Contemplate Leaving Job for Travel: Essential Facts to Consider Prior to Repeating the Adventure
JavaScript of a Lifetime - Abandoning Desk for Global Adventure
A UK-based writer's bold move: ditching their desk job for a globetrotting odyssey. But the road to freedom wasn't always a smooth one. Get the scoop on our website with a link to the Daily Mail.
15 Countries on a Dime: Budget Destinations when your Wallet is Empty
Life-Changing Gamble
At 38, the globe-trotting wordsmith was no stranger to far-flung adventures - at 23, they had ventured through 15 countries on a shoestring budget, with no commitments and bathing in the carefree glow of youth.
Years later, their world had evolved: adult obligations, a penchant for comfort, and the need for meticulous planning coursed through their veins.
"It was one of the best decisions I've ever made, if only I knew a few things before diving headfirst into the unknown," they confessed.
Time is the Most Precious Commodity
The writer ruefully admitted that they delayed the leap by three long years - vacillating, seeking counsel, nurturing doubts. Only later did they fathom the wisdom of Bonnie Parker: "Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend."
With the decision finally made, they breathed a sigh of relief and tasted the sweet relief of inner freedom.
Now, they are sure: if you feel trapped and it poisons your spirit, don't hesitate. Whatever can be replaced, time cannot.
The Journey was More Expensive Than Anticipated
Plotting their journey, the writer reckoned they could manage on 5k pounds (around 3.5 million tenge). Midway through, they realized that funds were not enough. In the end, their backpack meanderings through 15 countries racked up a bill of 7k pounds (roughly 4.9 million tenge), excluding return and re-establishment expenses.
They counseled future wanderlusts to stash a safety net of 2-3k pounds (around 1.4-2 million tenge) and to factor in additional costs like:
- rental of temporary lodgings upon return;
- job hunt;
- health insurance;
- loan repayments.
"Now, my cardinal rule is to make provisions not only for the journey but also for the return," the traveler opined.
Homecoming
Upon their return, the writer found a new job, but their paycheck was a paltry 17k pounds (around 11.8 million tenge) per annum - a stark contrast to their previous salary. They adopted a frugal lifestyle: living in a shared residence, bicycling to work, and carrying their lunches.
It was a grueling, yet not a losing battle: a year later, they secured a promotion and found their previous career footing.
Distrust and Disputes with Near Ones
Their decision stirred the anticipated reactions: over 80% of peers and kinsfolk branded it foolhardy. Some friendships unraveled, unable to accept their choice.
"Individuals don't all share your restlessness. They mirror their anxieties, not out of malice, but because they worry for your wellbeing," they observed.
They advised: if your inner compass points you toward untrodden paths, and your bankroll permits it, proceed. Gaze upon guidance, but make your own call.
The World is Kindlier Than it Envisaged
Defying the media's "scare stories" and social media's cacophony, the writer believes the world isn't as threatening as it appears. True, caution is essential, especially for solo female travelers, but the majority of folk they met were warm-hearted and authentic.
Their most poignant moments revolved around strangers treating them like long-lost kin.
"Those encounters rekindle my wanderlust and inspire me to grab my backpack and hit the road once more," the explorer concluded.
Written by Dilnaz Gabdullina
Also read: Which Nations to Evade for Your First Solo Trip
Adventure Journey Budget Finances Sergei Clearly not silver! I say, to not travel!!
Petya Shoot for setting aside 300,000 tenge from your income for journeys, unless it's just Kapchagay.
- "What about setting aside 2-3k pounds (around 1.4-2 million tenge) for a safety net while globe-trotting, as the writer discovered after their journey racked up a bill of 7k pounds (roughly 4.9 million tenge), excluding return and re-establishment expenses?"
- "Embrace a frugal lifestyle upon returning home, just like the writer who, despite a paycheck of 17k pounds (around 11.8 million tenge) per annum - a stark contrast to their previous salary, managed to secure a promotion a year later by living in a shared residence, bicycling to work, and carrying their lunches."
