*UPDATED 1/15* Would you take a substancial decrease in pay to do something you love?

[barkley]

have you talked to a cpa? you might find that the pay decrease will be less than you (re. actual netted income)anticipate.

people thought i was nuts years ago when i took up my public sector employer's offer of voluntary unpaid furlough (before there was an economy that forced public sector employees to do this) but i had crunched the numbers with my cpa who figured out that despite cutting my salary by 25%, between the savings on work expenses (commute, lunch, work clothes-which i imagine you have more of an expense with since there's a uniform/shoe standard dress expectation in your line of work) AND the fact it would bump dh and i down tax wise, i ended up netting the identical amount i had previously. you might find that the wage loss is not as significant as you anticipate (and by going full time in your new line of work you might qualify for some home office deductions you had not previously as a part-timer which could result in greater tax savings).


i agree with others who have suggested keeping your nursing cert/lic. current-it's a field where there are opportunities to do even short term jobs should the need/desire present itself (i have a family member who quit their f/t nursing job to return to college to pursue a different line of work, to make ends meet they signed up with a nurse registry. imagine their surprise when they found out they made much more on an hourly basis than they had working for a well paying hospital-and they could pick and choose the kinds of jobs they did).

 

[indimom]

I would and I did (although mine wasn't quite as substantial a decrease). Have we "done without" a few things over the years we might have liked to have? Yes. Do we occasionally have some financial stress in our lives, yes. But, none of it outweighs the stress I was under during that period of my life. It was more than I could manage physically, mentally and emotionally. I felt like a pitiful mother and wife, and I wasn't even able to give my all to the job either. I just had nothing left. I'm glad I made the call and that my hubby supported my decision.
I'll take happiness/satisfaction over wealth/financial comfort any day of the week.

All that being said, I like one of the earliest suggestions about dropping your hours to a per diem option (if you can). I like that this would still give you options during the transition period. Then, if you feel like all is well in your new career, you can take the final leap and leave nursing behind. (Or maybe you'll find that you enjoy nursing on a more limited basis and keep doing both?)
If this had been an option when I made the change in my career, I would have. It's scary making a big financial leap (especially when you have a family) and this would have made me feel more secure knowing I had a fall-back option if things didn't work out.

 

[Pigeon]

That's interesting. We've lost 8 employees this year to public sector jobs because they pay so much more that private sector jobs, and have so much better benefits. They don't like their new jobs as much, but the pay difference when you have kids in college, and or are near retirement kind of forces your hand.
I've actually seen a lot more of that since the economy tanked than before....before people were leaving for less money to do things they wanted to do.

I read a study recently that showed that even after you factor in benefits, public sector jobs on average pay about 25% less than comparable jobs in the private sector.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Like Brenda, I want to say hello to the OP. It's been a long time since I've "seen" you, pw2pp, and I hope all is well with you and yours.

IMO you should follow your heart and try the on-line thing. Keep your R.N. license current and if it doesn't work out, you can fall back on it.

One thing I want to share is that I've tried working from home and found out it's not for me, at least on a steady basis. I like getting dressed up and out of the house every day. I enjoy the socialization I get in the workplace, and I know now that working at home daily isn't for me. In my current job, I sometimes get projects that are better suited to working on a home, so I'll do it for a week or so, but afterward, I'm very glad to get back into the office.

Just mentioning this because I think a lot of people think working at home sounds fantastic, but in reality, it's not for everyone. I think I'd get depressed if I worked at home all the time.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[barkley]

I read a study recently that showed that even after you factor in benefits, public sector jobs on average pay about 25% less than comparable jobs in the private sector.

and those benefits are getting worse or non existant with each passing day.

the county i retired from initialy let you vest into retirement after 5 years of service. in the mid 2000's new hires had to work 15 years to vest. new hires as of 1/1/10 will vest after 15 years but will receive no retiree health benefits. the current employees are looking at a 200% increase in their share of health/dental insurance contributions, 8 days of unpaid furlough and a 2 year wage freeze.

dh's former county is looking to drasticly lower benefits in addition to restructuring their retirement plan which will greatly reduce future retiree benefits.

a friend and her husband (both public employees) just got their contract radified-4% wage REDUCTION, 8 unpaid furlough days, and MASSIVE increase to their cost for health insurance (and greatly reduced benefits).


the days of public sector jobs balancing out their lower wages with good benefit and retirement packages are a thing of the past.

 

[pw2pp]

Just wanted to say "hi", pw2pp!! (I still remember how you got your username! lol) Long time no see and you actually ran through my mind not too long ago!

Good luck in your decision.

It's so good to see you Brenda! (I remember your name ) ... How is your daughter doing? Is she around 21? or am I way off? If I remember correctly, you are a cosmetologist? how is that going? still love it? You were always so sweet to me and to everyone.

Like Brenda, I want to say hello to the OP. It's been a long time since I've "seen" you, pw2pp, and I hope all is well with you and yours.

IMO you should follow your heart and try the on-line thing. Keep your R.N. license current and if it doesn't work out, you can fall back on it.

One thing I want to share is that I've tried working from home and found out it's not for me, at least on a steady basis. I like getting dressed up and out of the house every day. I enjoy the socialization I get in the workplace, and I know now that working at home daily isn't for me. In my current job, I sometimes get projects that are better suited to working on a home, so I'll do it for a week or so, but afterward, I'm very glad to get back into the office.

Just mentioning this because I think a lot of people think working at home sounds fantastic, but in reality, it's not for everyone. I think I'd get depressed if I worked at home all the time.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Oh my gosh Janice!! so good to see you too! I remember you so fondly too .. I remember you have a great sense of humor. You have a Son, right? I hope I got that right


Seeing you both still here, reminds me of what a wonderful community the DIS is .. and I do remember it that way. If I wasn't so immersed, addicted, dedicated, whatever to my forum (not a Disney forum), I would be here more.... but only so many hours in the day to sit in front of the computer LOL


** and to all of you who have answered so far ... a big Thank you!! I am really enjoying reading your responses and I appreciate it so much.

so thank you to all of you

 

[Buckalew11]

Thank you for those kind thoughts. My daughter is 16! (going on 21 tho, lol) She is a JR in HS and very happy. Hairdresser for 27 yrs! I'm ready for something new--maybe after her graduation.

I'll say hi to Janice while I'm here too--HI JJ!! Long time no see!

 

[Mimi1965]

I did it-but I have a DH who really pays all the bills and covers the insurance
I also went to part time and joined a club devoted to one of my hobbies

 

[Cindy B]

No amount of money can counter having a horrible, toxic work environment. (not saying you do just giving one end of the spectrum)

No amount of job satisfaction can overcome not having the financial means to meet your basic needs. (other end of spectrum)

Most of us have to earn some minimum amount just to get by. Can you do that with a job change. Because no matter how much you like the work, it will not work if you can't pay your monthly bills.

Another thing to consider is what a significant decrease will do to your social security benefits. Ten years of a low income can drastically reduce your benefits for the rest of your life.

Well, I needed to hear that. I work at Social Security (my toxic environment) and I will say a few things regarding this message.

I appreciated hearing that toxicity in the workplace can and does change you.

I will also say that when it comes to Social Security we do "drop" the lowest five years of earnings when it comes to retirement computations. For disability computations, it does get a little more complicated, but for laymens terms, we drop the lowest three years.

 

[Cindy B]

I so needed to see this today. I'm in the midst of waffling around deciding what to do.. and now I see I am not the only one who feels this way.. I can't do it anymore.

 

[design_mom]

If I could do it and still maintain an acceptable (to me) standard of living, I would do it in an instant. There's more to life than money.

On the other hand, unless the work environment was truly toxic/abusive, I would not want to trade one type of stress for another. I think "how am I going to make ends meet?" stress would be all encompassing and would be worse (for me) than dealing with a job burnout or stressful job. Obviously, I would probably be looking to change my job situation to something that was better, but I wouldn't want to add financial stress.

 

[C.Ann]

If I could afford it, I most certainly would..

And I wouldn't even think to "question" why someone left their career as a nurse.. I'm sure that you have helped many, many people over the years in that particular career choice.. Now you have a chance to move on to something else that for whatever reason, you have fallen in love with.. Nothing wrong with that..

 

[pw2pp]

UPDATE:

Well, I did it .. 2 months ago.. and I couldn't be happier!

but .. I did what npmommie suggested and I am working per diem (or "contingent" as it is called here).
I work 2 Saturdays per month, 13-hour shifts, so it is a nice way to supplement my income and keep my feet in nursing and still get out and continue to see my co-workers.

I was nervous about resigning, quitting or whatever you want to call it ..as a regular employee .. but now that I have done it, I am thrilled.
I work Mon-Fri Day Shift at home with my computer job, so I have my evenings free.

I have been meaning to come back sooner and update ..sorry it took so long.

I appreciate each and every one of your responses.
Thank you so much

 

[DWGal210]

Congratulations! Sounds like you made the right decision. Way to go!

 

[horseshowmom]

Well, congraulations to you!!!

Glad to hear things worked out well.

 

[Kitty 34]

Just stopping by to say hi Pw2pp!!!