Stay the Course or Adjust?

Some of these simple jobs may not pay your expenses and others may be surprisingly stressful in relation to their pay.
Exactly they could be low margin businesses with alot of pressure to achieve output. Service industry jobs you usually have to work unsociable hours, even the stereotypical simple job of "stacking shelves" is usually done at unsociable hours and at night with pressure to get work done.
 
I came here to post after reading the sad state of affairs, not to be judgemental but to forgo having children at the expense of an average corporate career is so sad and sums up society today.

Do not fall for the propaganda and nonsense that your life is over when you have children, in-fact it is quite the opposite.

I believe it is the root cause for the mental illness and depression we see in people today, often women, sold a dud, believing maxing out corporate is the key to happiness. Women have been lied to, duped into believing they "slaved" for men in the home but now all they are doing is slaving for a nameless corporation with nothing to show for it.

I hope you recover from burn out, you are in a good financial position to have children.
 
Of course it isn't and I'm not having a go at the OP, i am merely pointing out that many people have been duped into focusing on finances and discard starting a family.

I am seeing this in women of my age group, some make it to the the mid 100k range and realize it is just not worth it, slave for a nameless corporation and give half of it to the taxman. Such a vapid existence.


It's a concerning trend which started in America but has infected Irish minds. For men, you can absolutely can excel in your career and have a good family life, it doesn't need to be either or.
 
For men, you can absolutely can excel in your career and have a good family life, it doesn't need to be either or.
That's another gross and, in my opinion, slightly offensive, generalisation. As it happens I had to do both as a full time working single father. Again, my situation is far from unusual.
Such a vapid existence.
Lots of people, men and women, get a lot of satisfaction and fulfilment, from working. Not to mention the remuneration and other tangible benefits.
it doesn't need to be either or.
It doesn't have to be for any parent, whatever their gender or family unit circumstances.
 
That's another gross and, in my opinion, slightly offensive, generalisation. As it happens I had to do both as a full time working single father. Again, my situation is far from unusual.
On what planet is that "offensive"? I was making a comment to motivate men to start families and not fall for the narrative that is at times put out there, that your career suffers when having children.

If people choose not to have children, more power to them but i'd bet most will regret that decision.
 
I too found the posts and progression of years a bit sad - op I'm glad you found somebody and I hope you are taking the opportunity to travel and enjoy life with them when you are both still young.

If you are not going to have children I think you need to seriously sit down with your partner and plan out how you both can maximise your happiness over the next few decades without over focusing on provision for old age.
 
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Lots of people, men and women, get a lot of satisfaction and fulfilment, from working. Not to mention the remuneration and other tangible benefits.
Well the OP has plenty of renumeration and is burnt out and clearly unhappy. So maybe he should think about the reasons he's where he's at today. Worried about workload, constant pressure and grind specifically mentioned by him. Yet he's by any measure a very successful corporate man. One needs to focus just as much on one's mental well being as one's financial accumulation.
 
Appreciate the comments, certainly a few things to reflect on.

Some responses to the comments:
  • Choosing to not have kids has zero to do with careers or finances.

  • Outside of work I do have hobbies. Hobbies that have me out and about and mixing, so I don’t think that this is the missing piece here. I am certainly not living a life just for work.

  • In my mind a simple job (or simpler) is a job that doesn’t have me spread thin, wrapped up in meetings all day while responding to emails and team messages, not having time to focus on my work, and having to take the lead on many problems.

  • On my point of keeping the other halves’ home to downside to in time - I do view that that is boxing clever particularly when you consider that Ireland has a fast-growing aging population. There is already a large demand for downsizing to a well serviced urban areas that is not being met. There is nothing sad about valuing what you have and realising now the flexibility and comfort it could give you later in life.

  • I will acknowledge that my posts are downbeat. I am wondering what is enough? Do I need to keep working for a few more years in an environment that provides little satisfaction and where my performance needs to be better? This is bothering me and causing a low level of upset.
Taking a step back and just focusing on my pension pot which is invested in global equities – What are people’s opinion when at 45 you have 645K in the pot, which you won’t touch until 65, but possibly may stop saving anything meaningful to going forward?

Accounting for inflation what annual growth percentage would you use? I would have used 5% (my AMCs are low) but I do wonder if I am being too optimistic? Assume my annual spend (ignoring state pension) is 36k net.
 
Back of the envelope I think you'll be fine. It does sound like you need a break. Take some time and re-set you are in a very enviable position for a 45 year old, Well done.
 
@Slippers

I have to admit that I am still scratching my head about your housing plans.

If your partner’s home is suitable for retirement and you have no plans to start a family then I assume the dwelling is suitable for your current needs. So why the intermediate trading up step? It just seems completely unnecessary.

Why not sell your house, pay off your partner’s mortgage and retire from corporate life to live happily ever after? You have ample funds to do so with an annual spend of €36k.

BTW most pensions can be accessed from 50.
 
Is there really a need to leave the job and take on a "simpler job"? Can you just stay in your current job and just take it handier Stop killing yourself and just do what you can while putting in a reasonable amount of hours.
 
I will acknowledge that my posts are downbeat. I am wondering what is enough? Do I need to keep working for a few more years in an environment that provides little satisfaction and where my performance needs to be better? This is bothering me and causing a low level of upset.
Not one of us know what is enough for you. But from your posts it sounds like you hate your job. And that there is immense pressure in it. Corporate eat you up, suck the best out of you, and then spit you out. In return you get a good salary and great pension.

You seem to think moving to a job stacking shelves will make you happier. It won’t. It’s mind numbing boring.

How about reeducating and changing career. I have an in in-law in BofI for 20 years and then became a teacher. EasyJet are hiring flight attendants in their 60’s. You should take leave of an absence and do something else.
I have to admit that I am still scratching my head about your housing plans.
Makes zero sense to me as well.
Outside of work I do have hobbies. Hobbies that have me out and about and mixing, so I don’t think that this is the missing piece here. I am certainly not living a life just for work.
I think the word for you is unfulfilled. And you’re in denial about it. Because you’re so focused on the salary to get you to pension nirvana.
In my mind a simple job (or simpler) is a job that doesn’t have me spread thin, wrapped up in meetings all day while responding to emails and team messages, not having time to focus on my work, and having to take the lead on many problems.
Why don’t you move to a different job in the company or move to another complant in a different location. Clearly your current job has run its course for you. Why have you so much responsibility ? Why do yiu feel everything is on yoy? Are you a workaholic?
 
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