Publisher's Synopsis
Fed up with the rat race? Tired of working long hours, travelling long distances and missing out on the important things in life? Downshift examines the options available to those who seek to redress the balance between work and life. From job-sharing and flexible hours to a more radical reassessment of your whole career, the book looks at the financial and practical implications of each choice. How will a new lifestyle affect your income and outgoings, savings, tax position, pension, and prospects? Can you afford to work fewer hours? Could you get by on less? The book explains the likely trade-offs, risks and rewards. Recognising that every individual has different requirements, the book avoids prescriptive solutions. It combines case studies with self-assessment exercises, suggesting a range of choices and pointing readers towards useful sources of further information.;Topics covered include changing your job or career, taking a career break or sabbatical, working part-time or from home, telecommuting and job-sharing, becoming successfully self-employed, pension planning and the implications of early retirement, managing your finances and property to maximise your assets plus low-cost housing and communal living.
