Older adults please answer. Is it true that you will always have time to make money or travel in the future?

Question

Hi guys. I am in a dilemna. I want to go study abroad , I want to go because I wanted to go for a while and also , I feel like its a good time because I just got out of a relationship (depressed), and I've never traveled. However, i just got promoted at my job so I'm making more money and I definently can use that money for bills and buying the stuff I finally want to buy. The trip is going to cost me 3-4 G's and if I stay (and don't go) I can make 3-4 G's. So I know, you can always travel later....and make money NOW! Or you can make money now, and travel later. Just from experience or hearsay, do you guys think I should GO? Or should I make money and travel LATER? Bottom line is this: If i go i gain growth, independence, and going outside of the sitation (ex bf) but i lose job, and 3G's. If i stay, i can suck it up and work my way up to being better again (not depressed)., and save money, travel later.

Honestly, what should I do?

sorry guys, forgot to add that i will be quitting the work soon (not my career, although im making the money). So ill be starting at the bottom of the bucket somewhere else.

Answer 1

ALWAYS choose GO! Here is the problem with your theory of future travel...you never know what the situation will be in the future. You may have a boyfriend or husband or child or dog or family member...who depends on you. Right now, you only have one person depending on you. Also, you say you will take the money and buy things. When you buy things, they accumulate. When they accumulate...you need a bigger place to live. When you have a bigger place...you have many more bills.
The point is...in the future, on purpose or by accident...job, relationships, bills...will probably crush you and travel will just no longer be an option. And that is just the PRACTICAL reason...

The more romantic reason...is that travel always changes you...99% of the time...for the better. You learn about independence...freedom...culture...beauty...
There is SO much out there and so many people to meet. It makes no difference where you travel to...it will be different...it will force you to make quick decisions...you'll learn things about yourself that you never knew...
I had been to 41 of the United States...by the time I was 22. I got my license at 16 and never looked back. The more I travelled, the more confident I got...the more my parents trusted me...and the more friends I made. And I honestly don't think I would be the person I am today, if it wasn't for travel. It helped me understand how different people lived...how things that were absolutely AMAZING to me...were places they had never been. It was local...they would get around to it.
ANYWAY...GO! I had also been to 6 European countries by that age...and they were even more amazing. Like you, I wasn't rich...but I would work my *** off for 6-8 months, or during school...and travel the rest...trust me...it will change your whole outlook on life AND help get you over your depression. New scenery ALWAYS helps....
Now, I have too many responsibilities to go anywhere...and THAT my friend...is truly depressing...because some day you will be in my chair...and wonder...why didn't I travel more when I had the chance...GL...Kes

Answer 2

You cannot run from your problems. No matter where you go, they follow. They're inside your head. It's best to make money now while you're young so that you'll have that much more when you're older. You may not even live long enough to get old, so I'd say stay w/ your job, where the money flows. Travel when you're retired. You'll havew plenty of time then. Most places won't hire someone in their 50's or older.

Answer 3

I'm really confused. If you will lose your job, you should not travel. However, if that is not going to happen, I would say travel now. Seize the moment and the opportunity. I am looking for a job now...I've traveled a lot and have been very fortunate. So I'm ready to buckle down. Traveling is a great way to expand your horizons and stop being depressed.

Answer 4

To shatter this sorry state of affairs entire and mould it closer to our hearts desire So it was in my young head 60 years ago and many other young men to and so it should be. Ideals have rules though some of the young forget the 1 rule is cause no harm [the ends do not justify the means] to ones self as well as others the drop out helps no one the fanatic who burns the cars changes nothing the idealist who joins the party surrenders his soul In a harsh world there is only one thing you can do as Shake spear has it "To thine own self be true" that is the only real power you have and may ever have so use it well read Kipling's "IF" you can be a man my son and the whole world will know of you as such You know the Ethics so if you can live them do it most of us failed in the end many I mixed with who were going to change the world 2 actually became heads of state found they could do nothing much like your obama So they got the cheers then the jeers I can not see inside their heads to see if they think it was worth it but from where I sit they failed themselves so back to the point "Man has learnt to fly in the sky like a bird swim under the sea like a fish all he needs do now is to walk on the earth like a man " and that you can do G-Day and good luck from down under

Answer 5

Go. It will change you as a person. It will also broaden your perspective and make you more employable. So in the long run it will benefit you economically as well. Any discerning employer will be more impressed by someone who went abroad to study than by someone who stayed at home.

It gets harder to go abroad (for long periods anyway) the older you get. You get tied down with property, children, mortgages, pension plans or whatever. So go for it. You won't regret it. And try to live in a culture that is as different from yours as possible. E.g. if you live in North America, get out of North America. Or if you live in Europe, get out of Europe. Etc.

But you obviously need to live while you're studying abroad. So if you can't rely on a grant or employment while you're studying, you need to save enough to see you through that time. Only you can work out how much that will be.

Actually studying abroad is a good way to experience a different culture.

Don't rely on being able to travel when you retire, if you live that long. People born around now may expect to live to over a hundred. Younger people won't want to support them. Retirement will be a thing of the past when you hit what is now considered to be retirement age.

BTW, you can go to Australia or Mars and you won't solve the bf situation until you find that completeness in yourself rather than looking for it in another person. (And paradoxically, that's when the other person often comes along...)

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

hi, don't ya hate dilemmas?
travel kid..........do it now........my hubby and i always said we would have our family while we were young, grow up with them, and do the camping and family travels while we were young and we did.
we believe that if you have children then you 'suffer' for them, we did without a lot of things in order to allow me to stay home and raise our two kids. i went back to work part time when they were in their senior years of high school, and went back full time when they were grown. we have no regrets having done that - we don't have all the toys and bells and whistles other folk our age have, they worked throughout their children's lives and they have lots of 'extras'. to each his own i say. there is no right way or wrong way of living, its your way that matters.
once i was back to work full time we thought we would save money for a few years and when we retired we would travel. all across our own country and then europe and beyond. so we both worked and four years before retirement my husband had a heart attack, and very nearly died. he suffered a stroke shortly after that and has continued health issues. that ended any thoughts of travelling around in our senior years.
we have a good life, we have each other, our family, good friends, but we never travelled. the only regret we have is that. and you know what? it doesn't matter to me as long as we have each other, but i know it bothers my husband that he will never get out of oz and see the world.
so kid.......travel.........all the best laid plans......all the dreams, can come crashing down on your head pretty quick. do it now while you are young and enjoy yourself!
and send us a postcard! lol good luck to you!

Answer 7

You have no guarantee of what tomorrow will bring. my sister was 24 yrs old had plans to go to Hawaii and had plans to have children. She was murdered. If you can swing it financially, go study. see some things and don't worry about what tomorrow may or may not bring. I say live every day to its fullest. Love those in your life as if there will be no tomorrow and then when you are old and grey you will have all these wonderful memories and not wonder about all the "what ifs". Good Luck and take care.

Answer 8

Make money now travel later the destination is not going anywhere it will still be there later and the opportunity to make money will not.

Answer 9

Ask you self which decision will you regret the most in 10 years and do the other. We tend to regret the things we didn't do more than the things we did do but which were a mistake.

Answer 10

go! and make new friends....once you're there get you a 401-k ,,i think you know what that is...(retirement fund) that way you can retire at an early age and travel without having work pressures...