To not want to work full time? Would you choose part time permanently?

[speakout]

If you could would a 20 hour a week suit you?
Now that my youngest is about to go off to Uni I have no desire to increase to full time hours.
Wouldn't that be ideal for everyone- assuming money was not pressing.

What do you make? I’d really love to know, would I like them? Can I buy one? nosy

I'm not getting at anything. I think it's fantastic.

It's certainly possible for people to earn very good money while only working 10-20 hours per week (and by the way, let's not forget all those people who get a substantial income from investments/shares/property they inherited, who don't have to work at all...They are often the ones telling other people to work harder if they want to be less poor.) And some people's work, by which they earn money, involves a percentage of time spent doing what looks like 'nothing', because they are thinking about the thing they do. Nothing wrong with that.

There are always going to be tasks that need to be performed by someone, some of which are exhausting, smelly, dirty, dangerous or simply tedious. If you do one of those jobs, you might well be happier in it if you did fewer hours, for better money, so you could do enjoyable things with more of your time - while, perhaps, being happy that the grim job you do makes the world a better place as well as earning you money.

I'd love to work part-time, but I love a full-time salary more.

I'd love to work part-time, but I love a full-time salary more.

Pretty much sums up my feelings. I was part time for years when the children were younger & DH was very happy for me to continue. But I enjoy having more disposable income for nicer holidays and clothes and to be able to help the children through Uni etc. Plus I want to to try and get a decent pension pot together in the final ten years or so of my working life. If my DH earned mega bucks I would probably have stayed part time. But he doesn't.

I work 20 hrs a week in a job I love but a very high stress environment. All the full timers are knackered all the time and miserable a lot of the time. I love that I am at home 5 days a week and home is the biggest part of my life. I am obviously putting much less into my pension, but I would rather have more time now to enjoy myself and my family.
Dp is happy that I am part time as it makes his life much easier and we buy very little childcare.

I work 5 days a week in a 9-5.30 job and find it exhausting. I love my job but I’d much rather do condensed hours Mon-Thurs and have a three day weekend. In my opinion 5 days is too much.

I work 4 days and love it!!

My DH has joked a few times about him going part time too to gauge my reaction, and every time I say “go for it!” Life is for living not bloody working. I would love to go three days, but I can’t where I am now.

Luckily I earn the same as my DH on 4 days as he does full time.

If both people in the relationship are happy that’s all that matters, I am not responsible for my husbands work choices/hours, if he wants to work full time his choice, when he is knackered I now often say “go part time then”. You can always can cut back on things. Netflix/eating out etc.

No. I have worked part time and got nothing but attitude from colleagues.

My situation is completely different; we have one DC still at school but are mid 50s/older parents. Still have a mortgage for next 10 years at £800pm. DH has always worked FT and I have mostly but have gone PT this year, simply because I couldn't cope with the stresses of my job any more/teacher.

With both our incomes it's fine and knowing in 5 years we can take our pensions but continue to work is such a huge relief!

You just have to work out the finances and realise that happily living is actually more important! Having breeaved people who passed before they reached pension age has been a reality check for me. Xx

If I could afford to work less than full time, i definitely would.

I have and I do.

This is a zombie thread, I think.
in 2018 working part time was way more of an option than it is now!

The type of role I'm in is never offered ta 20 hrs. In.mu profession there are probably 20 hrs a week roles but increasingly quite rare. They are less interesting roles though (imho, many might find them fulfilling). So now not sure I would even if the money wasn't an issue.

Hard get job share here dublin. I do school hours. I did full time in office but no downtime to do anything. Ive less money but more time.

I’d have loved this. Unfortunately it was never an option and I’ve had to work FT my entire career.
If you can, then do. I hope you enjoy all the lovely spare time you have. ☺️

I work part time. Huge benefit to my personal life, but work life is stressful. If I was in a different role I'd stay part time permanently but I think I will go full time here when my DC is older.

I work less than that and won't be changing it.

I am a teacher and work 3 days a week. (Well I probably work full time in reality, but I'm paid 3 days a week). My wife works full time. I do all the housework, cooking, shopping etc. We are both very happy with the arrangement.

I am 49 and have only ever worked full time for 2 years. The rest of the time I have worked mainly 2 days per week, term time.
My DH works full time and is happy for me to continue doing this even though all dcs are at secondary school now.