What an utter load of **** ! Don’t let these reasons hold you back from embarking on one of the most incredible opportunities of your life.

For some of you, making the decision to head overseas on a working holiday was not even what you’d call a decision....you were always going to be heading over, it was just a matter of time! On the other hand you may have taken longer to reach your decision. However quickly you made the choice to head overseas the important thing is that you have – so congratulations!

This section is really for those of you who are still on the fence, who want to go but are held back by some seeds of doubt. Some of these may even, shock, horror have been put forward by friends or family and have made you think twice about coming over. Well let’s nip this one in the proverbial butt shall we? Here are the most common reasons that people choose not to do a working holiday...and these are our responses as to why we believe these are a complete and utter load of crap!!!!

The time is not right: If I had a pound for every friend, acquaintance and member of the general public I’d spoken to who’s said to me....”Oh I wish I had done it when I had the chance” [Referring to travelling overseas]. When I hear it I just want to scream SO WHY DIDN’T YOU?!! The reasons given are of course always varied but they all can be easily grouped in the ‘Time wasn’t right category’ there is ALWAYS a reason as to why we feel we cannot change the status quo of where we are at right now. It’s not always easy but in 9 out of 10 situations it IS possible. The question is, are you willing to take the chance or will you become one of those people who’ll be saying to your friends (or me if our paths cross) “oh I wish I had travelled when I had the chance”? Recognise that the chance is now and furthermore that you are the one to create that chance – the only barriers now are those in your head!

I have a good job and if I go I’ll have to start again when I return : Granted a good job is always hard to leave because naturally we feel a sense of security when we’re employed. More so if our employer is doing their job right by ensuring we’re hungry to keep progressing within their company. But try and stand back from where you are now – is it really that aggressive a profession or company that would not welcome you back if you left?  Have you seen anyone else start working there who’s travelled, or anyone that has left and returned a couple of years later – why not ask them? But I guarantee you this...the person you become after living overseas will be an even more employable one than before! Why? Because you’ll have a wealth of experience, in both a professional and personal capacity. (Also see Why live and work overseas for more reasons to strengthen the case for heading overseas!). In many cases those who return do so to better careers and enter or advance into higher levels than their colleagues who have never left. Furthermore most employers are generally understanding about the desire to travel because many (I hope) will have done it themselves. The better ones will be encouraging and supportive and will want you return to them with the new found skills you’ve gained overseas.

I don’t have enough money: Okay so here’s my question - how much money do you think you need? Bet you can’t answer that one! Because in all likelihood you are not able to define exactly what costs are going to be involved in this whole living and working overseas ‘thing’, let alone put a price tag on it! Plus it all depends on what your plans are going to be – there a lot of factors to consider here.

But here is the beauty about heading somewhere to live and work...you will have the ability to earn money as well as travel. So this in effect changes everything and also to a point makes the whole I don’t have enough money invalid – note I said to a point. Now that point is that you cannot arrive here without money, apart from the Government not allowing it (Tiered Visas require you to have proof of funds) it would be both incredibly stressful and depressing! But you can arrive here with what the Government has laid out as a minimum for proof of funds (click here to see what these are). But even still there is nothing worse than arriving in a country and not being able to survive comfortably for the first few weeks.  So read our guide on’ Budgeting for your trip’ and also how to make your money last so that you can work out what your target budget is going to be. Lastly remember that your aim is to get over here – if you need to work earlier than you’d planned then so be it because at least you’re here and will have that extra motivation and incentive to generate those travel funds!

I won’t get work and I’ve also heard there is no work: For time immemorial there will always be stories about there being no jobs. Ignore the rumour mills – there is always work if you’re willing to make the effort to find it. For extra peace of mind we offer guaranteed job packages which means this reason simply will not stand as a reason not to come over. See our section on recruitment for a much more in depth look at employment, current vacancies and how things stand over here.

I’ll miss my friends and family: Of course you will. Most of us do, that’s normal. But this is not the 1920’s when post took weeks to get to Australia and the only other communication was a telegram!! We have mobiles, Skype, e-mails and airplanes that can cover distances in seconds, minutes and hours not months! I’d also ask you this – how fast have the last two years gone? Chances are you’ll say very fast. Because life does go by fast – too fast! So on the positive you’ll be back home before you know it and on the negative you’ll be back home before you know it!!  You need to spread your wings, cut loose from the apron strings and give you parent(s) something to boast to their neighbours about. Many of them may never have travelled and will now get to share in your adventures – who knows they may even come and visit! You may also have younger brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins etc so be the first to do it, be their inspiration and give them the confidence to follow in your footsteps. Be their Christopher Columbus!

I’ve got no-one else to travel with L. ....– BRILLIANT!!! You are sooooo lucky because this means you can be completely, truly and utterly selfish with your travel experience wish list! None of that oh but he/ she / they didn’t want to go there, do that etc etc. At BritBound I would say that more than half of our BritBounders head to the UK independently. Out of the other half we hear as many unsuccessful travel partnership stories as successful ones. I don’t have a strong opinion on whether or not you should go solo or with friends, all I’d say is that you need to travel uninhibited – you are in a sense getting away, exploring new places and meeting new people. The last thing you need are people to hold you back or stop you from doing the things you want to. So going alone – fantastic! And don’t worry here at BritBound our forte is introducing you to new and wider social circles – friends who like you share the same spirit of adventure. So whether you leave with or without friends it really doesn’t matter – and remember there is a full time events calendar waiting for you at BritBound, so you’ve got many new friends to meet when you get here!

There are of course many if’s and but’s and this is just a few that spring to mind but hopefully you can overcome these mind obstacles. When you do just remember look at what’s ahead of you not behind, welcome what’s lies ahead, don’t mourn for what’s behind and most of all never ever regret your decision to travel. This window in your life comes only once so spend it being positive, grateful and proud of yourself for having the confidence to do what so many others cannot.

If after you have read this you are still unsure then feel free to write to me personally explaining what you feel is holding you back. Hopefully I (we) can convince you otherwise!