Adult “gap year” - inspire me

[Torple]

I posted a while back because I am having a mid life crisis.
I work in education and am about to make a major career move (still in the industry but a promotion) which I am really excited about.
But my teenage dream to write and act for a living, which I had put to the back of my mind for 25 years, keeps coming back to haunt me to the extent it’s all I think about doing,
Whether it’s a sign I need to look elsewhere for work or it’s a “god you’re in your 40s, life is running out” thing, I don’t know.
When I mentioned it before, lots of people said to pursue it but I don’t see how I can, financially.

Then, today, I had an idea. And the reason for my post is to ask if others have done similar, and whether it worked out, and what you did with it.

I worked out that the new job should see me about £6-800 a month better off than I am now. I’ve been part time on just over a grand, the full time job should bring me home about £1900, possibly more as I get more experience.

In my head, I am thinking that if I can put £300, say, a month away, then I could save what I have effectively been earning now within 3/4 years and then take a year out and see where it leads, while still having the same level of financial stability as I do now.
Obviously it would be a wage cut, effectively, but it would be enough to cover my commitments and the pay off would be I would have free time to pursue my interests.

Has anyone done similar, and if so, how did it work out for you?

I love this plan op and can't wait to see any responses.

Sounds v reasonable to me!

How weird! I was thinking about starting a similar thread. I'm 40 in a couple of years and I want to start putting money away so I can take a short sabbatical, don't think it will be as long as a year sadly.
I'm thinking of 3-4 months in South East Asia or South America, but I don't want to be on the move all the time backpacker-style.
Hopefully more people will be along soon to inspire us!

I think it's a good plan. Would your employer be open to letting you take an unpaid year off but keeping your job open? I understand you may not want to ask directly at this point!

Sounds amazing, really research the saving accounts or isas you could out and save the cash in and you could get a nice little bit of interest over say 4 years.

Definitely do it!

But the plan to travel for someone else sounds amazing, has that user thought of maybe doing a workaway for a few weeks in a location and then travelling the rest? Say you had 3 months in se asia, you could always do a workaway for a month and then a couple of countries during the remainder

We did something similar pre-kids. Saved like mad for a few years then managed to get a leave of absence from work. We travelled overland from the UK to China and back. Amazing experience and really glad we did it. It completely changed our outlook on life.

Thanks guys. I actually did the whole unpaid leave thing before I had kids, I extended my summer holiday and effectively took off Term 6 and 1 (May to October) to travel a bit in Asia, that was amazing, but also 20 years ago!
I think sometimes when you have kids (mine are both still at primary school) you can’t always see a time when you won’t be doing school pickups or whatever, but I know from my nephews who are now 19 and 21 that that comes soon enough.

Not sure about unpaid leave yet buttery, might be a bit soon to ask, ha ha! But I am kind of prepared to leave if I have to and see where it all leads.

Good idea about the isa, thanks anoni.

I know someone who did this for 6 months. With kids in tow (school aged but I dont know exact ages). Took a sabbatical from work and said it was fantastic.

If you can get back into the same job then go for it.

I wish I had the nerve to do this.

DD travelled through Central Asia - Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Western China, Uzbekistan, Siberia - for 5 months (May - September). She had an amazing time and met many mid-life backpackers. I also know someone who took a one term sabbatical to travel and volunteer in Myanmar.