Completely unsettled and don't know what to do

Travellerinterp

Factors are this I am young, free, single and renting at moment but in about eight months I will have a mortgage on my hands.
I’m in a job which is causing me a lot of stress, I’m good at what I do but I’m finding it hard to move on another level, and get a better job even though I’ve been working my ass off for two years.
Ideally I’d love a better paid, more fulfilling job which would leave me a lot more content.
However I’ve been waiting so long for that I’m starting to doubt myself.
Friends wise, everyone has dispersed all over the place and social life is not exactly hectic (I ain’t living in Dublin).
Here are my options

-Throw in my job and go travelling.
When, where and for how long is something I can’t answer…
-Keep the job, plod along and ready myself to pay the mortgage when it kicks in about six months time….(Yes I can here you guys yawn!)
-Throw the job in, do a masters and do some travelling between June and the Autumn. Look for a better job in a few months time.

The truth is I can’t honestly decide what I should do. I’m all over the place.

Although I’ve always want to go travelling the prospect of planning it is bloody daunting, I’ll be doing it on my own.
If I give up my job and stay in Ireland I don’t know how long it will take me to get work after my masters, and I will have a mortgage.
If I stay in my current position I’ll be a right miserable git in a little while.
I’m usually a very decisive person but I haven’t found it easy the last few months, anyone been in my shoes…what would you do?

Dudess

There has been a number of similar threads to this of late, and the advice by an overwhelming majority is always to go travelling. I think that's what you want to do - you don't even try to make option B sound attractive - but you're just looking for reassurance. I don't understand your mortgage situation. Can you put it on the long finger? I'd definitely go for the travelling/masters option myself. They are two things that you obviously want to do, and will become less and less likely as the years go by. If you've got a degree, why not top it up? And you'll regret not going travelling. So just DO THEM!!! End of. It's a no-brainer. Good luck.

susanna

I agree, you should go travelling. I was in a similar position this time last year and I packed in the job and went travelling around Australia and New Zealand. I was lucky that I had friends already in Oz but I did New Zealand on my own and had a ball. You meet so many people who are in exactly the same boat so you won't be on your own for long.

When you come home you should do the masters if you still want it, there's no point taking on a mortgage earlier than you need to and missing out on the things you wanted to do

Good luck

AnonoBoy

What's the rush with the mortgage?

Is there anything that means you *have* to have one in six months time?

That's a lot of pressure to put on yourself. Don't be conned into thinking you have to own a house young - all these ****ing mortgage and money lending ads are just there for banks to make money.

Don't tie yourself down when you're young - there's going to be years and years of working to pay off your bricks and mortar - why start when you're young and single?

Even if you don't go travelling it sounds like you need a bit of a change of pace or scene.

Black Swan

One option you perhaps have not considered is to keep your job until you find a better job? How about giving your resume/CV to an employment agency that specialises in your occupational area and let them look for you? Once you have gotten an offer for a better job, give notice and go to work for your new employer?

When considering new employers, you might also want to look into their employee benefit plans to see if they will pay for part of your masters degree? If your masters is related to your employment, some eimployers will pay for a part-time course of study.

Another alternative to dumping everything to go traveling, and placing yourself at increased financial risk, would be to seek a new job that requires travel? Know an IT professional who has a residence (and mortgage) in Dub that did this. Took a job with SAP as a software trainer, and now travels all over the EU showing clients how to use their software. Should you meet with an employment agency, this could be one of your prospective job parameters?

DublinWriter

OP - it's really hard to get somewhere without 1) a map and 2) and idea of where you want to go.

You should sit down and write out some very broad life goals for yourself.

You really only get one crack at this auld life thing. Some of the best times and closest friends I've made were when working abroad. It's very easy just to fall into a grind in this country.

loismustdie

if i were in your position i would go traveling before settling down, all my life i was 100% positive i was meant to go backpacking around the world but like you i got lazy and stayed here, then when i did start thinking bout it and saved up a few quid i found out i was pregnant and have since spent all my savings on prams, cots etc. now i have a baby an although i wouldn't change him for the galaxy, let alone the world it would not be easy to go now.

you have no ties, and as scary as it is loads of people do it, look at everyone coming to ireland alone but they make friends from here, their own country and others. you will become a much stronger person. when or if you return do youfr masters and you will have a much better social life due to your new life and social life abroad. mortgage should definitely be the end of your to do list

andy1249

Travel , its hard to describe how much this will change you for the better but just do it , your whole outlook on life will change , it something that should be made compulsory for young people in my opinion , just book the tickets and go , time enough for a mortgage etc. when you want to settle down and start a family , now , just go !!

Cianos

Travel

Zambia

I thought about this only this morning.

What you failed to mention is how young you are...

You have to decide where you want to be in x years time. Do you enjoy your job is that line of work for you for a very long time. Can you do your job in other countries ? Do you want to stay in Ireland. Is money from what you do crucial would you prefer less money and more work enjoyment. would less money ruin other goals.

The worst thing you can do is fail to really go for something and think back and say " I should have tried that" I have never regreted anything I have tried , I have regreted anything I hadnt. Write down just a few things you want out of your life and see are you currently going to achieve them.

Traveling is great but at the end of the day its just a long holiday...Best of luck

scojones

I'm in a similar situation to yourself OP, well everything bar the mortgage. I have itchy feet and I'm in a good job now that pays well. Part of me wants to stay here and progress, part of me wants to travel and pursue my over all goal to be lecturer. I've decided to travel at the end of this year for several months, and then come back and do my research masters which also includes lecturing while I'm doing this.

Best of luck whatever you decide to do, but think about it. Life is too short to be in a job you are not too happy with. See a bit of world and you will find what you want from life. If you can afford it, see the world and do your masters.

Travellerinterp

Travelling/Masters is probably my favourite option but at the same time I worked my ass off to get a job that pays reasonably well and also to get a mortgage.It seems like a step back, ie I was a broke student in the past (and I loved it:D )
Twelve months ago getting a mortgage was all I wanted.
Mortgage situation is I've signed the contract for a place which will be finished late this year.
If I don't go through with mortgage, I might come home in a year and find that the cost of my apartment or something similar has gone up by 50 or 60 k.
Annoboy - nothing means I have to have a mortgage, apart from fact im an independent kind of guy, and it is an ambition of mine.
Blue Lagoon - Afraid I dont work in IT field. I work in a highly specific area, and there are few well paid openings in the industry, but even so I've managed to get a decent job.

When you go travelling, which I probably will, which is better working along the way or travelling the whole way? (and obviously seeing more places thanks to savings)?

I'm 24 BTW

Thanks for the advise