Living like a bum and touring on the bike

[DarrenSV650S]

So I'm thinking about what sort of lifestyle I want when I finally get another job. Having been pay'd off twice now and being unemployed for a couple of months each time, I'm beginning to quite like it:)

So I could work hard for say 3 months, doing all the overtime available. Living as cheaply as possible and no luxuries. And just the odd bimble on the bike. Saving up as much as possible

Then quit work and travel the world on the bike for a few months or however long funds allow. Again, living as cheaply as possible, but travelling abroad on the bike to somewhere sunny.

Has anyone ever lived like this?

[fizzwheel]

Mod Edit : Title shortened so as page format not messed up

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Fizz

[Kinvig]

Then quit work and travel the world on the bike for a few months

Good man!

You'll need to figure out where you're going to go beforehand as this will dictate many, many things i.e. type of bike, panniers, tyres, budget, tiem of year to set off etc

horizons unlimited will be a good resource for loads of free info.

If you want I'll pm some info from the planning of my trip....but half the fun is figuring it all out for yourself and ignoring all the duff advice on the way!

[carty]

Sounds awesome, what if you can't get a job when you get back though?

[Jamiebridges123]

Good plan, but having showing your employers you keep leaving after a few months may be hard to get a decent paying job.. they like security in you..

[plowsie]

Or even better, go touring on the bike, sell all worldly possessions and find somewhere cheap to live when you stop off in a country, do some work there then set a date for moving on based on how much you are earning.

I have a friend who nobs off to Portugal or Australia for 6 months max each year and works there being paid and living it up on his days off. He loves it.

[Swin]

So I could work hard for say 3 months, doing all the overtime available. Living as cheaply as possible and no luxuries. And just the odd bimble on the bike. Saving up as much as possible

Then quit work and travel the world on the bike for a few months or however long funds allow. Again, living as cheaply as possible, but travelling abroad on the bike to somewhere sunny.

Has anyone ever lived like this?

A guy who worked for MoD with me a few years back used to take advantage of the career breaks you can take. He'd work for a couple of years, save up as you mentioned in your post, then take a years career break and go travelling.
On the upside, you have a job to go back to as MoD (used to) keep a position open to you. On the downside, it might not be the same job you left.
Not sure if they have this scheme any more, they seem to be more keen on paying us all off into private industry or early severance!

[DarrenSV650S]

You'll need to figure out where you're going to go beforehand as this will dictate many, many things i.e. type of bike, panniers, tyres, budget, tiem of year to set off etc
To be honest I'd rather not plan the touring and just see what happens.

Sounds awesome, what if you can't get a job when you get back though?
Well that's the worry. I think I'd have to keep some money back in case it is a while before I get another job

Good plan, but having showing your employers you keep leaving after a few months may be hard to get a decent paying job.. they like security in you..
True but there could be unlimited company's if I'm not tied down to one area and can move quickly and easily. Agency work is an option

Or even better, go touring on the bike, sell all worldly possessions and find somewhere cheap to live when you stop off in a country, do some work there then set a date for moving on based on how much you are earning.
Now this sounds like a good idea. I like the sound of that

[Jamiebridges123]

I mean I really like idea but I think in the real world it's just not really practical... eventually after about 6 jobs of being there for 3 months, eventually employers will ask "You seem to work for a few months then you're out of work for a few months, why?" and then you'll say "I bugger off on my bike" and they'll tell you to do just that..

May I suggest looking for a job as a motorcycle journalist? Some of the better RiDE, BIKE, Superbike/fastbike mag journalists get free travel to some of the worlds best roads to test the latest machinery... so you can ride while you ride....and get paid for it! You don't even really need that much experience, as long as you're a bike enthuisiat, can type and have a sense of humour and can review things, it's for you..Cha-ching.

If you are wanting to start I suggest you sign up to ciao.co.uk or similar and start review products, you can earn money (I earnt £8 lmao!) and also lets you know how your reviewing skills are as people will suggest what you did good and wrong.

[Red Herring]

Go to www.loisontheloose.com and read some of her tales, now that's an adventure. I just wish i had that kind of bottle, and the freedom to use it!

[dizzyblonde]

you could find a job like mine, where you work for nine months, get salaried for 12, and have 3 months 'living like a bum on paid holiday' :-)

[Dicky Ticker]

Write a book of your exploits and when the cash from that comes in do a follow up.
Sort of never ending continuous story

[Kinvig]

you could find a job like mine, where you work for nine months, get salaried for 12, and have 3 months 'living like a bum on paid holiday' :-)


let me guess...tube driver?

[Mr Speirs]

Sounds like you want a seasonal job or be self employed.

[davepreston]

let me guess...tube driver?
no she's a umpalumpa in willy wonka's factory :) (its true)

[Bibio]

how about fruit picking in France/Italy/Spain. you usually only get lodgings/food for doing the work but hey you will be in a nice warm country with great roads and meet loads of new people... as long as you have enough cash for gas, then it could be good fun...

i thought about this when i was younger and never done it.. i wish i had now

[madness]

Last year in Thailand I met a Yorkshireman who's be travelling South East Asia for about the last 20 years. He gets bits of work and when he wants a change of scenery he moves on to someplace new. He's had lots of adventures and has written (Badly!) a bit of a book. He sells the book to anyone who'll buy it and this helps finance his trip a little. He's got to be at least 50 now, and when I met him he had no intention of stopping travelling. If you're going to do it, then you need to go before things like serious relationships, mortgages, careers and kids put a stop to your ideas.

[arcdef]

how about fruit picking in France/Italy/Spain. you usually only get lodgings/food for doing the work but hey you will be in a nice warm country with great roads and meet loads of new people... as long as you have enough cash for gas, then it could be good fun...

i thought about this when i was younger and never done it.. i wish i had now

can you really do this still? Is it just a case of turning up at farms and asking for work? just seems too good to be true.