18 month update - yes, its really been that long!

a.username

ms_london wrote: »

Hello!! Thanks for all of your comments!

tesuhoha - I guess the new found debt had to be done - you had to pay the tax bill, and you wanted the extension - it was a priority for you - dont be too hard on yourself, you said you were determined to pay the debt off this year, so just keep up that spirit and youll be fine!! xx

Cant believe it has been 18 months either, totally crazy - and I still have 9/10 months left, or I may never get back, who knows! I still want to recommend it to anyone - having the best time ever, just really enjoying living in another country rather than just a fleeting visit - got a list of things I want to do when I get home, and places I would like to live/visit. Sounds like I'll be busy and broke !!

I have a neice I havent met yet, who is about 16 months old - so cant wait to see her when I get back, am a bit worried about fitting in again I do have to admit! Oh well, cross that bridge when I come to it! Will try and bring some of the lovely weather back with me too.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekends xxx

Hi just out of interest are you travelling after uni or just done it off the cuff? I would love to do it in a few years when i finish my course and havent got a mortgage/family/responsibilities

Tell me to f£ck off if im being too nosy but how long you gone for? where to so far? and is it not too expensive if you work as you go?

Time to start saving methinks :cool:

postingalwaysposting

wow ms london ~ 18 months :eek: time flys eh ~ good luck with the usa/amarica tour i know you can do it! pop back when you can, you will have to use this site when you are saving for your house

ms_london

a.username wrote: »

Hi just out of interest are you travelling after uni or just done it off the cuff? I would love to do it in a few years when i finish my course and havent got a mortgage/family/responsibilities

Tell me to f£ck off if im being too nosy but how long you gone for? where to so far? and is it not too expensive if you work as you go?

Time to start saving methinks :cool:

Hiya.

I'm 27 - didnt make it to uni and worked from 18 - and decided I wanted to go travelling, although I didnt decide this until I was 19,000 in debt - so I knew the sooner I was debt free, the sooner I could do what I wanted with my life & travel! That was a huge motivation.

I was paying 1000 a month towards my debt, so once the debts were cleared I saved that much a month towards my trip, ended up leaving the UK with about 10,000.

I worked for 9 months in Australia, 3 months off - 2 months in Thailand, and now I am working in NZ and will do so until my visa runs out - with just a few holidays here and there (well, quite a lot of holidays actually, so need to get saving!) - and then I will be holidaying in Hawaii & states for about 6 weeks before coming home.

So far Australia, HK, Thailand, New Zealand - but I have done lots of trips back and forth, so probably overspent on flights, but who cares really - one trip (to HK) was a trip to see my sister, didnt intend on going there, but it was great, and Thailand was last minute, so I definately backtracked a bit.

So I have been away for 18 months, and will be home at the end of the year - longer than most people on their travels, but that was always my intention. And I would like to come home with some money as I cant live with my family (they live in the sticks and it will be too hard to commute to London!) and there is no way on earth i am coming back with debt which is what a lot of people do.

Travelling can be as expensive or cheap as you make it - I cut back where I can, but dont feel like i have missed out on anything - but will also spend within my means for sure!

You should do it. You could come away with a few grand in the bank, a return flight and do just fine - you dont need as much money as I had - but saying that, the more you can come with the better.

Any more questions, just ask.

I am also pleased that I have managed to land a decent job in an area I wanted to get into before I left home, a job which means I can get a better one that what I left home with. So its great to have had some decent experience while being away too!

xx

ms_london

postingalwaysposting wrote: »

wow ms london ~ 18 months :eek: time flys eh ~ good luck with the usa/amarica tour i know you can do it! pop back when you can, you will have to use this site when you are saving for your house

Hey!! How are you? I know, gone so quick, I cant believe it! Really only feels like yesterday that I was turning debt free - now been over 2 years!!

Ah yeah will definately be doing that, already know which area I want to buy in, the cost of houses, the rent I could get for it - the mortgage I want - just need the money now, haha!! Want to save around 19,000 for deposit and fees etc. Haha. Who has been watching too much location, location, location & property ladder :rolleyes:

a.username

ms_london wrote: »

Hiya.

I'm 27 - didnt make it to uni and worked from 18 - and decided I wanted to go travelling, although I didnt decide this until I was 19,000 in debt - so I knew the sooner I was debt free, the sooner I could do what I wanted with my life & travel! That was a huge motivation.

I was paying 1000 a month towards my debt, so once the debts were cleared I saved that much a month towards my trip, ended up leaving the UK with about 10,000.

I worked for 9 months in Australia, 3 months off - 2 months in Thailand, and now I am working in NZ and will do so until my visa runs out - with just a few holidays here and there (well, quite a lot of holidays actually, so need to get saving!) - and then I will be holidaying in Hawaii & states for about 6 weeks before coming home.

So far Australia, HK, Thailand, New Zealand - but I have done lots of trips back and forth, so probably overspent on flights, but who cares really - one trip (to HK) was a trip to see my sister, didnt intend on going there, but it was great, and Thailand was last minute, so I definately backtracked a bit.

So I have been away for 18 months, and will be home at the end of the year - longer than most people on their travels, but that was always my intention. And I would like to come home with some money as I cant live with my family (they live in the sticks and it will be too hard to commute to London!) and there is no way on earth i am coming back with debt which is what a lot of people do.

Travelling can be as expensive or cheap as you make it - I cut back where I can, but dont feel like i have missed out on anything - but will also spend within my means for sure!

You should do it. You could come away with a few grand in the bank, a return flight and do just fine - you dont need as much money as I had - but saying that, the more you can come with the better.

Any more questions, just ask.

I am also pleased that I have managed to land a decent job in an area I wanted to get into before I left home, a job which means I can get a better one that what I left home with. So its great to have had some decent experience while being away too!

xx

That is so cool and inspirational, to pay off that much debt and then save so much is a credit to yourself. I would love to do something exciting before i get settled down. There is so much to do and see in the world that i dont want to spend my life in rainy england.

Im planning on just saving here and there over the next 3 years and see what ive got when ive finished my degree. tbh i havent really got anything planned properly, its still at the dream stage lol

Ive looked at companies who send you over there and guarantee a job and support etc but cant help thinking they must be making a profit so i could do it cheaper myself. Im hoping if i work a fair bit over there it wont be astronomically costly. Did you go on any sort of organised trip or was it just a case of booking your flight and going your own way

ms_london

a.username wrote: »

That is so cool and inspirational, to pay off that much debt and then save so much is a credit to yourself. I would love to do something exciting before i get settled down. There is so much to do and see in the world that i dont want to spend my life in rainy england.

Im planning on just saving here and there over the next 3 years and see what ive got when ive finished my degree. tbh i havent really got anything planned properly, its still at the dream stage lol

Ive looked at companies who send you over there and guarantee a job and support etc but cant help thinking they must be making a profit so i could do it cheaper myself. Im hoping if i work a fair bit over there it wont be astronomically costly. Did you go on any sort of organised trip or was it just a case of booking your flight and going your own way

Thank you :0) I am pretty impressed with my own efforts I have to say, know its not cool to blow your own trumpet, but who cares ! Being in debt has def put me in good stead for the rest of my life thats for sure, know that sounds weird, but pleased it happened to me, otherwise I dont think I'll be in the position I am now and the person I am now. Oh god, been watching too much oprah, will stop now :0)

I think the best you can do while you are at uni, is just not to rack up too much exessive debt if you really dont need to - this will be just as good as saving, otherwise you can save your butt off, but whats the point if you end up racking up double the debt!!

You can definately do it on your own - some companies just prey on the insecure and charge you for stuff you can do yourself for free, promise you work and all sorts, but more often than not, arent what they are cracked up to be, or you just end up getting there and not needing their help anyway.

I just booked a one way flight to Sydney (with a visa, and everything planned of course!) and the rest just followed. Have done a few organised trips, but they are costly and you meet so many people doing your own thing anyway. A bit of both is good though.

Being away has also made me appreciate what is on our doorstep, that I have seen more of Australia & NZ than I have of the UK, that Europe is so easy for us to get to, and so cheap! So coming home and seeing it with fresh eyes will be an adventure too (would like to live in Ireland for a bit too!) - just wish the weather was slightly better thats all.

So many people travel, its not an unrealistic dream to have, and you dont have to rack up debt doing it because 'you only do it once' - why only do it once? Theres nothing telling you you only get one chance to see the world.

You can do it! xx

southernscouser

So that explains the funny smell in here.

G'day horsehead. How are ya?

Auckland eh? What way does the sink empty? :think:

Hows tricks hun? So you've bought yourself a laptop but failed to respond to my email. Well ain't that nice! :rotfl:

Mum and dad say hi by the way.

I hope you've posted my Valentines card, and I hope you've signed it coz I might not recognise it amongst the hoards! :rolleyes:

And is it true that there is something like 12 sheep for every Kiwi? I be the women don't get a look in! :rotfl:

linniestorm

Hey Ms_London, glad to hear you've been having a wicked time in the southern hemisphere! I remember when you went and reading your journal about it and being extremely jealous, can't believe that's 18 months ago, doesn't seem that long. I keep hoping one day that'll be me! Typical DFW wanting to come home with cash, good for you!!