Apply for new job on less money to be happier?

sweetdaisy

I don't want to offend anyone who is struggling to find work, as I know that there are not many jobs out there (My Husband is going to be made redundant in a couple of months and has been applying for numerous jobs), but wanted some advice.

I work full-time, have been in my job for over 7 years, I am on a good salary, but have decided in the last 2 months to look for a new job. My reasons for wanting to look for another job is that my commute to work is 1 hour each way and I spend around £50 a week on fuel, I would like to work closer to home so that I can cut down on fuel costs and spend more time with our children, I work with a challenging client group (who have become more challenging), my job has become more stressful, I have to take part in 'on-call' one week in every 5 weeks (sometimes more frequently) etc.

I know that it may not be a good time to look for a new job as DH is going to be made redundant, however I feel that work is really starting to affect me and is making me feel miserable and down.

I attended a job interview around 3 weeks ago and wasn't successful, however as it was my first interview in over 7 years, I feel it has given me some confidence to start looking again.

I have looked at our finances and if I were to work closer to home, I'll be able to take a pay cut of around £2,000 - £2,500 a year. I'll also be able to spend more time with the children and hopefully be less stressed.

I feel that I am constantly worrying about work and not able to 'switch'off' when I get home. I feel guilty that I work full-time and not able to spend as much time with the children as I would like, but as I earn more than DH, financially it's not an option for me to work part-time. DS2 was also diagnosed with a genetic condition a few months ago and this has put a different perspective onto things.

Would you take a pay cut for a new job, if you felt that it would make you happier or would you just persevere in a job that you are deeply unhappy in, but get paid a good salary?

Also, when applying for a job, if the job pays less than what you currently earn will employers question why you have gone for a job on less money and what would I say? Tell them it is for family reasons or say that I am looking for a change in direction?

Any advice is welcome

annie1975_2

sweetdaisy wrote: »

I don't want to offend anyone who is struggling to find work, as I know that there are not many jobs out there (My Husband is going to be made redundant in a couple of months and has been applying for numerous jobs), but wanted some advice.

I work full-time, have been in my job for over 7 years, I am on a good salary, but have decided in the last 2 months to look for a new job. My reasons for wanting to look for another job is that my commute to work is 1 hour each way and I spend around £50 a week on fuel, I would like to work closer to home so that I can cut down on fuel costs and spend more time with our children, I work with a challenging client group (who have become more challenging), my job has become more stressful, I have to take part in 'on-call' one week in every 5 weeks (sometimes more frequently) etc.

I know that it may not be a good time to look for a new job as DH is going to be made redundant, however I feel that work is really starting to affect me and is making me feel miserable and down.

I attended a job interview around 3 weeks ago and wasn't successful, however as it was my first interview in over 7 years, I feel it has given me some confidence to start looking again.

I have looked at our finances and if I were to work closer to home, I'll be able to take a pay cut of around £2,000 - £2,500 a year. I'll also be able to spend more time with the children and hopefully be less stressed.

I feel that I am constantly worrying about work and not able to 'switch'off' when I get home. I feel guilty that I work full-time and not able to spend as much time with the children as I would like, but as I earn more than DH, financially it's not an option for me to work part-time. DS2 was also diagnosed with a genetic condition a few months ago and this has put a different perspective onto things.

Would you take a pay cut for a new job, if you felt that it would make you happier or would you just persevere in a job that you are deeply unhappy in, but get paid a good salary?

Also, when applying for a job, if the job pays less than what you currently earn will employers question why you have gone for a job on less money and what would I say? Tell them it is for family reasons or say that I am looking for a change in direction?

Any advice is welcome

I always say better to be happier in a job that is less pay,than to be unhappy on a well paid job..If you can afford less pay then go for it.
As for a new employer,just be honest ,say you want to be nearer to home,and to spend more time with your children.

getmore4less

It will depend on the job but be carefull you don't end up sounding like you will be inflexable. shorter comute == more flexable

If the condition of DS is likely to need time off another area to be carefull.

Do you cuurently run multiple cars, could working closer mean only one, even bigger saving.

With 50pw on fuel and reduced mileage it is probably a lot more than £2500 when you add servicing insurance and depreciation.

I would wait a bit to see what happens with OH if his job ends up being a long way as well that could nean looking at moving, is relocation closer to your work an option would it be easier for him to find work there.

pawsies

Happiness and pay cut every time.

Regardless, there's no guarantee you would get a pay cut- could get the same or a rise!

jayII

In reality, you're already getting around £2,800 less each year as you're spending such a lot on fuel, not to mention wear and tear on your car, tyres etc.

But to answer your question, time with family is worth more than more money, any day!

sniggings

I think staying in a job you don't like is wrong but...

You say you spend £50 a week on fuel so working nearer home is going to save you £2.5k so you are not really dropping your wage.

Also you would have to be within walking distance so not to use the car or you wouldn't even be saving £2.5k, not many people can walk to work.

I would think most people take around 30mins to an hour to get to work so 1 hour is not really that long, you may be lucky and save 30 mins but is a 30 min saving worth maybe not liking the next job and a pay cut.

Lastly, you may not like the job but would you dislike not having a job/money worse? It may seem living on not much money is preferred to a job you don't like but buying the cheapest rice 5 times a week to go with a cheap tin of curry (where I'm at atm) is not much fun either.


I would be temped if you can, to at least wait until your partnerr finds work.

sweetdaisy

Thanks for all the advice. I am going to look for a new job, but not going to apply for one with a drastic pay cut, just for the sake of changing jobs. It needs to be a job that will suit our family. Now that DS2 has had a diagnosis the hospital appointments etc have lessened, however currently at work I use my Annual Leave/Flexi to attend any appointments, so rather than take my A/L in 'weeks' I tend to take them in single days, so no one needs to cover my work when I am on leave.

We run 2 cars in our house and not able to run one car. We live in a semi-rural area and there is no way that DH could get to work using public transport (not the hours he works), also as I have a 60 mile round trip to work, I need my car to take the children to nursery and school in the mornings before heading off to work, so not able to use public transport.

I am flexible and often stay on at work a lot later when needed and there are issues to deal with, so by looking for a job closer to work, it's not going to affect my flexibility.

Re: DH being made redundant. We are not looking to relocate and that is not an option as we love where we live, children are settled in school and nursery and family are close by. DH has been applying for jobs and signed up with agencies in preparation. He will be having some redundancy money, so will use this money as his 'wage' so we'll be Ok for 6-7 months on the redundnacy money before having to touch savings money. DH is not fussy about what jobs he goes for, so is prepared to apply for anything as long as he is in a job and earning a wage.

gibson123

I have taken a pay cut and have twice refused promotion into a post that i know I would be unhappy in, so yes happiness over money every time. Also I noted that you are feeling more and more stressed, so it's not just happiness it's also health, so two reasons. Good luck. xx

themull1

There;s no guarantee that you will be happier....

Fiddlestick

sweetdaisy wrote: »

I have looked at our finances and if I were to work closer to home, I'll be able to take a pay cut of around £2,000 - £2,500 a year.

Would you take a pay cut for a new job, if you felt that it would make you happier or would you just persevere in a job that you are deeply unhappy in, but get paid a good salary?

Hehe, I took a "pay cut" of over 2.5x that when I went back to work after being made redundant from a job that I hated.

I don't regret it, not for a moment.

My current job might pay a lot less and be less senior than what I was doing previously, but there is so much less stress that I no longer spend all day thinking about quitting but never getting round to it.

Also, when applying for a job, if the job pays less than what you currently earn will employers question why you have gone for a job on less money and what would I say? Tell them it is for family reasons or say that I am looking for a change in direction?

Just be completely honest with them.

When I mentioned what salary I was on before and the disparity between that and what I was offered, I quite truthfully stated that happiness, conditions and training opportunities were far more important to me than cash in hand each month.

Don't get me wrong - more money is always welcome - but it's not the be all and end all, as both of us know

Any advice is welcome

Make sure that your financial commitments are covered and that you will have enough left over to be comfortable.

Unfortunately I had little choice as the company went bust (hence the redundancy) and I am now stuck paying a loan on a smaller salary than what I was earning when I took it out, so things are tight. However it's manageable and we and Mrs Stick are counting the months until it's paid off next november and we will have that extra money to put away for our first home

jfh7gwa

It depends. 2.5k of sod all is a hard one for family finances to bear, but 2.5k off of 30k isn't exactly a big deal if you have the commute factored in.

However, you should also look at it longer term. Are you stunting your career growth by taking a lesser paying role - if you tried to get your old job back in 1 year's time, would that be possible, or are you burning bridges? Or maybe you're widening your opportunities / experience in a relevant way and the 2.5k temporary downturn will mean your earning potential increases this time in 2 years.

In other words, there are so many factors that come into play here (and IMHO, earning potential WITH happiness is the key - a balance) that I don't have a straight opinion to offer.

I've been paid badly in a dead end job, and I've been paid well in a dead end job. I do know that the badly paying jobs I've had that have led somewhere (including working for 4 months for free in a volunteer position 15 years ago where the "pay" was basically "you get a free lunch every day") are perfectly fine... it's the dead end badly paying ones that you have to watch out for LONG term. If you see what I mean.