To go, or not to go?

LegacyUser

Hi all,

I'm hoping that I have posted this in the correct forum, but i'm looking for advice.
Myself and my girlfriend have always had huge ambitions to go traveling Asia for 6 months. It is something we have discussed in quite some detail and we have planned to go in June of this year. Both of us are currently saving to finance the trip, which is coming along nicely.
However, after an indepth discussion we have realised that we both have had the blinkers on so to speak and not taken reality on board.

Our situation away from our plans is; both of us are working in permanent jobs, both of us have been recently promoted, we're both turning the latter side of 25 this year and we both live at home.

My question is, are we taking too big of a risk giving up good jobs and seeing a bit of the world? (Note: we have both enquired RE time off to travel and keep our positions but unfortunately that idea was shot down).
We both work in competitive industries, where jobs aren't easy to come by and judging by our ages we don't have a huge amount of work experience. We have listened and taken advice from our families, but they have shot the idea down saying we would be daft to throw away our careers for a holiday. Now, no disrespect to anyone who's 50+ reading this, but my parents have never travelled, lived life by the book, married, house, kids and expect me to do the same. I can see their point of view, I probably should be saving to purchase property in my 30's but half of me thinks thats not living life to the full.
I have also taken advice from people who have travelled, they’re opinion is to go for it, best thing they ever did. These people are now in their mid thirties however, have no savings and are paying huge rents in Dublin city. They returned and found work in Dublin, but went to the bottom of the ladder, something that doesn’t really sound too appealing. 
You can probably tell I want the best of both worlds, therefore my head is muddled with the issue at the moment.

It would be great to get someone elses opinion on this, be great to hear from someone who has been in our situation and has taken the leap. Thanks.

CaraMay

I think you would be crazy. I did it and came back to a lower paid job and my sajary never really recovered.

I would continue with life here and do 3/4 week long trips to Asia with your annual leave. No point giving up everything for an extended holiday when you can have both.

LegacyUser

To be honest...life is about compromises, you really can't have it all.If you travel, then yes you are likely to find it harder when you get back.If you stay, maybe you'll always want to travel.Really it's about what you and your girlfriend's priorities are for the medium and longer term future.Don't mind your parents, in that they came from a different time.We (me and the OH, at 33 now) haven't travelled long term, but equally, the recession put paid to our careers and we have had to start over.On the other hand, we bought a house on a tracker mortgage, with jobs that we would never get a mortgage with now....and friends of ours have only just started to buy houses and are struggling due to banks, availability etc.(important to most of us because we all have kids now!!!).
It's just there are no right answers.If you think marriage, kids, house (not necessarily in that order) are going to be your more immediate future...then you're probably right, long term travelling isn't great.On the other hand we've had a lot of great holidays around the world, and enjoyed ourselves.
Sorry this is a bit muddled but what I'm trying to say is that you should think about what you want out of the next five to ten years.I din't necessarily think a career is the be all and end all but I do think your priorities in life are something that you need to establish and put a bit of thought into how you're going to get them.

strandroad

Well what is the real motivation for you both?

If it's "we want to experience Asia", then if you are career-minded it's better to do as recommended above - one trip a year. You will see Asia and will be able to travel comfortably without losing your career progress. Another advantage is that you will learn to maximise your earnings, save and then invest in experiences regularly, a great set of habits to have.

If your real motivation is "we want to experience travelling", where you switch to a totally different pace of life and different priorities for a prolonged period of time, then your careers, mortgage etc will have to wait a little. You're not going to ruin them with a 6 month absence, but you may halt the progress for a year or two. You will still be getting an important life experience out of it, and your career is not just jobs, but also the ability to make good choices and to see things in perspective, something that travelling is very helpful with.

Which one it is then?

LegacyUser

I did it, but I was 20 and was back home and working my way up the career ladder from 22.

I understand exactly what you're saying about those in their mid 30s saying to go for it but not really being much of an advertisement for it.
I have colleagues and friends 35+ with that attitude and they're in the same position - forking out double what my mortgage on a four bed house is to rent a shoebox apartment with no security.
Biggest issue is that most of them have kids now too and are skint, shoehorned into expensive, unsuitable accommodation, with no decent schools nearby and no pension.
That sounds so boring but how exactly are they going to pay €1k plus a month rent on a state pension alone down the line?

Lots of people have managed to take a year out in late twenties and still get a decent job on their return. It's not impossible and it's not a foolish thing to do but only if you have thought ahead and planned for what you'll do on your return. Are you prepared to live at home for a few years on your return?

I'm a big advocate of travelling and experiencing the world but only if you've really planned for your return.

Life is short, but that works two ways - it's short so travel and see the world but it's short so don't limit yourself to a financial struggle in your 30s and 40s for one year of fun travelling.

You can see and experience a lot on 3-4 week holidays too, I've been doing that for 15 years!

R.D. aka MR.D

Well, I'm about to be one of those people who return to big rents and lowest rung on the ladder.

It's all about what you want in the future. I know that I'll not be lying on my death bed saying 'I wish I'd been paying a mortgage from my early 20s (like my brother) or I wish I'd been further on in my career, spent more time at the office.' However, that's me. That's my personality. It's more important to have life experiences than material things, in my opinion.

And to be perfectly honest, we're tired of travelling/living abroad and plan to travel in short bursts like other people are suggesting so if you are the more secure type who values your work and material assets more than travel then the short bursts are better for you. As another poster pointed out, if you're planning kids in the future then that is definitely a consideration. My husband and I don't have kids and never will so being almost 30 and starting at the bottom isn't a big deal to us because it's just the two of us. We won't be in the same financial position as some of our peers at 45 but we'll still be debt free and comfortable. So again, personal choice/situation!

Nobody is right or wrong. For example my brother and I are the polar opposite of each other, my lifestyle sounds like hell to him and his kids, mortgage and living 5 mins from the home house sound like hell to me! Everyone is different and no body can tell you what is right for you. You'll get the steady types on here saying; don't do it and the more adventuresome types saying; do it.

You have to make the decision for you. What do you want to be looking back on in 40 odd years time?

And heres a bit of adventuresome biased advice: It's better to regret the things you have done than the things you haven't.

Wompa1

6 months isn't very long. I wouldn't quit a job I enjoy for 6 months. I agree with the first reply. Take a few long trips. I assume you guys get about 20 days a year. Take a few 2 week or 3 week trips over the next few years. Or even ask about getting some unpaid time off to extend it.

Rubberchikken

you'll need to weigh up the pros and cons very carefully.
your families have a point. it's a lot to give up for 6 months abroad. on the other hand, if you're both willing to give up everything and go to asia for 6 months and return to start over again, convinced that the 6 months was worth it, then go ahead.

end of the day only you two can make the decision.
either way, best of luck

intheclouds

Wompa1 wrote: »

6Or even ask about getting some unpaid time off to extend it.

This, establish your careers for a few more years then take a 6 month sabbatical and travel.

I wouldnt give up a job for a 6 month holiday though.

Or, go for 2-3 years and get proper work in your career area and come back with experience.

LegacyUser

I went in my early 30's - spent a year traveling and yes I came back with little money and no job and freaked out a little but after a month I found myself in a better job then I would have had before going and I honestly have never regretted going.

Thing is I went by myself which did make a difference, I'd no choice but to talk to people and become more out going which I wasn't before and this has impacted for positively on my career. I did meet several couples traveling together who made little effort to interact with anyone and pretty much kept to themselves. Like others have said make a list of pros and cons and really think what your going for. I never think travel is a waste of time but you can do quite a lot in a month in south east asia so consider why exactly you want to go for 6 months.

HelgaWard

Why limit your trip to 6 months? You could go for longer, travel in Asia for your six months and then maybe 6 months or longer in another country (maybe OZ/NZ/Canada even London) it could actually be beneficial for your career if you could get 'international' experience in another country?

You would be insane to give up permanent jobs and blow a load of savings on a trip imo. Keep working and saving towards a house when you are relaxing in your own house in a good job you will be much happier than living in a hostel somewhere for 6 months and coming back to nothing. Now I wouldn't be one with any interest in travelling regardless but even if I was I think compromising career is a terrible idea.

Wompa1

Kameron Lazy Skyscraper wrote: »

You would be insane to give up permanent jobs and blow a load of savings on a trip imo. Keep working and saving towards a house when you are relaxing in your own house in a good job you will be much happier than living in a hostel somewhere for 6 months and coming back to nothing. Now I wouldn't be one with any interest in travelling regardless but even if I was I think compromising career is a terrible idea.

If the priority for somebody is to save up for a house. You could make the argument that moving abroad for a few years to somewhere with higher pay e.g. Australia, UK, America, UAE would be a better option. Travel and live somewhere new and get that house in Ireland a lot quicker.

Wompa1

Wompa1 wrote: »

If the priority for somebody is to save up for a house. You could make the argument that moving abroad for a few years to somewhere with higher pay e.g. Australia, UK, America, UAE would be a better option. Travel and live somewhere new and get that house in Ireland a lot quicker.

You are risking not getting the job you want or more importantly where you want it though on your return. Also living abroad for any reason is not something which interests everyone.

magneticimpulse

You only live once and you will be working for plenty of years. If it is something you want to do, why not? Do you really want to settle down at 25 with a house, bills and kids?

Why not move away for a few years? I have family in Asia that are getting 4 times their salary there compared to Ireland as the taxes are so low. You could actually come out better off. It would make a great base to visit other Asian countries.

beks101

Why don't you write up a list with the pros and cons of doing each and go from there.

There's a strong argument on either side.

From my not-so-conservative point of view, you'll never regret travel and the ability to have a career and save isn't going to suddenly disappear into thin air just because you take time out to see the world. Those memories will stand out more than the decade you spend living at home with your 9-5 slaving away for your deposit.

You might find travel will give you a fresh perspective on life, you might decide you want to live and work abroad for a few years. As another poster mentioned, your earning power and ability to save might be greater overseas anyway.

Do you want to be married, mortgaged and babied by 30? Or could you push it back a few years to buy some time to do the things that you know you'll probably always want to do?

Wompa1

Kameron Lazy Skyscraper wrote: »

You are risking not getting the job you want or more importantly where you want it though on your return. Also living abroad for any reason is not something which interests everyone.

Considering this post is from an OP that has stated their desire to travel. I think it's safe to say it could interest them. But the point stands, you'd save more working somewhere else. Also, in terms of having a good job back home. Pat McDonagh, for example said he seeks to hire people for his HQ who got work experience in other markets. It helps everybody to get an insight from other backgrounds.

When I go back to Ireland, I'll be able to apply for executive level positions. I'd never have made it to that level by staying in Ireland.

Moving abroad can be an opportunity to build a better life for yourself in Ireland in the long term. OP, if you guys wanted to go for longer and can sort out jobs in your field. That might be worth it.

gothic_doll

I feel like when you say 6 months, that's just the story and you plan on making it longer, if you do indeed go. Am I right?

I agree with all the posters who said it's a lot to give up for a 6 month holiday. If you plan on travelling for a year or longer - you will really learn something, change your approaches to life, and it will be worth it. 6 months isn't long enough to learn anything, or to make that sacrifice (of losing your positions) worth it.

listermint

I'm probably terrible to talk to on this (see my sig)

But I did this around the age of 24. Was at a very well paying job top of the pile in that department.

Went off because basically I wanted to.


Came back and got a better paying job in another completely different industry actually of offered 2 jobs on the same day after 2 interviews previous week.

And this was in late 2008 "the bad times"


Never looked back.


Good luck with your decision op.

Ursus Horribilis

How about working for now and build up your careers. Take 3-4 week holidays to Asia in the short term. Then in a couple of years time review the situation and see how the land lies then. You don't know how your lives/careers will have changed in the meantime. You might find yourselves in different jobs where it is possible to take the time off to do that travelling. You're still young and life's not going to end if you don't get to travel before you're 30.

LeeLooLee

I wouldn't do it, and this is coming from someone who loves to travel. I'm 30 and travelled quite a lot in my twenties, but then I never had a good job in the first place. I graduated right into the recession and was just doing temp work in Dublin until even that dried up. I went abroad to teach for a bit as there weren't really many other options for me, so it was more of a 'might as well' type of thing. I was out in Japan teaching rather than sitting on the dole at home. You're in a very different situation though. I would stick with the job and take long holidays with my annual leave and that way you're getting the best of both worlds.

magneticimpulse

I came back to ireland after living abroad and the unemployment rate was 15.2% and got a job in 3 months. Today I saw on the news unemployment is 8.8% in Ireland. I do not think you should have a problem finding a job coming back.

It is possible to travel on 3 week holidays (I do it every year) however is can be very costly way to travel. It can be around €7000 to €10,000 for a 3 week holiday in Asia each year you go. Also expect a lot of 4am starts to see sunrise over places and catching early morning flights.

Although I envy my friends who lived in Asia for 2 years and got to see all of Asia and Oz /New Zealand in that time and would have paid a fraction. Or people who would have traveled for 6 months for €15000 and seen the same things I saw in 18 weeks (3 weeks x 6 trips over 6 years) but I easily spent €50000 or more visiting the Same places.

LegacyUser

magneticimpulse wrote: »

It is possible to travel on 3 week holidays (I do it every year) however is can be very costly way to travel. It can be around €7000 to €10,000 for a 3 week holiday in Asia each year you go. Also expect a lot of 4am starts to see sunrise over places and catching early morning flights.

I travel several times a year including a few weeks in Asia and it doesn't cost me anything near 10,000 or 7,000 and I didn't do any of the sunrise stuff - total tourist trap stuff. Flights once in Asia are super cheap but if you want to see the country/countries train and bus are even cheaper, clean, safe and a great way to interact with people. There are lots of cheap and free things to do and many organisations that offer free tours by students learning English. I had a great one on one tour round Hanoi with a student and the only requirement was I pay for our meal. I spent 10,000 traveling for a year around the world (Asia/Africa/Americas/Europe) but that included going to places like Australia, Japan and Western Europe which are super expensive compared to the rest.

Regarding the OP's issue a lot of people are saying holiday and there is a difference between going on holiday and traveling so the OP needs to think about why they want to go - if it's just a holiday with their OH then no I wouldn't be going for 6 months but if they want to travel to really imurse themsevles then they should be thinking longer then 6 months.

LeeLooLee

can't log in wrote: »

I travel several times a year including a few weeks in Asia and it doesn't cost me anything near 10,000 or 7,000 and I didn't do any of the sunrise stuff - total tourist trap stuff. Flights once in Asia are super cheap but if you want to see the country/countries train and bus are even cheaper, clean, safe and a great way to interact with people. There are lots of cheap and free things to do and many organisations that offer free tours by students learning English. I had a great one on one tour round Hanoi with a student and the only requirement was I pay for our meal. I spent 10,000 traveling for a year around the world (Asia/Africa/Americas/Europe) but that included going to places like Australia, Japan and Western Europe which are super expensive compared to the rest.

I agree with this. I spent about £1500 on my trip to Japan and Japan is much more expensive than most of the other Asian countries. I have no idea how you'd be spending 10 grand on a 3-week holiday. Maybe if you flew in business class or stayed in 5-star hotels the whole time. If you went somewhere like Vietnam or Thailand, it would be a fairly cheap holiday. The airfare is the main issue and even that has come down enormously in the last decade.

HenryChinaski

I packed it in to go do the Asia thing about 7 years ago. Like yourself, I'd always dreamt of doing it and when I eventually did, it was genuinely fantastic. It changed my life forever.

The problem is, I was gone away for long enough that I found it really hard to find a way back home. Since the initial trip, I've made a couple of trips back but already being drained financially from the travel expense, I never had enough to keep me afloat long enough to be able to get back on my feet at home.

As a result, 7 years later, I'm still in Asia and am starting to feel a little bit consigned to a future abroad. Now it's worked out well for me and I'm pretty happy, but sometimes I'd love nothing more than to just have that normal settled life in Ireland. Honestly, if I could go back to square one with the knowledge I have now, I really don't know if I'd have left for so long without a proper reentry strategy.

I know the economy is a bit better now, but like other people here, I'd strongly advise you to consider the long-term repercussions of quitting good jobs for six months of freedom. There's nothing that says you can't do multiple shorter trips to Asia and still get the most out of the experience. In fact, I'd argue that you could get more out of it as you know you're coming home to a job. Traveling on a budget stops being fun when the bank account starts running low and you don't know where your next paycheck is coming from.

magneticimpulse

LeeLooLee wrote: »

I agree with this. I spent about £1500 on my trip to Japan and Japan is much more expensive than most of the other Asian countries. I have no idea how you'd be spending 10 grand on a 3-week holiday. Maybe if you flew in business class or stayed in 5-star hotels the whole time. If you went somewhere like Vietnam or Thailand, it would be a fairly cheap holiday. The airfare is the main issue and even that has come down enormously in the last decade.

It obviously varies country to country how much it costs and yes where you stay and how you travel.

Overall my point was that the around the world l or completing trips in one go work out cheaper than multiple holidays and you have more time to see much more.

Many suggested just go on a holiday but my point was more of the downsides to taking several years to complete trips you could do in 6 months and it would work out cheaper. In my case i started out as a backpacker in beach huts but getting older yes i do stay in 3 to 5 star hotels - whereas if you these trips young the backpacking thing is fun.

Of course i visited Thailand and sure only spent about €1500 including flights. Ive also traveled with organised tours like contiki or g adventures and thats what puts the cost up to €5000 for the tour and €2000 for economy flights! The likes of China are huge to see and if you want to see multiple countries in a short time like 3 weeks well thats why you might go on such a tour - everything is organised and you get from A to B really quickly. Also the likes of China are not really set up for tourists and hence the differences in how much a holiday costs compared to places like vietnam or thailand.

Someone mentioned sunrises are a tourist trap but it was the thing to do in angkor wat, uluru, machu picchu etc. Again my point is there is alot to pack into a 3 week holiday that its go go go. As oppose to taking your time of 6 months or so in one go.


I think settling down for the rest of OPs life is not a reason not to go. You only live once and it should be enjoyed

LegacyUser

magneticimpulse wrote: »

Someone mentioned sunrises are a tourist trap but it was the thing to do in angkor wat, uluru, machu picchu etc. Again my point is there is alot to pack into a 3 week holiday that its go go go. As oppose to taking your time of 6 months or so in one go.

It's the thing to do cus people are told that when they arrive but not worth it. I went to angkor wat, uluru and machu pucchu to draw...can't draw in the dark. Most of the folks I talked to at the likes of angkor wat had been there for the sunrise, looked wrecked and said it wasn't worth it.

Again it's the difference between going on "holiday" and traveling. I meet local people who share a hobby with me and hang out with them, stay in non-tourist places that work out cheaper - its a case of going and expirencing that real country or going and doing what all the other western tourist are doing. The OP needs to think about why they want to go, I always push for travel as I think it builds character but as mentioned earlier on the thread I'm weary when I meet couples traveling as a lot of time it's more about them being a couple then the traveling. Ask yourself OP are you and your OH on the same page about going traveling and then do as others have said and make a pro and con list. I wouldn't listen to mammy and daddy etc as it's a different world now to what many older groups had and the idea of travel to them isn't the same.

Sleepy

How far into your respective careers are ye OP?

Jacking everything in to go travelling when you've 2/3 years of experience is a far worse idea than doing it with 5/7 years of experience.

Aye Bosun

I did it at 25, left a great permanent job with a lovely package and headed off traveling for 2 years. At the end of it I found my dream job which I went on to work in for the next 8ish years and at 35 I move back to Ireland and brought my own house with a pretty hefty deposit in 2011 when everyone else was wondering where all the money had gone!
No-one here can tell you if you it's a good or bad idea to head off as no-one has a crystal ball. What I can tell you is traveling was the best thing I could have done for myself, it gave me direction, motivation and was certainly character building.
Good luck with your decision and remember you're only 25 years old, there is plenty of time to get your sh*t together!

LeeLooLee

magneticimpulse wrote: »

It obviously varies country to country how much it costs and yes where you stay and how you travel.

Overall my point was that the around the world l or completing trips in one go work out cheaper than multiple holidays and you have more time to see much more.

Many suggested just go on a holiday but my point was more of the downsides to taking several years to complete trips you could do in 6 months and it would work out cheaper. In my case i started out as a backpacker in beach huts but getting older yes i do stay in 3 to 5 star hotels - whereas if you these trips young the backpacking thing is fun.

Of course i visited Thailand and sure only spent about €1500 including flights. Ive also traveled with organised tours like contiki or g adventures and thats what puts the cost up to €5000 for the tour and €2000 for economy flights! The likes of China are huge to see and if you want to see multiple countries in a short time like 3 weeks well thats why you might go on such a tour - everything is organised and you get from A to B really quickly. Also the likes of China are not really set up for tourists and hence the differences in how much a holiday costs compared to places like vietnam or thailand.

Someone mentioned sunrises are a tourist trap but it was the thing to do in angkor wat, uluru, machu picchu etc. Again my point is there is alot to pack into a 3 week holiday that its go go go. As oppose to taking your time of 6 months or so in one go.


I think settling down for the rest of OPs life is not a reason not to go. You only live once and it should be enjoyed

I'd hate Contiki or anything like that. There's really no need to spend that kind of money. I've only taken shortish trips to some countries, but have arranged everything myself and stayed in hostels or with frends/acquaintances from that country. I felt like I got a real taste of the place staying with local families for a few weeks. Obviously not as much as if I had stayed longer, but ditching everything and going abroad has risks.

I'm absolutely not the 'mortgage and 2.4 kids' type, but you do need to think about your future. I'm not in a good financial place at 30 because I was zipping around the world doing this and that (always working, never just travelling). I never got a chance to build up any savings or buy a car or anything that would make my life more comfortable now. I didn't really have that much choice, but if I'd walked away from a good job/salary, I imagine I might regret it. Of course I'm working on improving things now, building up my own business and upskilling, but it's a hard slog at a time when things should really be coming together. Most of my friends are quite comfortable now, having bought houses or amassed lots of savings, and I still have to budget carefully for the odd Starbucks or a new top and stay up to all hours trying to get the business of the ground while working enough to pay my rent. I definitely feel 'behind' and it can get me down sometimes.

magneticimpulse

LeeLooLee wrote: »

I'd hate Contiki or anything like that. There's really no need to spend that kind of money. I've only taken shortish trips to some countries, but have arranged everything myself and stayed in hostels or with frends/acquaintances from that country. I felt like I got a real taste of the place staying with local families for a few weeks. Obviously not as much as if I had stayed longer, but ditching everything and going abroad has risks.

I'm absolutely not the 'mortgage and 2.4 kids' type, but you do need to think about your future. I'm not in a good financial place at 30 because I was zipping around the world doing this and that (always working, never just travelling). I never got a chance to build up any savings or buy a car or anything that would make my life more comfortable now. I didn't really have that much choice, but if I'd walked away from a good job/salary, I imagine I might regret it. Of course I'm working on improving things now, building up my own business and upskilling, but it's a hard slog at a time when things should really be coming together. Most of my friends are quite comfortable now, having bought houses or amassed lots of savings, and I still have to budget carefully for the odd Starbucks or a new top and stay up to all hours trying to get the business of the ground while working enough to pay my rent. I definitely feel 'behind' and it can get me down sometimes.

It was my choice to travel alone and to travel on tours. Both are options for the OP.

I did take a 5 year career break and in 2 years have saved 50% of the cost of a house.

It is possible to travel and come back and get a job and save for a house. If there is a will there is a way. The only thing you have to fear is regret of not living life and the regret of not seeing the world.

silverbolt

OP in 2016 people in thier 60s go travelling and backpacking around the world.

There is no timeframe that you have to do it in. So put it on hold for now if its easier and something to look forward to