To ask which career you would choose?

[ivyrosa]

Would you rather choose:

A) A job that pays you enough to live comfortably, not rich but comfortable, with two days off a week and 5 weeks holiday and normal 9-5 shifts

Or

B) A job where you earn a lot more, like a LOT MORE, but with only one day off a week, lots more early mornings/late nights and two weeks less holiday a year

I'm trying to make a difficult decision. I know no one can make it for me.. but opinions are welcomed.

I would only consider A if it was into 6 figures. I earn over £40 k but working 4 days a week basically doing A so no way!

I would pick A, without a doubt- my simplistic way at looking at things like this is there's no point in having extra money for entertainment, if I have no free time to spend it!

B for 40K?! No way
I’d do B for £150K plus then downshift to B
Swap back and enjoy your holidays

Still A. £40k isn't enough to bust a serious hump for. If you'd said £70k + then maybe. You're sooooo young though - don't be despondent! You have the world at your feet. I only got into my stride in my early 30s. Start planning now on next steps towards building a fabulous well paid career.

It's a difficult choice because it's dependent on various things such as your home life, and if it will be greatly impacted by the little free time job B will allow, and the jobs themselves.
For example if job B was something I really would enjoy then it wouldn't feel too bad with the amount of time commitment necessary, but if it was just a job and not something I'd love then the extra money wouldn't be worth all the extra time.
Also, I'd have been more swayed by the extra money when I was childless, but now I have a kid, then as long as I knew that I could comfortably live and support myself and DS then I'd prefer the extra time with him.

Crikey when you were saying earning a LOT more I expected at least 100k .

For 40k? No chance!

I'd choose A but I have a two year old and my priorities have really changed. I think if the job is making you miserable then you should look for something else! What does your partner say?

Yes sorry.. the capital LOT may have implied more than I meant. It was literally double the salary of my old role so it felt a lot to me haha. I'm 24 with no degree so I am nowhere near earning anything major so this role to me, was, if that makes sense.

I didn't mind my old job, but it was good work/life balance. I didn't love it but I had a happy and fulfilling social life and enough money to happily get by. This new role has some aspects I love, but also a major sales side which I hate and the work/life balance is non existent.

Everyone saying £40k isn't enough to bust balls for, but do you even know what part of the country OP is in? £40k wage where I'm from is practically a millionaires salary compared to the local average!

40k is not enough anywhere in the world if the job is making you miserable .

I'm not rubbishing £40k for one minute. It's a bloody good salary but it really isn't enough when the job is 6 days a week, it makes you miserable a lot of the time and you really don't need to earn quite as much.

First choice definitely if your planning ttc imminently. "Striving for a career and working all sorts of hours" often goes out the windows when you have DC. It did for me anyway!

It I was planning to ttc in a year or so I'd look for a family friendly job that would possibly offer flexible hours or pt or working from home and treats parents well.

I keep going round in circles in my head.. working on receptions gets a bit samey and I felt quite stationary so this job seemed like such a good opportunity. It's in an area I am interested in and like I said some of the role, probably about 40% I really enjoy, the other 60% of it is sales based so a lot of phone calls, a lot of pressure to deliver and a lot of hours, with most my colleagues willingly doing more work in the evenings to try and make more commision etc. I knew the role would have some sales aspects, it just turned out to be a lot more than originally stated. Also I never found out the holidays in advance, which was my mistake admittedly but the hours are getting to me. I keep thinking if I stick it out maybe I'll start to enjoy the sales side more, and I'll feel more comfortable making so many calls each day but even if I do.. the hours are still awful.

A after your update

Thanks all - I'm one of six and all my brothers and sisters have degrees and amazing careers i.e doctors lawyers etc, so I've always felt sort of rubbish compared to them. Think that's why I took a massive uneducated leap into this role just to do something 'more' than Reception work. But if reception work gives me a roof over my head an time to spend with my family then what's wrong with that! Nothing!

A really family friendly job that you might be able to get is working as a receptionist or administrator in a school. Obviously that might be for the future but it fits in great once kids are in school. Even if you don't get this straight away experience in reception and admin might help you to get a job if one was available.

To me, a sales job on commission is horrific - goes against my personality - and no amount of money will make me do that, much less £40,000.

@blueshoes Same here.. I'm a very laidback easy going person and this role is so go, go, go. Everyone is constantly 100mph and always seems stressy. I'm happy to work hard but it's just not an enjoyable environment. I just see so many of my colleagues enjoying it there and making such good money I keep thinking I'll get used to it and enjoy it too, but it's just not happening.

Job A. When you said lots of money I was imaging over £150,000 for job B.

Work to live. Not live to work.

A. Quality of life.

Time is so Precious, spend it wisely, you have already figured out what you don't like about your current role, what do you like? is it worth sacrificing your joy ??

Don't compare yourself to anyone, give yourself a break, I know ppl that left their professional career to do what they love, one person became a yoga instructor, she is so happy!

Be Brave, make your decision & I hope whatever you decide you will be happy, Choose You💕

A.

Thanks all. It's really appreciated. The stress of trying to decide keeps reducing me to tears and I know what I want to do. I strongly believe in work to live not live to work. I just keep getting this panicky feeling that I'm giving up the chance to have a good career just cause I can't be bothered to work hard and put the hours in and that makes me feel so rubbish. Going around in circles! Sorry to blab and waste everyone's time. Wish I had a crystal ball right about now haha