Do you think this is practical?

Night_Sprite · August 2010

I know a married couple who plan to save as much money as possible in the next year and then sell their scooter, put their things in storage, and travel as long as they possibly can for a year. I don't know if I'm too much of a planner for this or what, but I cannot fathom how this would possibly be a good idea. Do you think that's crazy or am I just a stick in the mud?

SarahPLiz · August 2010

I think its nuts to interrupt your career like that.

AllAboutTheBenjamin · August 2010

Yeah, I'd say they're a little crazy.

kpwedkk · August 2010

Wow a year... I know we plan to take a month off, but both of us are coming back to work after that. I agree with SarahPLiz, it's hard to interrupt your job like that, and expect to come back to one...

PetraStonegirl · August 2010

I do see the appeal, but I don't find it practical. I'd rather work and save my ass off, so I could retire and travel more comfortably. That being said, I've already had my wild and crazy year. I built a yurt in the woods and lived in the wilderness for a year, when I was in my mid-twenties. So, I've had my fun. So, I'm not in a position to judge.

ETA: At the time, I was a professional ski bum, so my career was rather enhanced by the adventure.

ohwhynot · August 2010

I did exactly that for a summer, but not for a whole year. And when the summer was over, I attended grad school. So it was a little different for me, but it was incredible. All the money that would have gone to rent went instead to the trip.

I don't know, I think it would be a grand adventure. If they don't think their careers would take a hit (some careers would be enhanced by it, I suppose), then good for them.

stephl3055 · August 2010

I'm getting an anxiety attack just thinking about that. But I'm a huge planner and like to have everything worked out way in advance. I just couldn't enjoy myself doing something like that.

Night_Sprite · August 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_think-this-practical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f4b234db-dae1-4476-95af-52a873d762f1Post:7bfbbfa4-53fe-4670-99f0-91e2c6990eee">Re: Do you think this is practical?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm getting an anxiety attack just thinking about that. But I'm a huge planner and like to have everything worked out way in advance. I just couldn't enjoy myself doing something like that.
Posted by steph 13055[/QUOTE]
This is exactly how it made me feel. I'm glad I'm not insane.

P.S. They're in their late 20s and finished with all schooling.

lu27 · August 2010

I wish I had the balls to do this. Jobs will always be available... but life doesn't wait for you; it happens whether you want it to or not.

Lenore2010 · August 2010

From a common sense, practical point of view this is nut, you are very right NS. From a "grab life by the tail" on all that point of view, I kind of admire them. Would I do it? Nope. Do I wish a little I was crazy enough to? Absolutely

sarah0725 · August 2010

I think it sounds kind of awesome, but I'm at the end of a six-week trip myself, so I may be a bit travel-happy at this point. You have to do what makes you happy in life, and take experiences as they come. If these two are young and unattached to one place by kids and the like, I don't see why they shouldn't do this. I definitely want to travel as much as possible before babies appear.

Nebb · August 2010

I know quite a few people who in their very early 20's did that, some worked here and there in europe during their travels but a few didnt. Im honestly jealous because they did it at the right time before their careers were starting and they COULD take the time to do it. I feel like the older you get the less chance you have to just pick up and go. I wish I could have done it.

andyandhillary · August 2010

I think if you can handle that career-wise then more power to you!

Galaxy8227 · August 2010

I think it would be incredible--I would just never have the guts to do it

Night_Sprite · August 2010

I just don't see the point in spending money like that when it could be a house down payment or something that would give you a better life foundation.

Shaye526 · August 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_think-this-practical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f4b234db-dae1-4476-95af-52a873d762f1Post:41556bb3-bf19-4eb2-b41d-a289aa4c34f2">Re: Do you think this is practical?</a>:
[QUOTE]From a common sense, practical point of view this is nut, you are very right NS. From a "grab life by the tail" on all that point of view, I kind of admire them. Would I do it? Nope. Do I wish a little I was crazy enough to? Absolutely :)
Posted by Lenore2010[/QUOTE]

^ What she said.

sarah0725 · August 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_think-this-practical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f4b234db-dae1-4476-95af-52a873d762f1Post:389133c1-e322-4566-9e11-dafba2190e71">Re: Do you think this is practical?</a>:
[QUOTE]I just don't see the point in spending money like that when it could be a house down payment or something that would give you a better life foundation.
Posted by Night_Sprite[/QUOTE]

To play devil's advocate (in a friendly way!) I'd say that taking the trip you've always wanted to take, and giving yourself a lot of great memories and making sure you don't have regrets, is also an excellent addition to one's life foundation. If they don't have kids, and they don't have ties, then why create ties, if they're young? I'd rather travel for a year than buy a house, at this point.

Night_Sprite · August 2010

I think I'm just too much like my grandpa. He never spent money unless he had to.

KatyRoseM · August 2010

I knew a family who did this, they home schooled their 9 and 13 year old kids and went around the world on a boat. It was great. I don't think its crazy, just brave.

sarah0725 · August 2010

Sounds like you need to go on a trip yourself

Night_Sprite · August 2010

We're planning a 2 week trip to Ireland for our 5 year anniversary. That's as trip planny as I'm willing to get after just buying a car.

JennaV26 · August 2010

I consider myself a practical person in that I'd be more comfortable working really hard and only taking a little time off work to travel; however, if you wait until your comfortably retired to travel and be adventurous, you might not live long enough to do it...

andyandhillary · August 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_think-this-practical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f4b234db-dae1-4476-95af-52a873d762f1Post:389133c1-e322-4566-9e11-dafba2190e71">Re: Do you think this is practical?</a>:
[QUOTE]I just don't see the point in spending money like that when it could be a house down payment or something that would give you a better life foundation.
Posted by Night_Sprite[/QUOTE]

Not everyone wants a house, you know? You could have that argument for any kind of spending but everyone has different priorities.

mocha beans · August 2010

If I could do it, I'd do it in a heartbeat, like yesterday. But we've got a house now, and a bit of other debt, so it wouldn't be easily feasible. FI could take the hit in his career being off for a year or so, plumbers can generally just pick up where they leave off I think, it doesn't change much. I could do it because I need to go to college before getting too much further in my career, so I'd just quit work and go to college when we returned.

If the house was paid off or we had good, reliable renters to occupy it while we were gone and had no other debt, I bet we'd do it. I love the idea of having that experience to tell kids/grandkids/neighbor kids.

ros3392 · August 2010

Europeans and other parts of the world think that is perfectly normal and think us Americans are crazy for working so much!

If I could only convince my DF that this would be a good thing, we'd be backpacking all over the world for a year too!

I Want Cake · August 2010

As long as they have a job to come back to and no kids, I don't see this as impractical at all. Once you've got kids to take care of and other obligations that make it so you can't leave for long periods, you're pretty much tied down until you retire, which could be nearly 40 years. If you're going to do it, this is pretty much a perfect time. I'm a huge planner, too, but with enough money, you can always find a bed to sleep in and the necessities. If I could afford it right now, I'd do the same thing, but I fortunately work at a place (government job) where I can take a leave of absense for more than a year and know I have a job to come back to.

jasmineh7777 · August 2010

I think it sounds like an amazing adventure.

katiewhompus · August 2010

Just the thought of it is giving me a heart attack. I also can't imagine being able to save enough to pay our bills for a year without working, so there is that too. Maybe if we had the financial ability to do it it would seem a little less crazy to me.

Night_Sprite · August 2010

They aren't homeowners, but that seems like all the more reason not to be financial idiots.

rubyjem00 · August 2010

Honestly, I think it sounds amazing. I would do it in a heartbeat. At this point, the only thing holding me back from doing something like that is the fact that I have students loans. And while I don't have a problem taking off a year, I do have a problem ruining my credit score with a default on student loans.

My parents did this before I was born and they refer to their adventures all the time.

merivale87 · August 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_think-this-practical?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f4b234db-dae1-4476-95af-52a873d762f1Post:2da886e4-ad59-4b57-8701-c01ac4713415">Re: Do you think this is practical?</a>:
[QUOTE]Wow a year... I know we plan to take a month off, but both of us are coming back to work after that. I agree with SarahPLiz, it's hard to interrupt your job like that, and expect to come back to one...
Posted by kpwedkk[/QUOTE]

Wouldn't it be similar to a maternity leave? Maybe it is different in the US, but in Canada it is common to take a year off for mat leave.

Although travelling the world IS a little different...

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