What would you do?!

[livingthesimplelife]

So I'm a single parent, in a good career paying very good money. I can save a good amount each month, the hours are flexible for school drop offs and it's not too taxing work. In fact, very interesting. But it's office-based, and I've always wanted to do the RHS horticulture course so maybe one day I could venture into that career.

I've now got a place to study this course for one half-day a week from September, and I'm not sure whether to go for it, and if I do, whether to cut my days down to 4.5 or 4. I've planted the seed with my manager who seems ok with it.

Pros:
Adds variety to my life
It's a morning course so no worries about school pick up
Gives me a good foundation to step into my dream career

Cons:
I'd lose either 5 or 10% of my income by having to cut my days to 4/4.5 - should I take the whole day and plan for when my course finishes next year, I get a job one day a week in horticulture? This would reduce my ability to save.

I think you should do it

Assuming you currently work 5 days a week, would you not lose 20% of your income by dropping down to 4 days? But if you can afford to, and it's going to make you happy, why not?

I was just thinking that, but actually it wouldn't be as much as 20% less take-home pay, especially if OP is a higher-rate tax payer, because she'd be paying less tax and NIC. Dropping half a day could actually end up making very little difference to take-home pay, OP, though you'd lose out on some employer pension contributions.

@ZacharinaQuack good point about the tax. I'm which case OP 100% you do it. If you hate it you can always go back up to 5 days a week, but it sounds like an amazing opportunity your unlikely to regret

Why wouldn't you do it?

I've worked pt in the past to facilitate my other interests. It's a healthy way to live if you ask me (and can afford it).

Always follow your dreams

I am a lone parent and I would say it depends on how old your child is.

I wouldn't be forgoing the money or career signals by reducing my days at this point as my DD14 is in private school etc but if yours are older or you have well planned finances longer term then go for it.

go for it, why wouldn't you?

Could you not consolidate your hours?
Work an extra hour each day to make up for the morning lost.
We do this at my company as they are all about "work life balance"
We can apply to work four days instead of five then we increase the hours of our working days so we don't lose any money.

I’d go down to 4 days so you can be flexible with the time you have for studying and researching (going to buy expensive plants and seeds 😉)