A couple who quit their jobs at 40 and took a gap year have revealed what they liked and didn’t like about life on the road.
Iris and Dave De Herdt decided to take a year off at the ages of 40 and 42 respectively, after being exhausted by the rat race and seized by the eagerness to explore the world.
The trip required careful planning and preparation, with Iris choosing to take a year’s unpaid leave while Dave, an engineer, handed in his notice.
It took them about a year to plan the itinerary for their vacation, during which time the couple was able to come up with a budget
The trip required careful planning and preparation, with Iris choosing to take a year’s unpaid leave while Dave, an engineer, handed in his notice of termination.
Although the couple made the effort to come up with a fairly strict budget, Iris says she never felt like she and Dave were missing out or fighting over money while they were away.
It took them about a year to plan the itinerary for their vacation, during which time the couple was able to come up with a budget.
Since neither of them wanted to work during their trip, they had to take daily expenses into account while saving and paying for the trip.
‘We did a lot of research to see how much this would all cost. It really depends on where you want to go, your expectations and your comfort level,” Iris said in an interview with The Telegraph.
‘We had already decided that we wanted to take our bikes and camping gear with us, which allowed us to keep our expenses quite low.
‘We started by creating an overall budget, split into flights – €10,000 (£8,700 at today’s exchange rate), which we stuck to – and a daily budget of €50 (£43.40). We ended up with €55, which isn’t bad for either of us. The more expensive countries, such as New Zealand, were offset by the cheaper countries such as Laos.
Somewhat surprisingly – given the extent of their travels – the couple found an all-encompassing, world trip cheaper than living in Britain.
‘I’ve realized that traveling in South America can be cheaper than just staying at home and working. Life can be so expensive in Western Europe,” she added.
Despite the benefits of budget-friendliness, Iris did say that there were certain aspects of the trip that she did not enjoy, and that she would change the way she stayed abroad if given a second chance.
‘It was the best year of my life, but I wouldn’t do it the same way again. I really missed having a place where I could be home, where I could hang out, and traveling every day and meeting new people was actually quite a challenge,” says Iris.
Although the pair made an effort to come up with a fairly strict budget, Iris says she never felt like she and Dave were missing out, or struggling for money while they were away.
‘We never felt like we had to be careful. The great thing about traveling by bike is that it’s cheap to get around, and it makes it easier to find non-touristy places, which are usually cheaper. Plus, we had our camping gear with us, so we camped wherever we could.”
The couple were so inspired by the friendly welcome they received during their travels – which saw them visit Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru – that Dave decided to opt for a completely new career challenge upon his return
After returning, they wondered why everyone in Britain seemed to be constantly ‘in a bad mood’, leading Dave to shun engineering and become a swimming instructor and lifeguard.
While it may not seem like the wisest decision, Iris is relaxed about the situation and what the future holds for her and Dave.
The couple were so inspired by the friendly welcome they received during their travels – which saw them visit Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru – that Dave decided to opt for a completely new career challenge upon his return.
After returning, they wondered why everyone in Britain seemed to be constantly ‘in a bad mood’, leading Dave to shun engineering and become a swimming instructor and lifeguard.
While it may not seem like the wisest decision, Iris is relaxed about the situation and what the future holds for her and Dave.
“Financially that’s not the smartest thing to do since he’s going to cut his salary in half, but whatever,” she said.