Easy job on modest money or hard work for more cash ?

username_a

Hey folks..
I find myself in a position where my current role is beneath the level I qualified for, it's a 39 hour role but in reality I do about 15-20 hours real work a week and that might include doing stuff for my boss too. Hours are flexible so I get to drop kids to/from school when I need to, often get home early, pay is modest and NO performance review or pay scale. the reason I came here was I totally burned out in a previous job, 15 years of 50hour weeks including working weekends and half time on nights with 3 hours commute daily.

So, my question.. At 43 do you stick at the easy job for modest money but relative security or do I push myself out into a new job and loose security and flexibility.
To push out into a more challenging role locally to me I think I'd pick up maybe an extra €5-7K but thats it - as we live in a rural county with few opportunities. I'd be facing maybe 20 hours more work and much tighter management of my hours and probably increased drive time to work.

When I go over it in my head it seems to make perfect sense to stay and enjoy family life while I have young kids... but I do often feel guilty, I was so used to a career where progression and moving up the ladder was everything, I'm finding the adjustment to having a "job" strange and having an easy one even stranger.. I suppose that's the crux of the change, I've moved from having a career to having a job..

i'd really like to hear what way people would rationalise this themselves.. (real first world stuff)

whomitconcerns

For only an extra 5k I would stay where you are

skallywag

You need to focus on what's important to you from a work-life-balance perspective. For me 5-7K more would not justify a heavy increase in required hours and the associated stress.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Well if you are in the higher tax bracket you'll lose half of the money straight away. So even at a 7 k increase you'll only net 3500. Then you need to consider extra driving and the expense that entails. Say even an extra 15 a week between fuel and car wear. So that's another 800 gone from your money. Will you need to pay for childcare too if you're away more?

Looking at the quick maths there it doesn't seem worth it financially anyway. But as you say there is more to it, do you want a job or a career. Afraid I can't answer that for you.

Stealthfins

The less mental stress in a job the better.
I'd prefer stress free over money...

bucketybuck

You don't need to rationalise it. It seems like you don't really want to destroy yourself working again but feel that its something you should be doing, but thats not actually a given.

Whats rational is judging what is best for you. For example I am in a situation where I am about to meet diminishing returns in my current industry. I could push myself harder and take on a lot more responsibility but with tax bands etc the extra money wouldn't actually be all that significant, so it would be a lot more work and hassle for not much reward basically. Some people would say I should bust my ass and do it anyway in the name of career but I'm not sure I agree, at this stage of my life I'd rather have the spare time to enjoy myself than worry about some nebulous idea of the career ladder.

If the right opportunity comes along I would say go for it, but you don't need to flog yourself harder just for the sake of it either. You experienced the tough side of work, why not enjoy the other side for a while.

Lux23

I would stay where you are and maybe think about doing a little bit of part-time work. Can you do nixers? But ultimately, if you're happy and living comfortably on the money you earn, why chase more?

I own an applewatch

You're complaining that your job is too easy?

Some people!

yellowlabrador

It's a problem many women face. Children and family are important, and in my experience, teenagers need even more attention at times. See if you can do some on line courses to keep the brain ticking over and once you have more 'me' time, you can then decide what you want to do. In the end, money isn't everything, but killing yourself trying to be the best at everything isn't worth it. Can your partner help?

Mrs OBumble

Can you start a small business and do some money-making work for yourself. Either as a sideline, or a totally different career area.

Personally, I learned how to make websites during the recession (when there were no jobs). The first one was a community service which doesn't scale to make money. From it I learned the skills to find a niche in one of my hobby areas - and the website about this makes a modest side income for me, just from advertising.

byronbay2

Absolute no-brainer OP. Unless you NEED (and it doesn't sound like you do) the extra money, you would be crazy to give up your cushy life. Don't be angsty or ashamed that you have been lucky in life, appreciate it and wallow in your freedom - you have won life's lotto!

duffman3833

Stay where you are, if i was you anyway. It may be like an extra €100 on your pay slip each week, but then government has to rob some of that and i don't think been stressed and over worked is a healthy option unless you were getting a lot higher wage, not a few grand. Enjoy having a good job you are happy in.

username_a

I appreciate all the replies, interesting to see different opinions.

@ I Own An Applewatch - I'm not complaining at all about my current position but am finding the adjustment strange even after 4 years..

While were not flush with money we've adjusted our lifestyle and i suppose many would say we live comfortably enough.

My partner is very supportive and life is so much better now compared to before and their input is that I need to allow myself sit back a bit and enjoy life more now and let work take a back seat..

yellowlabrador

I think we feel guilty after maybe working hard to get a degree and then feeling needed and appreciated in a job. I've got 2 degrees, one of then in engineering. As a woman with 2 children, I was always torn between the office, where overtime seemed obligatory if you wanted advancement and home. the matter was settled for me when I was widowed and after struggling on for a while, trying to be wonderwoman, my daughter got very ill. I raised my children, while working in a less demanding job and when they flew the nest, I was able to resume my life. There's a whole stretch of life still left and as a more mature person, you tend to get more respect and more important more done.We are living longer and retiring later. Happiness is appreciating the moment .

boobar

I think in life, the career focus has different phases.

At the start of your career, the focus is on gaining experience. Sometimes there's sacrifices to be made to gain that work experience. But it pays off and you establish yourself in a role hopefully on a decent wage. As you're more than likely young there is a very high probability that you think work is the be all and end all.

Later, kids come along. You possibly try to fit work around them. That's what I did. Career goes on hold, you now have a job. Not so bad though, it's not all about me, it's about us now.

Later again kids grow up. You can if you like focus on the career again.

Like you OP, I'm in my 40s, live in a rural area. I'm lucky on a good wage, but I could be on much more if I commuted to Dublin. Am I tempted? Sometimes yeah, but it would only benefit me....not us. You want my advice, for the increase you're looking at, it's not worth it.

Hollister11

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Can you start a small business and do some money-making work for yourself. Either as a sideline, or a totally different career area.

Personally, I learned how to make websites during the recession (when there were no jobs). The first one was a community service which doesn't scale to make money. From it I learned the skills to find a niche in one of my hobby areas - and the website about this makes a modest side income for me, just from advertising.

Could you provide me a link to your website?

donkey balls

Hi op if I was in your position I would stay in the current job as other posters have mentioned the increase in pay would be halved by the tax man,Then the extra travel time etc.
A friend of mine took on a job which involved a 90 min commute each way she ended up been burned out,And has since changed jobs I know the job might be below the qualifications you obtained and are keen to use them again.
But you might want to take in your age in to account they reckon people over 40 like myself once the years start to go by getting full time employment is harder.
I have done the mad hours in work 60 + etc with no thanks actually I remember the MD saying to me that they were not getting their monies worth from me :eek:
I have a load of experience and qualifications that I have not used in a while and might never do again,But I am happy taking the handy life where I work now handy work mon to fri.

allibastor

I know a good few people who have retired over the last few years, I also know my dad who dies at 61.

One thing they all said, I wish I worked less and spent more time doing things for me.


Being realistic, unless you are your own boss killing yourself for another company is a bit mad. Unless you are geared that way, but my guess would be if your asking the question here you know your own answer?