However, you need to make provision for paying one-off bills or sorting out unexpected financial situations. Most career breakers do this by opening a joint account with a trusted friend or family member back home. You can keep an eye on the account using online banking.Think too about how you want to keep in touch. Depending on the scheme, you could reduce your contributions or freeze it completely. "My pension was put on hold - I didn't pay into it for a year and neither did my employer," says Budgen.You will also need advice on investments, loans and tax issues: Daw got a tax rebate for the year she left because she had only worked for six months.While you're away most bills, such as your credit card payments, can be settled by direct debit. I appointed a friend to liaise with the letting agency on my behalf and this worked well." You can, of course, do it all yourself, as Chris Bugden, 31, did when he went around the world with his wife for 10 months. "We rented to friends who had just got back from travelling - it was good timing for us and them," he says.

However, he adds: "It isn't always the best idea to do business with friends and we kept everything as professional as possible with proper contracts and inventories."If you think the rent might not cover your mortgage repayments, then consider switching to a more flexible mortgage where you make over-payments now and take a complete mortgage holiday later.Whether you're letting your house furnished or unfurnished, you'll need to dispose of your personal possessions. "We put everything in my mother-in-law's garage," says Bugden. Another option is to sell your goods, such as on eBay, or put them in storage This is a competitive area so it is worth shopping around. In general, costs are lower if you don't need access and become cheaper the longer your stuff gets stored.Your household pets aren't so easy to farm out and, initially, they can put you off the idea of a career break altogether. Of course, under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) your dog or cat can travel with you to a long list of approved countries (for details see the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website) More common is asking a friend to look after your animals. "My two cats stayed in the flat and my friend who moved in looked after them," said Virginia Kelly, 31, who took a one-year career break.Less close to your heart (possibly) but also important is your vehicle "I sold my car to pay off my credit debts before I went.