Say goodbye to your career?

Sorry, but only in very rare or unusual circumstances will a company keep a job open for you. It can happen, and generally the larger the organisation the better your chances. Unfortunately, there are no employment laws which encourage it, so it's generally better to assume, that when embarking on the trip of a lifetime, you are likely to lose your position of employment.

Lawyers, priests, directors and other executive positions may get sabbaticals, but the the rest of the working population does not.  Sadly, if you are courageous enough to spend several months travelling the world, then you need to be courageous enough to sacrifice your job.

But if you are going to do something great, then you will always have to make sacrifices along the way. You simply have to ask yourself just how important is your job to you? If you'll never get a position this good again, then maybe the trip will have to wait. If you'll walk into another job when you return, then you have nothing to lose. This is a tough decision and one that friends and family may disagree with, so think long and hard, make a confident choice, and then stick with it.

Do you have a Personnel department at your current place of employment? If so, speak to them or investigate any documentation they may have on the subject. Personnel often have an Intranet or leaflets that detail their procedures, so try to find them and see if an official line exists. If you know this before you speak to someone then you will, of course, be better prepared. If someone in your workplace disappeared for weeks then suddenly returned, speak to them too.  It might not have been illness that caused the absence, but itchy feet that needed a scratch on some new turf. It's unlikely that you are the first person to ever approach the Personnel department with this longing, so find out what the others have done before you.

Even though you may have to resign, this doesn't mean you should burn your bridges. Tell the company why you want to do this and tell them it's not that you are unsatisfied with the company, but have just got itchy feet to see the world. It's an itch you need to scratch before it's too late and consequently, you regret, that to fulfil your goal, you will have to leave. Even if you don't really feel that way, it's better to say it and leave on good terms. Why? Well I know of several people who had no option but to quit good positions to go on round the world trips. And when they returned, 12 months later, they actually got offered their old jobs back!

So leave on good terms and send your boss an email whilst at the other side of the world. Then when you get back home, broke and depressed, who knows, maybe your old company will be interested in the new you. And the new you might realise that the old company wasn't so bad after all, maybe you just needed a break and can now see the old company in a new light.

Renting : Not an easy option.

You probably either rent or own your home.  If you are a home owner, then what to do with your property whilst you're travelling means making some tough decisions. Here, we are going to focus on this because the task is somewhat more complicated then renting. However, if you do rent, then many points made here will still apply.

Rent It! Rent It! Rent It!

If you own a property then you will know that the running costs can be considerable. For this reason, the concept of renting your property whilst you are travelling seems very appealing. However,  there are a few less obvious factors that make this option not without it's own costs and restrictions.

Firstly, you have to ask yourself:  "Is my property rent-able?" The last thing you want is to spend hard-earned trip savings renovating your home. If it's not safe or requires sprucing up, then you may well  have to inject some savings. Do other properties rent in your area and what income do they provide? To be a serious contender in the market and to maximise the income, you may well have to invest a little first.

Now assuming that your house is ship shape and rent-able, what are you going to do with your possessions? You can rent it furnished, but that usually just  means the basics are within the property, i.e. bed, wardrobes, TV etc. I imagine that you have many other items that would need removing. The best solution here is to ask a favour from a friend or family member, preferably one with a spare room or garage space. If they can hold your stuff whilst away, great. If not, maybe you could lock your items in a garage, loft or bedroom of the property you plan to rent? If neither of these options are available then you are left with using a storage company. This is just an added cost that you could probably do without, it's not the cheapest and ultimately shaves off a considerable percentage of any rent you intend to receive from a tenant.

Another cost to consider is that of a letting agency. If a pipe bursts, who's the tenant going to call? You can't do much when you're half way up the Himalayas. An agency can solve this problem and will happily manage the property and collect rent whilst you are away. Now this may seem like the perfect solution, but despite offering peace of mind, they can often charge quite considerably for what turns out to be doing very little. They are handling a delicate situation though, and it's probably too much to burden a friend with, so you may have no option but to use their services.

If a pipe bursts, who's the tenant going to call? You can't do much when you're half way up the Himalayas.

Finally, what if travelling isn't for you? You land in deepest, darkest Africa, but get home sick and want to come home. Oh, but you can't because someone is already living in your house. Unlikely, but if travel isn't for you, and your house is vacant, then it does provide a safety net to fall back on. Also, 6, 12 or 18 months? Do you know how long you are going for? If your plans change (they always do) then you may be coming home without a place to stay : i.e. your tenant has a 12 month contract and isn't going anywhere till it ends.

And when your tenant leaves and you take residency back in your home, how will you feel about sleeping on a bed that someone else has used for the last 6 months? This is of course down to the individual, but you may feel that you just have to replace the mattress and maybe a few other items (sofa \ plates?). These items can easily be replaced at a relatively small cost, but having just returned from your trip, it is still a cost you could probably do without. 

Despite all this, the income from renting obviously helps towards a house's running costs. If you could rent to family or a friend then this would help considerable with many of the issues raised above. So renting is not a total no-no, and many people do it successfully, but if you are not landlord material then it's undoubtedly not without it's complications.

Leave Your House Empty

So you've decided you don't want a stranger in your house. It's your home, it's private and if you can't be there, no one can. So it's going to be left empty. Leaving it empty isn't difficult, there's just a lot to remember. So heres a list of things to do if you are leaving your house vacant:

An Empty House : A To Do List

1. Pay the mortgage.

   An obvious one, but still the most important. It's the only outgoing you'll have to pay, so make sure you do. Ensure the bank account the mortgage comes out of has enough funds for the duration you're expecting to be away plus a few months that aren't planned for too.

2. Redirect the mail.

   Many postal services offer a redirection service. Basically, all mail going to one address will now go to another for a time period specified. There's a nominal charge and it's best to start it before you leave just to make sure it works.

3. Cancel utility and other bills.

   Utility companies are often large organisations and you are just a customer number to them. If the cancellation process doesn't happen (for whatever reason) they will simply bill you regardless. You may then find you return to a increased charge, multiple reminder letters, bailiff threats and even a court summons! If, because you are not in the country, you don't pay a bill, even though you paid the "final" amount honestly, then  these companies will act quick. Automated procedures kick it, and the letters are just fired out to get you to react as soon as possible. Of course, not being there, you are oblivious to this.

   So don't leave this administrative job till the day you leave, it won't be as straight forward as it should be and unfortunately it's you who has to make sure the companies have your money and the invoice is settled.

   Typical Bills To Cancel :

   Gas
   Electric
   Water
   Telephone
   Mobile Phone
   Broadband
   Satellite \ Cable TV
   TV Licence [UK specific]

   
   Many of today's bills are simply paid directly from our bank accounts, via direct debit schemes etc. So a prudent measure would be to close the account and then cancel the corresponding bank transfer or direct debit.

4. Cancel bank & credit card statements.

   You're not going to be there, you're not going need it, so to guarantee that it won't get in someone else hands, just cancel it.  If you use Internet banking,  then you can usually perform these cancellation tasks on-line, simply  look for the "cancel paper statements" or similar option.

   Even better than cancelling your credit card statements would be to cancel the credit cards themselves. Please remember though, when you return from your travels (unemployed?) , you may no longer be eligible for the cards you once had. So don't assume you can just re-apply and receive them, your circumstance has changed and consequently you may be denied the card.

5. Change house insurance.

   A standard home insurance policy will not cover you if the house is vacant. You will therefore have to change your policy. You may even need to change your broker because not all will provide cover for a vacant property.

6. Cancel council tax [UK Specific].

   You are exempt from council tax for 6 months, however one rule must apply : the house must be empty of furniture.  Of course, I do not condone defrauding the local council authorities, but when I explained this clause to one person, they simply replied " Well if it was me, I'd shut all the curtains, move furniture out of sight and place a bed sheet up against the front door (in case an inspector looked through the letter box). If they were to actually check, how would they know if the house contained furniture then? ". I agreed, I could not see how they would know. Now this method might save your back from a tiresome furniture removal task, but it does involve breaking the law and that can never be advised on a public medium such as this.

7. Move valuables to a family or friend's house.

   An empty  house is pretty much a sitting duck if a burglar were to notice. So you might want to consider leaving the family jewels with Grandma.

8. Back up your computer.

   Computers like to be used, so just to be safe back up those photo's before you go. You don't want to come back to a hard disk failure.

9. Turn the water off and drain the system.

   If a pipe burst and there's no water running it's not a problem. Turning off the main water supply tap (stop-cock) can be a dirty job, so don't leave it until the last day. Find it and have a practise first.

10. Empty and defrost your fridge.

11. Turn off the oven and switch off all plugs.

12. Lock all doors and windows.

For an abridged printer friendly version of this list please visit The Check Lists .

The wildlife did a great job of looking after the car.

Assuming that the car's not travelling with you, then you have 3 options :

1. Sell It

Simply put, this really depends on the age of the car and how much you need the money. If your car is fairly new and is going to depreciate considerably whilst you're away for a year, then selling it may be a good option. However, if your car's sale price is unlikely to change, you're away for less than 12 months, and the first thing you'll need when you get back home is a car, then it may be worth keeping.

Money may be tied into your car, so if you have outstanding debt then selling it is probably the better way forward. Additionally, if your trip funds are short, then selling it to raise cash may help boost travel funds too.

It's often hard to live without a car, especially if you are used to having one. So selling it when you will need another one as soon as you return, may just cause considerable hassle at the already stressful times of arrival and departure. And it's common knowledge that, unless you are in the car business, you lose money every time you change your car. This is because cars depreciate fast, and the newer model is always just around the corner. So if you know and trust your motor, then you may want to consider options 2 & 3 below.

2. Lend It To Someone You Trust

A vehicle that is turned-over and used rarely is going to be in far better shape than one that is just left standing. Just look at point 3 below and you soon realise why. So, if you have someone you trust, then lend them your car. They may even contribute to the running cost, but if not, don't fret as they are doing you a favour by just using it.

3. Leave It At Home \ Off-road

Ask any mechanic and they will tell you that one of the worst things you can do to a car is to leave it standing. When parts designed to move stop moving they simply seize up. But if no one can look after your car and selling it is a false economy, then this is probably what you will have to do. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to protect your car before you leave it stationary, see the tips below:

Tips For Storing A Car

1. Leave the car off-road [UK Only].

   If it stays on the road (in the UK) then you will have to pay road tax. To leave the car off road you have to declare SORN, Statutory Off Road Notification. This is a simple administration procedure and can be done on-line at http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk/ .

2. Stop your car insurance.

   If you simply cancel the policy you may be penalised, so ask if you can put it on hold till you get back. You may want to keep the car insured in case something happens to it whilst your away, but you will have to mention the change of status to the insurer. In the original contract you probably mentioned the usage the car is to undertake, i.e. commuting. Now because this changes to zero usage you will have to inform the insurer as they may not even insure vehicles that are left off-road.

   Real Life Example :

   My big name car insurance company does not insure vehicles kept off-road, so the contract was going to be cancelled and because the contract was ending early they were going to charge me! Charge me for them ending the contract!  Instead of cancelling, I put the insurance on hold.  This way the contract ran it's course and because the car was not insured for several months they owed me money, which they then paid back at the end of the contract.

3. Protect the car from the elements.

   If you have a garage you can use, great. A driveway is OK too, but an open grassy field is not a good idea.

4. Fill the petrol tank.

   An empty one can rust.

5. Disconnect the battery.

   If not used and left for several months, then the battery will drain flat anyway, this simply stops the alarm sounding.

6. Leave the hand brake off.

   Leaving it on can cause it to seize.  And because the hand-brake is off, you'll need to put some chocks under the wheels to prevent the car rolling away.

7. Spray the engine's metal parts with a lubricant.

   Using something like the popular WD40 is fine.

8. Ensure the tyres are correctly inflated.

9. Ensure the engine has adequate oil.

10. Give it a wash and a wax.

You can always do more, but if you're planning your big trip then finding the time can be hard. I personally have applied the above tips and it meant that when I returned, several months later, I simply had to charge the battery (expected) and the car started fine. The above pointers are a minimum though, so to give your car a better chance or if you are more mechanically minded you might want to consider the advice provided at the following links:

http://www.ehow.com/how_138006_store-car.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Store-a-Car

See the world and study?

If you are in full time education then spending time away from the books to travel the world is an excellent way to gain some life experience. You might think you are restricted by your studies, free time or lack of money, but with a little lateral thinking I will explain how you can have a great time, see a little of the world and even gain something respectable to mention on your CV .

I'm assuming that whilst reading this, you the student is wanting to do something worthwhile, something cool, something exciting, something with fun and adventure? And it might be hard to believe, but new cultures and countries can be all those things and more. So lets see how a trip can fit around those college years by answering 2 essential questions : How do I fund a trip? and When is the best time to travel?

How do I fund a trip?

It can be hard enough funding your education without including a jaunt to foreign lands, so how are you going to fund your trip? Basically, you have three options :

1. Incorporate travel into your education.

Many universities have student exchange schemes, so perhaps you can do a semester or even a full year of studies at a university in a different country. The logistics in setting this up can be quite time consuming, so if you do get an incline that this might be for you, then speak to someone at your university to discuss possible options as soon as possible. It might not happen for the first year you apply, but at least you'll be at the front of the queue for the second year candidates.

2. Volunteer.

Basically you can volunteer your services - anything from physical labour, to teaching English - for meals and a place to stay. You'll typically get a day or two off every week and this of course gives you time to see the country. You may even get a little spending money in some schemes. This is a great way to meet like minded people and an excellent way to see a country when on a budget.

3. Work.

You can either work whilst you are travelling or work and save for a trip before you go. It might be impossible to save for an entire gap year, so why not work one summer vacation and then travel in the following summer vacation?

A good trick is to work where the standard of living is high. That way your will money will last longer if you travel to a poorer country. For example, money earned in North America, perhaps doing seasonal work, would place you in good stead if you then decided to spend a few weeks in a less affluent South American country.

There are many organisation and books that specialise in helping people volunteer \ work their way around the world so I won't go into further detail here, but for anyone keen to get started an excellent book in in this area is Work Your Way Around The World* by Susan Griffith.
 

When is the best time to travel?

Assuming you have the funds, this is probably the next question to ask yourself and once again, you have 3 options:

1. Before you start college \ university.

2. During college \ university.

3. After college \ university.

Neither answer is 100% right as it really depends on the individual. So to help determine which time is best suited for you, answer the following questions honestly:

Are you mature enough to travel alone?

If you are independent and street wise then this might not be a problem, but if you struggle with the basics then you might want to wait and finish your education before you go. Give yourself time to grow a little and you'll reap the benefits long term.

You also might want to consider if your age restricts you.  If you're planning an adventure that involves a road trip across America with wild alcohol fuelled nights out, then you might just be wasting your time if you are under 21 years old. This is because American law would prohibit you as you have to be at least 21 years old to rent a car or buy alcohol.

Is a break in education a good thing?

You might be in Ibiza for the summer or trekking the Andes, but either way the concept of returning to a dull classroom environment might not be that appealing after those extraordinary experiences.

Would you get more out of a destination if you were older?

Hand on your heart, take a few years (3 or more) off your current age and ask yourself if you would appreciate the destination any less? If you think you'd enjoy it more now, at your current age, then with a similar rational, perhaps you'll get even more out of it when you are a couple more years older and wiser.

Are there any benefits from visiting a destination immediately?

Will travel complement your studies or vice versa? If you are to study a language then you will clearly benefit from spending time in the relevant country. Don't wait for your education to be over before your see the country, get there as soon you can. Similarly, if you are to study the architecture, the history, the geography, the [add your course subject here] of a country you intend to visit, then having been there will make a huge difference. Forget the theory, you'll have  been there, you'll have lived it and you'll know the truth.

If you've answered the above questions then I'm sure you'll know if you are ready to go before, during or after your university or college course. You're going to be working for a long time after uni, so I personally think that doing some travelling before your start your career is a good choice. This time is also especially suited to a long (12 months plus)  type of trip. Of course, this doesn't mean you have to stay at home during your university years. Universities and colleges often give several weeks of summer holidays, so if you don't do a few weeks travelling, or a few weeks working for funds to travel, then you are wasting a great opportunity.