To ask if anyone here is part-time as a lifestyle choice?

[bodgersmash]

I recently reduced my hours at work and went temporarily part time due some difficult personal issues.

Those are largely resolved for now, but I simply don't want to go back to working full time! I'm less stressed, evidenced by my heart rate tracker, have much more free time and I think I could cope with the drop in income, although things will undoubtably be tight now and then.

I don't expect my DP to support me - I'll continue paying 50% of the bills as it's my choice.

But it just feels a bit like people will judge me for being lazy! Perhaps I'm judging myself. Is there anyone who works full time despite not really needing to from a childcare perspective? Do you regret it?

I’m SE and only pick work that I can do around the dc. We have no family to help and we don’t use paid childcare. I’m very lucky that I’ve been able to do this. Me and DH are both SE within our own company so I sort out the admin etc as well which frees him up to earn enough so that I can work the way I do.
DH values my contribution and has never mentioned the fact that I earn a fraction of what he does, he acknowledges that without me being available it would be much harder for him to focus on his job

I went pt when dc were born. Now early teens and I still work part time . I’m currently trying to up my hours but none available and I don’t want to go to another company. I’m a sole parent ( dh died) so while we are managing it’s not the life of Riley. Mortgage paid off.
Unfortunately I don’t envision a retirement, i’ll either be dead or working till I drop.

It's your business 🙂
I worked f.t for decades in a series of unfulfilling jobs sprinkled with arseholes and bitches.
I had DD and haven't worked ft since. I've done 30 hours, 9 hours and have been on 0.5 for a few years (also better paid than the 30 hour one).
I don't want to return f.t. My daughter seems to need me MORE since she started high school, which I didn't expect. Mainly in a sounding board kind of way. She gets herself so worked up and it tumbles out when she walks in. What would she do if the house was empty for 2.5 hours nightly?
I know my pension will not be good. I do get comments from people, both at work and in private. I say yes, you want my hours but you wouldn't want my pay or pension. They have nothing more to say.

I’m currently part-time for childcare reasons but really enjoy it and may continue when the children are in full-time school. I’m fortunate that my job has lots of opportunity part-time at a reasonable salary.

I work 4 days because I want 3 days week my DD.

Well if people judge you then they certainly judge me. I'm PT through choice and I'm a single parent so I claim tax credits. I'm sure there are people who think I should go full time from a moral perspective but I was lucky enough to get a flexi hours job at 20 hours per week and frankly I like being able to do all the school runs and be home with 5yo DS as much as I can. Luckily finances aren't a huge issue as exh earns a lot and pays a lot in maintenance so I'm happy to stay low paid for now.

I intend to go back full time when DS is at secondary age and doesn't need childcare. I'll only be in my mid 30s then so still plenty of time to work on my career.

Do what makes you happy op, you only have one life. Anyone raises eyebrows are likely to be jealous. There is more to life than work.

Why work more than is necessary?

You need to look at your whole picture, wry security, not just income.

‘DP’: are you paying towards a mortgage? Is your name in the deeds?

Pension: do you have one? Your employers contribution will reduce if you are p/t and any top up you pay won’t be matched by an employer contribution. Just be aware, and make sure you will be OK.

NI: are you getting NI paid? Will your state pension be in track?

Savings: have you got a rainy day fund if your own? 3 m salary and enough for a deposit on a flat rental, say?

Have you discussed this with DP? Will you be able to go on holidays together?

Your health and happiness is paramount but understand where you are generally because being broke and homeless isn’t great for your mental health if any crisis strikes.

I work 16 hrs a week although just to fit in with school.I love my hours I can take my daughter and pick her up its perfect for me.My DH works 48 hrs a week ...his wages pay for everything really mine is just pocket money for the kids.It works well for us.

I think it is important to think about your pension prospects & plans, DH & I are at the age when many of our friends have been able to retire. We clearly have quite a few more years when we will have to work before we can hopefully go down to fewer hours. I am OK with that but I know DH finds it tough & would love to give up work.

It’s something a lot of people (including me!) don’t really think about when you are in your 30s & 40s.

Yes. Me. Both DH and I work PT.
We have very little far less money than when we were in our 20's and 30's, can't go on expensive holidays, haven't done the house up in years and have modest cars BUT... life is so calm & happy.

Its absolutely no ones else's business regarding what you do or don't do job wise. Apart from where the household finances are shared.

You only have one life, do whats best for you.

I’ve worked part time ever since D.C. went to school. Over the years I’ve gradually reduced and am now down to about 6 hours a week and next month I will stop completely. I will continue to do some ad hoc voluntary work but I no longer want regular weekly commitments. I am nearly 60 and am lucky enough to still be fit and active and I want to enjoy myself before proper old age sets in.

I am fully aware that some of my contemparies judge me and think I am spoilt and lazy. They might even be right but the kids are grown up, the house is paid for, DH is still earning well in a job he loves and I intend to make the most of the next few years.

I work part time and have done for years. I'm not retirement age yet. It does mean money is a little tighter and I have to save a bit longer for things I want. But I'm not that enamoured of 'things' and having lots of stuff so I get by well enough. As long as I can pay my bills and have a yearly holiday abroad + a UK break then its fine.

DP also works part-time. We have time for each other, hobbies etc and I treasure my 'me-time' too.

I went part-time when my DCs were young as I couldn't stand the rushing around with 2 under-5s, childcare fees, lack of quality time with DCs I was just knackered. Once they grew up I realised I still didn't want to work full time so that was that

& If people do judge me I don't know about it and wouldn't care anyway

Don't most people work part time as a "lifestyle choice". There will be a few that work time for financial reasons when children are preschoolers and also those that can't get full time hours but probably a minority overall.

Do what makes you happy and healthy. Other people will always have an opinion whatever you choose.

Pension is a consideration however if you are working less you may develop hobbies that lead to a second income stream.

I was f/t when I returned to work after DS1. I reduced to 4 days pretty quickly as I was a wreck (military DH so I was coping on my own most of the time with a little one and a 70-mile round trip every day). After DS2 I reduced further to 3.5 days (2 normal 9-5 days and 2 school-hours days). I had childcare for when I worked FT so I suppose it was a lifestyle choice, for quality of life and my sanity. DS2 will start school in September but I have no plans to increase my hours at all. The flexibility of part time is essential for us as a family.

I would LOVE to do this. Remember when technology was supposed to give us more free/leisure time and people predicted 3 day work weeks?

As PPs said, just ensure you're paying the same amount into your pension and stay part time if you can afford it.

What is the point of working yourself into the ground every day on the off chance that someone will judge you for 5 seconds before they get back to their own miserable grindstone?

Your worth should not depend on your economic productivity, just remember that. We are not on this Earth to work and then die.

I don’t but I will as soon as money allows. Life is too short.
I know someone who does this (no DC) and she is so much happier for it. Has 3 and a half days off to herself and says it was totally worth the drop in salary.

We have very little far less money than when we were in our 20's and 30's, can't go on expensive holidays, haven't done the house up in years and have modest cars BUT... life is so calm & happy

How lovely 😊

It makes a big difference to pension, and potentially also future earnings, so it’s important to consider the medium and long term financial issues, especially if you’re not married.

I'd rather work part time for as long as I can than full time til 55 and then retire. Working part time adds a layer of interest and usefulness to your life, and you can still do all the voluntary work and sport and reading you believe that you'd do in retirement. All the people I know who retired before the age of 60 have grown old psychologically very prematurely, and none have gone off on year old world travel adventures or anything like that.

Working less but for longer sounds good to me. Working all hours while your children are you going is not a choice I understand, though a lot of people do it.

Balance is a good thing.

Yes, I do. Although I also run my own business on the side but currently my job and the business combined are still less than a FT working week. I don't think I could ever cope with a full time (away from home) working week now (for mental health and wellbeing reasons etc.) and I'm incredibly lucky to be able to afford to do this. It leaves me time for volunteering and just generally doing things at a more relaxed pace. Obviously it's a financial sacrifice but I'm ok with that.

I don't know if people judge, mostly they are envious they can't do the same!