Comments on: Oh man, if only I didn’t have to work

By: lauren

lauren — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:44:13 +0000

this sounds great in theory, but having done it myself, it is actually quite complicated. i recommend everyone doing it at least once in their life for the experience, but when you consider the massive upheaval of picking up and leaving, i wouldn’t want to do it more than that. you don’t realize all the minute details that are involved. you’d have to get rid of all of your belongings, find a place to store them, or take them with you. finding a new place to live, even in thailand where i was, can be expensive, especially because they know you’re a foreigner. Traveling itself is expensive because while you’re there you’re going to want to take advantage of the things to do there. then the transition back to the u.s. (or wherever “home” is) holds even more problems because you have to find a new job, new place to live, etc. etc. i don’t want to sound discouraging because i definitely think it is doable and worth the trouble! :)

By: move to portugal

move to portugal — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:40:36 +0000

Great post! This is exactly what we are working towards. Living in the sun, with minimal expenses.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:35:03 +0000

$800 a month for a mortgage? Wow if I could have that payment, and HAVE a home, I could do sooo much more than have to pay $1200 + where we are. I would be HAP HAP HAPPY to pay that amount.

By: AJC @ 7million7years

AJC @ 7million7years — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:15:00 +0000

Next month I’m meeting some buddies in SFO, then we’re all off to attend Warren Buffetts Annual General Meeting in Omaha, before jetting off to New York for a few days.

My wife’s ‘paying me back’ by flying to Europe to meet a couple of her ‘buddies’ on a two week cruise.

And, last night I booked a two week family vacation to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Scottsdale.

… now, saving might help me back-pack, but the only way we could travel the way that we intend to travel was by INCREASING INCOME and investing the proceeds in real-estate and stocks.

By: bluntmoney

bluntmoney — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:30:48 +0000

@ Debbie: Yes, you have to live somewhere. But that somewhere could be Thailand on a tiny bit of money per month. Or you could have your house paid off and pay $160 per month for taxes and insurance instead of $960 per month for the mortgage + taxes & insurance. I could do a lot with an extra $800 a month…

My point is that you don’t have to have these things, especially not cars, TVs and computers. I might want them, but if I’d rather travel, not having them makes it a lot more doable.

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:19:44 +0000

Even if you don’t have a mortgage, you still have to live somewhere–you have to pay rent or taxes + insurance + upkeep. And even if you don’t have car payments, if you want a car, you will likely have to buy a newer one sometime (unless you’re already 90 years old), so you need to be saving for that. Same with other stuff, like computers, TVs, etc., that don’t last forever.

At least I have a job with plenty of vacation, so given enough notice, I can still leave periodically. Meanwhile, I’m trying to minimize my financial commitments and maximize my savings so that the two will work together ASAP.

By: MsMiniducky

MsMiniducky — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:03:38 +0000

Oh girl, this post is exactly what I’m feeling right now. Literally, right this second I’m trying to find someplace I can just pack up and go to for the weekend …. and maybe not come back!! Ok, I have to come back, but at least for the weekend. And being that I’m not in debt and am *only* saving for several goals, it’s getting harder to talk myself out of it.