To never work full time. Ever!

[Egghead81]

I work three days a week.
Two primary children, almost secondary.
Child maintenance plus salary plus rental income from a buy to let means very comfortable but not “rolling it in” ie high end holidays but I’ll shop around relentlessly for best deal rather than just book without thinking; nice car but second hand; cash savings that would be sufficient to cover six months but were not talking hundreds of thousands!

I like my job but don’t love it. I do however LOVE my two days off. They feel like a mini holiday every time. I don’t want to lose that! Not even when children are teens and grown up.

Anyone else have absolutely no intention of ever going full time?! Even though with more money would more of everything you already afford or better (rather than actually adding anything if you see what I mean)

So essentially you work 3 days per week and run a small business? I'd say thats approaching full time anyway. Most men would simply describe themselves as that mysterious creature, a "businessman" and no-one would question whether they work full time or not.

You are probably financially better off doing what you do than working full time anyway, after tax and all the extra little costs that come with full time work.

@Flowers500

I would want to ensure my children were provided for at university, and put savings in place to ensure they could get on the housing ladder at the earliest opportunity, and invest in their education. And ensure I had a solid pension so they wouldn’t worry about me when I’m old. Then also try to open doors to cultural opportunities through travel.

All of that before giving myself unnecessary holidays off work.

Presumably it is possible to do both, as we are. I'm lucky that my part time salary is enough that I can pay a decent chunk into my pension and DD already has a lot of her own savings and we have savings too do things like house deposit and uni.

I am on maternity leave. I am considering going back part time for the first time ever ! ( 3rd child )
However I have 3 year salary in savings, no Mortgage where as prior to this I still had a mortgage so our living costs have reduced massively and gives me some time.
Long term would entirely depend. I never needed to go back full time I wouldn’t !

Gosh you sound smug OP. Read the room.
There are a lot of people struggling to find work and whilst it's nice that you are delighted with your income from a p/t job, rental house and child maintenance it's a weird thing to post so joyously about in the current climate.
I also work p/t but my God I know I'm lucky and how quickly fortunes can change...

I agree with a PP - once child maintenance ends you might struggle, but if your BTL money makes up the two days' difference then you should be OK. Presumably once your mortgage is paid off then your profits will increase and that can be used towards living expenses when you've retired?

The choice would be a fine thing.

I'm surprised at the reactions of posters. Microsoft and Apple are trying to introduce a 4 day week to all employees, in time.

At a 4/5ths salary?

My dc are young adults now. I work four days a week. I love having must midweek day off , to do housework, catch up with friends, etc. I’d hate to work everyday.

Do what you like. We all make choices and take different factors into account. I worked 3 or 4 days a week when my kids were very little. Now I work full time albeit with flexibility for school runs and working from home. I love it. Weirdly I find it less stressful than part time and I feel fairly compensated for my hours.

No Hollow full salary.

"Microsoft experimented with a 4-day workweek, and productivity jumped by 40%"

They trialled it in Japan and NZ and it is their intention to use for all employees.

I have long worked 4 days when I could have worked 5 because I wanted to be there for the children after school at least a few afternoons a week and just to have that flexibility and be able to get do things during the week the odd time without taking leave. I too am a single parent and I get no maintenance (50/50 care with ex-husband). From a quality of life point of view, it's inarguable. But it does mean that there isn't a huge amount of extra money, I drive an old car, etc. I also have a very modest pension and I do feel a bit guilty that I actually probably pay relatively little tax because staying at 4 days keeps me in a lower tax bracket. I think I'd personally feel that 3 days would be slightly taking the piss but that would be me judging myself. As long as a person weighs the different things and comes to the right balance for them, there's no right or wrong answer. And it's good to make decisions which look at the big picture and not just income

I’m torn about this. I can’t work full-time as my child has severe SN and the trade off with more expensive childcare vs me who provides most of his schooling and therapies is not a good one.

However I am very aware that I have a rubbish pension, the part-time jobs are far lower paid and career progression is not good either. So often we as women massively lose out in part-time. It was OK when I had my ‘very good job’ and then went part - time - but then I moved and ‘getting’ a really good part-time job is not great.

I’m wanting to separate now and keenly aware that this part-time work is costing me my future pension!!

This post seems a little bit poor taste given that so many have lost jobs/income. Do whatever you like, but don't feel you have to tell everyone else.

I agree that if you don't need to work full time then why should you. I have a colleague that works 3 days a week and she always has. It hasn't stopped her progressing to a high level at work. A progressive organisation wouldn't discriminate like that.

And to the strange poster who thinks renting is unethical. Where do you suggest rented houses come from. Should everyone just buy a house or be homeless?You sound extremely naive.

OP ignore the bitterness of those who can’t understand your financial position.

If your happy on 3 days then keep them.
To much pressure to be working 24/7 these days.

Just keep in mind others advise about future problems about pension and cm cuts

Working part time is always going to mean that it is easier for the person to choose a good work/life balance.

The other stuff - for instance, relying on a partner (or ex partner) financially, saving less towards a pension, possibly career advancement etc - is more important to some people than others.

You sound lazy and clearly want to ride on your ex's coattails.

You'll be fucked if he jacks in working or drops dead.

@Flowers500

I would want to ensure my children were provided for at university, and put savings in place to ensure they could get on the housing ladder at the earliest opportunity, and invest in their education. And ensure I had a solid pension so they wouldn’t worry about me when I’m old. Then also try to open doors to cultural opportunities through travel.

All of that before giving myself unnecessary holidays off work.

It's not quite so simple as that though. Children also 'deserve' and hugely benefit from have parents who have happy and well balanced lives and who if they work part time, do probably have more time, bandwidth etc for them. Im separated like the OP and work the equivelent of a 4 day week spread over 5. That gives me that little bit of extra time with them during the week when they are with me and as they are with me only 50% of the time, it's precious. I may have it wrong, but for me I'd rather have that and be able to gift them a smaller house deposit (which is a luxury and not an obligation in any case). The pension is stickier Ill grant you but I will just have to cut my cloth according to my measure and if I have financial issues, won't be bothering my children about them

Microsoft experimented with a 4-day workweek, and productivity jumped by 40%"

I think that would be beneficial for many people. I'm 3 days but will likely have to go to 4 next yr.

@SofiaMichelle

You sound lazy and clearly want to ride on your ex's coattails.

You'll be fucked if he jacks in working or drops dead.

Are you just basing this on the fact he pays child maintenance? Do you think he shouldn't have to?

I am on maternity leave. I am considering going back part time for the first time ever ! ( 3rd child )
However I have 3 year salary in savings, no Mortgage where as prior to this I still had a mortgage so our living costs have reduced massively

I only ever see this on MN, debating whether you can afford to be p/t when you have 3 yrs salary saved & no mortgage but are young enough to have small dc!

My world is high income but massive mortgages & huge amounts of childcare.

@4PawsGood

Presumably when the CM stops the children are no longer children?

Divorce agreement says end of higher education. So another 15 odd years.

Savings for the children - my ex is utterly obsessed with this.
He has built up a fortune for each child.

I set aside a bit in premium bonds but not noteworthy

Does that include uni? Because it's likely after uni they will live with you for a bit?