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Original poster

'Sell up, go traveling, just rent a room as a base' - or that was the plan...

127 replies

Keyryder · 13/08/2022 21:13

So I finally decided to take the plunge and sell up (partly because I want to do some traveling). I love my home. But I recognised I was stagnating here.

Was planning on just renting a room somewhere for a while. But oh.my.gosh - one week left to go and I have messaged 35+ people about a room (seen hundreds of adds but many were just for students ect) over the last 2 months and only had 4 responses! 2 didn't suit me (and trust me, I was not being picky haha) and the other 2, i didn't suit them.

So, instead of an adventure, I'm now faced with a horror I never even imagined - moving back home with my parents, at 34 years old. In my childhood hometown, which, I hated and couldn't wait to leave. Adventure? More like a horror story!

Anyway, I just wondered if people thought it might pick up once the students stop looking for rooms? Any words of encouragement to help stop me freaking out that I've fucked my life up, more than welcome xD

OP posts:
ShahRukhKhan · 14/08/2022 13:38

If you've got somewhere for your stuff, just go. Sort an airbnb out for the dates you are back in the UK. Then you don't have to rent a place that you mostly wont be using.

Also, I think it's amazing-- I totally understand sacrificing security for joy and life!

MrsMontyD · 14/08/2022 14:14

This sounds absolutely crazy to me, just for holidays at resorts, not even a big backpacking adventure. You could have got a few interesting part time jobs and saved up some cash to go on holiday.

Getting off the property ladder on the brink of a recession and spending your equity on holidays !!!

How much is your storage? Have you got a financial plan?

FlimFlam2 · 14/08/2022 14:36

OP, if you want to do it then you have to commit. Sell your stuff or put it in storage and just go. Half-arsing it will get you the worst of both worlds - you'll end up with no flat, living with your parents and for what!

You're a capable adult - just go, you'll sort it as you go along.

Theimpossiblegirl · 14/08/2022 14:42

It's a nightmare learning to drive at the moment, really hard to get instructors and tests.
You could go to Australia, get a job and learn there while having your adventure. They drive on the left I think.

tickticksnooze · 14/08/2022 14:49

even the 'I would nevers' amongst you, can't deny theres a part of you, just a small part, that wishes you had the guts to do it.

Ah, the eternal refrain of the defensive: "you're just jealous ". Never very convincing.

I'm really not, mate. This is the stuff of nightmares not daydreams. Why would anyone rational possibly wish to do this?

If you had posted with a somewhat rational plan that would be different. But you're talking about a car crash. "Oh maybe I'll buy a house in a country where I have no right to actually live or just fritter all my equity away on day trips". Um ok.

I'm not sure why you think being homeless will bring joy into your life. That's naive.

TarasChoc · 14/08/2022 15:17

I'm going to be very nosy here and ask how you managed to buy a flat while working in retail that appears to be fully paid for and will yield enough to buy another flat and enough money to travel?

Comeagainow · 14/08/2022 15:26

TarasChoc · 14/08/2022 15:17

I'm going to be very nosy here and ask how you managed to buy a flat while working in retail that appears to be fully paid for and will yield enough to buy another flat and enough money to travel?

I’m thinking the OP probably comes from a wealthy family.

MrsMontyD · 14/08/2022 15:37

@Comeagainow It's the only explanation I can think of for casually pissing away your equity.

bellac11 · 14/08/2022 16:15

tickticksnooze · 14/08/2022 14:49

even the 'I would nevers' amongst you, can't deny theres a part of you, just a small part, that wishes you had the guts to do it.

Ah, the eternal refrain of the defensive: "you're just jealous ". Never very convincing.

I'm really not, mate. This is the stuff of nightmares not daydreams. Why would anyone rational possibly wish to do this?

If you had posted with a somewhat rational plan that would be different. But you're talking about a car crash. "Oh maybe I'll buy a house in a country where I have no right to actually live or just fritter all my equity away on day trips". Um ok.

I'm not sure why you think being homeless will bring joy into your life. That's naive.

Yes agreed. I read that comment and thought I couldnt imagine many worse things

I love my little house, Im nearly mortgage free, the freedom that gives me is worth its weight in gold.

Original poster
Keyryder · 14/08/2022 16:19

Definately not from a wealthy family lol.
Flat was cheap as chips when I bought it. Area is very popular now so ive sold it for double what I bought it for. Just got lucky really. Will go somewhere less posh when I buy again.

OP posts:
Original poster
Keyryder · 14/08/2022 16:23

Theimpossiblegirl · 14/08/2022 14:42

It's a nightmare learning to drive at the moment, really hard to get instructors and tests.
You could go to Australia, get a job and learn there while having your adventure. They drive on the left I think.

I think you need to have certain credentials to live in Australia though right? Aren't they fairly strict? ...and considering the heat here is near finishing me off, I don't think I'd handle the temperatures there haha.

OP posts:
Original poster
Keyryder · 14/08/2022 16:27

FlimFlam2 · 14/08/2022 14:36

OP, if you want to do it then you have to commit. Sell your stuff or put it in storage and just go. Half-arsing it will get you the worst of both worlds - you'll end up with no flat, living with your parents and for what!

You're a capable adult - just go, you'll sort it as you go along.

Definately not half arsing it that's for sure. Just can't plan much until I have money and time to do so. Spent the last month putting things in storage. Have to concentrate on the tasks at hand first. But yes, I'm hoping it can just be done as I go along. One thing at s time. Well, several things at a time really haha but I'll get there.

OP posts:
bellac11 · 14/08/2022 16:32

You presumably know how much your flat is selling for though so could be planning, that bit doesnt make any sense and makes me agree with other posters that perhaps there is something medical going here.

BobMortimersPocketMeat · 14/08/2022 16:42

Keyryder · 14/08/2022 16:27

Definately not half arsing it that's for sure. Just can't plan much until I have money and time to do so. Spent the last month putting things in storage. Have to concentrate on the tasks at hand first. But yes, I'm hoping it can just be done as I go along. One thing at s time. Well, several things at a time really haha but I'll get there.

Show quote history

If you’re not working and have no family commitments, you have plenty of time to be making plans concurrently with selling your flat - for which the work must surely be largely over now if you’ve exchanged contracts. And you know exactly how much money you will have from the sale because the price has been agreed.

We bought and sold and both worked full time last time we moved and had no trouble at all sorting everything out. We could have had everything else you need to organise done and dusted with time to spare if we hadn’t been working.

Don’t delay and start eating into your capital because you haven’t made any sort of plans until now. You really need a much clearer idea of whether you’re going to move abroad permanently for a period of time (and find out where you can go and for how long during that period) or if you’re going to be based here and go on extended trips.

I’d also be working out how I could find a part time income to support myself so I didn’t keep eroding the capital and find myself homeless in a few years time with no prospect of being able to look after myself due to rising costs. That’s not boring, it’s practical. Get that stuff sorted out and then you can relax and enjoy the adventure you are seeking. Otherwise you’ll suddenly hit a period of stress when it all goes tits up.

Original poster
Keyryder · 14/08/2022 16:43

bellac11 · 14/08/2022 16:32

You presumably know how much your flat is selling for though so could be planning, that bit doesnt make any sense and makes me agree with other posters that perhaps there is something medical going here.

Oh ffs - I don't know how much I've said already that i haven't.had.time xD

I've been fixing the flat up up sale, then showing it then packing and i've been moving things to storagè, I've been room hunting, I've had other things going on in life to deal with. So I'm focusing on all that first before planning the fun stuff.

Even today I've made 2 trips to storage and I still have 2 rooms to finish before my sale goes through next week. I'd like to see you plan a bloody holiday during all that let alone map out the next 6 months of travel xD

The fact is, I would probably be selling up soon either way as like I said, I don't much like my town and I don't feel like I'm doing what I want with my life here. Also, plan is to buy another cheaper place ASAP.

So if people could stop with the ridiculous mental health comments that would be swell. Taking the occasional risk in life doesn't mean we need theown in the back of the paddy waggon. Though I may, if I keep having to repeat myself on here xD

Think I going to step away now guys.
Cheers to all who have given support and advice.

OP posts:
TheWayTheLightFalls · 14/08/2022 16:46

OP, what would you advise if it was a friend or family member planning this? (Just to get a bit of perspective, because it looks like everything from driving lessons with dad to moving to Oz is up for discussion.) If it was me I’d be thinking about what my short- and long-term goals were, and then thinking about where I could live cheaply and carve out time for myself. For me that would be three months in a cheap rental in Crete (three months is the max you can do visa free as a UK national, iirc), or living out of my van on the Welsh coast (I know you don’t drive!). I’d think about remote work I could pick up. That sort of thing. What excites you? Where would you like to wake up next week?

<spoken wistfully as I sit in a hot London flat with my three delightful but quite whingy rugrats>

WillowintheUK · 14/08/2022 18:47

Sounds amazing! Haha! You’ll come back poorer but happier haha. Lol. 🙄

What’s the book about?

Apart from the great metropolis that is London, where are you hoping to go?

Eyesopenwideawake · 14/08/2022 21:18

Have a look at volunteering on Workaway - lots of hosts like long term volunteers. You get food and accommodation in return for 4-5 hours work a day. Still gives you lots of time to your own stuff.

Sandrine1982 · 14/08/2022 23:02

Is this post for real??

illiterato · 15/08/2022 03:23

Honestly, if you're going to do this, now is probably the time. House prices are going to be under considerable pressure with interest rates going up for the foreseeable and a global recession so you might be the jammy git that inadvertently sells at the top of the market. What I would do is move back to your parents and give yourself a month to make a solid plan - financial plan and ring fence equity to buy a new flat, make travel plans and writing plans. This may then change but without any plans there's a risk that you end up not really going anywhere other than a few coach trips and wake up in 2 years going "shit, I still live with my parents".

LemonSwan · 17/08/2022 19:09

Btw I really didn’t mean to offend about the bipolar manic episode OP!

As I said I don’t know you and was just checking in. Hope you understand 👍

BooksAndChooks · 17/08/2022 21:57

I just want to point out a few things for you to consider OP ( if you haven't done already)...

Firstly, this is super boring, but will be important to you one day - what are you doing about your pension? There are lots of pension calculators out there, you can check out what you can expect to get from your current pot and what you might need for your expected lifestyle in retirement.

Secondly, it sounds like you were/are fed up with your job. Can you retrain to do something you're passionate about, or that involves a bit of travel (cabin crew/cruises?), or something that will open doors to you becoming a permanent resident in a broad range of countries?
If you find a country you love on your travels, how to you plan to stay there? Do you have desirable skills and qualifications?

MermaidSwimming99 · 17/08/2022 22:16

Have you considered live in jobs like yha.org.uk or seasonal holiday roles like ski resorts so you can travel and work live indifferent places. I did it in my late20s after leaving a very good job in London but hated the rat race. Never looked back changed the track of my life completely. Live by the sea now.. not sure how age impacts options but bunac.org helps to arrange work visas.

AlwaysOneMissing · 16/10/2022 08:33

Hi OP, how are you getting on? I’d love an update.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 16/10/2022 10:28

I think OP hid/left the thread as she wasn't liking some of the reponses. Which is a shame, because as far as I could see people were trying to help her. Taking time out to travel isn't a bad idea per se, but there just seemed to be so many holes and pitfalls in her approach that I can't see it ending well.