Turning 30 saved my life

THRISIS MANAGEMENT

If you're not sure if "this" is how you want to spend the rest of your life, you can sort it out. Here's how to make the big changes ahead work for you.

Take a breather. Many companies have been implementing mandatory vacation days and other tactics to save on staffing. Ever wanted to study Italian in Florence? Or build houses in Louisiana with Brad Pitt? Or simply spend time at home writing that screenplay? Now's the time to ask; your supervisor may be delighted to have you take a month of unpaid leave.

Travel like you're 20 again. Many adventure-travel companies are catering to the recently redundant. Intrepid Travel offers a "Laid Off? How About Taking Off?" discount of 15 percent if you dust off that backpack and head overseas to dust yourself off.

Go back to school. If you have enough saved, or you qualify for a loan, consider riding out the recession by earning an advanced degree. Why not live on a student budget rather than a frustrated admin-assistant budget? When the economy upturns, you're gold.

Maybe baby? If you want to become a mom, consider trying now. You may be able to ride out the job turbulence on mat leave. While it won't provide 100-percent job security in this economic climate, you may prefer to leave your office during a lull, not an upsurge.

Turning 30 Saved My Life has been edited for FLARE.com; the complete story appears in the July 2009 issue of FLARE magazine.

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