Giving up my job?

mintboy

Sceptre wrote: »

Hi


Would you go out to work if you could manage for a while without having to? Apologies to anyone on the look out for work at the moment .

I've been thinking about having a 'break' from my job (well, any job really) for a long time now, but can't seem to summon up the courage to do it.

I'm in my prime lol, and have always worked except for a three year break when kids came along.

We would manage, although planned home improvements etc would seriously slow up/stop.

My reason - I'm knackered! Like most jobs, mine's hard going. There's so much stuff I want/need to do at home. Is it wrong to consider letting my DH carry on while I give up? He loves his job and is very happy for me to have a break from outside employment. Obviously, we don't know what's around the corner, but this is where we are at right now.

I suppose I'm dithering because I have worked for so long I don't know any different. Do I do it for self esteem/worth? What about pensions, provision for my old age etc. It's all swirling around in my head!

I realise that I'm very lucky to be able to have a choice.

Has anyone been in the same position? Any thoughts or advice would be really welcome.

I would think about it really hard I gave up work to move to France but had to return. Because I have a break in my work record I am considered unreliable .

thedogsmum

I think the bottom line really is money and the state of your health. I always said I would retire as soon as I had paid off my mortgage. To do this early, I overpaid every month as much as I could, which meant I learnt to live on a relatively low income - hence not so much of a shock when I did retire. I'm single, so can please myself: I have a little narrow boat, where I spend lots of time with my dogs and, as it's away from any town, I'm not tempted to spend money. I also did lots of voluntary work when I first retired six years ago as I couldn't get out of the habit of getting up at 6am!!!!! I still do some but not 4 days a week nowadays. Like others, I do miss my work colleagues and you can't replace that. I still keep in contact with some of my team - I can't live without the gossip!!!
I mentioned health because to do what lots of us want to do if we retire/stop working early, we need to be (reasonably) healthy.
So, OP, if you can afford to do it and won't be having to restrict yourselves to an uncomfortable extent, then go for it. One life, live it!

Sceptre

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions .

It's been really lovely reading so many positive experiences from those who have 'jumped ship', so to speak! It has given me real food for thought.

In response to the poster (s l), who later deleted their post, I embraced 'just tired' decades ago lol. I think that most of us who have dealt with any or all of the following: looking after a home, elderly parent(s), ill health and then maybe throwing kids in at some point, deal with 'just tired' as the norm.

I was talking knackered. It's different .

How would I feel if my husband decided to give up paid employment and therefore forcing me into being our sole provider?

Well, I'd be stuffed then!

Fortunately, as explained in my OP, my DH is very happy for me to have a break. For as long as. He would be the one who, after winning the lottery, would still go to work .

Anyhoo..........I called the Future Pension guys in Newcastle today and asked for an up to date pension statement. By my calculations, I will hit the 35 years magic number in 2015/16. So I may plod on until then. Mmmmm.........

McKneff

Think yourselves lucky, its not too long since the requirement for a full state pension was 39 years.....

Sceptre

McKneff wrote: »

Think yourselves lucky, its not too long since the requirement for a full state pension was 39 years.....

There's still plenty of time to change it McKneff! I won't get excited until I get there .

nlj1520

I gave up regular work partly through choice partly through circumstance (a lot was required of me around my disabled son's adult placement). Although I still do a bit of work, the problem is it isn't always available when I can do it. Obviously my son comes first, but now my Dad (who lives a 5 hour drive away) is failing and I am in a relationship with someone who IS retired and is much better off then me and wants to go away lots.
I find the lack of structure to my day, the lack of reliable income and the lack of mental stimulation quite challenging. I have started new activities and am enjoying them hugely. I found that the stress work brought was too much for me on top of my caring role. However it was a distraction from that role, so it's a double edged sword......you may find that the stress of work is promptly replaced by another stress instead! Certainly I am not as exhausted as I was when trying to work full time.
I would go for it, but have plans in place to keep your brain and body active and look for new activities so that you make the most of it.
Good luck whatever you decide.

choccybuttons

Why not go part time to start breaking yourself into a new life. You would be less tired, perhaps enjoy work more and be able to start building a new life that eventually won't involve work.

skintchick

I gave up my career (and work in general) to have a family. I haven;t had a job since 2008. I'm a SAHM, although I recently started doing some seamstressing from home but it's hardly anything at all. I do lots of voluntary work, and am very involved in my local community, and I don;t regret it at all.

We manage on OH's wage because we worked our budget out when buying our house so we could manage on his. If I worked we could haave a much bigger house, but we like our life as it is.

Netwizard

I'm 30. I started a job in 2004. Worked myself ragged. Early shifts, late shifts, nights, you name it, I did it.


Since 2009, I was working nights. I hated it, there were lots of things that needed addressing that the management didn't care about, and eventually, It started making me feel ill.


I left in Jan of this year. I had no other job lined up, so I have been out of work for 6 months now. It helps that I live at home, and I had a fair sum of money saved up when I jacked it in.


Ive enjoyed doing a bit of travelling, catching up with friends, and generally I've had the best 6 months of my life.


I know i'll have to start looking for a job soon. The money wont last forever, but there is more to life than money, and I don't regret leaving my job for a second.


I also haven't claimed a penny of benefits. It was my decision to leave and I'm quite happy living off my savings for the time being. I feel liberated.


Next few months I will start looking for a job though I say go for it if you can do it.