Looking for some financial/life advice. I’m 29 and recently divorced so I’m at your stereotypical crossroads in life where I feel like I need to make a big change. Here is my financial make up- house will be selling on December 1st and after the fees I should be walking away with $60,000. I have $26,000 series e bonds. I have $13,000 in my 403B account. I have about $15,000 in my state’s teacher retirement system. I have an additional $13,000 in my checkings and savings account. When my house sells I’ll be moving in with family until June, I teach kindergarten so that’s when my school year ends.
My current debts are a $300 car lease, $50 phone bill, gas/insurance for the car. My pre-tax bi-weekly take paycheck is about $2050. Between now and June I anticipate being able to save another $1800 for my 403B, another $2500 into my teacher retirement system and about $8000 in savings if not more.
I live in Vermont and I have been here my entire life. I feel like it’s time to get out and see more of the world. I’m currently planning on applying for a 1 year leave of absence from my teaching position, which may or may not be accepted. During that leave I’m hoping to get another teaching job in a different state. Hopefully, that will be easily accomplished as I’m a male with 8 years teaching experience, a Master’s degree and licensed for elementary education.
Part of my current struggle is figuring out where I’d like to explore. I’m interested in Virginia and Georgia as they have high teacher salaries and similar/lower cost of living compared to Vermont. Austin, Texas and San Diego also have their appeal along with the Pacific Northwest.
The other option I’m considering is taking the leave of absence and traveling around the world. I’m just in the beginning stages of this research and trying to figure out realistically how much money I would need to make this happen without significantly handicapping my future. Hiking the Appalachian Trail or the Camino De Santiago would be amazing!
TL:DR- newly divorced looking to change up my life situation. Looking for pointers on financial strategy, finding a new place to live, taking a year leave of absence to travel the world. What would you do?
Submitted November 22, 2017 at 08:48AM by aemrich http://ift.tt/2iGHr3Z
