Would you give up work if you could?

[Dingdong99]

I have a small business and have had an offer for someone to buy it, for an amount that, if I was careful, I could afford not to work again

While my business has been successful, I've been closed since March due to Covid and don't know if things will bounce back when I reopen

If I sold up, I'd be around for my two small kids, be less stressed etc. It sounds quite nice not to work!

But I'm also worried I'd miss doing what I do, and would lose part if my identity, get bored etc

WWYD?

I would stop working in a heartbeat.

If I was in this situation, I'd probably sell it. There's nothing to say that you couldn't one day start another business or ever have another job?

Unless of course they can we something that you can't and are going to buy your business for a certain amount, do something and then become billionaires? If this is the case, I'd think carefully to be sure that I couldn't/didn't want to do 'the thing' instead!

They can *see something that you can't! 🙄

I can do so later this year, but I have chosen to just reduce my hours instead. I love my job.

Snatch their hand off.

Oh hell yes. Take it immediately! You can always build another business if you get bored.

I'd love to not work. I have so many more interesting things that I've backburnered.

Until 3 months ago - I would have said no way but being furloughed and having so much time with the children has been mostly great. Made me realised how unbalanced my life had become.

If someone has a way of getting £60k pa for doing nothing let me know 😂😂😂😂😂

I would sell it, take stock and reassess. You can always find a job or start another business.

It's all so uncertain at the moment. Having enough money to never work again puts you in such a powerful position. Everything else is a bonus.

If money was no real object, in a heartbeat.

There are a million and one things I could be doing that would bring me much greater fulfilment than the 9 to 5 grind

Before this year, no way. I thought my work defined me.

Now? Without even thinking about it.

In a word, yes
In a heartbeat, yes
You work to live and this could be an amazing chance for you

Caveats - If you absolutely adore what you do and it would really be negative to your life to stop doing it, or if you know it will be worth double in a year!

God yes, if I had the money.

I have been having to shove down feelings of totally unfair jealousy and anger towards anyone at home with DCs during lockdown. Even though I logically realise that I'm very lucky to have a decently paid job where it is possible to WFH, I miss the DCs so much and even with all the cooking and cleaning and my DH working long hours, my happiest week in the last year was the lockdown week I took as leave. What have you missed on lockdown? The silver lining to the whole crappy situation is that it does tend to show what matters to you the most...

In a heartbeat.

I'd still volunteer in a role that I'd love to train for now, but can't afford to.

I absolutely would give up working if I could afford to, I think lockdown has made lots of people realise that their work/life balance isn’t great.

I'd love the freedom to give up work that money would provide. I wouldn't give up my job though, I like my job, I'm furloughed at the moment though.

In your case I'd sell the business as it sounds like a lot of money is on offer. I'd stay home with your children (if that wouldn't drive you mad) before they start school. After that I'd get another job or business.

Yes the lock down has made me realise that I don't miss work and am somewhat dreading going back! But the weather has been great and lots of people are in the same boat

I'm concerned I'd get a bit bored and lonely in the winter, maybe even depressed

You could always do some volunteering.

No. My ideal outgoings would be 1/3 CPD, 1/3 life bills and 1/3 holidays and savings.

I decided to take a Sabbatical this year. That hasn't exactly gone to my plan. But it has impressed on me just how much I love and miss my work.

I'm concerned I'd get a bit bored and lonely in the winter, maybe even depressed

If you sit at home and do nothing you will be bored and lonely.

Do you not do anything other than work?

No
I actually could but don't want to

Yes snatch their hand off. It doesn't mean that you have to not work as you might find something else that crops up that inspires you to move in a different direction or something.
Go for it!!

I could if I wished to. I would hate not to be working

Do you not do anything other than work?

Yeah, but not anything that can fill the 50 hours or so I spend each week working.

I took a career break after having my DD. I had three and a half years off in total, then went pack PT.

I absolutely LOVED having the time off, and was lucky to be able to afford it, and to have the safety blanket of a job when I wanted to return.

If selling your business means you may NEVER have to work again why not just think of it as a career break which you can enjoy for as long as you want, then you can look for work when you've had enough.