To be skint for a few months?

[rickandmorts]

I work in the NHS and fucking hate it, need to get out. I've got a job trial at a sandwich shop on Sunday because I honestly think I will have a breakdown soon and just want something low pressure and I was happiest as a teen when I used to work in a shop, loved it. Told a few friends and they are very and can't understand why. They are all in v high pressure jobs (accounting etc) but that life isn't for me, I don't want money I just want to be happy. I'm in the process of setting up a little business and DP happy to support me for a few months when I'll be skint. AIBU to do this? I'm very anxious about everything.

If the loss of income isn't going to be an issue for you then, yes, absolutely you should go for it.

I left a lifetime of office work behind last year, mostly due to the awful personalities I worked with. I now do part time nannying and have been happier, although I earn far less. Best of luck with everything and hope you come to the right decision for you.

I think being able to follow your own path and not feel the need to stay on the treadmill for the sake of it is an incredible quality.

Put your happiness first.

I left a well paid job last year (well for what it was) and took on a less-stress admin temp job, then further dropped to 4 days a week just because I like having long weekends and wanted more of a work/life balance. I got the same reactions and earn far less but going in every day to work with people who were just awful was soul destroying. Rather be skint and happy.

There's never enough information with these posts. Your mental health of course is very important. You also talk about a partner, it makes you financially reliant on someone. If you can be self sufficient, then do it. But if you become beholden to someone else and the balance of power in a relationship ceases to be equal and tips one way or the other, then I'd perhaps look for a compromise.

I don't like to piss on your chips but statistically, 1 in 5 small busnesses fail within a year. 8 out of 10 entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within the first 18 months, according to Bloomberg. It's a staggering statistic. Fully 80% of businesses will fail in less than two years. so unless you are used to running a business and know the pitfalls, be sure you don't over invest your assets.

Long term, you also need to be aware of personal pensions.

I went from high pressure NHS to a home carer/support worker for a year. Was great, and I got my current job which is no stress

Thanks everyone, you've made me feel loads better. I really can't handle it anymore and it's affecting my life outside of work. I've done my costings and can still afford to live just need to make some adjustments.

@MyOpinionIsValid, don't worry, I've thought about this. If anything happens with my partner (not that it's likely but you never know) I can always move in with my mum. With regard to the small business, it relies on a few regular clients and I've already lined these up but if these don't come to fruition it's an demand market in my area so would find someone else fairly easily. Pension, yes that is a worry of mine but have some ideas around this.

I find this whole 'balance of power' 'beholden on someone else' stuff a load of rubbish. You're a partnership, the balance of power doesn't shift, you're two people that should respect each other based upon who you both are not your finances. If for some reason you ended up splitting and you were reliant on his extra income you'd have to either go back to the NHS (not like there's not going to be jobs available) or get a second job, not the end of the world.
I've been the higher earner, he's been the higher earner, currently I'm a stay at home mum, he certainly doesn't have more 'power' than I and I'm certainly not 'beholden' to him we are a team.
Sounds perfect OP. You've little to loose and if it doesn't work you'll need to look for something else but is worth a try. Good luck!

Go for it! I’m currently in the process of leaving the NHS because my mental health can no longer take it. I know several others who have done the same, gone on to work in M&S, offices etc and none regret it.

Personally I'd go off sick first while you weigh up your options and think of what you want to do. This might not be the only or best route. But once you get do stressed the flight mechanism kicks in. The longer term small business idea sounds good.

I left teaching without going the sick route because I didn't want to change my personal view of myself. I would have signed off with stress had I not been able to walk away without financial issues, but managed to retain my equilibrium for long enough to formulate a leaving plan that kept me the right side of the stress levels, just

I too worked out what I/we could afford and then went for it. My small business is in its 3rd year now and I ma so very much happier.

Thanks @HiJenny35, me and DP have a strong relationship and he's already said he doesn't mind paying towards more if I go PT and do more around the house which I'm happy to do.

I really don't want to go off sick, I work in a small team and it would put pressure on them plus I never want to go back so I'd be messing them around. The wheels were in motion last year, I started a top up degree through work and quit after 2 weeks because I realised I didn't want to do this job anymore and couldn't imagine two years doing a degree related to it.

If you can afford to leave then do so. Stress is a killer.

As someone who eventually had a breakdown because I stayed in my stressful job I'd say go for it. The "beholden" thing - if your circumstances change then you can reevaluate and do something else. But honestly, the poster above is right about stress being a killer. I'm still recovering from everything 5 years on (though getting there now, happily). If I'd left sooner and made positive plans like you are doing I think things would have been different. Instead I stayed because of anxiety and fear of change.