Would you leave a job you love forone that pays more $?

[DizneyLizzy]

Would you leave a job you love (but doesn't pay very well) for a job that would pay at least $15K per year?

Just hypothetically without getting into too may specifics. $ isn't tight on current salaries, but obviously that could change anytime with unexpected life circumstances.

I just wanted to get an idea of what some other budget minded people feel about this.

 

[akcire]

Would you leave a job you love (but doesn't pay very well) for a job that would pay at least $15K per year?

Just hypothetically without getting into too may specifics. $ isn't tight on current salaries, but obviously that could change anytime with unexpected life circumstances.

I just wanted to get an idea of what some other budget minded people feel about this.

I am a asuming that your post should have read, "for a job that would pay at least $15K more per year?"

As to your question the answer is yes--all things being equal I would leave a job to make an extra $15K, because that could really change your retirement savings.

 

[DawnM]

All things being equal, yes.

However, there are so many factors to consider.

Are the hours and days the same (same amount of vacation time?)
Is it more stressful?
Is it as secure of a job?
Is it further away from home? How much further?
Are the benefits the same? Health insurance, retirement?

I was in a job that paid the same as a friend of mine, but when we compared the above we realized that our jobs were NOT the same. My benefits were over $15K more. So, even though the salary seemed the same, it wasn't when you looked at the entire package.

Dawn

Would you leave a job you love (but doesn't pay very well) for a job that would pay at least $15K per year?

Just hypothetically without getting into too may specifics. $ isn't tight on current salaries, but obviously that could change anytime with unexpected life circumstances.

I just wanted to get an idea of what some other budget minded people feel about this.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I will add to that...the higher paying job would also have MUCH better benefits, retirement, etc.

Same distance from home, same security, similar vacation time...so yes, most other things would be equal.

The big drawback is the unknown - I know I love the low paying job...there is obviously no way of knowing if I'd love a new job...and that what makes it a difficult question...

I appreciate reading the thought processes of others though, so this is all helpful

 

[MomToOne]

Nope, not if I wasn't hurting for the money. You can't buy happiness.

I've been in some jobs where I wasn't very happy, and some where I was downright miserable. That stress is awful, and takes a toll on everything else in your life, including your family relationships and your health.

If you have a job you are happy in, you are one step ahead of MANY other people out there. When you figure in how much the $15K really is AFTER taxes, it's just not worth the risk to me of being miserable.

 

[Sagginit]

15K before or after taxes? see last year i took a job that i wanted for reasons other than just the money, i found that after taxes the raise was not as much as i thought it would be. however, b/c 401K is before taxes so it has paid off in that sense. the other thing to factor in is it will raise the pay on future job offers. so if you are in a field where you only plan on staying at each job 2-3 years, then it does help build your salary over time.

to answer your question, if i thought i would be miserable at the new job no. sometimes jobs can suck you in though, you love your co-workers, the company etc. and you stay longer than you should/need to.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

IMO, no. I wouldn't leave the job I love - unless there was a true need for the extra $$$.

I left a job I loved 10 years ago to have a family. Don't regret that decision, but I have wound up working in jobs I do not love just to pay bills since then (part time).

Two months ago, I left a very part-time position to accept a position with a lot more hours (same company) and HATE IT! The money is great, as are the benefits, but I hate what I am doing.

Another opportunity literally fell into my lap this week for me to re-enter my original field (which i love) again. Less hours - less money. But we decided this was the best option for our family. Sure, I wish I would get paid more to do what I like, but I have found out that for us, the stress of me working too may hours in a job I don't like is too much for our family.

Of course, you never know if you like something until you try it, so maybe you should give it a shot.... ? Do you know that you will not like the new job? For me, I was never in this type of position before, and thought I would be okay with it. I am not. And that's okay. I didn't know it wasn't a good match until I tried it.

Good luck - I know how stressful these decisions can be. I haven't slept well in quite some time!

 

[WheelCEO]

yes, no brainer

 

[DisneyBill]

Well, no I wouldn't if the new job would not be at least okay to participate in and keep me motivated, everything else being equal. However, I certainly would if I thought I could achieve and contribute at the new job. Unless-I thought the present job had potential to balance out the earnings soon down the road. For me personally, a job change would have to bring enough additional earnings to be a lifestyle change. Perhaps 15k will do that for you.

 

[poober25]

Very timely topic for me, as DH is probably going to be facing this decision later this week. We are waiting for the offer. We've discussed everything to death...just don't know which way to go. He's been in his current position for 8 years and w/ the same company for 15 yrs. Whatever decision you make, good luck...I know it's a difficult one.

 

[TallyTutter]

Would you leave a job you love (but doesn't pay very well) for a job that would pay at least $15K per year?

Just hypothetically without getting into too may specifics. $ isn't tight on current salaries, but obviously that could change anytime with unexpected life circumstances.

I just wanted to get an idea of what some other budget minded people feel about this.

I did this very thing about a year ago. Got a $5.00 an hour raise, same benefits, vacation, driving time same.

THOUGHT I was going to be trained in more areas but it hasn't happened yet. I have less responsibilities personnel wise, I'm no longer supervising anyone which I really enjoy but that has also taken away some of the joy of the job if that makes any sense. WAY LESS interaction with other people. I will be happy when I know this job as well as my last one, I hate always 2nd guessing myself.

All in all though, I'm glad I moved.

 

[crisi]

Probably. For me, I have about 20 years to retirement, so that's $300k pre tax (but I'd like to retire early). That's a lot of retirement money. Its college money.

Caveats. Not if I thought I would hate the new job or if the responsibility increase was more than $15k worth. Not if the new company wasn't a financially stable as the old company - $15k a year to get laid off next year isn't worth it.

I just took a new job. Not that much more money, but better opportunities, I think.

 

[ilovemk76]

I will add to that...the higher paying job would also have MUCH better benefits, retirement, etc.

Same distance from home, same security, similar vacation time...so yes, most other things would be equal.

The big drawback is the unknown - I know I love the low paying job...there is obviously no way of knowing if I'd love a new job...and that what makes it a difficult question...

I appreciate reading the thought processes of others though, so this is all helpful

How much will you love that job when you realize that you cannot retire, can't pay for a needed medical procedure or medicine, don't have the money to cover an unexpected house repair, you get a new boss who is overbearing or the like?

Did you love your current job before you started to work? Of course not.

Take the pay raise and save all of the money for retirement, emergency fund, future house repairs or college.

 

[Bete]

depends on future possibilities. Can you be be promoted at your current place and get more dollars there eventually? or is it dead end?

The same is true of the new position. Once you are there are you stuck in this same new job forever? What's the potential? Do they lay off workers a lot? Do you have someone you know that works there, right now to get their feelings about the place?

I grew with one smaller company and actually had 6 different positions with them in a 15 year time span. The co-workers were great; we socialized out of work. I loved the jobs I had there. The benefits were good for a smaller company. The pay kept getting better. I made it to the top 15 employees in salary out of 300 there. It wasn't a tiny company, but it wasn't large by any means. What changed my mind about this company which was family owned is that father passed it on to his son and I never felt the same about the place after that move. I left the company about two years after the son took over. I never respected the son's capabilities. He went bankrupt on his own company he had with a partner before he joined his father. I felt like he couldn't make it on his own and he had to ride the success of his father to make it. I never felt good about him running the company; so, I left. I was actually afraid he would ruin this company, too. Infact, in later years he almost did ruin it, but it survived barely. He's now in the process of getting his son to take over. I would not have wanted to be there in the years he took over and the company was suffering. I pulled out at the right time. I know I would have been miserable staying their with the new regime.

I then went to a larger company and became very money oriented. It wasn't the same. I never did click with the bigger company mentality. I did okay, but I preferred the smaller company mentality, but there was no turning back. It was okay, but I lost contact with my old co-workers and that hurt to a degree. I survived and this did allow me to retire early.

In this economy I would go with the increase in salary; you really don't have a choice. To some degree you have to be practical and realistic. What I did as I made more money with my career was to live at my old salary lifestyle and save the increase dollars in the better position. I'm now retired and I'm very happy I did it this way.

Your new job could be better. There's no way of knowing until you do it. If you think you could get back to your old job and old company you have nothing to lose going to the new job. I did this once myself. I didn't like the new job and I was lucky enough to be able to go back to my old company and even get a better job there at the time.

You may want to talk to your current employer and see if there's anything they can do right now to give you a better postion and/or salary. You can sometimes do this without letting on you are thinking of leaving for a better position. It will probably not match your current offer, but it could give you something to think about either way. If there's no hope at your current place then I would say it's a done deal to move on.

Also, this is somewhat dependent on your age. If you are young I would definitely lean towards the better pay. I would assume you would have a more responsible job getting better pay; so, you have to decide if you are ready that way, too.

You can't just live for now. You must think of the future, too. Personally, I think it's going to get harder and harder financially for all of us. Better paying jobs don't always happen. The new job may not last, either and then you could get stuck. It sounds like you are pretty secure in your current position. I hope the new place has a good history of longevity and so forth.

There's a lot to think about when making life choices; good luck to you.

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

Just my opinion here.
Money doesn't guarantee happiness, security, etc. One important factor you really need to consider, especially in an economy like the one we're in, is that when many companies lay off employees, tenure is one of the key factors considered when determining who goes.
Please make sure you research the company you are considering going to work for - get as much information about their history, potential for growth, their philosophies, etc as possible...then choose VERY wisely.
Good luck!

 

[DizneyLizzy]

Thanks for all of the responses!

It's just very helpful to hear what other people (who aren't me or my husband/parents) think.

Luckily no big decisions have to be made immediately, but I have a lot to consider for the near future and I like to plan ahead.

 

[Svhadden]

Is there any way you can speak to someone who already works there, to get their opinion of the environment? I know sometimes it's not practical or possible, but if you could pick the brain of someone already there it might help.

I would advise you to proceed with caution. Yes, it's more money, etc, and thats great. But I've had a job that was so stressful/emotionally exhausting that it made me physically sick. And I'm no shrinking violet It wasn't worth the money AT ALL. Going to work every stinkin' day miserable is horrible. Already being in a job you love sets you apart from many, many people, so I'd leave that job very cautiously.

 

[danielryan]

I work to live, not live to work. I enjoy the general field my skills are designed for, but the job, company, and specifics don't matter to me. I want the best package of benefits and salary so that I can do the things in my life that I really enjoy!

 

[mjantz]

I did it & it did not go well. I took a job making $20,000 more than I had ever made in a year & it was not a good choice for our family. I was away from home more hours & was not seeing my family as much as I wanted. After the first year I thought it would get better but it got worse so I left after 2 years & went back to part time. The money situation is a little more stressful but I have my flexibility back. I figure in about 5-7 years I'll go back to full-time employment. I am keeping my foot in the door at the place that pays better & hopefully can go back when I'm ready.

 

[NYCDiane]

I wouldn't do it unless you KNOW the new job will give you some happiness/satisfaction.

From my own personal experience, I can tell you, salary isn't everything. The job where I currently work? I HATE IT..... I cannot stand it. I wake up Sunday morning and am practically in tears and having anxiety at the thought of having to back to the job on Monday. The job gives me no sense of accomplishement at the end of the day, no satisfaction, nothing. Every moment I'm there, I feel as if my brain cells are turning into mush.

I took the job because of the salary and the flexibility. It's NOT worth it. Not at all. Right now, however, I can't leave it because of the medical coverage. However, once I get my medical issues resolved, I am GONE.