Want to take a year out but unsure whether it’s right for you? Claire Muffett-Reece talks pros, cons and essential advice
“From different religions to different foods and even how people interact, you’ll expand your knowledge, as well as people you meet learning about your own country and culture”
“First when it comes to reducing costs on a gap year is to do some proper research”
“Check out any free museums, galleries, festivals or other cultural events, letting you still enjoy experiences but without having to fork out excess cash.
Facts/stats
On average, 29,920 students defer their course to take a gap year each year (Teaching Abroad Direct)
46% of HR professionals are more likely to employ a graduate with gap year experience (HR News)
80% of UK students who go travelling self-fund their own trip, with £2,258 the average spend per month (Kingston Courier)
We’ve all met someone who’s taken a gap year out from studying. Some head off for a worldwide trip; some stick closer to home and up their skillset; while others get a job to save for the money they’ll have to fork out for over the entirety of their course. Fancy time off before all that studying kicks off? Here’s why a gap year’s worth considering, as long as you weigh up the pros and cons as well as preventing it from eating into your finances too much.
LIFE STORY
The first advantage when it comes to a gap year is you’ll end up becoming more independent, no longer relying on those that previously looked after you in terms of money or general help. OK, they might help you out when you need a little extra funds, but you really shouldn’t be doing this if you want to learn how the real world works. You’ll also be out of your comfort zone – a good thing, we promise. Why? Being in different surroundings, regardless of whether you travel the world or seek a different path during a year off means you’ll adapt to situations you might not have encountered, as well as the realisation you’re capable of doing new things and being in unfamiliar situations.
CULTURE VULTURE
Another pro of taking a gap year is that you’ll probably never get the chance to do it again. Responsibilities take over, with a steady job, regular bills like paying the mortgage and raising a family means it’ll be all near impossible – unless you win the lottery – to take that amount of time off again. You will also be able to see how different countries work and how people who live there call it their home, with different cultures opening your eyes up to what you’re not used to seeing. From different religions to different foods and even how people interact, you’ll expand your knowledge, as well as people you meet learning about your own country and culture.
WORK IT
Still undecided whether a gap year’s for you? Here’s another advantage: 12 months off can boost the chances of you getting the job you want after you’ve got your qualifications. Taking time out means you’ll realise what your strengths and weaknesses are, giving you the chance to improve them before you return. You’ve also got the added bonus of adding those adventures to your CV, standing out from the crowd as having life experience as well as showing you can adapt to other environments, handle new relationships and different situations. Alternatively, taking a gap year to work before continuing in your studies also benefits, picking up skills in the area you want to pursue and again show you’re one step ahead of the rest.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Now comes the other side of the argument: is taking a gap year out what you should actually be doing? There’s the money it’ll cost, with statistics showing it would take 640 days working at minimum wage as an 18–20-year-old to travel for 12 months on a gap year. The last thing you want is the worry surrounding getting into debt upon your return, especially if you’ve got university fees to add to the equation. Then there’s issues of feeling left out; if your friends continue to study, you’ll then be behind when you return. As well as no longer attending the same lectures and seminars you’ll also be a year behind seeking out that ideal job. And what about taking a break potentially having an impact on your motivation? You could find it difficult to go back to what you were doing, or even want to start again at all after the year you’ve had off. If you’ve taken 12 months in paid employment it might be a struggle realising you’ll no longer receive regular income. And, if you’d planned on using that time off for seeing the world but in fact ended up just sitting about, then what a waste it’s ended up being.
Made your decision a gap year’s right for you? Here’s some top tips and tricks to enjoy that time off for less.
PLAN AND PLAN SOME MORE
First when it comes to reducing costs on a gap year is to do some proper research. Take into account the extra costs you might not even have considered, such as renewing passports, visa requirements, travel insurance and more. Where’s the best country to eat out for less, as well as searching for the cheapest accommodation? Are there any student deals or discounts available for where you want to visit (there’ll be plenty; again, it’s all in the planning). Look in to work exchanges or volunteering too, as they’ll often throw in free meals or accommodation in return for helping them out.
THINK OF WHERE TO VISIT
Sure, Barcelona, Sydney, New York and Tokyo might seem the ideal places to visit, among others, but you’ve also got to factor in the higher living costs that comes with visiting major cities. Mid-range priced meals in New York cost between $30-$60 – and that’s even without alcohol – whereas the cost of living in Melbourne is 4% cheaper than that of Sydney, with cheaper food, accommodation, entertainment and transport. And while visiting famous landmarks are all part of travelling on a gap year, they’ll also eat into the money you saved for taking that year out. It’s therefore a great idea to check out any free museums, galleries, festivals or other cultural events, letting you still enjoy experiences but without having to fork out excess cash.
LOOK FOR CHEAP TRANSPORT
Another great tip when it comes to budgeting on a gap year is how you choose to travel. You’ll easily save by picking a budget airline, with off-peak flights and less appealing times also reducing your cost. Flight comparison websites are also ideal for saving even more money, and while it might add to your travel time you can also save more with stop offs. Then there’s how you get out and about in your chosen destination. Do you really need to take a taxi when there’s buses available? All of these will certainly save you money so you can spend it where you’d rather instead.
5 travel apps
WiFi Map (Android, iOS, free)
With this app you can connect to any WiFi for free, with more than 150 million hotspots available worldwide. You can even use its offline maps to find toilets, bathrooms, drinking fountains and more.
Google Translate (Android, iOS, free)
Translate between 108 languages by typing, copying the text in any app and then simply tapping the Google Translate icon to translate. It works offline, letting you translate (59 languages), and also translates text in images instantly by pointing your camera (94 languages).
Travel Spend (Android, iOS, free)
This app helps you stick to your travel budget even while being offline, with foreign currencies also automatically converted. Your spending data is visualised and you can even share your trip with your partner or a group of friends and keep track of who owes what.
WhatsApp (Android, iOS, free)
If you haven’t got WhatsApp you’ve been hiding under a rock, but it’s another essential app to have on your travels. Generally free to use worldwide for messaging and calls when connected to the internet, either through Wi-Fi or cellular data, it’s still worth bearing in mind that you may incur charges if you’re not using Wi-Fi.
Packpoint (Android, iOS, free)
This travel packing list organiser helps with what you need to pack based on your length of travel, weather, and any activities planned. Punch in the city you’re going to travel to, the departure date, and the number of nights you’re there for then swipe to remove or add a luggage checklist now and simply edit it later as you pack.
