Has anyone completely changed their lifestyle?

[Tortycat]

DH was made redundant at Christmas and hasn't yet found another job. Slightly panicking and wondering what well do if he doesn't get one... after watching 'second chance summer' on tv I'm dreaming of another lifestyle, rather than just a poorer version of our current one. Has anyone cashed in their chips and gone abroad e.g. running a b&b, holiday let, own business, etc? How did it work out??

[donajimena]

Yes. Me. I set up my own business. I was made redundant and it was a case of now or never.
It hasn't been easy and there were financial consequences. But it is actually starting to work out now and my quality of life (not wealth) is much better. I don't think I would do it again without a financial cushion.

[loveka]

I am about to! Moving to Cornwall though. We are setting up a holiday let business. My partner got made redundant and has been unable to get a job. He ended up taking a minimum wage job that was just soul destroying.

It will be a total lifestyle change, and I am scared. There is no going back, and leaving the house we have lived in for 18 years feels like leaving home. We have so much equity in our house it seemed crazy to stay in the south east, sort of clinging on to our old life.

We have lived a poorer version of our old life for the last few years and I have been miserable. So this is a chance for my partner to work again, for us. I felt we were just surviving really, and that it was only going to get worse. I kind of felt my life slipping away.

In our new life we will be 5 minutes from a beach, with sea views and nearly an acre of garden. We won't have a mortgage. We won't have a huge income but I am hoping the life style will make up for it.

We very nearly did the same thing but in Greece. We thought Cornwall was more sensible, as I will still need to do a bit of work which is possible from Cornwall but not from Corfu! Also I got worried about old age and healthcare.

The new life starts in 3 weeks hopefully. We are just waiting to exchange on our house.

[Graceflorrick]

I quit my job without a new one to go to. I did locum work which improved my quality of life. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[Tortycat]

Thsnks for replies.lovka sounds a great move - good luck!

The dream is obviously easier than the reality but i would love to live somewhere sunnier and get off the hamster wheel we're on. Possible jobs in new zealand (we both loved it on holiday there) - But practicalities of elderly parents to think about which makes that tricky.

We have equity in the house but not enough to cash in our chips and stop earning. Hmmm... maybe give it a while longer but nice to know you've all given it a go...

[specialsubject]

Living in nz is rather different from holidaying! There are places in the UK which have the same feel without the major obstacles of emigrating. And yes, there are jobs?