AIBU to consider going part time?

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Looking for honest opinions please, I've had varied reactions from friends and family. Some totally in favour, some very against.

I'm 34, been working 10 years, pay into an NHS pension. Work Monday - Friday 9-5. No children, no plans to have any (not completely ruled it out but it's unlikely). DH is a shift worker, lots of nights and weekends so we have infrequent days and even evenings off together. Household income around 5k (slightly over most months). Would it be stupid or sensible to ask to reduce to 34 hours over 4 days so I'd get an extra day off a week? It would be a drop of about £230 a month which we could afford but would mean we'd need to be more careful with lifestyle and luxuries. It would also be longer days.

My dad has hit the roof talking about drop in income and impact on pension etc. Saying I'll regret it as this is when I should be paying more into a pension so I can retire earlier (pension is linked to state pension age so you can't take it earlier without a penalty, and also who knows if a pension will even be a thing by the time I reach my 60s?). I made the point that if I wanted to drop even more hours to have a baby he'd be fully in favour. Apparently this is different...

So as not to drip feed, I've lost two friends to cancer this year, one early 30s, one early 40s. Life is short. BUT I also don't fully understand the financial implications. Is my dad being a boomer with outdated financial ideas, or is he right?

If you want to work part time and can afford to work part time 🤷‍♀️

Your NHS pension will be way better than most people get in the private sector even with a drop in income so I wouldn’t loose sleep about it.

It's a bit ridiculous that your dad has hit the roof about it. You are 34! It's not up to him. I wouldn't consult with family about it (other than your DH obvs).

Personally I'd say go for it, for your wellbeing and enjoyment of life. But it's easy for me to say that and I can imagine it feels like a big decision.

If 4 days a month is only worth £230 to you, I'd suggest you're not earning enough to drop your hours (and it will fuck up your pension), especially as that means most of the income in your house is coming from your DH. How does your DH feel about you expecting him to subsidise you not working? What are you planning on doing instead? I mean I'd understand if you wanted to start a business or something, but you can't be making much more than minimum wage, where will your retirement money come from?

Your dad doesn’t get a say.

Not sure it’s any of your dad’s business! If you can afford to and want to, go for it. As you say, life is short.

Go for it! I'd actually drop to 30 hours (2 long days and an early,) then do a couple agency shifts which will more than make up the difference!

Erm, bit rude. I'd be condensing my hours, so dropping 15 hours a month, not 30. I'm the higher earner 👍 and still would be, even after dropping hours, so DH is okay with it. I'm on far more than minimum wage, and it would be one additional day a week so hardly enough to start a business. I'd use the time to either see DH if he was off, chill with the dog, and do a few hours of housework so he could do a bit less on his days off.

It's only 3 hours per week you're reducing by (assuming you're contacted to 37 hours PW). So impact on pension would not be enormous. That's your work pension, no reason to think that won't exist in the future.

I know what you're saying, and while it is totally my decision (well, mine and DH), I do appreciate my dad's opinion and perspective. But the world of work is a bit different now to when he was my age so sometimes his ideas are a bit out of date

You work to live, not the other way around. If I could drop hours without it seriously impacting our financial stability I 100% would.

What’s your full situation, do you own a house, are you comfortable now and would you still be able to save if you dropped the hours? If yes to all of that then I’d go for it, but if not then I’d reconsider in a couple of years once you are more comfortable.

If you can afford it and you want to do it then why not.

We just bought a house, ten year fix, we're roughly 2k a month for mortgage, car payments, council tax and energy bills. Obviously we then have food, petrol, insurance, doggy daycare on top of that so we don't have loads left at the end of the month, but we manage to save a bit and get a couple of holidays a year so there's wiggle room to tighten our belts.

I do think waiting a couple of years would be more sensible if I'm honest, plus we'll have by then likely made a definite decision on kids. It's just that we're recruiting a new post just now so and still riding the wave of covid flexibility, so while I'd likely get it approved now it might not be an option in two years.

Really appreciating all the posts.

I most definitely would.
There is no guarantee you will reach retirement.
Time is more important than money.

I would go for it! I dropped my hours to 30 a week (3 long days) and I'm much happier now. I don't have children and won't have any, my partner works full time but loves his job, I don't. I earn the same as him even working less hours, it works for us.

Do it if you can! 50% more weekend for only a small drop in pay!

Do it! Why work all the hours available when you don’t have to? 3-4 days is a great amount for work/ life balance if you can afford it 👍🏼

Also... to add.. if you do it and then think it's a mistake, you can increase hours again anyway! Generally a reduction in hours is reviewed on a 3 monthly basis anyway!

I wouldn’t do it until you make a decision on having a baby as it will make your maternity pay less.

I agree

I would absolutely do it! Work/ life balance is so important and I honestly don’t even think there will be pensions when we get to retirement age anymore. If you’re able to save some money a month, put it into a good savings account to generate a bit of interest over time and enjoy the day at home with your dog!

My friend felt the same about cutting down hours when her dad died. That life is too short! Her other half started work early, she worked super late. They barely saw each other until the weekend.
If you can afford it, just do it! You never know what is down the track in 2yrs, 5yrs, 10yrs... Kids? New jobs? New house? Illnesses? Things never stay static. This is really quite a small change in hours. It doesn't have to be forever. You'll always have the option to go back to full time, if necessary in a new job.
15yrs later, my friend has an amazing work life balance. She set up on her own, working less hours + earning similar. Her OH completely changed careers + retrained. He could only do it because she can easily works around his hours. They are so much happier.
Your dad is probably just worried you are messing up a secure job. He will probably be fine if you keep reminding him that you still earn more than some of your family/friends.