by Geoff Wakeling

Created on: March 15, 2009

Quitting the Rat Race and Living the Slow Life

Life is most definitely worth living and in these modern times when the years seem to pass in the blink of an eye many are seem to be looking for ways that they can slow the pace and learn to sit back and relax a little. Though quitting your job and leaving the career driven workplace behind may send a shiver down your spine it is easier than you may think as long as you take the plunge and break it down into small, manageable portions.

Firstly, what has inspired this change and what do you intend to get out of it? If you are simply looking for relaxation whilst still maintaining your current lifestyle then possibly this route is not for you. Starting a new, down paced life generally means a substantial salary cut so if designer clothes and expensive holidays are high on your priority list then quitting the rat race probably isn't the best course of action.

List your priorities on a piece of paper and on another note down all the things that you expect from your new life. Perhaps you want more time to relax. Or maybe you wish to actually turn your hobby into a career maker? Match your lists together and look at the outcome carefully. If your top priority is to move to the country whilst you expect to increasingly visit the theatre, the clubs and to entertain friends maybe you need to rethink, however if time for walking the dog and a larger garden for the children comes top perhaps that move to rural pastures is just what you need.

Once you have decided that you are ready to tear down the walls of your stark grey office and experience a new world the next challenge is to really look at your income in depth and plan for the future. Many who leave their high powered jobs and large salaries find that a lower income and quieter way of life reaps huge rewards, however you do need to make sure that this life changing move is financially viable. Look at your expenditures, what can you cut? What can you save? Even the most menial of bills can often be cut substantially by simply being aware of spending costs or changing suppliers. For instance a mobile phone contract started two years ago could be fine, but by renewing or changing a supplier could you get the costs even lower? Or perhaps your gas bill has been allowed to rumble on for years, start take metre readings to stop estimated bills, ask for credit back so you can make interest off of it rather than the supplier, and think whether you really need the heating on all

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>