Exit Plans?

[SussexSeagull]

I imagine with the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, a few of the evangelists for moving out there might be reappraising the benefits of living in the UK.

[willendure]

This.
The thread started out with "what are your exit plans?", but as is common with some, it's turned into "how do I pay minimum tax?"
Exit plans should revolve around what you love, what you want, what you enjoy.

If money is more important to you than having a life, then the thread is "ho do I avoid paying tax?"
If you have family, or a desire not to be the richest body in a graveyard, then exit plans should be about how you want to enjoy time with people who matter, and time doing things that make a positive difference to others.

But, as I say, personal plans revolve around what you love, and if money is what you love, choose a soft currency to stuff in your mattress.

You are right of course. But money is a factor too. No point in getting out without enough funds to stay out.

I'm genuinely interested in hearing about peoples exit plans even aside from the money aspect.

[WTFH]

You are right of course. But money is a factor too. No point in getting out without enough funds to stay out.

I'm genuinely interested in hearing about peoples exit plans even aside from the money aspect.

My exit plans revolve around what I love, what I enjoy, what I want to do, how I will spend my time, who it is with, what I will be doing and can I make a positive impact on others.

I worked with a guy who had calculated that if he got to 55 with £10million in the bank he could retire, his son would get the best education and he and his wife could go on any holidays they wanted.
He worked all the hours he could, regularly doing 12 hour days 6-7 days a week. All chasing the £10m.
His wife left him before he turned 50. He was so busy chasing money "for their retirement" that he forgot to spend time and effort on his family. His son is now a bit of a spoiled brat - dad makes up for lost time by throwing money at the problem, it's too late to try parenting.

You never get time back, once it's gone, it's gone. You can't re-live missed experiences with family, and you don't know when you are going to say your last goodbye to them.

I realise I have a completely different outlook to many, but you did ask.

[sadkingbilly]

That's why i've been semi-retired for so long.
take gigs when they look interesting/don't require travel or any real aggro.
don't buy into the 'look how successful i am' mindset of some.
I've enough for my needs/entertainments, and i don't need the flash cars/BTL's/other bullsh1t that fills the lives of some here.

[SussexSeagull]

I worked with a guy in the final throes of the era when you could have a job life regardless of your talent and ability (and he was really quite useless) and all he ever talked about was his pension and retiring early. The company got taken over and he was made redundant and was able to crack open his pension.

Died within two years of cancer.

Good to financially prepare for the future and to maximise the money in return for your labour but don't forget about the here and now.

[Dorkeaux]

You are right of course. But money is a factor too. No point in getting out without enough funds to stay out.

I'm genuinely interested in hearing about peoples exit plans even aside from the money aspect.

I had taken your original post to mean "What is your career plan B when IT contracting isn't viable for you?".
Mostly, when people talk about ambition they only mean as it applies to your career. Isn't that weird?

Since you ask, when I stop contracting there is a long list of ambitions and projects that have been waiting too long.

I'm a passable musician, I want to learn more instruments and play out more.
More hanging out with my wife, visiting family, biking, paragliding, learn Greek, skiing, dancing better, drinking beer with my mates, diving, reading, luthiery, origami, brewing and distilling, cooking, building sound gear, motorcyclng, repairing our house, hanging out with my Godson.. I can go on.

[courtg9000]

I had taken your original post to mean "What is your career plan B when IT contracting isn't viable for you?".
Mostly, when people talk about ambition they only mean as it applies to your career. Isn't that weird?

Since you ask, when I stop contracting there is a long list of ambitions and projects that have been waiting too long.

I'm a passable musician, I want to learn more instruments and play out more.
More hanging out with my wife, visiting family, biking, paragliding, learn Greek, skiing, dancing better, drinking beer with my mates, diving, reading, luthiery, origami, brewing and distilling, cooking, building sound gear, motorcyclng, repairing our house, hanging out with my Godson.. I can go on.

Very good way to look at it.

[willendure]

I had taken your original post to mean "What is your career plan B when IT contracting isn't viable for you?".
Mostly, when people talk about ambition they only mean as it applies to your career. Isn't that weird?

I think I just mean what is your plan to get out of IT contracting in any way whether through choice or being unable to find work to continue. Some might retire, some might have other business plans, some might go perm, move abroad...

[ladymuck]

I worked with a guy in the final throes of the era when you could have a job life regardless of your talent and ability (and he was really quite useless) and all he ever talked about was his pension and retiring early. The company got taken over and he was made redundant and was able to crack open his pension.

Died within two years of cancer.

Good to financially prepare for the future and to maximise the money in return for your labour but don't forget about the here and now.

Where is the GhostofTarbera when you need him? His philosophy has always been that you're a long time deid.

[oliverson]

I worked with a guy in the final throes of the era when you could have a job life regardless of your talent and ability (and he was really quite useless) and all he ever talked about was his pension and retiring early. The company got taken over and he was made redundant and was able to crack open his pension.

Died within two years of cancer.

Good to financially prepare for the future and to maximise the money in return for your labour but don't forget about the here and now.

That's why i've been semi-retired for so long.
take gigs when they look interesting/don't require travel or any real aggro.
don't buy into the 'look how successful i am' mindset of some.
I've enough for my needs/entertainments, and i don't need the flash cars/BTL's/other bullsh1t that fills the lives of some here.

My god, I never thought I'd agree with you but you've got it bang on!

Agreeing with the other posts too on the classic 'deferred life' programme. Obsessed with stashing money away for retirement that you may never see, or not see much of it.

I've been doing a LOT of soul searching recently. I mean, A LOT.

Sat here, like the rest of you, getting stressed out at not being able to find work, but in my case, stressed out at not being able to find work I don't actually want!! I mean, how ****ed up is that? Only for money.

So, the missus and I have decided just to sell the Spanish place and I'll focus on my shoebox of plan B's that never get off the ground, either because I'm in contract or because I'm obsessed with finding a new contract.

I think you've got it right here sadkingbilly, maybe dip my toe in and out of the market, take something interesting if it comes along but if it doesn't, I'm working on my own products. Perhaps plan on 3-6 months of contract work per year to keep the wolves from the door, modest car lease, golf club membership, etc.

It's very clear to me now that my old business model of 240 billable days per annum, outside IR35, is long gone and actually, thank god for that.