........
- we have no kids
- no point paying off a mortgage on a house worth approx £500k (we should have that done by early 40s) to then not be able to use that £500k as I don't want to leave it to anybody else!!
- we already have a static van (circa 20yrs old) however as some have said modern vans are a world apart, some even come with velux windows
- we have ours on an excellent site where there is no renting and very little turnover and is about 5km from St Tropez
- been going to the same place for 30years so know the area/people/costs etc
- financially it is totally doable
- already speak reasonable french
- no interest in losing value as we wouldn't be selling
- ideally I would contract in the UK in winter and live there in the summer (was a contractor last winter) however given the state of the world have gone permie for the time being. This option might be the best option in the short term but the wife wants a total break from the UK. Quite happy to look into working in France at some future point...........
Just think there is more to life than looking out of a window sitting in an office. Everytime I think of somebody young dying (say McRae/Burns as good examples) I kind of think life is a bit short..........
Last edited by newbakerman; 15 September 2009 at 12:30 PM.
#23
Pontificating
I was in the same job for 24 years, paid well but was doing 60+ hours a week working 2 or 3 weekend days a month, working for a financially driven co that didn't give a shit about the staff, pretty stressful at times and never shown any respect or credit. Working those hours it never left much time to enjoy ourselves, bar the holidays which admitedly were good due to the wage.
Jacked it all in for a life in Oz last October, on half the pay, doing a 40 hour week, better weather, nicer friendlier people, appreciated in my job and for the first time in nearly 2 decades I get that weekend feeling, cant explain it but it just feels like a weekend whereas in London everyday felt the same.
Some fantastic beaches, some of the best I have been to anywhere in the world and the scenary here is awesome and all on your doorstep.
I just knew it was time for a change and I didn't want my young daughter growing up in London, as much as I love London and the UK the place is in a right mess imo and it was not only time to leave the job, it was time for a complete lifestyle change.
Wasn't easy to start with and I still miss my best mates, but you make new friends and as Yoza mentioned friends and family are just a click away on Skype.
I absolutely love where I live and will probably sell my property in London early next year and for the price of my 3 bed 1930's semi I can buy a Modern 5 bed 3 lounge house with double garage and heated pool and still have some change, in an area over looking forests and valleys and i'm only 35 minutes from down town Sydney.
Do it !! you only live once and you can always go home if it doesn't work out, but dont make either decision lightly.
Jacked it all in for a life in Oz last October, on half the pay, doing a 40 hour week, better weather, nicer friendlier people, appreciated in my job and for the first time in nearly 2 decades I get that weekend feeling, cant explain it but it just feels like a weekend whereas in London everyday felt the same.
Some fantastic beaches, some of the best I have been to anywhere in the world and the scenary here is awesome and all on your doorstep.
I just knew it was time for a change and I didn't want my young daughter growing up in London, as much as I love London and the UK the place is in a right mess imo and it was not only time to leave the job, it was time for a complete lifestyle change.
Wasn't easy to start with and I still miss my best mates, but you make new friends and as Yoza mentioned friends and family are just a click away on Skype.
I absolutely love where I live and will probably sell my property in London early next year and for the price of my 3 bed 1930's semi I can buy a Modern 5 bed 3 lounge house with double garage and heated pool and still have some change, in an area over looking forests and valleys and i'm only 35 minutes from down town Sydney.
Do it !! you only live once and you can always go home if it doesn't work out, but dont make either decision lightly.
#24
As has been said before in this thread, would stopping work altogether be wise? Just as a quick example, a work mate finished his 12 years in the RAF and in the 2 years approaching his leaving point decided that engineering wasn't going to be the way forward for him. So he undertook a Chippendale furniture course which he promptly passed.
His next decision was that he didn't fancy staying in the UK and he and his wife sold their house and a flat in Birmingham, and now run:
Welcome to the hardwoodfurniture.co.uk home page
His order books are full, and he works when required, takes on enough work to live comfortably, but not so that he his busting his baws to keep up with demand, and they love their life in France.
Maybe some food for thought,
His next decision was that he didn't fancy staying in the UK and he and his wife sold their house and a flat in Birmingham, and now run:
Welcome to the hardwoodfurniture.co.uk home page
His order books are full, and he works when required, takes on enough work to live comfortably, but not so that he his busting his baws to keep up with demand, and they love their life in France.
Maybe some food for thought,
#25
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I was in the same job for 24 years, paid well but was doing 60+ hours a week working 2 or 3 weekend days a month, working for a financially driven co that didn't give a shit about the staff, pretty stressful at times and never shown any respect or credit. Working those hours it never left much time to enjoy ourselves, bar the holidays which admitedly were good due to the wage.
Jacked it all in for a life in Oz last October, on half the pay, doing a 40 hour week, better weather, nicer friendlier people, appreciated in my job and for the first time in nearly 2 decades I get that weekend feeling, cant explain it but it just feels like a weekend whereas in London everyday felt the same.
Some fantastic beaches, some of the best I have been to anywhere in the world and the scenary here is awesome and all on your doorstep.
I just knew it was time for a change and I didn't want my young daughter growing up in London, as much as I love London and the UK the place is in a right mess imo and it was not only time to leave the job, it was time for a complete lifestyle change.
Wasn't easy to start with and I still miss my best mates, but you make new friends and as Yoza mentioned friends and family are just a click away on Skype.
I absolutely love where I live and will probably sell my property in London early next year and for the price of my 3 bed 1930's semi I can buy a Modern 5 bed 3 lounge house with double garage and heated pool and still have some change, in an area over looking forests and valleys and i'm only 35 minutes from down town Sydney.
Do it !! you only live once and you can always go home if it doesn't work out, but dont make either decision lightly.
Jacked it all in for a life in Oz last October, on half the pay, doing a 40 hour week, better weather, nicer friendlier people, appreciated in my job and for the first time in nearly 2 decades I get that weekend feeling, cant explain it but it just feels like a weekend whereas in London everyday felt the same.
Some fantastic beaches, some of the best I have been to anywhere in the world and the scenary here is awesome and all on your doorstep.
I just knew it was time for a change and I didn't want my young daughter growing up in London, as much as I love London and the UK the place is in a right mess imo and it was not only time to leave the job, it was time for a complete lifestyle change.
Wasn't easy to start with and I still miss my best mates, but you make new friends and as Yoza mentioned friends and family are just a click away on Skype.
I absolutely love where I live and will probably sell my property in London early next year and for the price of my 3 bed 1930's semi I can buy a Modern 5 bed 3 lounge house with double garage and heated pool and still have some change, in an area over looking forests and valleys and i'm only 35 minutes from down town Sydney.
Do it !! you only live once and you can always go home if it doesn't work out, but dont make either decision lightly.
May I be the first to say......You ba5tard. [Best put a smiley in as Im on a written warning..]
Cheers.
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#27
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If you're thinking about moving elsewhere, I highly recommend checking out the forum here. I use their Canadian one and there is a lot of good advice, and they may come up with things you have not thought about which could sway your decision.
Our company has always had North America as one of it's largest markets, and we've had a US office for quite some time. It wasn't until around 2001 that I started flying over there for a few weeks every couple of months.
There were thoughts about relocating to the US, but US Immigration didn't really seem to like this idea, so the focus was switched to Canada and they seemed more than happy for staff to be relocated, so in April 2003 I flew out to our Toronto office and I'm still here.
I did have a safety net in that if I didn't like it here for whatever reason I could simply return home and do my job from the UK office, a few of the people who came over did exactly that.
As is obvious, I didn't go back, and I am very happy here, I'm applying for Permanent Residency (I am currently here under a temporary work permit). The weather is somewhat warmer in the summer than the UK. The winter, well, we get decent snow, and the place does not shut down either.
When it comes to cost of living, it's about the same as the UK, but property is different, you really do get a lot for your money. Quality of life is also better too. We're not toffs and rolling in cash, but we've a nice house and a 24ft sailboat, and we're rather happy.
There are things that I don't like about Canada, but then there are things I don't like about the UK either. I'd say I've integrated a fair bit into Canadian culture too, and that's a key part, integrating.
I do feel very lucky and fortunate that I've had the opportunity to come out here, and I am planning on staying, hell, I'm marrying a local this weekend so I must like it
Our company has always had North America as one of it's largest markets, and we've had a US office for quite some time. It wasn't until around 2001 that I started flying over there for a few weeks every couple of months.
There were thoughts about relocating to the US, but US Immigration didn't really seem to like this idea, so the focus was switched to Canada and they seemed more than happy for staff to be relocated, so in April 2003 I flew out to our Toronto office and I'm still here.
I did have a safety net in that if I didn't like it here for whatever reason I could simply return home and do my job from the UK office, a few of the people who came over did exactly that.
As is obvious, I didn't go back, and I am very happy here, I'm applying for Permanent Residency (I am currently here under a temporary work permit). The weather is somewhat warmer in the summer than the UK. The winter, well, we get decent snow, and the place does not shut down either.
When it comes to cost of living, it's about the same as the UK, but property is different, you really do get a lot for your money. Quality of life is also better too. We're not toffs and rolling in cash, but we've a nice house and a 24ft sailboat, and we're rather happy.
There are things that I don't like about Canada, but then there are things I don't like about the UK either. I'd say I've integrated a fair bit into Canadian culture too, and that's a key part, integrating.
I do feel very lucky and fortunate that I've had the opportunity to come out here, and I am planning on staying, hell, I'm marrying a local this weekend so I must like it
#28
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If you have done your homework, feel confident enough to make the move and have no serious ties to the UK if you do leave then do it in a heartbeat - you will not regret it.
I had the chance to move to Sydney, Australia but I missed the boat and now with 3 young kids it's going to be difficult to uproot straight away (but don't get me wrong, I am still planning on moving out of this shtty island).
I have started to lose my love for the UK and I suppose any place you grow up in you find a bit dull but lately with all the double backhanded failures and the threat of even more slavery to debt it's just not worth the effort.
Quality of life is what it's about, if you get that in the UK then great, if not then you need to look elsewhere and by the sounds of it you will have enough of a financial boost to help you take your time and think clearly for new ventures and oppertunities in your new found location.
Expats side is great and where I went to get a heads up on Dubai and Australia when I was looking to work/move out there.
Good luck
I had the chance to move to Sydney, Australia but I missed the boat and now with 3 young kids it's going to be difficult to uproot straight away (but don't get me wrong, I am still planning on moving out of this shtty island).
I have started to lose my love for the UK and I suppose any place you grow up in you find a bit dull but lately with all the double backhanded failures and the threat of even more slavery to debt it's just not worth the effort.
Quality of life is what it's about, if you get that in the UK then great, if not then you need to look elsewhere and by the sounds of it you will have enough of a financial boost to help you take your time and think clearly for new ventures and oppertunities in your new found location.
Expats side is great and where I went to get a heads up on Dubai and Australia when I was looking to work/move out there.
Good luck