Easy life v lots more money

[Tipsntoes]

I have a good interesting job. TBH, I have no idea why they pay me so much for what I do. It's not a massive salary compared to some reported on here, but it brings me close to the 40% tax bracket , it's five mins from home and apart from exceptional circumstances, I leave home at 8:15 and and am home by 5pm. This means I can see DSs (teens) off to get the bus in the morning and am home in time to do a proper family dinner and nag about answer homework queries.

The job itself is challenging enough to be interesting but not enough to keep me awake at night.

I've seen a similar job advertised, in London paying £25k more. On paper it's exactly the same job, but a larger organisation so I expect the workload would be higher. I tick all the boxes on the person spec.

However, even assuming the working day isn't longer, I'd be away from home for much longer because of the commute (c. 1hr 15 each way). The commute would cost around £6k and of course I'd pay a lot of tax, so whilst I wouldn't be £25kpa better off, it's still enough to make a substantial difference. DS2 is doing GCSEs next year and does need chivvying along.

Is the opportunity 2 years too soon? WWYD?

We don't "need" the money we have a comfortable life already, but I do feel I have potential I haven't reached and I'm only 2 years off 50, when, I'm told, applying for jobs becomes a lot harder.

Don't do it! Easy life is worth more than (almost) any pay rise. You can't put a value on your health, relationships, family. I think you'd regret it.

I am 4 years older than you and I would say that quality of life is more important than money. You sound like you have a good balance of time at the moment, low stress and are comfortable money wise. I would stay put. Commuting is no fun, and if you are moving somewhere a bit more corporate you might be bringing work home with you (even if just mentally) and be expected to work longer hours. Health is wealth.

Have you done the salary calculator? You maybe spruced by how little difference it makes financially after.commuting costs etc.
If you want stretching perhaps do some volunteering for a charity that could make use if your excellent business skills?

I commute an hour each way. I’m usually out of the house 7.30 am - 6 pm. I’d give up money for a job 5 min away; I certainly would not take on a longish commute voluntarily. (In my case, the office moved).

Don't do it. There will be other jobs in the future. The commute would put me off. It's 1hr 15 min on a good day, but what happens when trains etc are cancelled?

Be careful what you wish for. I did the reverse, leaving a high stress but mega bucks role for a similar one close to home but a reduction in salary. I've never been happier and my QoL is far better. I comfort myself by totting up all the money I used to spend on commuting and accommodation, adding it to my current salary and realising I'm well off now and richer in more meaningful ways.

You cannot put a price on time and energy and headspace through loss of stress available to spend with loved ones.

I wouldn't do it.
You've got a well paying job you enjoy, good boss, easy and short commute and you're able to support your DCs through a critical stage of their life.

It sounds like you're really good at your job. I've never heard of 50 as a cut off point- it would be silly these days for employers to discriminate on grounds of age when most jobs aren't forever anyway. You sound like someone an employer would want to have , regardless of age. So wait until the time is right -or stick with the highly paid short commute low stress role forever-.

You wouldn't earn 25k extra though if it would take you over the 40% tax bracket. You'd be on 15k more after tax then minus ni and pension from that and minus commuting costs and I'm guessing it'll take you over child benefit threshold?

I feel like you want to stay where you are but feel like you need to justify it. Well I think you'd be mad to lose 2 hours of your day for what will only be very little increased salary after all those costs !

you've got it sweeter as it is - I'd stay put

It sounds like you have the perfect job! Very well paid, term time only, very short hour a and a 5min conmute! I'm v envious.

I'd look to challegs yourself in other ways - a new hobby? Instrument? Scout group? Charity stuff?

I'm am ex teacher and in a different life would love to have worked up to your role!

Personally I wouldn't. I have discovered through some changes in my work that more money does not automatically equate to happiness and job satisfaction. Your current position sounds like the holy grail to me!!

Personally I’d stay put for now and look again in a couple of years. I don’t think 50 is the career death sentence it used to be.

When i read the thread title i thought more money, but reading your op i think you would be a bit daft to do the london job.

You've got the perfect life OP

I know, I did that when they were little too Teaches. The trouble with my current arrangement is whilst I feel it's important to be "there" for them, usually they're not even aware if I'm in the house or not. Often in that 5pm-7pm slot I may as well be out now they're older, although I do recognise that whilst it feels like that, it's not actually the case.

After burning out completely when DS2 was 8yo, I too a short break and then started at the bottom, taking a 2 day finance assistant job in a school, so I do feel that I'm about 10 years behind where I should be career wise.

i wouldn’t, it sounds like you are pretty happy in your current set up & that counts for a lot. You have a good balance at the moment & if you don’t need the money, quality of life would win every time.

It depends if it's just about the extra money or if you need a new challenge.

If you need a new challenge, then often you need to take on the inconveniences of travel and longer hours. Do you want the new challenge?

Purely in terms of money vs extra effort and impact on lifestyle of family, I'd say it's not worth it. You already have enough money, enjoy your job and have a good lifestyle. The extra money would useful but not huge after tax and travel.

Depends how you value the 2.5 hours commuting and the impact of the loss of that on family vs the benefits of the new interesting job and extra money. Each person will value these different components differently.

I would say form the sound of your post, that you value your lifestyle pretty highly. The hours at home matter a lot to you. This would mean the new job is fairly 'costly' in its impact on these, and if you do t really need the money, the 'benefit' Brought by the extra money will be less, than for someone for whom the extra three or four hundred a month would make a big difference.

I think you're right, that it's not quite the time for you. Perhaps in a couple of years, the costs of being away from home more will feel less. As you say, the jobs might not be available then, but the key is whether you can bear the 'cost' for your family right now really.

25,000 - 40% = £15k - £6k fares = £9k/52 = £170 pw. As a mother who worked lically through the big exam years I'd say that's when they need you most even if it see.s they have no wish to breathe the same air.

But that's also £9k towards uni maintenance costs and will have a big impact on your pension. Depends on yoyr finances and work life balance needs.

FWIW I was same as you and then at 55 got a deputy director position and at 58 was told to apply for director and got it. There is no stat retirement age any more and things are changing.

Your later posts suggest you are actually quite interested in your career.

It may well be worth finding out a bit more and assessing what would be the true impact of doing this job. It obviously appeals to you - so I think you need more information to make a decision.

Can you ring up for an informal chat so you can gauge the nature of the expectations and also if it would provide the challenge you'd like?

I think you would be crazy. Know when you have a good thing. Assuming you feel valued there.

You say the commute is 1h15 each way - is this on public transport or driving? What happens if traffic is busy or trains delayed? I suspect that commute would regularly be more than that.

I don't think I would in your situation if it means working FT, I'd want to continue to keep that relatively close eye on the teens through the next couple of years.

It doesn't sound like the sort of position that would consider PT or any WFH or flexibility? If it did, that might sway back towards it.

I'd definitely keep the ad and use it as part of your next pay conversation!

I'm sure similar jobs will come up again and why would you put your age on a CV? It may only be an issue if it's an online form asking this but often age is perceived as more experienced?

Unless you're really bored or unhappy in your job then no way would I give that up. I'm

I've just looked up School Business Managers locally and the pay isn't that great. So, if you're close to 40% tax limit, it sounds great.