I'm Loving it!

Snowy_Owl

Wow! This is ringing so many bells.......Last year I was off work for four months due to health problems. During this time, I learnt the things that are important. Like spending time with those who are important, eating properly and exercising. Work, though important and pays the bills, is not the be all and end all!!!!! A lottery win would be noce tho!!!!

Snowy

Aspiring_Writer

Well, I must admit that I read the opening post out of curiosity and then the rest of the thread obviously. I hope this message gets posted because I had just finished the one I was typing and I had to log in again! by which time my post had disappeared! aaargh!


Anyway. I was just to say that when this recession began to impose itself on us, I wondered, due to the causes of it, whether it will force us all to make a few decisions about our lifestyles and our attitude towards that good old work/life balance. I know financial pressures preclude a lot of us from staying home or working part time and sometimes ill health plays its unwelcome part aswell, but if the recession has forced us to take a step back from our mad lives and re evaluate how we live then maybe that isnt such a bad thing?

I'm sorry, that wasn't such a quick reply after all was it?

Aspiring_Writer

Me again. just read my post and I dont think it really sums up what I wanted to say at all. This recession, and what caused it, has shaken up a lot of peoples lives, and because of what caused it, has forced us to take a really good look at how we were (pre-recession) living our lives. A must have society, obsessed with having all the toys and paying for it all on credit. Working all the hours to keep up with it and never having any time for ourselves. I'm generalising here deliberately, but I honestly think that the recession has forced a large reality check upon all of us for different reasons and maybe, just maybe, we might return and adopt a few more of our traditional values as we go forward. i would like to think so wouldn't you?

Before anyone shoots me, I know there has been a lot of pain caused by job loss etc.. and that is never good, and certainly illness isn't either. Julie67 I assume you have recovered and thanks by the way for sharing your story.I enjoyed reading your post.

Right thats it i promise!

Saffy255

My sister as very like the OP. She earns in excess of 50K per year (double what her husband earns!!) She is a Junior director of a national supermarket , and loves it. She's never been a maternal type, and relented last year and had a baby.

To cut a long story short, both she and the baby were very ill during and after childbirth, and so instead of the planned 12 weeks off work, she was off work for about 20 weeks - still not a huge amount of time, but longer than planned. At the same time, I was off work after an operation, and once up and about, we both LOVED being off work.

My sister learned that there's more to life than money and material goods, and learned the simple pleasures of hearing her baby laugh, cooking from scratch and learning how to be relaxed.

She's desperate to go part time now to spend more time at home.... what a turn around!

Aspiring_Writer

Saffy255 wrote: »

My sister as very like the OP. She earns in excess of 50K per year (double what her husband earns!!) She is a Junior director of a national supermarket , and loves it. She's never been a maternal type, and relented last year and had a baby.

To cut a long story short, both she and the baby were very ill during and after childbirth, and so instead of the planned 12 weeks off work, she was off work for about 20 weeks - still not a huge amount of time, but longer than planned. At the same time, I was off work after an operation, and once up and about, we both LOVED being off work.

My sister learned that there's more to life than money and material goods, and learned the simple pleasures of hearing her baby laugh, cooking from scratch and learning how to be relaxed.

She's desperate to go part time now to spend more time at home.... what a turn around!

Cool. Have you gone back to work now though? or p/t? And well done on your debt, looks like you're getting through it

Loadsabob

Little_Vics wrote: »

I'm intelligent, have a post-grad degree, 10 years as a senior manager but I'm very open about the fact that I want to be a stay-at-home mum. Just got to produce the sprogs!!

I wonder whether I'm in the minority (I'm sure I am, actually), in wanting to be a stay-at-home Mum...but without the kids . I'm not having children, it's just me and my boyfriend. If people stay at home to nurture a family, there's an element of it being seen as a positive, giving thing. They might think in my case it's just being lazy!

I just love couple-dom and my own time and space. I want to nurture my relationship of ten years, and I would love to have more time to devote to my friends and family as well as to myself and my boyfriend.

I have taken small steps towards this, in working longer days for shorter weeks at work, so I mostly have long weekends. Much better! :T And it's the same hours, so no drop in salary yet.

[Deleted User]

Well I am retired and I gave up work 14 years ago and have never missed it.I don't know where the time gets to at times as I am always busy doing all the things I never had time to do when working.I have an excellant social life and can go to the theatre or cinema when ever I want ,I knit,cook,write,attend craft classes ,do crosswords,I'm also doing a part-time History degree at Uni, walk my DGC in the summer and play games with them at home when the weather is bad.I am usually up at around 6.30-7.00 most days, and rarely get to bed before 11.00. at night .I could actually do with having at least another 6 hours in the day.I couldn't go back to work, I wouldn't have the time.Its great having the freedom to say 'Today I will do this or that' and never having to think about having to work again I took my watch off 14 years ago and threw it away, and have never worn one since.I love being at home and would not go back to work for three times the money .

debtdesperado

One of the things which is encouraging me to get on top of my debt now is that I would love to stay at home whilst children were small... at the moment, I'm single, so a family isn't on the cards right now, but I would like one eventually, and have seen how friends of mine have struggled, juggling credit card and student debt with the drop in salary when they have children. Just in case I don't marry a millionaire ;-) I want to make sure my finances are in the best shape possible so at least give myself a chance at not feeling like I have to rush back to work asap.

claireac

I feel the same - in fact I'm rather miserable with my life at the moment!!

I have a 3yr old dd and had 6mths maternity leave when I had her, and it was the best and least stressful time of my life. I don't work full time, I do 32 hrs a week now but in everyday, but I still have to fit a full time job into less hours. Leaving me stressed, add to that that I don't really enjoy my job any more, but it's convenient, flexible and well paid.........and I feel very stuck!!!!

I'm also the main earner as dh is a roofer (work is there but with Christmas, weather and bad payers!), and we rely on my regular income. It's tough!! I have a lovely childminder for my daughter, but I'd love to be at home with her.

frugal6

I have been lucky and stayed at home with my children only working the odd part time job that doesn't mean we are loaded far from it we used to have a heap of debt but about 2 years ago I decided enough was enough and we tried to stop spending and bit by bit we are getting there but it's been very hard with 6 children. You have to decide what you think is important and spend your money on that and not compare your family to others. Add make every penny work really hard!