| There are many who say that downshifting is | | | | Choose the worst scenario and live like that for a |
| something someone does in their 50's when they | | | | while. I spent almost two years building up my |
| can afford to take out their good early pension | | | | dream and the day itself was like walking from |
| and play around in other things. | | | | one room into another. |
| I'm sure there are people to whom this applies | | | | Finance |
| but not all. | | | | This is always going to be the ugly bit. Often, |
| My pension is one third per annum of what my | | | | because of 'agism' , people are forced into a kind |
| rent, council tax, electricity, phone and water bills | | | | of downshifting situation. You're over 50, lost your |
| come to ! Then comes the road tax. MOT, | | | | good job and the only thing going is a shop |
| Insurance for the van and public liability etc.. This is | | | | assistants job. But if you've planned it, the pain is |
| before eating as well! | | | | less. |
| Downshifting is also, too often, associated only | | | | Again, work out a pretty awful scenario for your |
| with people packing up the city and buying a | | | | first year and work a business plan around it. I'm |
| smallholding to 'play farming'. Well, I've heard of | | | | sure the Bank have seen it all before when the |
| various instances; the Stockbroker who brought a | | | | happy smiling downshifter walks in and says' yeah, |
| Model Railway Shop, the BT Manager who's now | | | | no problem mate' !! You show them the worse |
| a Weaver and the successful up-market Car | | | | situation and you will avoid the offers of Bank |
| Salesman who now runs a village store. Every | | | | loans which are all too easy not to refuse. |
| one has their own 'Good Life'. | | | | I had some savings and put away the first years |
| We can't escape the fact that the most | | | | rent on my property. I used this until such time I |
| important thing to consider before making any | | | | didn't need it - it acted as a cushion and lessened |
| move is financial. It's probably this which makes it | | | | some of the worrying. |
| more possible to downshift if you've accrued a | | | | Gone are the regular cheques coming in and in are |
| good private pension over some years. | | | | the cash flow problems and waiting for the |
| It's a combination of 'what do I want' and 'what | | | | money. I go on the 'think small' theory. The larger |
| have I got'. | | | | companies take ages to pay you but if you've |
| Certainly, I would never advise anyone simply | | | | downshifted into the public service domain, make |
| giving it all up one day without a period of planning | | | | sure you get the 'pay as you work' jobs. This has |
| and thinking. | | | | been my main problem and I now try to plan |
| Let's go into some of the subject matters; | | | | weeks where I'm working half invoice and half |
| Why ? | | | | paid on completion jobs. |
| Some people thrive on the stress and strains of | | | | You can also lessen the blow by having a |
| the 'fast lane' and those types are important | | | | part-time job as well. Although you might be |
| because without them we'd all be Basket | | | | earning less pro rata than doing the real job, it's a |
| Weavers ! | | | | steady income you know you're going to get. |
| But for some, it's going with the flow when deep | | | | Pride |
| down we have an itch to really do something we | | | | I've put this in because I think we all have ego's |
| want to do. We have a dream and this dream | | | | and it's perfectly natural. |
| becomes stronger until such time as the existing | | | | You've had umpteen years of saying "I'm a senior |
| job just becomes routine , affects our health and | | | | manager with 200 staff, a company car and a |
| often the family life as well. | | | | holiday in Africa every year". Now you're saying |
| This is when the urge kicks in, sitting on a train | | | | "I'm a gardener and odd job man". |
| which is 30 minutes late after a 12 hour day in | | | | Surely quality of life is happiness, contentment and |
| the office where you've achieved nothing or you | | | | going to bed saying "I like this". If you've got that, |
| have achieved something and got no thanks for it. | | | | you are a proud and privilaged person. |
| You want the right of life to lead your own | | | | But it is something to consider. |
| destiny - life is not a practice run. | | | | Summary |
| At the end of the day, only you know 'why'. | | | | For seven years I loved my job on the railway, I |
| Family and Friends | | | | worked with many fantastic people who made |
| It's no good doing it if the family can't come along | | | | me laugh, made me work well and motivated me |
| as well and you have the full backing of them, | | | | into doing, what I felt, a pretty good job. Before |
| especially your partner. With them on board, | | | | the railway I constantly had work which I liked |
| you're more than half way there because they | | | | doing - I was lucky I guess. |
| will enjoy your enthusiasm, share your ups, share | | | | But I always said, the day I wake up and say "Oh |
| your downs and it'll be for you all and not just for | | | | God, I've got to go to work today", I'd give up |
| you. | | | | and find something else. |
| If you're in a really well paid job and and your | | | | Nothing against anyone on the railway (well, |
| socialising reflects this, you'll soon find who your | | | | except one or two!), that day came and it wasn't |
| real friends are ! I've lost a few but I've gained so | | | | a one off. I was thinking it every morning and it |
| many. Most will think you've 'thrown a wobbly' but | | | | became apparent in my health and wellbeing. That |
| - so what !!! | | | | was the trigger. |
| Planning | | | | It says in the 'Good Book', 'If you wait for the |
| If you're in work and pretty safe, you've got | | | | wind and for the rain to be just right, you will |
| loads of time to plan. This is where the frugality | | | | never sow anything or harvest anything'. |
| comes in. You can start start living the life you will | | | | So no time is exactly the right time but you can |
| be after the event. Slowly build that up until, when | | | | get pretty close to it by thinking it through. |
| the change happens, you won't notice it so much. | | | | I'd never go back !! |