Leaving well-paying job

[medcitymom]

I'd like to hear from those who did it successfully. I have an extremely lucrative job. I know there are so many people out of work/looking for work and don't mean this to be insensitive. My kids are all in grade school and their schedules are getting busier and busier. I have to travel extensively for my job and it is extremely stressful. Which means dh has to handle things at home when I'm gone. Let's just say that while he's a great dh, the homefront isn't his thing (homework, cleaning, laundry). We have been paying off outstanding debt and will have the car paid off by summer. Then we will be debt-free except the house. I won't quit until we have funds for 6 months in a savings, but I can see the end in sight. It's a little scary. I make significantly more than he does, but he is supportive. I will do something, but it won't bring in much as I'm only looking for part-time.

Who has done this and can share how it went? I know our days of every year to Disney in a Deluxe will be gone. I'm just tired of traveling and the push to produce more and more. My sales goals over the past three years have gone up by almost 40% each year and I don't have the drive that I used to. Am I crazy for considering this??

 

[mrsklamc]

DH and I both gave up far more lucrative jobs for non-profits that are better for our schedule. It is amazing to have time together all the time. We are content with where we are in life and it sounds like you will be just fine financially. I say go for it! They grow up quick!

 

[dakcp2001]

I'd like to hear from those who did it successfully. I have an extremely lucrative job. I know there are so many people out of work/looking for work and don't mean this to be insensitive. My kids are all in grade school and their schedules are getting busier and busier. I have to travel extensively for my job and it is extremely stressful. Which means dh has to handle things at home when I'm gone. Let's just say that while he's a great dh, the homefront isn't his thing (homework, cleaning, laundry). We have been paying off outstanding debt and will have the car paid off by summer. Then we will be debt-free except the house. I won't quit until we have funds for 6 months in a savings, but I can see the end in sight. It's a little scary. I make significantly more than he does, but he is supportive. I will do something, but it won't bring in much as I'm only looking for part-time.

Who has done this and can share how it went? I know our days of every year to Disney in a Deluxe will be gone. I'm just tired of traveling and the push to produce more and more. My sales goals over the past three years have gone up by almost 40% each year and I don't have the drive that I used to. Am I crazy for considering this??

I did this a year and a half ago to go back to school full time. I know that it will prob take me a decade to get back to the salary I was at, if I ever get back up that high. It has been the best decision of my life! You really learn what you can live without and if and when I get back to making that much money, I will never spend it like I used to. Ever! My job was draining, super stressful, and soul crushing. I left to pursue the one thing I always wished I had done, and I graduate from Nursing school in May. I miss the benefits and the vacations, but not enough to ever go back to teh stress and misery of my old life.

You will be amazed on what you can live without! It is a good lesson to cut back and be more economical, but also less wasteful. We rarely take vacations now, but when we do, it is just as fun and WAY less expensive. It is not worse, just different and just as much fun. OUr groceries cut way back, we make our own pizza, we stay in and have movie nights, we have frineds over instead of meeting at a bar or resteraunt. We don't miss our old ways.

Feel free to PM me, it was the best decision I ever made, but actually taking that step was SUPER scary! It was a leap of faith.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I did the same thing 4 years ago when we moved, i did not want over an hour commute each way so left my job and stayed home with my kids for 3 years....i loved it, but it was a lifestyle change to get used to way less income. I have now returned to work a year ago, found a great flexible position within my own community with great pay so jumped on it and with my income last year we paid off the remainder of our debt (other than house), put 6 months living expenses into a savings account and did a 23 day trip to Florida for all 5 of us. My husband would like to spend spend spend and live like we used to, but i am used to living off his income, so this year my wages will go into our retirement savings, another family vacation and a few fun things..............

I saved a ton on groceries and eating out when i was not working as less time restraints so could prepare meals better and plan around the kids activities instead of drive thrus......also eliminated all the crazy impulse purchases just because we saw something we liked......i also saved a small amount each month for the more expensive times of the year like back to school fees, new winter gear for all 3 kids, christmas etc......

You can do it and survive.....time with your family is priceless and something money cannot buy, so enjoy your time off and lifestyle change...

 

[ski_mom]

I have thought about this alot - not for myself, but for my sister and her family. My DH and I both work locally for the same company. We both have good steady jobs that we enjoy and make a decent living at. I consider us very blessed to be where we are - my boss lets me take off early for the kids school events, I get to be the room mother if I want, I get to drop the kids off in the mornings and am home about the same time they are in the afternoon.

My sister though has a Great job in St. Louis (which is about an hour commute from our town). That in itself is not bad (at lot of people in our community work there), but she is out of town a lot for work - I'd say an average of 2 days and nights a week. Their kids are 1 and 5 and the 5 year old will be starting school this fall. Don't get me wrong, she is a great mother and does everything she can with her kids, but I just think of all the things she will miss out on, especially when her kids start school.

My middle DD is in cheerleading this year and the games start 30 minutes after school is out, so they start at 3:30. If this was her DD, she wouldn't be able to see any of her games unless she takes the afternoon off - whereas, I get to be the cheerleader sponser because I can.

I know it's hard going from the bigger salary, but to me, I'm glad I made the choices I did to work closer to home with more flexible hours. For the record, before our first DD was born, I too worked in St. Louis for a Great company. I've occasionally wondered what I'd be making if I'd stayed there, but then I think that if I would have stayed, our family life would be much different - for all of us. DH is not into running the kids everywhere - he does it when needed, but wouldn't be up for doing it every night like we currently do.

I know I'm rambling on here, but I just wanted to say that I think there are many things more than money - if you can get by comfortably, I'd say looking for something else would more than pay off.

 

[Brer Shay]

I did the same thing about 11 years ago. I made more than DH, but the days were long, night work was common, and the atmosphere crushing. I planned about a year out to have all debt done except the house and have some savings set aside. It was definitely an adjustment, but more so mentally than financially. It wasn't hard, mostly because we had a good plan. I also learned that I'm a better wife and mom when I work SOME, so I took a part-time job, two days a week. It kept me focussed on filling the roll I was in at the moment rather than leaving my time all to my own planning.

My kids will all be in school next year, but I'll still be staying part-time. It was a great decision for our family and for me personally. I do occasionally miss my "fun money" of going to the salon, or book splurges, etc.., but it's rare and never ONCE have I wished to do it differently.

Work your plan and go for it!

 

[KELLY]

Yes last year I quit my job to SAHM with the kids. My girls are young but my oldest starts school this September. It was the best choice we made for our family.

 

[Darcy03231]

In this economy I'd really think about it. Can you live now without your income? I'd try depositing my pay into savings and just living off your husband's salary for 6 months to see if you can do it. Also, if your DH looses his job how long can you survive without your income? How easy will it be to get a part-time job?

My sister is a SAHM and worked part-time for a long time for a hotel. With the economy the hotel has gone out of business. She continues to look for part-time work and hasn't had any luck at all. For every part-time job there are hundreds of applicants. Her DH is self-employed and his business is really suffering right now. They aren't making ends meet and family has been pitching in to help.

Prior to being a SAHM she worked a very lucrative job that involved a lot of travel (overseas). She gave the job up to stay home with her children and at the time her DH's business was doing well. Just last night she said she wished she'd never given up her job. They have no debt other than their house and they have rental income from an apt. over the garage which is really helping to save their behinds, but they still can't meet all their monthly bills. The stress is really taking its toll on her. Essentially, she's traded one type of stress for another.

 

[Kitzka]

I travelled a lot for work (2 weeks a month from Jan -july). It was very hard on DH and DD. when DD hit 8 i decided that since she was older she needed me more at home. i took a job that was the same salary but no bonus (my old bonus could be as much as 75% of my annual salary and was never lower than 50%). For 6 months before i made the move i put away 3/4 of my paycheck and did not spend my bonus at all. paid down as much debt as i could and we now live much mroe frugally.

from a life perspective our lives are much much better. we are saving money because we don't eat out nearly as much anymore and i ahve much more time at home with the family.

Good luck. it's hard being the bread maker and bread winner.

Lara

 

[sk!mom]

Essentially, she's traded one type of stress for another.

I was going to give the same word of caution. Be sure that you're are financially prepared so that you don't just trade your stress.

My DH did what you're considering about 8 years ago (wow, I didn't realize that it had been that long.) He left a lucrative but super high stress industry to go to work for a nonprofit. We were prepared and to be honest the lifestyle raise has been well worth the decrease in pay.

 

[Cherbear013]

My fiance and I are on the same path. He is a manager for a big company and makes pretty good money. I am unemployed and have been looking for a job for almost a year since we moved. We just bought a new house last year that only has a mortgage of $580 a month and our house in the city is being rented.

His job right now is really draining and stressful. He works from home so his work is always with him. His boss is a jerk and he travels almost every week.

We are hoping I can get a job in the near future so he can quit his job at the end of the year. Kind of a scary idea since we are getting marriedi n July and want to have kids pretty soon after that. Hopefully it will be a good thing in the long run!

 

[mikehn]

Dont know what income bracket you are in, but this administration is not friendly at all to families making over 200k. So no sense in stressing out for more income.

 

[Evi]

I did this about 7 years ago and regretted it tremendously. Not due to change in income but do to my expectations and the expectations of new employer. I think it can be done but I think you should way all your options and walk in to whatever choice you make very eyes wide open.

Though my income decreased that was never my issue it was that I took the change to have more time and in the end I was working more then i was before.

Make sure whatever you do you will be happy with end result and try to keep door open to go back to what you were doing if your not happy.

 

[acejka]

I did it last year and it was the best decision I could have made. It's nice to wake up happy and to go to a job that I can 100% say I enjoy going to. I care about my job and what we do and where we can go. I also get all winter off, so even though I am working 6 days a week March-December, I get the two worst months off. I just was not happy going to an office every day.

Oh and as the poster above mentioned, we had back up plans in case it didn't turn out being as great as it has been. I was prepared to also stay home and be a housewife and start a family if the new job didn't work out.

 

[NYCDiane]

Sending you a PM

 

[medcitymom]

I don't have enough posts to PM but appreciate the candor and posts people have responded with. It has been overwhelming to think about and putting it into words (posting it) is like saying it out loud to someone other than dh. I do know that I need to do something and am taking steps to try to cover that. I feel like I need a year long break to get myself back together. We are meeting with a financial planner next week to discuss how to get from where we are to where we want to be.

 

[It's A Small World]

It's such a hard and scary decision. I walked away from my 6 figure dream job after my second child. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make. I loved my job. I worked extremely hard to climb my way up the corporate ladder. It took me months of soul searching and lot's of tears, but I finally made the decision to walk step away. It's actually worked out for the best. My youngest is almost 4 now and I have a very busy consulting business. I'm lucky to have a career where I can do project based work. Yes, I work long hours some week's, but I also get to work remotely and spend time with my family. I now have the best of both worlds. I even get to keep my skills current so if I do choose one day to step back into the corporate rat race, I can. Good luck. Just know that your piece of mind and stress level is well worth the $ sacrifice.