Like to give up the day job?

[bonniethomas06]

I'd really like to meet new friends that are doing the same thing, just so that we don't feel too isolated.

Hey Dustydave, we will have to organise a Wiltshire ishy meet up again soon if you are up for it>

[pelmetman]

I decided to semi retire when I was 45 took a year to sell up and down size the business so didn't semi retire until 46 that was in 2004...................best decision I ever made

Watching the news this morning about people working more than 9 hours a day being at greater risk of heart attacks So did a quick calculation from the start of the year there has been 13 working weeks, so Mr average doing a 34 hour week has worked 442 hours, Mr workaholic has done 585 hours and I reckon I have done nearly 200 hours.................phew....

I'm more likely to die from idleitis

The hard bit is weaning yourself off buying stuff for the sake of it.................How many people do you know who go shopping every week out of habit, and buy stuff that they never use

We have some friends who are always buying new stuff and when they chuck out the old stuff we often get it So much so that when they come to stay they say its like home from home as everything is so familiar

Mindyou I think they are starting to see the error of their ways as the freebies are starting to dry up

Dave

[dustydave]

A meet-up sounds great!

There are four of us, (wife, 2 children: 4 & 7) we live in Chippenham, but have a small holding nr Marshfield and i rent a bit of land nr Spirthill.

I totally agree about the obssesive shopping mentality - although in the last month I've bought: 10 telegraph poles, 100 scaffolding planks, 100 leylandi, 2000 roofing tiles

[wulf]

I've not given up work but I have recently dropped to a four day working week. I feel more focused at work, not least because I know I have more time to get things I want to do (or need to do) sorted in my new, extended weekend.

I'll see how I get on with that for a bit then decide what comes next. Don't forget though that being employed generates not just income for you but also taxes and national insurance contributions for the state. You might feel that a lot of the money is wasted but at least some of it goes towards caring for the more needy in society and creating the infrastructure that means that, for example, you might be able to get a hip replacement in future rather than becoming increasingly incapacitated.

Being self-sufficient sounds like a dream but no man is an island, entire of itself (thanks to John Donne for the poetry of the second part!).

Wulf

[dustydave]

Totally agree with helping towards a state that looks after people in need. But i suspect that my small contribution isn't going to make much of a dent in the 1 trillion that we owe.

[Green Aura]

I gave up working for the NHS when we moved up here and OH does a similar job, but fewer hours, working from home. I'd already put in my 30 years to qualify for full state pension and had a SERPS (although it looks like that's going, thanks to Dave and crew!).

Our income has dropped dramatically, but we're much less stressed and don't need the 10pm chocolate runs or other retail therapy to get us through the week.

I'm certain we work harder now though - not being so emotionally drained we're able to put more time and effort into the house and garden and we get a lot done during the evenings and weekends we previously spent either shopping or veging out!

I run my own (seasonal) business which is open 7 days a week during the summer, which doesn't really pay me a proper wage but has paid for some of the renovations etc. Plus the shop is attached to the house so I'm not stuck in there all day, things like washing and the odd bits of housework can be done while the shop is open. And OH and I often get together for a coffee and 5 minutes chat - which is great. Oh and I still pay NI contributions (but haven't earned enough to pay tax yet ).

We find we "need" much less, have time to do many things for ourselves that previously we would have got someone in to do and have much richer, more satisfying lives generally.

[pelmetman]

Excellent points Wulf regarding the payment of National Insurance Contributions and tax.

To be part of society as a whole it is only right and proper that we all contribute. Sometimes when we are young it can be all to easy to not think that one day we will need provision for our old age. I am so glad that I will have paid my 30 years and receive my full State Pension.

Sue

[Ben1971]

Most people are talking about doing part-time jobs. This is not being self sufficient . It's better than working full time ;). I don't see how I'd be able to give up work at the moment. I'd have to find £70 a month for Council Tax and £370 for mortgage payments each month, then theres other household bills. I guess Tom and Barbara Goode paid their mortgage off from Tom's redundancy payout???

All I can do at the moment is to change my 39 hrs a week to 30hrs, meaning only 3 days a week in work (10hr shifts) Yay!

[bonniethomas06]

A meet-up sounds great!

There are four of us, (wife, 2 children: 4 & 7) we live in Chippenham, but have a small holding nr Marshfield and i rent a bit of land nr Spirthill.

Wow small world Dustydave...we are in Kington Langley so Chippenease as well. And know Marshfield very well - there is a lovely farm there called Marshfield Organics, I go there alot.

When the weather is nicer, we will do another picnic in Lacock

[yvette]

Haven't quite 'given up the day job' but have spent the last 4-5 months living on my very small part-time income as my husband lost his job suddenly in November. It has been tough but we have managed better than I thought we would. Just two observations - firstly, a lump of money saved up before taking the plunge might just make you feel a bit more secure when things get sticky or something unexpected happens and secondly, its amazing how many little bits of extra work I've been able to pick up since I started looking for it.
There are quite a few websites about 'downsizing' too - and loads of advice here of course!
Good luck.

[baldybloke]

A meet-up sounds great!

There are four of us, (wife, 2 children: 4 & 7) we live in Chippenham, but have a small holding nr Marshfield and i rent a bit of land nr Spirthill.

Wow small world Dustydave...we are in Kington Langley so Chippenease as well. And know Marshfield very well - there is a lovely farm there called Marshfield Organics, I go there alot.

When the weather is nicer, we will do another picnic in Lacock

I always get lost trying to find Spirthill, its the back of beyond.

Count me in if you plan a meet up. I'm in Devizes by the way.

[Arbor]

Five years ago my husband and myself had a similar conversation. We decided that we were going to seriously start saving towards a nest egg to allow one of us to give up our full time jobs. Well we have scrimped and saved and have a little cushion now but are still procrastinating about what to do. The problem is that giving up a job in a recession feels like madness - what if it all goes wrong and we can't get another job?

However the decision may be made for us as my husband is under threat of redundancy and we have done the sums and could pay our bills (but no thrills) on my wage.

It is a trite phrase but We only live once.
Plan wisely but also live wisely!

[southeast-isher]

If you have some money burning a hole in your pocket you could attend this:

http://idler.co.uk/shop/index.php?route ... uct_id=121