Would you work full time?

[Moneypanicker]

I don't know whether to go full-time? I work 30 hours currently. We don't need the money. My kids are older and don't need me as much. I just feel weird having a day off, I don't really do much just do the shopping etc. Most of my friends work on my day off so it's not like I can catch up with them. I guess i'm mainly thinking long-term about my pension and how after nearly 20 years of part-time work it would give it a boost.
What would you do?

I wfh so found it an easy transition from 4 days to FT. I do occasionally miss my day off but I do prefer the money. I'm lucky in that my work is flexible so I don't need the day off for errands.

How old are your kids?

If they're not at college yet I probably wouldnt go FT because i like my days off and i think ots nice for secndary school aged kids to come home to someone there.

I’d set myself a target for doing something that I found meaningful with the day off in the next three months. Otherwise I’d work full-time

Thanks!
I work from home 95% of the time so i'm generally here when my teenager gets home from school. My other 2 are at college and uni. I just can't decide what to do!

What's the obsession with doing something meaningful at all times?
What's wrong with relaxing and enjoying some time to yourself?

If you don’t feel you get the most of your day off, would it work better to stick to 4 days of hours, and work across 5 days? you could finish earlier each day, and spent that time in different ways (eg with teen when they come home, meet friends who are free on those days)

I think there’s a lot to be said for downtime and chilling out, and that IS meaningful and productive time. So I would stay PT if possible. But that’s my personality and priorities so obviously may be different to yours.

No. 4 days, 1 day off sounds perfect.

Personally I wouldn’t - I’d love more time and even if I had older kids I’d love more time

I do 33 hours over 5 days. Some early finishes for the school run - when dc are older and don't need a school run I envisage using the time for appointments, generally staying on top of housework, admin etc. I don't necessarily need a whole day off but I think those extra few hours make life easier.

I work 4 days at the moment. It's perfect for me and I'm going to struggle to give it up when my DS starts school. If you don't need the moment, aren't so stressed by your job that the extra day would be worth it, I'm not sure I'd bother personally!

I wouldn't go full time. I'd love to be able to do 4 days a week

I’ve recently went from 4 to 5 days because I’m the higher earner, and it was a much higher paying job and needed me to be working full time.

sometimes I wish I still had my Fridays off. These days life just feels like it’s work all week, and then busy all weekend getting ready for the next week. No time to chill

I work 24 hours, No DC at home, but I love my days to myself, I have hobbies, volunteering, meeting friends, looking after elderly relatives ... plus just time to myself to relax and do exactly what I want - if you can afford it, why not?

Because OP says she feels weird about not doing anything on her day off.
It could be relaxing or pottering if that would work for the OP, but doing nothing clearly isn’t doing it for her right now.
Meaningful in the sense of satisfying, fulfilling etc., if you like those words better.

I worked 20 hours when the DC were younger. They're now 20 (away at uni) and 17 and I still work 20 hours over three days. Have no intention of ever doing any more.
We don't really need my wage, and as a nurse the job is a slog anyway. I'll have a 37 year NHS pension I'll be claiming at 55 in four years so just enjoy my days off without guilt.

My child is much younger and my plan was to go back up to 5 days when he starts school, which is this year.
Am I doing that? .....nope!
I love that day off even if I don't do much I enjoy the peace.

No I won’t do it.
I work 30 hours 9-3 and I don’t want to do any more. I get well paid for it so don’t really need any more money.
I finish and then spend an hour or so chilling before the dd get home (teens). I have a great life/work balance

I'd honestly just enjoy the extra day off! I would have no issues filling the day woth reading, baking, binge watching netflix 😂i can dream!

More to life than work...

I had to go from 4 days a week to f/t recently due to divorce and taking over the mortgage but if I didn’t have to I wouldn’t.
Luckily I have been able to do full time hours over 4 days so I have to work over 9 hour days but I still keep a day off to get things done.

I worked 30 hours most of my adult life with kids, all long nursing shifts in the NHS. I went full time 5 years ago when my youngest left school. I now do weekdays only & I hate it. I’d love a day off a week just to relax, get my hair done, go shopping, cook & bake. If you can afford it do it.

I work part time (3 days) unless we have some sort of financial disaster I will never work fulltime again. When we just had our son he was at school on my day off (4 short days then), I did sod all most fridays and it was brilliant.

I think 4 days is ideal, personally. See a pension advisor to check your sums.
You can't base your pension thoughts solely on hours worked - e.g. working 80% at £30k is better for your pension than working 100% at £20k.

I recently did it and in very similar circumstances to you. I worked 5 shorter days though so wasn’t giving up my day off, did that 14 years ago when DD2 came along. I still miss it occasionally tbh.

I did it for the longer term gains to my pension as well as feeling like I needed a new challenge, changed employer and more senior role all at once. It hasn’t been easy as life threw a bit of a curve ball that Im coping with in addition to job changes but Im glad I did it.