Anyone take a big paycut for lifestyle?

[AlaskanInTexas]

I have a pretty good job right now. It is high stress and demanding, but not beyond reason. I am prayerfully considering a new job opportunity that would provide a lot more fulfillment and would allow me to work from home with a smidgen of travel. I really feel like my kids, especially my wild boys, need more of me around. The only rub is that the new job pays almost exactly half of my current income (still enough to provide for my family and live comfortably). Just wondering if any of you have ever been in a similar position and how you now feel with the benefit of hindsight.

[nyj]

Go for it. Life is too short.

[rotor]

Yes, it's called retirement.

[RoyGBiv]

Spouse?

Supportive of this move?

Do it. It's just stuff vs. Life.

[pcgizzmo]

If I may offer an alternative opinion. I don't know your age but I asumme in mid to late 20's or early 30's? Taking a job where you can stay home and be closer to the family is certainly admirable and understanable and on the outside sounds great. It might even be great but you mentioned taking a cut of half your pay.

I don't know what you make but for most people even if you made 200k a year going to 100k a year is a HUGE change and going from 100k to 50k is even a larger change. Again I don't know what you make but you need to think long term. Your boys are around for a short period of time I get that but, when they turn 18 guess what? They may want to go to college. Where is that money coming from? What about vacations, activities for the kids, niceties you can provide if you had the income?

Let's forget about your kids for a minute. They are there till there a18 then gone doing their own thing. You've taken a cut in pay to stay home with them. Now what? You stil have that lower paying job and now the reason you took it is gone yet your quite a bit older. Man, it would be nice to retire. Whoa, I can't because I haven't been making enough money.

What if you take this job then lose it a couple of years into it? Did you make enough to save for a emergency?

Your younger and mid life years are the years you need to be earning the most money and stacking it away for retirement, your kids college and your future. IF you take 50% cut in pay that could be hard. You won't be as employable when you get older like in your 50's and if you need to make good money then it might not be as easy.

I know your heart is in the right place but try and find what you want w/out such a large cut in pay. I think you'll be happier in the long run.

[jmra]

I did it, kinda. We had kids later than most (mid 30s). I worked a job that left me guessing what country I would be in from one week to the next. When my oldest was about to start kinder my wife sat me down and started asking me questions about our kids and how much I planned on missing as they grow up. Within a month of that conversation she accepted a position (she had been working part time for years) in the DFW area and we moved.
For two years I had the awesome privledge of devoting all of my time to my kids. When my youngest started school I showed up with him and told the school they better find something for me to do because I wasn't leaving. I worked as a volunteer for a month or so before they hired me (for about the same money I was making when I was 18). 8 years later I'm still with the school in a much better paying position but in today's money about half what I was making before we moved.
I wouldn't change a thing. My kids are now doing online public school at home, but my job still allows me to spend a tremendous amont of time with them that very few other jobs would. I have zero regrets.

[suthdj]

I took 30% back in 2008 and still managed to make ends meet, barely, but that was because we plan our life on one income, mine, trust me it was not a fun time but 4yrs later I started new job 90% less stress and 40% more pay. I would do what you think8nk is best for you and your family.

[oohrah]

Matthew 16:26

This spoke to me and I made the change.

[troglodyte]

I started my professional career taking a pay cut by being a High School teacher, which I very much enjoyed. Then my wife and I had an opportunity to work at a small Christian school that our boys attended. We made about half to maybe 2/3 (if we worked all the extra duties) of what we could have made in a public school. We both have a little public school retirement but I won't be able to draw on that little bit until I'm 72. As a family I got to grow up with my boys and wife all at the same school. I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was a blest opportunity and the Lord provided. My boys are grown now and when the youngest graduated High School so did I and moved into another field. I make more now, have less time, have more stress in some ways, and only have 2 weeks off a year. I'm trying to dump all I can into retirement.

I'm older now and maybe I should have done things differently to provide for my wife and myself in our retirement but I made the best decision for my family. I may have to work until the day I die but I won't regret getting to spend the amount of time I was allowed with my boys, and their friends. I sincerely believe it had a very positive influence on all of us.

You can only make the decision for yourself. Money isn't everything. We got by. We never missed a meal or a bill. We lived comfortably and even took a few vacations. We had a warm house and more cars than we did drivers...but our cars were 5+ years old bought used. We even paid for our boy's college. It's all about what level of things you have to have. Wranglers vs. Cinch, steaks vs. hamburgers, new house vs. warm home. We didn't always have the best of anything but we had more than enough and never wanted.

Most of all we were happy.

I pray you seek the Lord's guidance and trust him.

[Redneck_Buddha]

I'm about to invoke the nuclear option on a job I was relocated up here for last March. I like the Dallas area but loathe this job, company, and manager and am going to tell HR exactly what I think today. I am in a niche area of technology in high demand and have some really good savings, so I'm not sweating it. Life is indeed to short. Good luck to you.

[mojo84]

Your legacy that counts will be found in your family, especially your kids and grand kids. Money helps but it doesn't replace time and attention. I believe doing what you are led to do and are passionate about will best serve you and your family. If one is able to enjoy financial success and be a strong involved father, that is great. If you believe you have to chose one or the other, think hard and chose what will last as part of your legacy. Money doesn't last. I know too many people that have significant financial wealth and feel empty as their family life is non-existent or in shambles.

I wish you the best whatever you decide. Once you decide, be confident and willing to accept whatever the consequences and enjoy whatever the rewards.

[txcharvel]

There has to be a balance of work and life. Work is what you do so you can live, you don't live to work (even though we were made to work, we should not be a slave to our job). Several years ago my wife and I made the decision that she should stay at home. Just like that, our income was cut almost in half. I literally did not know how we would survive, but we did. In fact we thrive.

This isn't the same type situation, but the principle is the same...which is simplify life. We don't have cable, we keep our cars longer, we don't eat out as much...you can adjust. I completely understand the concept of making as much as you can now to save for later, but one way or another we become slaves to the income. If you can simplify your life, I say do it. I have three wild boys and I'm thankful that we are able to raise our kids instead of leaving it up to the world or some stranger.

[Jumping Frog]

I'm about to invoke the nuclear option on a job I was relocated up here for last March. I like the Dallas area but loathe this job, company, and manager and am going to tell HR exactly what I think today. I am in a niche area of technology in high demand and have some really good savings, so I'm not sweating it. Life is indeed to short. Good luck to you.

I believe leaving that way is shortsighted.

Enemies are a luxury few men can afford.

I've never burned bridges, and I cannot tell you how many times there have been intersections in my career with people who knew me or knew former co-workers.

I get it that you are frustrated, but taking the high road and simply leaving peacefully is advantageous.

[mojo84]

Listening to "old" people reminiscing, I have often heard the comment "I wish I had spent more time with my family", but have rarely heard "I wish I had spent more time at my job".

I've heard this many times. It always came across somewhat cliche until I recently heard a hospice chaplain tell me the same thing. It all the sudden didn't seem so cliche.