Page 7 | If you could afford to live by working just 3 days a week…

Somedreamer · 2026-03-09T23:42:11+00:00

Would you? Or would you keep working 5 days and put the money into savings for your future? Extra context: No huge financial safety net, still have a mortgage and 6 months of expenses as an emergency fund. Full disclosure: I am considering this but wondering if it’s irresponsible!

patooties · 10/03/2026 01:02

I work 4 days a week. I love it. I never ever want to work FT again.

YourSassyPanda · 10/03/2026 01:02

Depends on age. If I had plenty of time ahead of me to make up savings / pension then I’d consider it. I would love to work three days per week but not if it comes at a cost later down the line.

Dragonscaledaisy · 10/03/2026 01:01

Yes - I've done it since my late twenties and have had a fabulous life. So much time to relax and enjoy my hobbies. I wouldn't have done it if I'd had no financial safety net though.

canuckup · 10/03/2026 00:58

Meh, I'd be more tempted to retire early

What's the soonest you can?

Original poster

Somedreamer · 10/03/2026 00:27

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/03/2026 23:59

Couldn't possibly say because depends how old you are, what your pension is like, what your other half's salary is, if they had life insurance, if you've got kids to put through uni etc. If I couldn't manage the mortgage on my own or with life insurance if husband died then no.

It's a bit shortsighted to only think of what you can afford to live on NOW if you are way before pension age. Plenty of people can cut right back and manage on the basics - for now. The question is would you still be happy pottering about taking it easy in 5 years time? Watching as the people around you maybe start having a bit more money to spend on leisure and maybe going on bucket list foreign trips and you're still stuck pottering about the garden and having staycations.And if you realise too late that it's had a majorly detrimental effect on your pension will you be able to easily go back to full time to try to make up for the losses a bit?

Thanks, I agree with your points.

I’m 40, single, no kids or other dependents. Public sector pension.

I have been feeling fed up for a while now. I do enjoy my job but it is stressful and I would love to have more time to myself. Lots of friends work 3 day weeks while childrearing, and I find myself thinking “well I could do that too if I really want to”. But I do worry that it wouldn’t be sensible.

OP posts:

CurlyhairedAssassin · 09/03/2026 23:59

Couldn't possibly say because depends how old you are, what your pension is like, what your other half's salary is, if they had life insurance, if you've got kids to put through uni etc. If I couldn't manage the mortgage on my own or with life insurance if husband died then no.

It's a bit shortsighted to only think of what you can afford to live on NOW if you are way before pension age. Plenty of people can cut right back and manage on the basics - for now. The question is would you still be happy pottering about taking it easy in 5 years time? Watching as the people around you maybe start having a bit more money to spend on leisure and maybe going on bucket list foreign trips and you're still stuck pottering about the garden and having staycations.And if you realise too late that it's had a majorly detrimental effect on your pension will you be able to easily go back to full time to try to make up for the losses a bit?

Besidemyselfwithworry · 09/03/2026 23:52

Would love to do 3 days a week
I do 5 days compressed into 4!

3 standard days would be a total dream!

Squatbox · 09/03/2026 23:50

depends if I had a passion/hobby that it would allow me to pursue

like writing a novel or training for ultra marathons or learning Korean or getting shredded for bikini body builder comps

but in the financial situation you describe, I wouldn’t put myself in a risky situation to potter around at home and take things at a slower pace

but if it allows you to facilitate a dream…maybe