To ask if you did a long (up to a year) trip travelling after children how did you do it?

[AbeSimpsonsWhiskeySour]

I've always wanted to do a road trip across North America; spending a lot of time in each place so I can really get a feeling for the place. Perhaps six months?
I've been trying to work out how I can do it. I have two children, no partner and a pretty poorly paid full time job. I own a house I can rent out.
I would like to do it when they're around 11 and 12 so in three/ fours time. But then that's when they're starting secondary school? I think they'd enjoy it. We've done lots of travelling in Europe on a budget.
What sort of things can I start planning now? I think my work would allow me a sabbatical so I would have a job to return to.
Just trying to work out how I can do it financially.
How did you support yourself? Did you do some remote work.
Obviously I won't do it if kids aren't on board.

We did but our children were much younger (5 and 1) and Europe was considerably cheaper then.

one thing which would have been better would to have driven a small campervan so you can sleep in that , so I’d look into the possibility of buying and reselling out there.

tbh we put quite a lot on the credit card, and paid it off over the following years, it was a manageable payment every month and absolutely no regrets.

I’m hoping to travel but split into more trips across more years but for less time (say 1-2 month blocks so most can be over summer holidays) as I notice that the older kids get the more concerned they are about being left behind or missing out with their peers. I think many children would not want to fall a year behind their friends at high school in particular so I’d reconsider waiting till they were that old.

With the secondary school thing, my DD is probably going into a specialist school for secondary and my son's school year are all going to about five different secondaries due to location so I think their experience will be a bit different.
I'm not long into a new job so hesitant to do it this year or next.

Sorry I meant a specialist setting. It's due to her autism and possible learning disabilities.

Well you can’t work so you’re going to need a lot of savings to do it. Can you afford it? Doesn’t sound like it. Last time I went to the US it was so expensive (food)

They are VERY unlikely to hold a place for her for a year. Too many children needing the place.

Things to think about...

If your house is mortgaged you will need permission/new mortgage. You will need someone to manage the property. The rent might not provide much of an income after all the fees etc. Plus you then face the possible challenge of tenants not leaving/not paying/damage.

In year admissions on return can be tricky... or they can be easy. All depends on school places.

How will you support yourselves... food, drink, fuel etc?

We did a several month long trip in primary and planning to do again before they finish. Saved up both money and holiday allowance then did a mixture of remote working and holiday. Would love to do a longer trip and would definitely do it if I had more money. One of ours is autistic and was actually great for them to have that time out from stressful school routine

@Zanatdy well that's why I'm asking people who have done this. I can put away a couple of hundred a month, but I want to know how much people brought to sustain a longer trip.
My local authority will rent private houses. They pay 18 months upfront and there is no expectation to continue after the 18 months. My plan was to travel and then continue to rent after returning home. Obviously a smaller property for the remaining time so I can afford the rent and the mortgage on my house.

I don’t understand how this would work for your children.

They would miss a whole year of secondary. When you come back would they go into their correct year or into the year below?

I can’t see how going into the correct year would work as they’d have missed a year of schoolwork.

Joining the year below might work for an 11 year old who hasn’t even started secondary yet, but I’m not sure how it would work for a 12 year old, as they would be in a different year from their previous friends?

My daughter thrives on a lack of routine and she loves travelling. It's school she hates lol.
My plan for secondary is to homeschool her, I'm lucky in that my job can be done at all hours and involves 2-3 hours in an actual base per week.

We did it by house sitting (in cheaper European centres). I worked remotely but had DH to do childcare. It was wonderful, I’d love to do it again!

Ah ok if you plan to homeschool DD that makes more sense. Is that what you meant by specialist setting?

Would your DS finish primary as normal and start secondary a year late? You’d need to check this is allowed?

@fiddlemeg what is your problem? Just leave the thread if you don't like what I'm am saying. You're not answering my OP. You're not helpful.

What will happen with your children's schooling?

@Kosenrufugirl well I presume my son will miss six months of year seven and my dd will catch up the rest of the time.

It's a very valid concern. No need to get nasty