Product Description

Life swap: The essential guide to downshifting

Fed up with your current life? Spending too much and enjoying too little? Trapped in a stressful cycle of work, commitments and being ‘busy’?

Life Swap shows you that there is an alternative – and if you care enough it is achievable. We show you others who have done it, some who want to and many who now have new lives and would never look back.

A life change as big as this will never be as simple as ABC. So we give you the full low-down on the emotional and financial traps, the psychology for success, the money issues, work/life balance and the trick to changing your habits and expectations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #233985 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

From the Publisher
Green Essentials books are practical guides to modern living. Whether you want to improve the quality of your life, enjoy your hobbies without damaging the environment, look after your health or reduce your impact on the environment, we aim to produce a guide that will help you achieve your aims.

From the Inside Flap
Fed up with your busy life?

Spending too much and enjoying
life too little?

Trapped in a stressful cycle of work, salary and mortgage commitments?

Life Swap shows you that there is an achievable alternative. We show you others who have done it, why and how they did it, and give you the reasons why they will never look back.

A life change as big as this will never be simple. Life Swap gives you the full low-down on the emotional and financial traps, the psychology for success, the money issues, the work life balance and the trick to changing your habits and expectations.

If you are thinking of changing your life or have ever wondered what it’s like, this is the book for you.

Discover how to turn your daydreams into reality.

About the Author
Jo Hampson
Jo was born in Sri Lanka in 1956. She was educated at Malvern and went to Nevilles Cross College, Durham. Following six years teaching in west London, Jo joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1985. During her 15 years service with the police she served with the Met and she was seconded to the New South Wales Police, Australia where she worked on a cultural change programme with the service following a two year Royal Commission into police corruption. Her last posting was as a Chief Superintendent with Thames Valley Police.

Customer Reviews

Life swap
I found that this book gave a very balanced perspective on "life swapping". It made me examine the reasons behind my desire to change my lifestyle, as well as presenting the alternatives that are out there. It also avoids telling you what to do by making you really look carefully at what is important to you. It certainly got me thinking about a life swap, then planning one, and soon I will be swapping!

For rich people only
Good about the book: if you really do the exercises (no matter how stupid they seem at start) you'll learn a lot of yourself and your motivations and possibilities to do the swift. Personally, I realised that I'm actually quite satisfied with my life as it is.

Bad about the book: the book basically tells about the life swap from the perspective of successful businessperson. The book doesn't give much hope to people who do not have their apartment or car or other property at the moment. The book is written on expectation that the only one who wants to do the swap is someone a bit older person who has already gathered money and property and the main risk of the swap is just selling the old life away. However, if you happen to be a single-mom with three kids struggling with low-paid job, don't even dream of better days! You just don't have the money for it!

On the other hand, the book is simply realistic. Moving to country side IS more expensive than people think and no matter how idealistic plans you have, they're not going to come true without good financial plan. So the most important guideline from this book is: suffer and make money and when you've finally got enough (and lost your health and soul in the process) you're free to make the swap.

An essential guide
I bought this book when I decided to quit my London job and move out to the country and set up my own small catering firm. It had always been my dream to move away and retire out of the city, but this book gave me the information which allowed me to realise this. The balance of personal testimony and general advice also made this fairly short book very readable.