Move job for paycut but better life balance

A

andrea

Registered User
Messages
43
Ive been offered a job at 50k pa, no health/pension/benefits.


Current job is about 80 minutes commute, the potential new job is less then 20 minutes. Work would be about the same. smallish company but good prospects for growth but not much in the area Id working in. My existing job is safe.
My current salary is 58k with health & 5% pension.
I think thats a little over 10k of a paycut pre tax. Is it worth it to save 2 hours a day? Im married with 3 kids. Other half is at home but we're not stuck for cash.
 
Only you can answer that question but my pennies worth is that I would always lean to the "life" side of a work life life balance.

I transferred out of the UK/London 4 years ago for a lower salary but I love my new life style. Lost €19k a year in salary alone but I am now happy and in a more fulfilling role. I gained 3 hours a day in travel alone and used that time to learn guitar, cook and meet new people (my future wife included).

Negative side: A "safe job" is a rare thing these days so maybe worth waiting to see how hard we are hit with the budget.
 
Go for it. THat two hours extra per day with the family is priceless. I took a big cut about 3 years ago. I'm working about 2/3rds of the hours that I used to for 2/3rds of the salary, and I'd never go back. That's not to say there is no pain involved in the reduced income, but overall, it is well worth it.
 
Yes go for it 100%.

I made a career change at Christmas and moved from a specialised area of work to a much more general one. Although I am currently on the same money, I am in a market with less security where I am at the top level of earnings, where I would have been at entry level in my specialised area with the prospects of much higher salary. However, all of the jobs in my specialised area are in Dublin City and it was a 2 hour commute each way on public transport.


People were saying I was mad throwing in a secure job with great prospects for one in a serious rocky market. And it is seriously rocky. And also, I was very good at what I did and had a fair bit of experience and would have had a decent choice of jobs in a diminishing market. However, I hated the commute, was bored with what I was doing and did not really like the company I was working for, but I love everything about where I am now, even if the security is not there.

No Regrets as they say and I am much happier in myself. You probably have a bigger decision that I did because you may not hate your current job and I did not have to take a pay cut, just equal pay, however I am near enough my ceiling of earnings when I had great potential to earn more had I stayed.

Good luck with your choices.
 
I echo these replies. I changed jobs a few years ago for similar pay (but no bonus - 15% cut or there abouts in all), but 90% less stress/pressure. Less hours too - but that said I believe the hours I work now are far more productive, due to my less stressed mindset.

And a much more friendly/supportive atmosphere.

Hell would freeze over before I would go back....
 
thanks so much for replies, I think the dilemma is that I do like the company I work for and I do like the work Im doing. Its just the commute that's the issue.
 
5 years ago , I had an opportunity to leave my employers of 28 years and move to a new business venture . ( same distance from my home )

I decided to stay with my long term employers , and it turns out to be the best decision.

The new business venture has slowly taken off , and at its peak last year employed 30 .

Due to the economic downturn , it has now reduced its staff to 17 .

I probably could have been one of the unlucky 13.

So my advice to you , is to stay put ......


Old saying : better the devil you know, than the devil you dont know
 
I moved house because I couldn't stand the commute, in my case one hour to twenty minutes. As you have a family I think you should go for it. A life spent in a car is no life neither for you nor your family.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top