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.

Ok - I find doing sums helps.

Extra £25k. Tax plus NI will be 43% I think. Leaves you £14,250.

Commuting costs = £6k. Leaves you £8250.

Do you get child benefit? If so, you’ll lose it. Assuming 2 kids that is about £1700. Leaves you £6550. (Or about £120 per week.)

Travelling time is now 2.5 hours per day, 5 days a week, 42(?) weeks per year. Total of 525 hours travelling.

So sacrifice 525 hours for £6550. So about £11 per hour.

Slightly better money wise than spending your spare time saying “do you want fries with that” but not going to make you rich!

Is the new job actually better or just better paid because it is in London?

Not going to comment on the immediate choice, but just wanted to say that I found the years 45-50 far harder for job hunting than 50+. Since turning 50 (I'm 54) I've had 2 jobs which were both a significant increase in both salary and responsibility, but struggled at 47-49 when I was job hunting.

don't.do.it.

No brainier for me, no amount of money could make me want to spend less time away from home, quality of life is far more important for me.

Is the commute time realistic or when all the trains run to time (& all the stars align)? If you have had time out earlier in your career, it could give you the opportunity to increase your pension contributions and get 40% tax relief so you can enjoy your retirement. Balanced against this, however, is the support you give your children. If you are not home until 7/8pm, will your DH pick up the slack? I don't think 50 is the magic ageism number, just don't mention your age, never allude to your birthday at work, and consider changing O Levels to GCSEs on your CV. I once got an opportunity a year too soon and took it, it wouldn't have been there a year later.

If you have higher qualifications than OLevels, don't even mention them!

Remove age sensitive indicators that add no value to the role you are going for. School years/dates should be irrelevant by the time you get past 40.

Focus on your most recent experience, eg the last 2-3 jobs if they cover a large proportion of your career and omit early jobs ifpossible, they probably aren't a contributory factor anyway and clutter your CV.

Sad that we still have to mask these aspects of our background to remove the possibility of biased thinking by employers isn't it?

Hmmm I would take quality of life over a bit more money. Your life sounds pretty good and if you're not struggling for money I'd keep it!

There’s no way I would go for that. But then I’ve always been about quality of life / time with kids over money. I left London to move to south Norfolk and quit work as a senior marketing manager to work part time in a local Norfolk bakery because I’d had enough of the “rat race” - went from being a High earner to earning minimum wage — and I didn’t have vast savings or anything either, I just really wanted a change of life. I was able to walk to work everyday and was home by 2pm! Many years on I don’t regret that decision at all.

The commute alone would put me off in your situation. I really hate commuting. When I worked in central London I used to have to get one train and two tubes everyday and that was by far the most stressful and worst part of my day!

Would you feel guilty if you took the job and couldn't be there as much as wanted/needed for exam chivying? Or if the results weren't as good? Disclaimer I am not at all saying you should. Just playing devils advocate

I would stay in the job you are at currently, it’s not enough financially for the commute or the time your not with your sons.

I wouldn't change but you sound like you need a new challenge - is there any other way you could gst that outside of work? It sounds like you have ample time in byte evenings to fil it with challenging and interesting activities that stimulate you - what do you like to do for personal enrichment !

I think the balance sounds about right at the moment. You say you feel about 10 years behind in your career - is that compared to peers/friends? According to your DH? In reality you probably have close to 20 years left before retirement so plenty of time for a challenge if you feel you need it. I would stay where you are now and look for other roles in a couple of years when the children are older and you have more time on your hands. There are always going to be positions for business managers surely.

Have you considered setting up an online business in those 2 hours each night? Or providing online business support services? Or volunteering time to do admin/accounts for a charity? Then you are available if needed but not sitting twiddling your thumbs.

Not wanting to derail the thread but...
I'm currently looking at a career change to become a SBM. I'm a primary teacher and just can't handle the workload now I have a young family. I would be willing to take a small pay hit to get a better balance. If I retrain (perhaps diploma as you did) do you think it would be possible to get a position as a business manager? Would I need accountant qualifications? Or prior admin experience?

I commute 1h30 into London every day. It's doable. But as others have pointed out, the incremental after travel and tax won't be massive plus the risk of a much more stressful job and missing out on important family time.

If they're asking for a qualified accountant, they mean chartered ACA, ACCA, CIMA. I'm afraid your diploma won't tick that box (some recruiters will be flexible if you have masses of experience, but I'd expect to pay a lower salary than the top advertised rate for someone not chartered) .

I had an opportunity to change roles in the current organisation I work for (no change to commuting). It was a higher position, better paid but was ft and I only worked pt.
once I took into account the extra tax, ni, pension, student loan, childcare costs etc I was only £100 a month better off but had to work an extra 2 days a week! This was with a £12k pay rise!
I decided against going for it as I felt my home/work balance was too good to disturb for so little!
Use a salary calculator to work out exactly how much the actual money is in your hand and as others have said how much time at home/with family you would lose.

I read your post starting off thinking No and increasingly thinking No no no as I read though it until I got to the last bit about feeling you haven't reached your potential and your further posts about your career.

I still think No (for me), but I also think you should be looking around to see what becomes available in the closer vicinity.

If you are looking around for a challenge, in your shoes I would definitely apply for this role and see how it goes. Research the actual take home pay & impact on pension, the route for the commute (how often need to change, reliability, likelihood of getting a seat there and on the homeward journey, cost including parking etc) and above all the culture of the potential new role. Listen out for what qualifications are required (these may be to display on the web site/brochure rather than for the knowledge they bring, or you may need to be at least as qualified as any staff you manage)

Anywhere I have ever really enjoyed working, I have enjoyed the whole interview process. Having gone through it, especially if you have been information gathering for the important things, will put you in a good position to make an informed decision, when an offer comes in.

Meanwhile, if you have some time now and are looking for a challenge, are there any qualifications you could add to your portfolio. Would an MBA suit, or one of the management accounting ones? They might also open your eyes to what could be done to grow your existing role, too. All the best.

Easy life.

No money on earth is worth extra stress.

Do the commute for a week or two before and after work and see how much it takes it’s toll.

I wouldn’t do it for a million.

If your bored take up a hobby. Best wishes to you.

Apply, go for the interview and find out more - if nothing else, if you pass or don’t get it, you’ll be better informed. I don’t think the right course is clear - yes, people undervalue a good boss and a happy setup, but ambition is a funny one and lots of us out the kids first for a time, but does that mean that you always have to, or are you better off paying for tutors at the hardest levels of school?

I’d investigate before I decided.

I would also be thinking about whether the hours are still term time plus 3 weeks? Because if they Aren’t, then your hours worked is going up by 2.5hrs per day AND an extra 5 weeks a year, which suddenly makes the pay rise a lot less attractive than it sounds at first glance, when combined with child benefit, tax, ni and commuting costs.

I can see why you might want a new challenge but ultimately I spend a lot of time commuting currently and am looking for a way out because I want my work life balance back.

To me, the answer is obvious. Easy life! Obviously you have a great wage, basically no commute, get home fairly early AND get to spend time with your children. You are privileged. Why would you want to change that? Just my 2c..

I would also stay where you are. It sounds wonderful

Can you dredge up how awful the commute was previously?

I feel like Cassandra here. But after a week where I've had to do air travel two weeks on the trot, I feel duty bound to point out that I find commuting taking it's toll out on me a lot more than it did when I was younger.

I always think to myself in situations like this - what would Sheryl Sandberg do? Then I resolve to do the opposite, as that will be less work .

yes, 10 years ago I'd have been all 'lean in, you owe it to yourself to achieve your ambition' and now I see the benefits of a quiet life more. Only you know how much you want to scratch that itch. I do think you need more info as I said :)

I always think to myself in situations like this - what would Sheryl Sandberg do? Then I resolve to do the opposite, as that will be less work grin

This made me smile .

Learn from my horrible mistake. I had an 'itch' I needed to scratch. With an 18 month old and 6 year old, I just gave up my old, part time jobs 2 1/2 days a week, for a new demanding managerial job 2 1/2 hrs a way where I have to stay away from the kids 3 nights a week. It has nearly done me in. Burned my bridges with the old job. And can't think of my next move!

Your current set up sounds amazing. I bet there are plenty doing the type of job and commute you're looking at who would give their right arm for your work life balance. I really wouldn't jeopardise that. If you feel unchallenged/stagnant how about a hobby or class or remote degree. Also you never know when life will throw you a curveball, so it's good not to be living at full stretch at all times especially with kids.