If you could afford to live by working just 3 days a week…

Define “living”, do you mean existing or doing all the things you want to do that can afford to do now?

Exactly, it’s what happened to me and you lose out on pay, holidays and pension.

Is there a middle ground? I changed from 37 hours over 5 days to 35 hours in 4 days. I wouldn’t ever go back to 5 days now but actually only dropped 2 hours pay.

If I could afford it I would go down to 4 days. Three would feel too part time. Also it depends on the job. I have worked four days before and basically was just expected to do all my work in those four days but got paid less. I went back to ft fairly quickly.

I think it depends what you enjoy doing. I'm 38 no kids and I have just dropped to 4 days, I could do 3 if I didn't have horses 🤣 I do quite a lot of active hobbies horses, climbing, running and so I'd rather have more time now while I'm healthy and have to keep working a bit longer. I am on a good salary though it would be 80k if I was full time so 80% of that is still quite a bit!

I used to to do three long days 34.5 hours in healthcare. Was great but tiring. Also can’t do anything for those three days by time home. Those extra days off really give a balance.

I got a new job and now do four days 37.5. I miss that one day but i’ve adjusted. I’m 46 and at the moment i want the money more, i could afford to drop some hours but i dont want to just get by so i’ll stay full time.

I work 3 days and it’s a good balance for me. Also early 40s but have 3 children, no mortgage. I started 3 days when youngest was born (now 11). I’d hate to go back full time - things feel tighter than they did though with COL.

I’d say do it! Or like others have said at least drop to 4 days. I spend one of my days off ‘working’ ( cleaning, food shop, batch cook, life admin) and one day enjoying - breakfast with a friend or a long dog walk or visit family. My weekends are mostly taken with kid stuff - sports and driving them to see friends/having friends over.

This is a good point. I know part-timers who do the same amount of weekly work as full-timers but get 3/5 of the pay, pension and holiday pay. Don't let this happen to you.

If you can live comfortably on 3 days a week but are worried about the future then would 4 days be a good compromise?

You get a better work life balance now but you can also save more.

A friend in a similar situation to you (and now in her early 50's) has been doing 4 days for years and she's much happier for it and is also heavily paying into a pension.

I have recently started a low stress 3 day a week job. It’s a wonderful balance. I had been not working for 6 months as a contract ended and I have elderly DPs with multiple health issues living an hour away. I am 55 and felt that I needed to go back to work. I am in no rush to retire now although I could afford to.

I'd love to, I can more than afford it but part time just isn't really a thing.

You’re only 40 so keep working 5 days for now

you could take a sabbatical or find a new job if fed up

I work 3.5 days a week. I dropped when I had kids and never gone back up.

While I love it and it makes putting up with the job much easier, sometimes I'm aware that my workload is the same put I'm paid less.

It undoubtedly affects your promotion prospects and your pension.

I could work more hours now the kids are late primary but there's still a lot of appointments, plays, drop offs to things that doing less hours provides the flexibility to accommodate.

We could have more money but we've nearly paid off the mortgage on our small house and have reasonable savings. I wouldn't do it without something behind me, especially not single.

If you can manage on three days salary, why don't you have decent savings? Have your circumstances changed recently?

Would your employer consider the nine day fortnight or compressed hours?

If you live alone, also consider that you may find it lonely. People aren't always available on random week days.

It is lovely to have a shorter week. I'm prepared to make the sacrifices that come with it but in your circumstances, I wouldn't drop as low as three. Four days at a push would be a better compromise.

oh, tough decision.

on one side I’d want to work 5 days so I can save money quicker and retire a early, while on the other side I know that today I’m the youngest I’ll ever be and I want to enjoy today! Weekends go soooo quickly and having even an extra day every week would make such a difference.

Unfortunately that’s not a decision I’d have to consider because for the next few years (at least) I have to work 5 days a week. Dreaming about going down to 4 days a week once I teach my early 50s.

This is exactly why I work 3 days a week. We could have lots of luxuries if I worked 5 days but nothing is worth the time I have. I went down to 4 days when the kids came along in my late 30s then changed job after redundancy and worked full time for a year - everyone was miserable. 3 days is brilliant and has allowed my kid to pursue hobbies that would have been almost impossible otherwise. I also get time to pursue mine and spend proper quality time with DH who works shifts. I’ll never go back to full-time.

Yes, I would! I work 3 days now as my kids are little but I plan on just staying at 3 days though. I'm a teacher so find it so much less stressful and enjoyable than teaching FT. I rationalise it to myself by thinking I'll be able to stay working in teaching longer, so will retire later than some but I'd rather enjoy life!

In my first job, my supervisor worked 4 days. She used Fridays to do all her life admin, leaving weekends free to enjoy.

I currently work 3 days even though my children are both at school. I have considered upping to 4 days (and have worked a bit extra at times) but I enjoy the pace of life as it is.

Presumably a change doesn't need to be permanent. You could do it for a few years and then look to increase your hours if you wanted, or if finances were tricky.

I think it depends if your job would actually end up being 3 days. Very often I’ve seen people end up with 5 days work they need to try and cram into 4 or 3 days

I don't think it sounds like you can afford to quite yet. Clear the mortgage, build up a decent safety net, stash away in a pension, and see where you are in 5 years perhaps?

I've recently reduced from 5 to 4 days.
Best thing I've ever done.
61 years old and knackered.
Planning to move to Spain next year and have a supportive DH.

I do four days and love it. I tried three days both times after returning from maternity leave by using annual leave and didn’t enjoy it as much, four feels like the right balance for me. But then I am lucky to enjoy my job,

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Dc are probably the biggest expense bar buying a property so I’d say go for it. What else would you do?

I'm early retiring this year at 56, I wouldn’t have done it earlier, couldn’t have before 55. I’ll be looking for a part time job (but may not have much choice) because I think i’ll be bored!

I wouldn't with a mortgage and no savings. But why not do 4 days instead?

It depends on how much you earn as well, and how much your mortgage payment is as a proportion. If you are on 80k FTE with a £300 mortgage payment that's a bit different to being on 30k with a £1200 mortgage payment.

Future finances will have a bearing too, e.g. if likely to have a significant inheritance (as much as these things can be predicted with possible nursing/care fees)

Same OP. The pension aspect is what worries me plus the constant thought that I could be made redundant anytime (AI plus getting older/not keeping up with things) so make hay while the sun shines type of thing. I haven't come to a conclusion on it but I think my risk averse nature is saying no, for now at least. Also, I feel like there's a social pressure to be doing something productive at all times.