Quitting our jobs to travel the world wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision—it was something we carefully planned and executed over time. We wanted to make sure we did it right, optimizing not only for freedom and adventure but also for financial stability. So, before we handed in our resignation letters and set off on our global journey, we took a series of well-thought-out steps to ensure everything was aligned perfectly.
The first thing we did was choose the best time to quit our jobs. Walking out on a whim wasn’t an option, so we had to factor in when bonuses, incentives, and other financial perks would be paid out. We strategically timed our exit to make sure we didn’t miss out on any money coming our way. For us, it wasn’t just about quitting, but quitting at the right time. By setting a target quit date, we optimized the amount of money we had coming in, giving us a stronger financial cushion to kick-start our travels.
But it wasn’t only about money; we wanted to align our departure date with other major life changes, like our house rental agreement. This way, we’d leave work, home, and the country in one smooth transition. One of the trickiest parts of this whole plan was syncing up our quit date with our house rental. We didn’t want to keep paying rent for an empty apartment while we were off exploring the world, so we timed everything to make sure we could leave our home without any financial loose ends. We gave our landlord proper notice, lined up the end of our rental agreement with our departure date, and began preparing to move out. This involved a lot of administrative stuff, like terminating contracts for utilities and internet services, forwarding our mail, and dealing with all the little tasks that come with leaving a home behind.
Next up was figuring out how much we needed to budget. We did tons of research into the countries we wanted to visit, diving into details like the cost of living, accommodation options, transportation, and general expenses for each destination. We knew that not all countries are equal when it comes to travel costs—some places would stretch our budget further than others. So, we worked out a rough itinerary of where we wanted to go and when, adjusting based on seasonal factors like weather and tourist crowds. After all, there’s no point visiting certain places when they’re packed with people or during extreme weather conditions. This kind of research helped us figure out how much we’d need to save, and also gave us an idea of where to go first to make our money last longer.
Moving out also meant downsizing—a lot. Over the years, we had accumulated so much stuff that it was impossible to take everything with us. We decided to be ruthless about it. Anything we couldn’t part with was either sold, donated, or thrown away. We organized garage sales to sell the things we didn’t need anymore, which not only cleared out space but also put some extra cash in our pockets. It was refreshing to declutter and realize how little we actually needed for this new chapter of our lives. In the end, we managed to downsize everything we owned into just six boxes, which we stored with friends and family. This was a huge relief, knowing that everything important was safely tucked away, and we weren’t dragging unnecessary baggage into our travels.
Socially, it was important for us to say our goodbyes properly. We organized a series of events with friends and family to spend time with them before leaving. It wasn’t just a farewell—it was a chance to share our plans, gather support, and get excited about what was to come. These gatherings were emotional, of course, but they were also filled with joy and anticipation. It gave us a sense of closure, knowing that we had taken the time to connect with loved ones before embarking on this massive adventure.
Packing for long-term travel was another challenge. Since we’d be moving between countries with different climates, we had to be smart about what we packed. We checked the weather for the first few places we planned to visit and packed accordingly, aiming to keep our luggage as light as possible. This meant focusing on essentials and versatile clothing that could be layered or adapted to different situations. The last thing we wanted was to be weighed down by too much stuff. With careful planning, we managed to pack everything into carry-on-sized luggage, making it easier to travel overland, fly, and move around without too much hassle.
On the logistical side, we looked into visa requirements based on our passports. This was crucial because each country has different rules, and we didn’t want to get caught out by needing a visa at the last minute. We researched entry requirements, visa durations, and whether we could apply online or if we needed to visit embassies in person. For some countries, we realized we could only stay a limited time, so we had to plan accordingly, ensuring that our visas aligned with our travel schedule. This also gave us flexibility, knowing which countries we could easily hop in and out of without too much paperwork.
Finally, we scoured the internet for flight deals and ways to travel overland once we were abroad. We wanted to keep our transportation costs low, so we looked into budget airlines, bus routes, and trains to move between destinations. By doing this research in advance, we saved ourselves a lot of time and stress later on. Plus, it helped us get a clearer idea of how to structure our travels, knowing when it made sense to fly versus when we could take a scenic train ride or bus trip.In the end, quitting our jobs to travel the world was a major life change, but we made it happen by being strategic, organized, and thoughtful in our approach.
By aligning our quit dates with financial bonuses, carefully budgeting based on our research, timing everything with our rental, and managing all the logistics from packing to visas, we set ourselves up for success. It wasn’t always easy, but the freedom and excitement of what lay ahead made every step of the process worth it. Now, with just our bags in hand and a world of possibilities in front of us, we were ready to dive into our adventure.