I shouldn't have to justify working part time just because I don't yet have children

[fecklesswonder]

I worked hard in London in my 20s, lived like a student even after getting a decent job.

So come 30 I moved out of the city to a small house that I could afford outright. Seeing as prices are crazy for the next jump up I'm staying put.

As i own outright I want to go down to two days a week, money will be tight but I would be rich in time so its all worthwhile.

Everyone seems to judge me on this.

For work to agree with it I will have to make somthing emotive up.

It doesn't affect anyone else, but everyone always say "what will you do?". Ffs I will do nice things, I'm not some office drone without any hobbies / interests!

Who will pick up your work?

They are just jealous.

You certainly shouldn't have to justify it!

It's reasonably common in the Netherlands (for women in particular). The work/life balance is more highly valued than in the UK.

Silly article but includes some hard stats: www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2010/11/going_dutch.html

If people criticise you for your own good life choices then they aren't people you need to engage in long term conversation. You've worked hard for the privilege of doing what you want with your time. Enjoy it!

YANBU. I would always choose to work part time, for the rest of my lie if I didn't have a mortgage!

I've never understood this attitude as surely even in full time jobs there is a vast difference in the number of hours worked or the effort put in.

If you worked full time ie a 40 hour week but in a job you found easy with no overtime or extra effort required, nobody would say to you 'you should be a brain surgeon/rocket scientist/work some job with unsociable hours and little holiday'

How lovely to own a home and not worry about rent or mortgage! Make the most of it

Do it, and sod the begrudgers! Don't be surprised though, if you find it harder than you expect to enjoy those free days at first. You might feel a bit guilty - our society definitely seems to think people who work the longest hours are the most "worthwhile" somehow.

Who will pick up your work?

That doesn't matter as it isn't OPs problem. She has a right to request flexible or part time working.

Some people simply cannot understand how work is just a means to an end to some most people. Do it and ignore the judgement that you'll undoubtedly receive. Lifes too short.

I'd go for it. I very much subscribe to the - work to live rather than live to work -philosophy.

Would you want

• I wish I'd worked harder

or

• I wish I'd played harder

on your gravestone?

Sigh. I have a thing I do outside of work which I'd absolutely love to use one day a week to accommodate. It would be 100% possible from a workload point of view and I'd happily take a pay cut.

Unfortunately, my company and most others seem to think you're only allowed flexible working or part-time if you have children.

Thanks :)

Most of the comments are coming from my family tbh, but they didn't understand why I bothered saving money in my 20s. They constantly told me to spend it and "enjoy my life" despite the fact I had a far more interesting life than many of them and had way more holidays. I guess I'm just a bit of an outsider with them, I'm the only one who hasn't bought a brand new car, not because I couldn't afford it but because I didn't want to spend my money on it.

If you have something else that you really want to do with your time, why not?

It's your choice how many hours you work. The company you work for can either find someone to do the other half of your job, or say no. In which case you then choose between sticking at full time, or finding another job.

As long as you earn enough money to keep yourself, then it's no one else's business.

Fwiw I don't work at all right now - and my Ds is 17 - so I'm not really needed at home. I just choose it. DH is happy with it, and we don't claim benefits.

I think you are doing the right thing. As a society I feel we have totally lost sight of what's really important in terms of work/ life balance. Working yourself into the ground is not going to do you any good in the long-term. You'll live a longer and probably happier life for having some time to yourself.

Go for it.

I don't understand the line where you say I would be rich in time so its all worthwhile ?

Are you expecting a windfall? Please don't tell me you are relying on house prices to go up as they may well fall. (I say this as a homeowner too).

There is a simple answer. OP, why do you only work part time?

Because I can.

2 days a week isn't much - won't you be a bit, well, bored? Are you planning to stick to this for the rest of your career?
You won't have much of a pension either - not that you need worry about that if you have lots of equity in your house.

An excellent point, OP, though more about the work angle. Feck the friends' attitudes

I anticipate going PT in a few years' time, in my mid-60s. I doubt if I'll have to argue my case. I imagine they'll imagine I'm getting a bit tired, as opposed to pissing away my children's inheritance on a sunset binge of drugs and alcohol. The point is, I won't have to account for it.

I'm sad you may have to.

You won't have to make something emotive up. You submit a request on the basis that it can be accommodated within the needs of the business. You should then have it considered (not necessarily granted) regardless of your family circumstances.

Go for it. I cant wait till my mortgage is paid off then I'm going part time hopefully. Is there any reason why you've decided on 2 days rather than 3, giving you a bit of extra money?

Sounds great. Do it! Why the hell not?

The OP means that she would have a lot of time, rather than a lot of money. Not that she will be rich one day.

angelos she says she will be rich in time so she may not have £££s in the bank but she will have hours on the clock.

Tell them all you're 'writing a book using a pen name' and let them wonder for years which author you are.

They're jealous.

angelos02 , i think op means rich in time(hours)