How to take a Gap Year in your Thirties
- Lisa-Ann Camille
- Sep 15, 2017
- 4 min read
It's one of those days!!You come home from work high-strung and stressed-out. As you take to that bottle of Chardonnay in the fridge, you wonder two things "Why the hell do I slave for this idiot?" and "Why am I not on a beach in Jamaica right now?!?"
You can't remember the last time you had a real adventure. You start fantasizjng about that gap year you took or should have taken when you were 19 - a backpack on your back and where you would meet that group Irish fellows for drinks, your only concern.
Listen, a gap year in your thirties doesn't have to stay a fantasy.
Your gap year is possible. Even with the rent / mortgage, insurance premiums, bills and other adult responsibilities you've accumulated over the years.
With a little planning you could be on that beach in the Caribbean or at that music festival in California no time.
Your biggest concerns are probably about keeping your grown-up creature comforts. So let's look at how to take care of your job, your finances and your place while you're away.
What to do about your job. Have a good think about this one. Is your job a true reflection of your life purpose? Do you love it? Will a year away help you make up your mind? If you've been thinking about leaving your job anyways, then this a great time to do it. Don't worry, you will find another one when you get back. I've had like a million jobs - they are easy to get, trust me. If you count in the minority of people who actually like their job, there is hope for you too. Most companies of a decent size will put your job on hold and get a temp in, just so that you can get this silly travelling thing out of your system. Ask HR or your boss about unpaid leave.
What to about having money. Firstly you're going to have to save for this thing. You need to have a wad of cash on you, so that you're not calling your parents from a pay phone in Budapest asking them to bail you out three weeks in. Figure out how much money you need to live off for x period of time. Then work out what you need to do to save in order to have that stashed. The good thing is that Australia is a pretty pricey place to live in. You will find that your dollar will go far in most other places in the world. In fact, the $700 you spend per week on rent in Sydney, you could live off for a month in Thailand. If you don't manage to save heaps, then I would suggest sticking to cheap countries like those in South East Asia rather than Europe.
What to do about making money, while you travel. You don't have to have a year's worth of cash in your pocket before you take off. You could pick up a skill that could get you temp or casual work overseas. For example, last year I took a course to be a superyacht stewardess and got work in Italy and Turkey. The Superyacht route is great, because you don't need a visa to do it as you're working in international waters. But if the thought of living on a boat makes you queasy, then consider a course in teaching English as a second language. The cool thing about this is that it's actually cheaper to do the course while overseas. So it can be the start of your trip. For example, I did the CELTA course in Bangkok for 6 weeks, then looked for work in Thailand straight after. That course cost a fraction of what it would have in Australia. If all else fails, learn to bartend. That will always come in handy.
What to do about your place. You don't have to give up your cushy city apartment, simply rent it out or sublet it. There's a market for it as many people want to rent a place that's furnished. Gumtree.com is where I usually get people to sublet my place. You can also post on Facebook groups for people looking for accommodation in your area. There is also the possibility of advertising your place on Air BnB.com. The challenge is that you may get only short term bookings and you would have to use their sister company, Air Hosting, to manage people's coming and going.
What to about your car. Last year when I went overseas for 6 months I loaned my car to a girlfriend, who didn't have one. She was grateful to have wheels and I was happy to have someone preventing it from rusting up. If you lend it to a friend, have a clear written agreement with them that states what happens if is there is an accident. You can also use a service like DriveMyCar.com that lets people rent out their own cars. The good thing about that is that you might get a long term renter. The bad thing is that they might not take good care of it. I once had my car trashed by a renter and had to chase them to pay for the damage. Use with caution. Loaning to a friend is better because there is trust and accountability and you might be helping them out. It's a win-win.
What to do about your bills. Your electricity company does not care that you are taking some time off to find yourself. You will still have to pay your utility bills and insurance premiums. Set up direct debits against an account that has a healthy stash of funds. But don't set-and-forget. Check in on it online every now and then. You can still contact the company via email, if you notice something fishy.
So that should cover your basic concerns about having somewhat of a life to come back to.
Be confident that with a little foresight and planning, you can do do this. Don't let your boring adult responsibilities stop you from being a kid again. Take that gap year now before you have kids!!
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