Firstly I just want to say THANK YOU TIMES A MILLION to everyone who has offered their support via the blog, Twitter and in person following my post last week. The kind words of strangers never fail to amaze me. And yes, I got a little teary.
While most of the comments I’ve received have been positive, it’s entirely understandable that people will have questions or be a little bit baffled by the decision and think “what the hell is she playing at?” Firstly, it might seem sudden but it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. I’ve talked it over with Michael, my family and a few close friends and colleagues before deciding it was absolutely the best decision to make. Was it scary? Yes. Was it worth it? HELL YES!
Two and a half years ago, I embarked on a journey to stop spending and start saving. In that time I have learned to live with a lot less and developed a deep passion for saving money. I’ve learnt that some of the best things in life really are free (long walks, libraries, the company of good friends) and that some of the finer things in life (beautiful handbags, exotic holidays and shopping sprees) will never make me as wholeheartedly happy as I expect them to.
I am now in a place where less than 50% of my monthly income goes towards bills and food which means I can save a hell of a lot each month just by living frugally and avoiding unnecessary spending. Conversely, this means that I can also get by on a much smaller income. If I spent every penny I earn then it would be very difficult for me to quit my job without anything lined up straight away.
Living on a small income and saving anything extra has afforded me the opportunity to be flexible and to choose to live the life I want to. As I mentioned before, I genuinely have no idea what I’m going to do next. At this point in time I will be unemployed from January 6th. I will be looking for a new job, but I’m aware that finding the right one for me might take some time.
Regular readers will know that over the past year I’ve been saving for a house. The reality is that this money will now be a buffer for any time that I have to spend without work. I plan for my emergency fund to remain untouched. I’ve always considered that as backup for if I was forcefully unemployed. Choosing to be unemployed is a different matter. That £3000 will remain squirrelled away.
Without you guys I don’t think I’d be where I am right now, both financially and emotionally. I am thankful to everyone who has ever read and commented on this blog, offered support and for the entire personal finance community for inspiring and motivating me on a daily basis.
Holly, congratulations on your decision to leave your job! I’m glad you were brave enough to move on and search for something more fulfilling. I can identify here, because my family and I have just done a very similar thing. My husband left a well-paying but very unsatisfying job this summer. We moved to Scotland, where we have wanted to live for a very long time. People seem to have no idea how we were able to do this but the answer is we saved money like crazy! Having a cushion of money in the bank has allowed us the freedom of getting out of an unfavorable situation and allowed us the luxury of choice in our lives. Now he’s attending a graduate program at university and looking for a job too. Yes it’s scary to start a new career path. And yes, it’s scary to watch our money amount tick down instead of ticking up. But, we are very happy with our decision!
Best of luck to you!
Yay for you!
That feeling of freedom, like you don’t need to carry dead weight around and that your life is YOURS again — that’s one of the best feelings ever.
I felt it when I stopped uni, when I stopped one business to start another, and again just yesterday when I mentally let go of a project that I’ve thought I “should” do for a long time.
I want to follow the joy instead of the fear. The challenge is having faith that this new spaciousness means something will fill it that works for me. And I think as long as I follow my joy, it’ll happen. I’m sure it will for you, too.
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Power to you.
I wish I had reached your decision about life at such a youthful age. However better late than………My massive ability to consume has been put to rest and I now enjoy the thrill of seeing how little I can spend. Mean?…some might say but but I think we may have the last laugh!!!!
I wish you well. Diana
Honestly it’s so neat to have read your old blog and now see how much you’ve been able to change your own perception of happiness just by being true to yourself! Good for you, for real
Congratulations on leaving your job. I hope things work out for the best!!
All the best Holly! I just quit my contract too in order to write a second book. Am crapping myself but I too think it’s the best decision for me. I hope both y7ou and I will look back on our respective quittings and think it was the best thing we ever did.
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