Would you stop working if you could afford it?

[Ibitebats]

I'm 48 and suddenly realise we're in a position that I do not need to work for the money. I could give up and there'd be no need to change our lifestyle, holidays etc. Pensions are good.

I do not enjoy my job. I'm an auditor - I get paid a reasonable amount for not much - frankly. And we now have to be in the office 4 days a week (I work 4 days so that means every day for me - it's not pro rata). The children are 10 and 8 so approaching secondary school. Dd2 likely to need more help than DD1 with homework etc.

I am really wrestling with whether to stop working. I sway between thinking it's good for the DDs to see me working and thinking how much easier our lives would be if I am around more to do everything. Plus being around in the school holidays.

Would you stay at home if you could?

I'd go part time (2 days) in something relaxing even if it's low pay. Best of both worlds.

Shorter week or different job I'd choose.

Yep 100%! I have young children though and have just given up going back to work, as I love being with them/around for them compared to any job. Maybe once the youngest is in school I’ll find something P/T but I doubt I’ll ever get bored at home (either with or without the kids!). We’re not rolling in money but I’d rather be as happy as I am than go back to work.

no way im 67 and still work part time 3 days a week to get me out of the house and keep the brain ticking seeing other people at work my OH is retired completely and i dont want 24 / 7 with just him yet even though we do a lot of social stuff motorbike related

Yes I think I would. I work full time and also do 3 different types of volunteering. If I didn't have to work for money, I would bloody love to fill my time with other things like volunteering more or in different ways.

Mostly I'm just done with the stress of my job, the older I get (I'm 50), the more pointless some of the meetings I am in, seem. Projects blah blah blah.

I'd go part-time and earn just enough to be happy, but a small enough amount to not have to pay income tax. Everything is taxed, so it makes sense to not pay at least one of the many damn taxes.

No. Working gives you social connections, a sense of purpose and achievement- so much more than just income. I’d love to be able to go part time, and I’m hoping that will be a realistic option in 10 years, but not yet.

If your employer is funny about part time and has said no to others, would it be worth teaming up with a colleague and asking if you can job share?

I would. I understand the weird feeling though. I took two long breaks from work (between contracts) and lord, the judgement.

One sensible person made the observation that if I said I was spending £10k on a car or something, no one would bat an eyelid.

I volunteered but I didn't enjoy it. Some organisations aren't great in dealing with volunteers, so watch out for that if you do this.

I would take a less full on job and work out hours to suit the kids.

I work in accountancy too and I would have said working in audit 3 days a week would be pushing it and 2 days a week would be impossible.

Yes, no job shares here. Does a 2 day a week no travel job exist?! If you don't already work there? It feels the holy grail.

I'm considering the same OP. I'm a couple of years younger than you with kids a similar age and on paper I have an enviable job. I work 3 days but over 4, and work from home so school hours only and on a decent salary (50k so 30k for 3 days) BUT my workload is full time. As far as I can tell this is often the case with part time senior roles. I have professional qualifications for my job and a Masters but no work life balance. Thinking about work wakes me up in the night, I average 5 hours sleep a night and am often so tired on my day off i just mooch around the house in my pyjamas thinking about how I should log into work emails, so not benefitting from my day off.

I'm also distracted when the kids get home and often still working (supposed to work 9-3)

Seriously considering quitting work for the kids' secondary years (I agree that in many ways they need us more than when they're in primary)

I might then retrain in something low stress, volunteer 1 day a week in something skills based and maybe return to work in 5 years or so. And focus on hobbies which have been abandoned.

Financially independent with investments, no mortgage etc so wondering why I'm allowing life to be so stressful...

We're not rich but we could afford to live on DH's salary. In fact we did for 7 years when I was a SAHM. However, I prefer to work. I'm lucky that I can work part time so for me that's the perfect balance. I'm working and earning but it's not all consuming.
I like earning, I like saving, I like using my brain, I like the social aspect of work and I get job satisfaction.
I'm happier now I'm working than when I was a SAHM.

I did, it's the family joke.

Love it.

Might go do a degree next. I do volunteer, also some caring, eat well, do all sorts to keep my brain ticking. 😁

I enjoy my job, so I would stay there for a while, although I might go down to 3 days a week and study in my spare time. DH retired in his mid forties, and although he's happy with his choice, I think he often gets bored and lonely as he's at home when his friends are at work.

No. I had to stop due to heath conditions. I hate not working (at the career I loved)

Hell yes you wouldnt see me for dust. Having been a nurse for 26 years already I can honestly say I have had enough and still have many years to go.

I worked part time from when my kids were born, once they got to secondary school everyone at work kept asking why I didn’t increase my hours. In reality the extra money would have been nice but we all live up to our incomes and we were ok, we would have just spent more. Practically my kids definitely needed me more at secondary and I became their taxi driver but also their tutor with the help of curriculum and revision guides. Both achieved brilliant grades so it was worth it.
If you want to finish work to support your kids then go for it

I'm stopping work on Thursday. 57 and have an income from rental property. Have been saving hard and, like op, have had some inheritance that takes the financial pressure off. I simply cannot wait and am so excited to have time to do the things I love.

No. I work three days a week, term time only in a job I love. Although on days like today, when I’m run off my feet with revising teens, a tween taxi service, delinquent dogs and reports to write, I question my choices.

Maybe. I worked part time for many years and went back ft last year. I was very lucky to get a job in a really lovely school with great kids and fantastic colleagues, but the workload is doing my head in. I think I'd probably go part time rather than quit just yet.

I truly am only working for the money. I could get social interaction, mental stimulation and a sense of purpose from literally dozens of other activities as and when I needed it if I wasn’t working. I would give up my job in a heartbeat!

I definitely would if I could. I’m currently trying to negotiate flexible working to allow me a better work/life balance. For me, work pays my bills but leads me to not take care of myself as well as I could because I’m always rushing and trying to be the best for everyone else. Something has to give when you work full time in a stressful role. I’d be far happier and healthier without work.

If I could give up work, I’d volunteer for a few hours, ramp up my exercise and do things to prolong my health and well-being. I’d cook more and eat better, as would the whole family. I’d read more and sleep better. I wouldn’t become a hermit and would have plenty of social time, but doing things that I love and that really matter to me. I’d then be finished all that to pick up my children from school and have the time to help them at a reasonable hour, rather than after work/shopping/cooking at about 8pm.

My work colleague always says she couldn’t give up work as she needs the social element but all she does is come to work and moan about her lack of time and how much she dislikes work. She could afford to give up work and mix with people at a hobby or doing something more fun. It baffles me.

I definitely don't get quality social interaction from work. I used to. But the Covid years changed that and with the edict that we must be back in the office, there's a lot of moaning. And a lot of people just getting their head down so they can dash off home. It really has changed - we used to be a lot more relaxed and generally sociable.

If I had passive income, I'd totally stop working. And I have no kids who need help with homework.

That rings true @Namechanged4obviousreasons about your colleague. I always think I would miss the social element but actually so many people are overstretched at the moment in my workplace (with others underperforming) we just moan about work during work hours. Not very healthy. Plus I see some of my colleagues outside of work as friends and we try not to talk about work.