To work part time?

[Streambeam]

I’m looking for a new job. I am single, no mortgage, no kids. Young ish, without much savings so need to be thinking of that, as well as pension.
My profession pays roughly 30-40K per annum. So I would still have a very livable wage on 4 days a week.

I think I would be happier, less stressed, and do a better job if I only work 4 days a week. My mum thinks it is foolish and a bit lazy. My friend thinks if I am that tired/stressed, I should see a doctor. I just think my life would be better because at the moment I don’t have the energy to enjoy the weekends and lie in bed half the day.

What do you think?

Absolutely agree with you OP.

Is it a stressful job?

Go to the gp and ask for blood tests. Iron b12 vitamin d thyroid.

Apply to be 4 days if it gives more balance

Totally 100% think this is a good idea. Full time work is stressful, even without children. This additional day could make a massive difference to your quality of life, go for it.

But also try to stop lying in bed half the day. I used to feel like this when I was in my 20s, and actually it was more about motivation and getting going. If you genuinely feel unable to get out of bed then there could be a medical issue but just try to plan some things early on then have some chill out time and see how you manage.

Can I be really nosy and ask the following questions because I'm genuinely curious -

How old are you?

What hours are you currently working?

How long is your commute?

How much a month less would that equate to?

Would you rather not work the extra for a few years to build up some savings and then reduce your days?

No need to answer if you don't want to - I'd never normally ask these questions in RL, but this is mn, afterall!

Agree too. If you don't need the money, why work the hours?

Depends on your outgoings and where you live but if that’s a comfortable salary for you then YANBU! Why work an extra day if you don’t need to? Agree with PP that you should have your iron looked into though - nobody should be that tired.

Oh my word if you can do, do It!!

Thanks for your replies!
To answer your questions @Arenal:
Age 31
Hours: 8:30-5:00 but I stay late till 6-6:30 a couple of times a week and I do extra reading and research to keep on top of developments in the field.
Commute: 20 mins

As for difference in salary, my maths is not amazing, probably down from £2200 to about £1800?

Would I not rather work the extra days and then reduce? Not sure. Maybe, it does make sense.

Tbh part of the reason I want the extra day is to have more time to do the reading and research I need to in order to do a good job. I feel now like I’m struggling to keep on top of it and am not doing as well as I’d like. If I had more time away from work I could do this and become a better professional. I do love my job, I want to do it well.

Good advice about getting iron checked, thanks.

Yanbu.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting more time to yourself. If you can afford it then why not go for it. I would look carefully at the impact the reduction will have on your pension.

Yanbu.

I would even class 4 days 8:30 to 5 ad part time tbh and if you can drop to 4 days and be less stressed but still afford to live absolutely do it

In a former life, pre child, I chose to work part time too. I was a teacher and had experienced full time teaching and loved it but then had a relationship breakdown and my own little crisis where I realised I did literally nothing for myself. I had the opportunity to go part time - five mornings a week - and although the reality of it was that I still did full time hours on site, I got my evenings and weekends free and that was amazing. Yes I took a pay cut, down from maybe £25k to £16k but it was so worth it.

I'm 30 now and still work part time, 21 hours a week, although not in teaching, in order to spend the maximum amount of time with my 2 year old DS. I'm not rich, I'm pretty poor now as it happens, but I do have plans to go back to teaching when he is older, so, on balance, I am much much happier. It's about quality of life isn't it??

Having said that... if you are going to spend the 'day off' working, is it the kind of job that you can say that you are working from home and do it that way instead of taking a drop in salary? I know you say you don't need the money, but savings are always good...

If you can afford it then do it.

However you have no savings, no pension and you say no mortgage.....are you renting or do you own outright? If you own and can manage some pension and savings on £1800 then do it.

If you’re renting and can’t manage savings and a pension then you sensibly ought to work full time. But I do agree that a work life balance is important.

Time is more valuable than money IMHO; so long as you can get by. I too am single, no children no mortgage and I would never work full time again. I used to feel so down on a Monday with a whole grim week of work ahead of me whereas part time is fine, you can have a life as well as work.

My son is a professional and he decided to go part time a few years ago for quality of life. He still managed to buy his own home. He says his quality of life now is amazing.
Life is not all about work and pension, if you don't feel you have quality of life then it's not worth it.

YANBU - don’t underestimate the importance of a good work-life balance, but make sure you are paying into a decent pension plan too.

My parents too don’t understand why I work part time, sometimes I think it’s a generational thing.

I did this pre dcs, (not actually by choice - it was all I could find and I was studying pt), and so does my single, childless friend. She has a masters in astrophysics and does a super important job for the government. She reduced to four days per week and absolutely loves it. Ironically, she can afford it because she’s single and childless! Her outgoings aren’t that high, as no childcare, she’s never taken a break from work etc. She has a long weekend every week and goes and does exciting things. Not envious at all, no, not me .

You are relatively young and I assume in good health. I would suggest continue to work full time and pay into pension, save emergency fund, save for a hobby or holiday or something that you will enjoy in the future. When you are older you may get made redundant or have poor health or be unable to find new employment. Currently you have the opportunity to work full time, so I would do this. Use your time wisely outside work to do things that you enjoy !

Go for it.
I work 4 days a week and DS is about to start secondary school. I find work stressful and the balance works for me and I don’t see myself increasing unless I have too.
I earn a reasonable salary- If I was to increase to full timea lot of the extra would be eaten up in tax . I pay AVCs into my pension and look after my pension.

The other thing about doing 4 days is that I feel I should be able to keep going past 60 ( lucky enough to have work pension for that age) so can enjoy life now and hopefully keep going in work for longer.

Are you able to include any of the reading time in your normal working day at all? Obv it depends on what you do but we can include some reading time into our day job.

Nothing wrong with working part time if the financials work out. I'd be concerned that you're so exhausted you lie in bed half the day though, that seems unusual if you have no health issues.

I’m in the minority here and will say bust a ball and save as much as you can now. I did that and now I take (or used to) 3/4 months out each year at 10 years on from you. Not to sound patronising but I appreciate it more now than what I think I would’ve 10 years ago. On the other hand, if I’d continued to work without the time off I might have a decent nest egg for retirement in another 10 years.

You’ve got to go with what feels right at the time but to drop £400 per month is quite a bit and tbh the hours/commute don’t sound too stressful, but only you is living it x

Thanks for answering my questions .

Do it OP!