to ask if anyone has left a highly paid job for a low(er) paid one .... any regrets?

[PrincessPheobe]

Has anyone left a high paid / high stress job for something quite a bit lower paid to get a better work/life balance?

Any regrets?

Yes I have and I don't regret it one bit!

Too much stress, too many sleepless nights with work issues going round in my head, too much worry, working late, taking work home, office politics.

So, I made sure my credit card was paid off and waited till my car loan was repaid and saved up for six months to give myself a small 'cushion' for emergencies.

Now, we have one car between us, no loans of any kind, I work for myself and earn a quarter of my previous salary, I don't have money to spend on lunches/magazines etc and have to think twice before I impulse buy anything.

Would I change my decision - no.
Am I happier - yes.
Do I wish I'd done this years ago - yes.

Me, and only the odd regret

The stress was literally making me ill, plus I never had time to be with DS in any meaningful sense. I had also had a gutful of making (large amounts of) money for women-hating men who happily made my life a misery.

No but I've stayed in a career I don't love mainly because of the money (which isnt even much, I'm a standard rate tax payer - but still a lot more than I'd get in the other industries I'd like to work in) and I regret it a bit. Now my lifestyle costs match what I earn and I would struggle to change career without selling my house and never going on holiday for example.

The thing is I love my life outside of work and I don't dislike my job, just don't always feel passionate about it, so it's hard to find the motivation to turn my life upside down.

I earn about a third of what I used to. I also now drive a 10yr old KA that is battered when I used to drive a brand new convertible Merc sigh (kind of miss the car haha)

No regrets. No, actually that's a lie! MASSIVE regrets that I didn't save up loads before I did it. I now cringe at how much money I used to waste and wish I had that money now.

BUT in terms of work/life balance, how happy I am, how rewarding new job is etc, no regrets at all. Just wish I'd done it sooner!

But definitely definitely stash stash stash before you do it! Don't just do it on a whim like I did!

Yes, I have and no regrets.
Though not very highly paid, it was a very good wage coming in but working 60 hours per week. I gave up a year ago and was very fortunate to have been able to spend that year with my 3 year old DD. I have now just gone back to work earning a third of my original salary but I am doing a job that I, so far, really enjoy. I have no stress, plenty of time with my daughter and husband. For me, those pros have certainly outweighed having a higher wage.
To add to this, I was obviously wasting so much money on stupid things as even though we do watch the pennies now we haven't missed out on anything.

I progressed quite quickly in my job when I was in my early twenties, and suddenly found myself in a (relatively) highly paid job that I just hated. It wasn't massively stressful, but rather deathly dull (to me) - I hated the organisation and I hated managing staff. I dreaded every day and wished I could go back to my old job for about fifteen grand less...

Eventually I couldn't take it any more and decided to try something completely new in another country. I'm still here almost four years later. I love my job again, and nothing would make me go back to my old one, even though I earn significantly less. I do worry sometimes about things like building up savings and pensions and stuff, but in the short term I don't miss the extra money much at all. And I like going into work again, which in worth more than anything.

I progressed quite quickly in my job when I was in my early twenties, and suddenly found myself in a (relatively) highly paid job that I just hated. For me it wasnt so much the stress or hours as much as the fact that the work wasnt interesting/worthwhile to me, plus I didnt like the organisation and I hated managing staff. I dreaded every day and wished I could go back to my old job for about fifteen grand less...

Eventually I couldn't take it any more and decided to try something completely new in another country. I'm still here almost four years later. I love my job again, and nothing would make me go back to my old one, even though I earn significantly less. I do worry sometimes about things like building up savings and pensions and stuff, but in the short term I don't miss the extra money much at all. And I like going into work again, which in worth more than anything.

Oops, sorry!

Yes, six months ago I resigned from being a divorced and wills lawyer in a high street practice as the divorce side was getting me down; it's got to be one of the most stressful jobs you can do.

I now work for a not for profit organisation (part time) for under half of what I earned before but I love it, I feel really valued, and just had my 6 monthly review and got a whacking salary rise so the gap has narrowed.

It also allowed me to develop my own will writing practice which I run in tandem with the day job.

My only regret is not resigning a lot sooner.

I swopped the legal field for childminding. I do have regrets but I HATED by in law.

I had a stressful job situation .Well enough paid but long hours and a commute plus time spent working at home at weekends etc.

I became ill and stopped work (no pay as no contract) and when i felt well enough to work again I just never went back.

I got a job in a very boring company doing a boring job. But I can walk to work and I leave it all behind me when I walk out of the door every day. I dont have to think about the work when Im at home and when I return from a week or more away there is no pile for me to work my way through.I dont start thinking about my work until Im just about to begin a new day.

Lots less money but more security and although not job satisfaction exactly I do my present job to the best of my ability and gain personal satisfaction from that. I have some good work friends and enjoy their company.

I tried working at a level above my own and didnt even like that much and I was quietly pleased that when the trial period was over I could say that I wasnt interested in continuing at that level.

Life is about so much more than money but I really wish this job was better paid

Yes, I have.

No regrets whatsoever. Yes, I sometimes miss the £ but I'm not on the poverty line.

I did. No major regrets and my life is much easier and happier now. My health is much better and so is my sanity!

I would say it is important to do a money plan before you apply for each job though. Work out if you can afford to do it and how. Having less money is hard work and requires a change of lifestyle. Quite simply you can't have and do all the things you did before but you may end up with a better quality of life nonetheless.

Good luck with a tough decision.

Yep, not a single moment of regret here! I was a lawyer in a magic circle firm and earning over £100k in my late 20's. DH and I were pretty frugal and we managed to pay off all my student debts and save a decent amount before we moved out of London. I then moved for less than half that salary (but still a good salary) to a large regional firm - I absolutely hated it and got pregnant more or less immediately. I am now a civil servant earning under £30k and it's AMAZING. It's no stress, the people I work with are nice, the hours are flexible and I like the work. Provided I pass my exams over the coming few years, I will be on around £50k full time (probably will be part time by then tho) in 4 years. I will never earn the same as I did in law ever again - and I don't care! Because I am actually HAPPY.

I am as of next week, still in the same place but a less paid, less demanding job due to situations at home changing. i am worried about it at the moment but have now regrets about the decision to change, am sure when I start new hours all will be fine and i will have no regrets. It also means i can do school runs every day which at the moment I can doonly once a week.

watching with interest as thinking of doing same if i can find something....

I am about to give up a stressful job (not a massive wage but reasonably paid) and I am looking forward to the challenge. We will be able to cope and hopefully mortgage free- I just need to find an alternative career as I don't want to give up working completely.

Yes. Used to be self employed - not especially well off, but comfortable, and had control. Though it was almost impossible to take any holidays.
Now employed on much lower fixed salary, quite flexible for childcare and good hol entitlement. The lower salary was anticipated and accepted. But what wasn't was the years and years (no end in sight) of pay being frozen. And once you've made the move it can be difficult or impossible to go back. It's risky.

Emsyj what made the regional law firm so hideous........?

Yes. I was a bond salesman in the City until 1995 - when ds was a baby and it did not provide a work life balance and gave up within a year of going back. Was on about £120,000. 7.30am starts combined with 6.30pm finishes plus two hours of travelling and a very sick baby did not make for a work/life balance. Had 8 years at home and then went back to a totally different career and started at the bottom, part-time, on £8k pa. Have taken prof quals and an MBA since though and am now on about 45K. Wouldn't go back for all the tea in China. Start work at 9.30 and am home by 6. 20 minutes travelling time.

Yes, I left my career in SS CP, to server in a cafe.

I don't regret it one bit, I don't have any stress anymore, nor am I involved in my childhood memories childhood abuse and trying to save children by trying to bring justice into my adulthood.
I'm on NMW, and love it.

As a firm it was trying to expand beyond what it was capable of - lots of unhappy staff, lots of threats of redundancy/redundancies, I was told I would get promotion within 12 months by the recruiter then that was revealed to be bullshit (not sure if firm lied or he did...), was promised a mix of work but the other dept I should have been working for weren't told and were really arsey about it, not enough work to do but still lots of pressure for chargeable hours (found that really really tough - I was used to being busy and my time being in demand and hated the long days of hardly any work), immediate boss was technically poor and I had to keep calling former colleagues to get confirmation that he was wrong so as to avoid giving negligent advice (v. technical area of law), main boss was a liar, an arsehole and a sexist pig...

I could go on!!!!

Out of a team of 8 at the time, there are 2 people left there now.

I did it, overall I don't regret it, the job is a lot less stressful, but I get sooooo bored. It was worth it, I get more time with DD, my work now think I'm really good because I'm over qualified for the role. But I am bored and miss some of the adrenaline and the challenge.

Yes- best decision I ever made. Went from 65k and no life to half that and a brilliant work life balance and much more enjoyable and interesting job.

I used to sit in work and think 'I just don't want to be here'.
I used to sit in the car in the car park and think 'I don't want to go in'.
I used to go home in tears.

I am now so much more happier at home, keep in contact with friends, have done some contract work and spend time on my hobbies and garden. We go out twice a day with the dogs and have time to chat to the neighbours.

And like some of the others posters have mentioned, I can't believe how much money I used to waste/spend without realising, £10 here £20 there.