i'm quitting everything... what would you do?

[Coffeecuppony]

I can't believe i'm saying this. I'm so scared and excited

I'm in my late 20s, live in a large UK city, have run a small business that has afforded me to live but not thrive. I have had the same panics and stresses day in day out for the last few years and something has to change.

My friends make four times my salary in their corporate jobs and dislike their jobs. i just know that life isn't for me. I just need new experiences so I can figure out what excites me.

I am going to quit everything, sell all my stuff, move country, and start a whole new life, and try and become a writer.

I have enough savings budgeted to last two months so wherever I go I will need to find work - preferably doing something fun and different e.g. tourist guide. Hopefully one day I can be a full time writer.

I would love to write business books and also comedy but have a lot to figure out yet.

I need somewhere inexpensive, warm climate, exciting new experience and safe for a lone women.

I currently own and live in a small derelict flat which I need to renovate before I move so I can rent it out and have a little income but at least cover my mortgage. I will spend most of my savings on these renovations.

I have given myself until June next year to move which feels very close but is enough time to plan.

I don't yet have kids but would like to in the future which is a lot easier for moving. I just have no idea how to go about moving and getting work in another country.

I just know I can't live my current life anymore.

What would you do ? Where would you go? Do you know of any opportunities? How do I not become broke? How do I become a writer?

I admire your spirit but honestly think you need a bit more of a plan!

I think you need to get a set up where you can live without the writing, and then if that works out it’s a bonus.

Do you have the right to work in the EU? If so I’d suggest Lisbon - it’s very cheap and a nice climate. If you can’t work in the EU you might struggle a bit more. How about teaching English as a foreign language?

also, what’s a business book?

Jolly good

Remember you will still have to pay your taxes and abide by national and local laws of wherever you end up.

Agree with above - do you have a European passport or the right to work elsewhere?

@Mushroo I am giving myself 9 months to form a proper plan. My plan is to try and get a touristy job somewhere first. I was hoping there may be a travelling opportunity with a company.

I have a UK passport but we have left the EU now so I think it may be challenging for me to work in the EU. Lisbon is a great suggestion if I can work there.

A business book is a non fiction book on entrepreneurship

Hot country or are you not bothered about the weather?

Do you want to be able/need to be able to fly home quickly?

Have you the right to work/stay in any other country?

Do you speak another language? Do you think you will be able to learn another language?

With the answers above we will be able to start narrowing this down with you.

I really wouldn't bank on being a full-time writer without another job to pay the bills. Very few writers get to write full-time without a partner to help fund them. Certainly go and live and work overseas for a time - the experience will give you ideas for writing if nothing else.

It all sounds like a nice fantasy but if you're actually living in a derelict flat, I can't see it being ready to rent to tenants by June.

Also, you can write business books anywhere so why not start writing them now and see what happens?

That way you might be a bit more realistic before you go off on your big adventure.

How are you going to gain the right to work elsewhere if you just have a uk passport?!

You could do vso but I think they make you pay to do that these days…

Whilst I admire your guts to give this a go I fear it may be more difficult than you think....you have 2 months savings but are planning on spending most of this renovating your flat....so you have no right to live or work in another country and you have no savings to support yourself..... I forsee a problem right there OP .

What languages do you speak? You will need to be fluent if you are going to be a tour guide.

PS from your update - if you are planning on a non-fiction book you could pitch the idea to a publisher via an agent, who may then contract you prior to your actually writing it. You can do a search online as to what different agents require in the pitch or check out Writers & Artists Year Book - the 2023 version is just published and gives lots of helpful advice as well as listing agents and publishers.

@MarneyM

Hot country or are you not bothered about the weather? - Hot is preferable just warmer than the uk

Do you want to be able/need to be able to fly home quickly? - not really

Have you the right to work/stay in any other country? - I have no idea I have a UK passport

Do you speak another language? Do you think you will be able to learn another language? no - I really struggle with languages

With the answers above we will be able to start narrowing this down with you. - thank you

I have also heard visa deals have been name with New Zealand etc for people to work there so there must be other similar opportunities

You could potentially apply to be a rep or work in a chalet…..but those are quite short term too (just ‘the season’)..

You need more money. Have at least 6 mths without needing income

Also going to another country. It's not easy now post brexit so you need to find the countries residency requirements

However totally after with quitting everything. Do it. Enjoy the adventure (I did something similar )

There’s not much demand for people who are new to an area to work as tour guides.

There's not much demand for business books from people who haven’t been massively and sustainably successful in business.

What are your other options?

I have two months of savings after the renovations so I will need a job somewhere before I go or have two months to find one (£4k)

New Zealand is an expensive place to live according to my NZ expat friend who earns good money here but can't afford to go back to live there.

Why don’t you start writing a blog or something? See if you even like writing? You can get £ from Google ads on your page. you mentioned you wanted to write about business - why don’t you start a business news website or something? Then you once it’s established and earning a revenue you will be able to travel as a tourist wherever in the world you want.

In Europe I think we can only do 90 days in 180 days now - then we incur fines.

Croatia has made an exception, time in other EU countries does not count against the total there.

Turkey meets some criteria, though still has visa time limits (strictly enforced)…safety of lone women (sometimes marginal there ime)

Digital nomad visa?
Resort rep? Travel companies often have vacancies for seasonal reps - altho Brexit might have made that more difficult
Do it - have an adventure but treat it as a project rather than a holiday

What is the £4k to cover?

Mortgage on UK flat? Flights, visas, accommodation, ad-hoc costs (vaccinations etc)?

Depending on the entry requirements of the country you go to, you may need a lot more than this.

This is amazing! Maybe Oz? Easy to get a working visa and wages are good although cost of living is high. You can get a hospitality job easy enough. Similarly, Canada or NZ?

I really admire you for doing this, but!

Why would somebody buy a book by you on entrepreneurship when you are not making a lot of money?

Why would someone pay you to show them around a holiday area when you are not from that area and don't know it very well?