Quitting the rat race

Finance, Taxes, Banking, Insurance and Retirement
21
Only if you get the time to take them.

Most people get on the treadmill at 20ish and fall off at 60ish and think "What happened to my life?"

Unless the mid-life crisis gets you, but that'd be another thread.

My RAV experience will begin in Jan when I'm cast out of my current project.

I'm just hoping nothing goes awry to scupper my plans.

22
No quitting here; need the routine to make the free time special. Look how many people drop dead within a few months of retirement, scarey stuff.

Free time is so much more valuable when you've earned it wouldn't you say? It's not about the rat race, a working life is about using your time constructively in something that you enjoy and can keep yourself housed, watered and fed in the process.

23
A good point, but how many people die within a few months of retiring if they were already leading a balanced life? Not so many I would say. People who had no life outside of work die miserable. Work/life balance is the key.

24
Oh yes, I would quit today. Without a second income, hubby & I would not be able to live so comfortably. However 3500 from my side would probably suffice.

Last year I exchanged my stressful 60-hour a week job, with global travel for an easy going 80% position. Even thoug sittign in the same office all day every day is boring sometimes, it feels like I have gotten my life back. I go home at 5 and have the whole evening for myself.

I work to live, don't live to work.

25
Thats actually my plan, retire next year at 50. 3500chf is about 3 times the average earnings of people in Malta, so depending on where you go you could live on a great deal less.

26
My mortgage is about this much, so no, I don't think so. Besides, I actually quite enjoy what I do.

27
It's nice to have a choice to not get up in the morning.

28
I think it depends on if your doing what you love already? I was quasi-retired for about 9 months. I hated it. I didnt want to "be back in the rat race", but I did need the intellectual challenge. I was basically doing the same thing in retirement as I was doing during my working career. So why not just stay employed and keep getting a higher pay cheque?

So I think it depends on ones love for what he/she is doing for work.

29
so far arguments against seem to be:

1. I need more than 3500 per month to live on (e.g. mortgage to pay)

2. Work provides me with structure/intellectual challenge that I am unable to get outside of work

3. I love what I do so much that I would be doing 40 hours a week on it anyway, so why not get paid for it

4. It would be nice, but is too extreme, better to have a middle ground for trade off e.g. work only 40% and get paid a bit more

any others?

30
I tried this on and off for a couple of weeks or months when I took sabbaticals between engagements (my work was project based then).

Have to say it was nice to take time off and go traveling, spend a few weeks in Spain, etc. but I hardly enjoyed having time off and staying in Switzerland. Firstly, it's rather lonely since everyone else is working during the day, so you're on your own. Then, the weather mostly sucks, so cheap outdoor activities are not that much fun, meaning you'll have to spend money to get away and 3500 won't get you far. Lastly, if you don't find something meaningful to do ("meaningful" beyond purely hedonistic time waste) sooner or later you'll start questioning the purpose of it all. Just hanging around Zurich can't be the best thing you can do with your life.

31
Nicely summarized. How about adding:

5. Too much hours in the day to drink beer, which adds up to much more than 3500

Slàinte Mhath!

32
I have a dream of getting my sailor rigged for long distance and falling off the planet for some years, sailing around the world is on my bucket-list. I have the feeling that i lost the rat race years ago.

33
really? 3500 per person or for a couple? I am surprised if per person.

34
Perhaps they have never had the time to use the grey matter for other purposes and the prospect is frightening - fatal, even.

35
I've taken "mini retirements" four times over the last few years. That means I stopped work (I was a freelance IT consultant) for around 6 months.

Not sure I'd bother if one of the requirements is to stay in Switzerland. This country is too small. Why the odd requirement that you aren't allowed to travel?

Plus the amount is too low to actually enjoy all the free time to any degree of hapiness if stuck 24x7 in this little country.

36
Just say no to rats and say goodbye to the medal.

37
I did it last year....quit my good paying Job in Germany to travel around the world. It was the best year in my Life....if I had not done it now...I would have regretted.

Would repeat it again...I will now work in Switzerland for a 6 months period and take off again for six months or year.

Life is too short ...so quit the Rat Race.

38
totally agree - taking time off to travel and explore the world is perfect. Not having a job (boredom) and having to live in Switzerland (boredom^2) on 3500 per month (boredom^2 x poor) on the other hand sounds like hell to me.

39
Exactly what my son did, and he says the same.

He took the Trans-Siberian express and went on from there.

He had a wonderful year.

40
You could work less and live off the rent you get for your flat while living in a smaller place or invest in something that gives you an income.

Serious look at your outgoings. If you start thinking that every time you don't spend your hourly salary that's another hour that you don't have to work.

We have both worked part-time and hubby took time out to learn a new prog. language and found himself a job outside of banking right close to home. He loves working there and doesn't have to commute.

I've had a couple of time-outs from working. I kept myself busy and bought a couple of properties and did them up for rent. When I did find a job, I was earning more in rent than my salary paid me.

IMHO salary is not the most important factor. I would never work where I couldn't go home on time or I had to work weekends and I wouldn't do a stressful job or one that involved travel or working late for more money. My own time is important too.