BootsnAll Travel Community

I leave for a 3 month trip to Europe in 2 weeks. I'm giddy like a school girl, but I may die before the trip begins. For the past 5 months, I've been working 70hrs/wk to save up about $6,000.

Is anyone else doing this? I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's hard... mostly because I'm afraid I won't know what to do with all the freedom.

Cheers.

Wow - and more power to you.

I did a couple of months of sixty hours or so last year, divided between two "stand on your feet" jobs with early morning and evening shifts. And I didn't even save - it was more of being back from travelling, not having worked during that time, and deciding what to do next. It may have affected my judgement

Working that much is very hard.

I'm sure it will be nice to stop! And I'm also sure you'll adjust to new free time well. Enjoy your trip!

I worked two jobs from Sept - December: one as an IT analyst and one part-time as a waitress (2 different worlds haha). It was hard. I was tired all the time, but after the fact I am so happy I decided to do that. Sept-Dec were gone in a flash and I was able to pay my car off.

It is tough but worth it... keep the big picture in mind :-)
I plan on working a second job for the month of April and then again from Sept-Dec this year. I'm with ya - Doin' it all for the love of travel!!

I work two jobs and it is a nightmare...but I am having to really concentrate now on trying to save for a RTW which I am hoping to do in 2 year's time...

I work during the day as an Administrator and then I have an evening job which luckily I can choose my own hours for...so it's great...

But I basically work 9am - 2am every day (with breaks, obviously)...but I end up working on weekends as well...so I work approx 70-75 hours a week...

It can be a nightmare but it is Soooooo worth it when I get to travel and have fun!!

So go for it...!!

I was working about 60 hrs a week for several months. Sadly, only because we were swamped at work- which means no OT.

Though the thought of a long trip is great motivation. That is my arguement just keeping my one job!

I worked 70-80 hours a week the entire summer after graduation and paid off 10,000 in credit cards. I didn't get to travel w/ the money, but I felt much freer after it was over. And then any extra money I could spend on myself/travel, without feeling guilty.

Plus, when you spend all your time working, you don't have time to spend your money anyway!

It's not uncommon for me to put in long work weeks. Working six 10 hour days and then 4 or 5 hours on the 7th day I find perfectly manageable for quite a few months on end. It still allows me to exercise, eat right, etc. But then I generally take 2-3 months off every year as well. So, it tends to balance out for what I want out of life.

I've also:

- worked over 100 days in a row on 4 separate occasions
- worked 103 hours in one week before

Anyway, enjoy your trip. I think you'll find the extra hours you've put in to make it happen worthwhile.

I will be leaving for Europe the end of April for a 2 month trip. My full-time job contract ended abruptly the beginning of Feb. so I scrambled to find a job. I am now working 3 seperate part time jobs equaling 60 hours a week plus I go to school at night. My hours are all screwy working mid-shift during the week at one job. A couple of overnight shifts during the week at another job plus working both weekend days and I have school on Tuesday. It is crazy but worth the fact that once I leave I will have money. It is also helping to pay of the few little bills I had left to pay before I leave.

I don't think you will have any problem finding things to keep you busy. Have fun! Perhaps we will meet each other during our travels!

S-

Thanks for all the replys. I am pretty satisfied with my bank balance right now. It is harder to spend money when you're constantly work work working.

Ah, only two more weeks left!

I think having a second job is the best way to save for an rtw. I've been working for the same inventory company on and off for the last 8.5 years. I started there because my dad was the district manager. After I moved to NYC and got my first full time job a few years ago I kept working for my dad on occational weekends just for a bit of extra cash. When I started saving for the rtw I transfered to the NYC district (the company is country wide) so that I could work more often. This job has contributed huge amounts to my savings. Its nice that I'm no long at the normal starting wage of about $8, but make quite a bit more now. It's also quite seasonal. So I kill myself in January between the two jobs. This last year I hit 111 hours in one week! I don't know how I was still standing after that, but I know it has to be the drive and desire I have for my trip. Now its to a more normal 65 or so hours a week. I definitly encourge anyone to save this way.

All work and no time to play makes for a fat bank balance - you will not regret the lightness it gives you when you go travelling.

quote:

Originally posted by chrissy2k5:
Plus, when you spend all your time working, you don't have time to spend your money anyway!

Exactly.

I've been working two jobs for a couple months now and will continue to do so until my next trip.

Now when I think about going out into the city on a Friday night, I have to remember, not only will it cost me the $50 that I will spend; it is also costing me the $100 that I could earn that night if I worked instead. So, in total, I'm out $150 just for another typical, forgettable night out.

After I finish school I plan to work this much for a few months... not looking forward to it. This summer I'm also working 40+ hours a week (lots of overtime) and finishing my last two uni courses. I hope I don't die!!!

quote:

Originally posted by willis:

quote:

Originally posted by chrissy2k5:
Plus, when you spend all your time working, you don't have time to spend your money anyway!

Exactly.

I've been working two jobs for a couple months now and will continue to do so until my next trip.

Now when I think about going out into the city on a Friday night, I have to remember, not only will it cost me the $50 that I will spend; it is also costing me the $100 that I could earn that night if I worked instead. So, in total, I'm out $150 just for another typical, forgettable night out.

Thirded.

I am working three jobs right now, with no traveling in sight, but overall I'm loving it. I get to put money in the bank every week, NONE of my jobs are office jobs (a BIG victory for me!) and it's keeping me from going out and blowing money on nothing - surprisingly that's done a lot for my mood!

I know what you mean, about going from 70hr/week to no hours of work and wondering what you'll do. I think the most important thing is to make sure you keep your spending in check and don't sleep too much! Both of those things are major guilt-inducing things for me, and they tend to ruin the rest of my day/adventure. Just relax, have a good time, and be resonable!

quote:

Originally posted by halfnine:
It's not uncommon for me to put in long work weeks. Working six 10 hour days and then 4 or 5 hours on the 7th day I find perfectly manageable for quite a few months on end. It still allows me to exercise, eat right, etc. But then I generally take 2-3 months off every year as well. So, it tends to balance out for what I want out of life.

I've also:

- worked over 100 days in a row on 4 separate occasions
- worked 103 hours in one week before

Anyway, enjoy your trip. I think you'll find the extra hours you've put in to make it happen worthwhile.

What is it that you do???

...it's reading posts like this that uplift my spirits as I enter (and question my ability to deal with) the world of 60-80 hour and upwards work week... it does help to keep the larger goal (travel! RTW! Time off and freedom! Financial relief!) in mind.

quote:

What is it that you do???

These days I do contract work and bill hourly. The work tends to come in cycles from being really busy to not busy at all. When the work fades or gets delayed I just take time off.

It's beneficial for both me and the client. When they need a lot of work done and fast, I just come in and work whatever it takes to get it done. When they don't have any work, well there is no shortage of places to travel.

I have worked my a** off to pay off debt, and to save for travel. It was worth it, but it was also a huge sacrifice to put living on hold. God, I love to travel, but I also love to live my life in the here and now....life doesn't suddenly start in a village in Laos or on a peak in the Andes. It's right here.
I'm reminded of an Italian woman I once met. She was from Venice and she was always surprised when Americans or Brits wanted to rent damp Venetian apartments for the summer. She told me she wanted to move to San Diego and shop at huge supermarkets and watch 100 channels on TV....the grass is always greener, right?

I believe many people work 40+ for many reasons. I worked two jobs for the last 5 years. But I'm taking a sabatical from the part time to just rest!! I'm getting burned out. But it has afforded me to visit places and support myself when times got really ruff!
So good luck to all that work extremely hard! Just keep looking at the goals you will achieve! But don't forgot to rest just a bit!

i'm starting my 70 hrs/week again this week... woooo

Working 70 hours a week if you're compensated for 70 hours a week sounds like a good deal. Where I work, there's kind of an obsessive-compulsive overachiever culture among a few of the employees. One was bragging how she worked so many more hours than were recorded on her time sheet. That's beyond silly in my book. And she always gives me dirty looks for not coming in on my days off for meetings (she does). Oh, well. I'm pretty good at shutting my "work brain" off as soon as I leave.