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?

😁

One of my friends writes erotic novels and is making a fortune. Are you interested in doing that and self publishing?

Ooh is there really money in that?

I don't want to be rude, but judging from your syntax in this post, you do not have a great gift for writing. It would make more sense to write for a year or so in your spare time, to see if you have the sort of nature for it, initially, and the ability to persevere with it. You need both some degree of proficiency in writing to become a writer, and you also need to have the right nature. Selling it all up to write about business, or comedy, with no particular acumen for either, as evidenced by your posts here, strikes me as somewhat delusional.

You could try something like being a rep with Eurocamps but I'm pretty sure you need another language.

Why do you want to be a writer? Does it sound like a romantic way of life, do you think you'll earn lots of money from it or do you have a burning passion to write? If it's the latter, you can do it anywhere and most writers just write for the pleasure of it to start with rather than deciding to 'become a writer'.

Why not travel for a few months instead and see what happens? If I was your age I'd probably choose Thailand or Vietnam... cheaper to live and lots of ex pats who can offer advice about residency requirements.

Do you have a degree? Teaching in international schools is a great way of experiencing another country, with the safety net of a ready made community, accommodation etc. Maybe you are writing your posts in a hurry but they don’t come across as those of a writer. Could you just have a long holiday? I did several month of ‘volunteering’ in my 20s, which I paid for, lots of people of all ages did it. I’m no longer sure of the ethics of this type of tourism and it is expensive but it was great fun and I came home with a plan.

Hey OP, I work full-time as a freelance content writer. I've been a writer for more than 12 years now and it pays all my bills, mortgage etc.

I know your dream is to write a book about being an entrepreneur but how sure are you that you have found your voice? When I first moved to writing 12 years ago, I considered myself to have a strong command of the English language. My previous career involved written communication and proof-reading/drafting corporate literature so I thought I was all set.

When I look back now at the work I submitted, I cringe. There's a lot to learn about reaching an audience, and pacing. It doesn't matter how strong your English skills are or how fascinating the content is, you still need to have the right voice and learn the skills of setting out your content at the right speed.

There is an absolute TON of content writing work out there. If you have any shred of writing ability, there's good money to be made. And it would be the perfect experience to develop your writing style, before you move onto writing a book.

I've been increasingly thinking about writing a novel but honestly it would suck up so much time, and apparently takes a very long time to turn a profit. I could be spending that same time earning good money from content writing so I doubt I'll branch out any time soon.

You could work as a freelance content writer from anywhere in the world, or even fit it in around another job. For anyone with writing aspirations, content writing is an excellent way to start.

Also, pension. How many years of NI contributions will you miss or do you have a plan for that? Private pension

This, this, this. I know it's boring but it is honestly so important. If you don't think about this now you may be doing ft minimum wage work in your 60's.

UGH MN is so negative about moving abroad and living a more exciting life! When really it's incredibly easy and amazing and a fantastic experience and just... great.

Can you tell I've done it? 6 years later, still not home! Even boring days and things that would make me grumpy in England seem like a great story or a cool experience, all part of the adventure!

How about Thailand, which is gorgeous and safe, or Bali, which is really friendly for 'digital nomads'? You can teach English as a foreign language online in the meantime to earn enough money to live.

Don't let people talk you down! Be bold and follow your dream, and remember, we only regret the things we DIDN'T try. You don't want to be on your deathbed wondering 'what if...'.

Also, you can pay NI payments from abroad so it won't affect your pension. You can even backpay if you don't have enough money right away. I know LOADS of fellow expats who do this. Let me see if I can find the gov.uk page for reference.

Like everything, for some people. The reddit sub for people getting into this has a few big success stories and a lot of moaning/questions about why their book has zero sales, no reads, their book has been banned from online sellers, they're making no money etc.

You need a thought-out plan, and from then on about two years to prepare.

I am speaking from experience here as that is how long it took me to do most of what you want to do (bar the job - I have a degree in what I'm working in now).

With languages being an issue for you, that narrows things down considerably as there is no way you'll be able to emigrate without being at least midly fluent, so please do not rely on English as a second language in wherever you want to settle. Have you tried learning a foreign language outside of what school offered for you? Mfl is pretty rubbish in English schools (can't speak for the rest of the UK, but over here it's seen as an add-on rather than an integral part of daily teaching, which makes it useless unless you have a real gift or a keen interest).

Money - 4k is definitely not enough to emigrate and sustain yourself. You're looking at at least 1k for travel alone (assuming it's short-haul and you don't just want to arrive with one suitcase). When I emigrated I spent an additional huge sum on all the documentation I needed, including proof of fluency in the language (needed for most jobs and/ or the right to stay), DBS (almost certainly needed), proof of identity etc. You also will need to feature in converting what you currently have (references, including someone who can vouch for you for your accommodation), driving licence, birth cerificate etc. to conform with the standards of where you are moving to.

You will need proof of regular and high enough income, potentially even savings - forget renting out your flat, if it's worth enough you may need to sell it (and again, that can wipe your 4k funds) to prove you have enough savings for being allowed to stay.

I'm sure there is a lot more to it, practically speaking.

For me, even though culturally my country of origin and this one are close, it was still a culture shock arriving here and learning all the new nuances of society I needed to be aware of. Some, I still struggle with, even two decades on.

I'm all for getting up and going - but you are being incredibly naive, both with regards to the timeline you have set yourself and finances.

I don’t think MN is negative about moving overseas- more moving overseas to pursue a career they have no experience in, with very few savings.

Nobody has mentioned- why do you want to escape so badly? Do you have family/friends here? What are you running from?

I would mention the weather again- sitting in a hot, airless room for hours each day- would you be ready to go and socialise after that? Or walking around in the heat each day?

I think REFL would be better in terms of meeting people, being immersed in the culture and learning the language.

Living and working somewhere is so very different to going on holiday there- you have to register with the doctor/dentist, learn the local laws and customs, shop/ rent property.

I am trying to gently say that if you have mental health problems and are running away from something, the added stress of surviving in a foreign land might tip you over. So don’t jump in, prepare yourself.

TEFL not REFL 😁

Do it! You won't regret it, even if you decide it's not for you. You can return home all the wiser for the experience and you might find a love for languages if you actually live and work in a country. I did!

How about a job where you live in. The Lady Magasine has oversees posts for housekeeper and similar so you get a wage and accommodation at the same time.

There are also house sitting websites where you look after someone's overseas property while they are away. You might not get a wage but, your accommodation will be covered and you are then able to get a job in a bar etc

PS Idid exactly what you are wanting to do and whilst it's har at first, I was 21, it was a great experience.

Was it necessary to laugh at the OP?

@Clairewentoverthemountain

No one is being negative about living abroad. It is a wonderful opportunity if planned correctly. I lived abroad for about a decade. Dh and I had U.K. properties, which we rented out the second time around. The first was as a student; I had a well paid job for a year with accommodation. Both times I had a plan set out and the financial ability / backing to get back to the U.K. or get myself out of a sticky situation.

Op has none of these and this sounds like a dream rather than a reality she can put into practice. I would give my dd exactly the same advice if ever she wanted to do this. We are trying to advise op that this could so easily be disastrous with so little funds. She could find herself stranded in a foreign country and potentially see the bank foreclosing on her flat if something goes wrong with the tenancy.

Having lived abroad in a few different countries, I know that some places expect residents to declare foreign income. Ie op’s income from her flat and whether that would be net or gross, what she could additionally claim etc. In this case, she would likely need to pay an accountant, who has knowledge of international tax rules. She would also be expected to file a tax return every year in the U.K. on the income generated from her flat.

Life isn’t a simple as just upping sticks.

I do this (some of the time). It can be lucrative but you have to know how Amazon works inside out; chasing niches, staying on top of SEO, avoiding the ban hammer etc. And you have to be prolific; I’ve got more than 100 titles on under several different pen names. I make a good living but not a fortune.

To be honest Amazon is starting to tighten up on certain types of content lately, so it feels like the writing’s on the wall for a lot of erotica. I’ve segued into romance novellas just to bolster myself in case they delete all my smut!

When I was 20 I quit my job and flat, bought a one-way ticket to Istanbul with £200 in my pocket. Landed a job at the first place I asked (language school).

fantastic life experience - but I wouldn’t go in to it thinking you’ll get a “proper” salary AND time to fanny about writing a book/securing a deal.

but if it’s a change of life you’re after, see if you can grab a vintage copy of Susan Griffiths “work your way around the world” and get out there and live for a while.

There is also a huge amount of difference between going abroad for a year or two (which a few of the more positive responders on here seem to have done) and going abroad long-term, or even permanently.

Did someone upthread seriously suggest Sri Lanka? The country you can't even travel to right now due to political instability? The one where people have recently been cut off from getting fuel?

And so many other countries suggested on here, where the OP has clearly stated she wants to feel safe on her own, would fall into the "nope" category straight away.

In terms of what is needed, there is one hell of a difference between short-term and long-term, with the latter needing far more prep and far more passion for the country you are going to settle in.

And please stop suggesting TEFL - once again, so many people don't seem to understand that not everyone can teach.

OP, please listen to the people who have done this long-term, i.e. for at least a decade.

I think the job in tourism is a non-starter.

They are low paid, seasonal and very long hours. I spent a year doing seasonal work and worked more hours than when I was employed in London in a professional job.

It is best to write about what you know. Why not do up your flat and start writing here, even if it means very early mornings/late nights.

You don't need to move to a warmer country. Brexit fucked that for everyone anyway.

Fwiw, my 20 year old TEFL flit ended up long-term and I moved back to the UK in my 40s.

only problem with filling your life with adventure is that po-faced ninnies assume you’re making it up and you can’t talk about your experiences because people think you’re making it up.

eg- po-faces ninny #1 - ya, we had dinner at this amaaaaazing olive grove surrounded by mountains and cooled by a sea-breeze.

me- oh yeh, I know that place, stayed there 4 months and still email the owner’s daughter. She lives in Paris now you know and works for MSF.

But, back to OP. Something is going seriously wrong with your business and I’d put the next six months into getting an OBM and scaling because a million in revenue and living in squalor doesn’t add up.