PREPARATION

Before Downshifting

'D-Day'

From Master - Slave

There are certain things you have to ask yourself before going ahead. You don't maybe need to be 100% sure about some things, but as near as you can is good.

If you plan to downshift in say one years time, that's an ideal
time. It gives you a chance to get your financial plans in order
and why not begin there and then to begin living a little more
frugaly etc.
This will prepare the mindset. Look at a few of the following;

1. Do I need the car I have, would a smaller one be better ?
2. Can I start becoming a bit self-reliant in say the garden ?
3. Could I start finding a few extra little jobs so I have a 'client base' ?
4. Try cheaper Christmas and birthday presents (watch the reaction !!)
5. Start being more economical with fuel and telephone bills etc.

That's just for starters and bare in mind I'm writing this in view that you are going to take a pay drop.

I've known some people who have downshifted yet are now earning more than they did before. Their 'downshift' simply led to a different career path in which they are quite happy. Sobeit.

It's a case of sitting down one evening with your partner and writing down all your daily, weekly, monthly and yearly costs and seeing what areas are necessary, not so, or not atall. It's surprising but when I actually sat down and looked more deeply into my Bank Statements I found there were direct debits for things I never used, like subscriptions to an organisation which sent me two magazines and a Christmas Card every year. Totally un-necessary

By doing this you will find that your view on things will change. £10 doesn't mean £10 anymore, it means 100 miles worth of petrol. For me, it means 4 weeks of chicken food for my 13 chickens etc.

Downshifting is not a cure for stress because there still are stresses believe me, but they are stresses you've not experienced before albeit mainly financial.
Getting a feel of the lifestyle change will be hugely beneficial in the long run and give you a much better start when 'D Day' comes.

I am wealthy in heart but not so much in the Bank. I put the bank bit solely down to preparation and maybe thinking it was going to be an easy ride. Now, eight years on, I am getting to grips with it, forming more of an on-going plan and there's light at the end of the financial tunnel.

One last good holiday won't go amiss. It's seeing out the old and in with the new!

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Preparation