To quit my job and go for it?

[TheDeuteragonist]

Argh, I am so conflicted.

I posted here a while back about hating my job to the point where it was impacting on my mental health.

I've been working on a side hustle as a freelance writer and it's actually taking off. Today I've been approached by a local company who have asked me to work for them on an ad hoc basis. This would mean being available to work in office whenever they required me at a daily rate of pay.

My heart is singing because I've poured my all into this and I want it to take off. My head is holding me back because quitting would mean leaving financial security behind, but also waving goodbye to a horrible, toxic workplace I dread going into everyday.

AIBU just to throw caution to the wind and jump in with both feet? I've worked out that doing just 5 days per month with New Company would earn me just shy of what I earn now. But of course 5 days per month is not guaranteed, so I'd have to build more around that.

I'm so conflicted!

Oh tricky.

Depends on what your circumstances are. What bills do you have and what would you do if you had no income one month?

Could you go part time at horrible work place? Just do a couple of days a week to make sure you’d always have an income?

How much have you got in savings and do you owe much? I'm presuming you'll have to give notice so can you be really frugal for a month or two in preparation for the new job?
I'd definitely go for the new job though. Let people around you know as they may be able to get you in to help out on odd days at places they work.
You could also register with the temp agencies as a just in case measure.
Good luck! It sounds perfect for you!

Do you have a partner or spouse, so that supporting the household isn't all on your shoulders? Dependent children? Mortgage?

Are you getting other paid writing work? Any other leads?

How much work have New Company said you can realistically expect?

I'm pretty much tending towards 'Go for it!' It's an exciting opportunity in itself, but it also gets you out of a hateful job. If you would only need 5 days' work as a writer to match your current earnings, it's got to be worth a punt, hasn't it?

Would you be able to pick up another part time job around the new one?

I would leave the old job but only for something as secure.

Have three months of outgoings saved (including food and petrol). Going part time would be a good idea though.

I run a writing agency. I didn’t go full time until I had five retainer contracts so I knew the first twelve months would be steady. Could that be an option with this company?

I would look for other temp or pt work to give you an additional source of income. e.g. a weekend or evening job that way you have a safety net if the local company don't produce the amount of work you are hoping for.

How secure are you financially.

So like a zero hours contract but even less notice?
No sick pay or holiday pay?
Would you be liable for your own tax and NI? VAT?

I would definitely go for it. You know deep down opportunities don’t come around everyday.

Could you do a p/t evening/weekend job to make up the difference. Something that can be either flexible or if you know what hours you are likely to work you can get a job that is outside these hours.

I'm getting a steady stream of work from other sources ~£500 in the last 3 weeks from different one-off clients. I'm also putting myself out there for more remote, freelancing opportunities when I can. I'm just struggling to find the time. At the moment I work between 7pm and midnight on the writing front including marketing and trying to find clients.

OH works nights and is due to move up the banding for his pay soon which will mean more coming in. He currently earns twice my salary but we live to what we have got.

Not a huge amount in savings, I could probably survive for a month on what we have. If I served my notice period I could squirrel some away in that time. I want out of this workplace ASAP though, if I leave I'm going all the way. I don't want to do it part time.

My issue is, if I gave it 3 months what if that opportunity isn't there anymore? So I spend that time saving what I can but on leaving work I'm faced with no golden opportunity like this one. I'm not sure this company will wait for me. Plus, I really just want to get out of Old Company, as reckless as that sounds.

I think you’ve made up your mind. That’s not a criticism. I’ve been there too.

Go over your finances tonight. Do a worst case and best case scenario with regards the opportunity with this company. If worst case is still manageable, type up your notice tonight to hand in tomorrow.

I’m currently freelancing full time. I’ve been doing it on and off for eight years. I think a combination of experience and medical qualifications have helped me develop my niche so that I can source and retain clients quite easily.

I’d say it’s wise to get some savings together, make sure you have a handful of clients, and build your presence/portfolio so you won’t struggle too much if you need to find more at short notice. It took me a few years to reach the stage where I could confidently say that I wouldn’t find myself up shit creek without a paddle if one of my bigger clients suddenly left for mars....

Also, like yourself, I’m doing this because I desperately needed to take a break from my other job (for numerous boring reasons). The work is consistent once you find your feet, but don’t ever make the mistake of allowing one client or project to become your only source of work. It’s a marvellous area to work in once it all starts going right. But, try and make it a side hustle for as long as you need to amass your savings. Message me if you have any questions. Also, good luck!

Ahhh sorry about all of the repetition also! In the time I spent writing that/faffing about with a plant a lot of others cross posted :)

Do you have savings?

I’d definitely get work in a restaurant or bar where you can pick up extra shifts as a plan b while it gets off the ground

I think I have made my mind up, but I don't know... I'm sort of looking for permission, I think, to just go and do it.

If I can't make this work, I'm not really sure what I'll do. Thinking of starting with a temp agency so I can work around it but also pick and choose assignments and their duration.

I just don't know how I can move any further down this line without going full time, or at least working equal part time hours. I fear with the stress of my current job and working 13 hour days I'll just burn out and give up and be stuck in my shitty job forever.

Just have faith and do it. You can supplement your income by temping/agency work and have the time to fully immerse yourself in writing.

Fewer hours will free your mind and new opportunities will open up.

Life's too short. Go for it! I always try to picture how I would feel about my life choices when I'm 80. 80 year old me also says doooo it! Good luck.

Go for it. I've done a similar thing twice before and it (eventually) worked out very well both times.

The fear of sitting on my deathbed saying to myself 'I really wish I had done that' was the thing that has always driven me on.

Being determined, competent and not afraid to phone up companies that could offer work when I was quiet / projects were coming to to an end saw me succeed.

Best of luck, but tbh sounds like you're not going to need it.

YANBU to want to leave right now. Life is too short and now seems like a great opportunity based on what you have posted here. Good luck!!

Absolutely go for it, this is your way out of the horrible job and will give you so much more freedom. It sounds like you've done your groundwork. If you were ever stuck for work you could temp or do casual work.

My OH was in the same position about a year ago and went for it. There were times he panicked about not having security, but he has a steady stream of work and is earning about the same as he did in the old job.

Life is too short to be miserable.

I would take it. I went freelance many years ago and I've never regretted it.

Since you have some insurance in the form of a dh in a upwardly mobile steady job, I'd say go for it, since you are so unhappy in your current place.

If it does not work out to enough to live on, you can always apply for another job, whilst surviving on whatever your freelance work does bring.