Would you work away from home for double your salary?

BettyBoof · 13 October 2016 at 4:44PM

Good point agrinnall, definitely worth it.

MataNui · 13 October 2016 at 5:15PM

About 18 months ago i went the other way. From working away (contracting and staying in hotels all week) to working from home. Now earn about 50% (accounting for tax benefits of running a ltd company) of what i was earning. Still a very good salary by most measures.

Sometimes though i do find it a bit difficult being around all the time. I kind of got used to a bit of peace during the week.

Jazee · 13 October 2016 at 5:26PM

My DH worked away in different locations for 3 years, short term for us. It worked well so I'd say give it a go. It's also very easy to keep in touch these days with skype etc.

GwylimT · 13 October 2016 at 5:30PM

My wife works away, she always has done apart from six weeks after the birth of each child. She is home Friday-Monday morning, as I work part time around her days it means we don't need any childcare, which works very well.

BettyBoof · 13 October 2016 at 5:37PM

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, it is really helpful. I though the responses would be a resounding 'no' but I can see that is working/has worked for lots of you.

DD265 · 13 October 2016 at 6:11PM

If it helps, my Dad worked away 3-5 days a week whilst we were growing up and I don't remember missing him. Don't get me wrong we were always excited to have him home, but we had Mom.

Andrew_Ryan_89 · 13 October 2016 at 6:30PM

Well, double my salary if I was on £19k then no. Doubled my salary to put me on £100k then yes.

£100k salary would mean I could make a significant dent in my mortgage, could probably buy a second home and/or my wife would not have to work.

How much is your husband being offered?

sangie595 · 13 October 2016 at 6:31PM

We were spread across two continents for years - for reasons to complicated to go into, the best schools for the children were in the USA, whilst dad and I were here in the UK. They came here every holiday. They grew up totally well adjusted, independent, young people with a great attitude towards life and very responsible and kind adults. The amount of time they see you isn't the thing. But neither is the money you earn. The quality of parenting is the only thing that matters. If you can provide that as parents, a bit of time away won't harm the family or the kind of people they grow up to be.

So I'm voting with the "go for it" brigade. And maybe some weekends, instead of dad coming back, you could go to him. Travel broadens their minds and their horizons, even if only in the UK.

xapprenticex · 13 October 2016 at 6:53PM

Family comes first, needs come before wants, etc etc

BettyBoof · 13 October 2016 at 8:38PM

Thanks for all your opinions. The money matters in terms of security and needs rather than 'wants', we wouldn't even consider it if it was just for a nice car or a holiday (though those are lovely-to-haves). It's about clearing the decks and moving forward with a safety net.

It would be nice to take the kids to see Dad sometimes, especially during the school holidays. I do worry about them missing him but they have a great relationship with him now and if it was just for a year or so it hopefully wouldn't do too much damage. It's reassuring to read that others have had parents work away and managed just fine.

We still have some thinking to do but it feels like a possibility now instead of a definite no.

Would you work away from home for double your salary?

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