I've been reading the threads about folks wanting to quit their FT jobs to do cakes, but just can't seem to take the plunge. For me, it's not about changing my income level, it's about health insurance. It's just too scarey to think about having no health coverage. My husband has always been self-employed so we counted on my job for benefits as much, if not more, than for income. There have also been several times when construction was down and we only had my income. He is now in nursing school and looking forward to having a job with good pay, good benefits and steady hours. I am the sole provider while he's in school, so, next it's "my turn". Our goal is for me to quit when my contract ends this May. We've done a lot to prepare for this. Paid off our vehicles. Should have all our credit cards paid off in the next couple of months. We sold our house and bought a building down town, put in an "apartment" for us and are now working on the bakery. We did every smidge of work we could ourselves to keep our mortgage as low as possible. (By law had to hire lisenced plumber, electrician and HVAC). We will definitely take a "hit" when I quit because, nursing pay is good, but he won't make what I've been making, but he definitely can in the next few years. We're both pretty low maintenance, not into cars or clothes or vacations. Hubby was raised Mennonite, so the frugal life is not a stranger to him. I'm probably the one who's going to struggle with the cut backs. 
But I hope I'll be too busy to notice. 
If May rolls around and we just don't feel we've met our savings goals, I'll work another year. I think the key is having a real plan. Not just a dream. Get yourself a financial plan of what your financial needs are to make this thing work and whose support you can count on. Then pray a lot.
Well it sounds like you have given this venture a lot of thought. You have been (and are being) responsible about making sure you and your family are taken care of as you prepare for this transition. You are being so realistic, yet following your heart and your dream and I think that is just spectacular! I hope everything goes exactly as you have planned. I hope you and your husband both settle into successful, fulfilling new careers in May and that you reap many rewards. I will pray along with you that everything falls right into place. Please keep us updated from time to time. I will be thinking about you.
I know what you mean. My husband is self employed and I work for benefits - health insurance, retirement, etc. You do sound like you're on your way though - good luck to you!
Debbie
I think "desperate" describes me better than "disciplined", dr gaddy. I'm ready for a change. I have enjoyed being a teacher for over 15 years now, but it's just gotten hard to be fresh and upbeat. It's time for me to let someone else step in. Plus, the paperwork has become unbearable. Out of my 40 hour work week, I spend maybe 15 hours teaching. The rest is paperwork. that's what you're paying for when you send your kids to college. You can't imagine how much time we have to spend now documenting that students are learning and documenting to prove we are doing our job.
The way I see it is - whatever your motives for the change, you have taken all the right steps to make it happen. The best approach possible. Like you said, dreaming about it is not enough; you have to invest a lot and sacrifice many things. You are deserving of prosperity in your new endeavors. Good luck!
oh, I understand about the health insurance. My husband and I were w/o health insurance for almost 2 years. The kids got insurance from the state program until we got insurance just this month, finally. When we moved out here, my husband couldn't transfer because his company wasn't out here. He had to start a new job and their insurance was worth nothing. Finally, he got promoted and the managers have good health insurance.
I just wish we had a better health insurance system in this country so that we wouldn't be afraid to work where we want or for who we really want...but that's another post, right?
Good luck in your new bakery!! Time will fly and if you can't do it next year, what's another year, especially in financial planning? You'll have an income from the bakery too, I'm sure 
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