Can I quit work yet?

SouthCoastBoy

NorthernMonkey1 said:

infj said:

Being bored at work is a nightmare - I know - I've been there and I didn't earn anything like your salary. It makes you depressed and fed up and desperate to escape somehow. There's actually a term for this - it's called boreout.
First question perhaps is why is it boring? 

It's a job in IT for a megacorp. I make audit scores look good. 

It pays well because megacorps like good audits, its boring because its total BS. Im good but its hard to think youre making the world a better place 

I also work in IT, and agree some jobs can be boring

JayRitchie

Hi OP

Thanks for posting! I only discovered this forum a week or so ago and am loving learning from the threads.

I was pondering your car position. Would you need two cars as a family if you retire/ take time out of the workplace? Your cars seem reasonably expensive for a family who would be on a lowish income. I wonder if buying a decent second hand cheap to run and repair car would be a viable option?

Cairnpapple

I don't know what it's like in your field of IT, but the IT folks I know seem to have contact with recruiters who are actually good. Maybe worth having some recruiter chats if you haven't already? If nothing else you could find out how hard it would be to rejoin the field if you took 1/2/5 years out. Or the options for working part time if there's no option to do so in your current company.

It looks like you could be in a good place to take some time off now and then maybe once the kids are in school look for something more interesting and/or part time. 

QrizB

Cairnpapple said:

I don't know what it's like in your field of IT, but the IT folks I know seem to have contact with recruiters who are actually good. Maybe worth having some recruiter chats if you haven't already? If nothing else you could find out how hard it would be to rejoin the field if you took 1/2/5 years out. Or the options for working part time if there's no option to do so in your current company.

That was my thought, too. If the OP is currently living on roughly half their nominal salary, going part-time (with their current employer or a new one) would give them more time with their family without a huge hit to their take-home.

They could even continue to make biggish pension contributions and see what life really looks like on £25k pa.

Nebulous2

NorthernMonkey1 said:

infj said:

Being bored at work is a nightmare - I know - I've been there and I didn't earn anything like your salary. It makes you depressed and fed up and desperate to escape somehow. There's actually a term for this - it's called boreout.
First question perhaps is why is it boring? 

It's a job in IT for a megacorp. I make audit scores look good. 

It pays well because megacorps like good audits, its boring because its total BS. Im good but its hard to think youre making the world a better place 

Have you ever done one of those surveys, that managers seem to like, on what motivates (drives) you? 

I was never a high earner, worked in care, often a lot more hours than I was paid for, because I did have a sense of purpose and belief I was making a difference. 

With a bit of distance, mostly retired, and working part-time, I now question if I always got the balance right, particularly for family time. 

If you aren't getting what you need at work, one option is to get it elsewhere - be that a hobby, your family, or whatever, and see the job as a necessary component of funding that. 

Some of the younger generation are very good at that. Focusing on surfing, mountaineering, travel, or whatever and working just enough to fund that and the minimum necessary for the rest of their lives.... 

NorthernMonkey1

JayRitchie said:

Hi OP

Thanks for posting! I only discovered this forum a week or so ago and am loving learning from the threads.

I was pondering your car position. Would you need two cars as a family if you retire/ take time out of the workplace? Your cars seem reasonably expensive for a family who would be on a lowish income. I wonder if buying a decent second hand cheap to run and repair car would be a viable option?

Cars are very much the cars I own as someone on a good professional wage. The car on PCP probably makes sense to keep, the lease car would have to go. They're both EVs, and eliminating our petrol spend is absolutely a reason for how I've managed to max out my ISAs for so long. 

I'd probably go for a really cheap second EV, like a 2016 Nissan leaf for 5k as a replacement for the lease car

NorthernMonkey1

Nebulous2 said:

Have you ever done one of those surveys, that managers seem to like, on what motivates (drives) you? 

I was never a high earner, worked in care, often a lot more hours than I was paid for, because I did have a sense of purpose and belief I was making a difference. 

With a bit of distance, mostly retired, and working part-time, I now question if I always got the balance right, particularly for family time. 

If you aren't getting what you need at work, one option is to get it elsewhere - be that a hobby, your family, or whatever, and see the job as a necessary component of funding that. 

Some of the younger generation are very good at that. Focusing on surfing, mountaineering, travel, or whatever and working just enough to fund that and the minimum necessary for the rest of their lives.... 

I'm really concerned about climate change and the environment, I'd probably move to a role in that area. I'm not sure of what jobs that I could do that would make a difference though

kimwp

Take a look at the 80,000 hours website for job ideas?

ProDave

My input to this thread is why the hell do you want to settle for being in a 3 bed semi for the rest of your lives?

With that income, especially up north, you should be able to afford a decent detached house.  Spend less on cars more on where you live, and find a more interesting job.

IamWood

SouthCoastBoy said:

I was bored at work and earning a 6 figure salary therefore difficult to walk away from, however I moved to a new job and in the process taken a 30% pay cut. However a lot happier and more engaged, so it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

 I would suggest finding a new position, kids are very expensive and the extra money will enable you to do additional things with the kids and help them out as they get older. I often considered quitting the rat race but never did and am now thankful I didn't. I know its not easy when you are bored at work, but try to see the bigger picture in the fact you are investing in your kids future.

Absolutely.

I completely understand. Just turned fifty and I was contemplating putting my tools down to pursue something I'm passionate about. However, I've resolved to continue for another five years until my boys graduate from university and I can assist them in getting onto the property ladder, at the very least. I currently earn a six-figure salary, and my job is engaging enough to keep me motivated but never be my passion.