A ‘what would you do?’ Thread
Discussion
Firstly, sorry for such a long post, and if you do take the time to read it, then thank you very much!
I’ve been trying to work out what I should do with work for some time now.
I’m a contractor in my Motorsport engineering field and I’ve been working fairly long hours and commuting minimum of 45 mins each way for years now. As well as doing various horrible shift patterns.
I’ve now found a long term contract with reasonable money but the place is a dump and management awful, still 55 mins away, but working a day shift is nice after a few years of nights. Ultimately however, I’m fed up. Fed up of travelling that far, fed up of the long hours and chasing the money, which ironically never seems to materialise in to much, fed up of staying late. Been offered better contracts but they’re 1 hour drive and take even more away from my personal life.
A new branch of an existing company has opened 10 miles and 15 mins away from my house. It’s a really nice and immaculate facility. The work isn’t the most interesting but there are lots of opportunities for someone like me to progress up the ladder because the skill level of staff there is low. The benefits are excellent, private healthcare, good pension and 25 days holiday + bank hols. Having been a conny for most of my working life, paid holiday would be fantastic.
There’s one major problem with this role, and taking a permy job at the company; money. I am going to use real figures in this post, not to be a dick so please don’t think that - just to get the best advice possible. Money is important to me and I grew up very poor, so worrying about money is quite a big issue.. I’ve been skint and the stress and worry is something I’m keen to avoid.
Money doesn’t seem to go far these days and I’m still in a rented house. If I went for the perm job my chances of ever buying a house are quite slim unless the % deposit needed comes down.
My earning potential at the moment is based on how many hours I can be bothered to work, and tends to be between £700 per week and £1200. Take in to account tax and holidays and this probably averages a take home of £2800-3200 a month. 36 miles each way of fuel takes a few hundred off this figure.
Current outgoings total £1600pm not including fuel and food. Mrs contributes £300pm and buys shopping every 2-3 weeks which tends to be £65 per week.
So based on this my outgoings are £1500 + fuel, at the moment around £70 per week +/- any extra days with o/t and personal journeys +15. Currently then going out is around £1850. This leaves me with plenty of money left for a reasonable life, Ive been catching up with a tax miscalculation until recently so I haven’t felt the benefit but now I can start to save.
Assuming I take the job near home, with no overtime, I should be paid £1950 pm after tax (pay rise after 3 months probation). Saturday mornings should be a breeze if they’re ever offered because I’m so local, and they pay an OT rate, but it isn’t that common by the sounds of things, so can’t rely on overtime. I would estimate fuel would cost £100 a month. So going out is £1600 pm, which could be reduced by sending my lease car back which would give an extra £180. Loan clears in 2 Years which will free up another £180 in the future.
Is £350-500ish per month disposable really enough these days? Am I a complete mug for considering such a drastic pay cut, or is the extra quality of life worth it?
I like how now if something breaks I can replace it and don’t necessarily have to save up for new furniture or whatever, I just work harder, but at 26, I’m tired already, I feel burned out, and just want a normal life instead of one where I’m working all the time. I just hate the idea of having to make £350 last an entire month, A meal out and a new pair of trainers would wipe most of this out, and that’s quite scary really. If the car were to break I’d probably have to utilise a credit card.
Genuinely can’t work out what to do for the best. Any advice very much appreciated. I know it’s individual, I just want to know what you’d do and why I guess. 1st world problems and all that....
I’ve been trying to work out what I should do with work for some time now.
I’m a contractor in my Motorsport engineering field and I’ve been working fairly long hours and commuting minimum of 45 mins each way for years now. As well as doing various horrible shift patterns.
I’ve now found a long term contract with reasonable money but the place is a dump and management awful, still 55 mins away, but working a day shift is nice after a few years of nights. Ultimately however, I’m fed up. Fed up of travelling that far, fed up of the long hours and chasing the money, which ironically never seems to materialise in to much, fed up of staying late. Been offered better contracts but they’re 1 hour drive and take even more away from my personal life.
A new branch of an existing company has opened 10 miles and 15 mins away from my house. It’s a really nice and immaculate facility. The work isn’t the most interesting but there are lots of opportunities for someone like me to progress up the ladder because the skill level of staff there is low. The benefits are excellent, private healthcare, good pension and 25 days holiday + bank hols. Having been a conny for most of my working life, paid holiday would be fantastic.
There’s one major problem with this role, and taking a permy job at the company; money. I am going to use real figures in this post, not to be a dick so please don’t think that - just to get the best advice possible. Money is important to me and I grew up very poor, so worrying about money is quite a big issue.. I’ve been skint and the stress and worry is something I’m keen to avoid.
Money doesn’t seem to go far these days and I’m still in a rented house. If I went for the perm job my chances of ever buying a house are quite slim unless the % deposit needed comes down.
My earning potential at the moment is based on how many hours I can be bothered to work, and tends to be between £700 per week and £1200. Take in to account tax and holidays and this probably averages a take home of £2800-3200 a month. 36 miles each way of fuel takes a few hundred off this figure.
Current outgoings total £1600pm not including fuel and food. Mrs contributes £300pm and buys shopping every 2-3 weeks which tends to be £65 per week.
So based on this my outgoings are £1500 + fuel, at the moment around £70 per week +/- any extra days with o/t and personal journeys +15. Currently then going out is around £1850. This leaves me with plenty of money left for a reasonable life, Ive been catching up with a tax miscalculation until recently so I haven’t felt the benefit but now I can start to save.
Assuming I take the job near home, with no overtime, I should be paid £1950 pm after tax (pay rise after 3 months probation). Saturday mornings should be a breeze if they’re ever offered because I’m so local, and they pay an OT rate, but it isn’t that common by the sounds of things, so can’t rely on overtime. I would estimate fuel would cost £100 a month. So going out is £1600 pm, which could be reduced by sending my lease car back which would give an extra £180. Loan clears in 2 Years which will free up another £180 in the future.
Is £350-500ish per month disposable really enough these days? Am I a complete mug for considering such a drastic pay cut, or is the extra quality of life worth it?
I like how now if something breaks I can replace it and don’t necessarily have to save up for new furniture or whatever, I just work harder, but at 26, I’m tired already, I feel burned out, and just want a normal life instead of one where I’m working all the time. I just hate the idea of having to make £350 last an entire month, A meal out and a new pair of trainers would wipe most of this out, and that’s quite scary really. If the car were to break I’d probably have to utilise a credit card.
Genuinely can’t work out what to do for the best. Any advice very much appreciated. I know it’s individual, I just want to know what you’d do and why I guess. 1st world problems and all that....
Also... sorry for going on....
My OH and I would like to have kids in a few years, and I’d hate to be that Dad who’s always at work. If I stay contracting there is little chance of being in a normal 8-5 job that pays enough one day.
I’m thinking maybe I should take a financial hit now while I’m younger and maybe by the time I reach 30 I can be in a more senior job and more acceptable salary by the time we have kids, instead of still being in that contractor money trap for Years to come.
My OH and I would like to have kids in a few years, and I’d hate to be that Dad who’s always at work. If I stay contracting there is little chance of being in a normal 8-5 job that pays enough one day.
I’m thinking maybe I should take a financial hit now while I’m younger and maybe by the time I reach 30 I can be in a more senior job and more acceptable salary by the time we have kids, instead of still being in that contractor money trap for Years to come.
You can’t buy happiness or a personal life
Take the job nearer home. You won’t be on skivvy wages, you have enough to survive and £500 pcm is plenty to be able to do stuff.
Think about what you need to buy, not what you want. This is quite liberating - do I need those new trainers? Have I got enough....stuff?
Plus, if you do climb the ladder as you predict, the lower salary won’t be forever.
Money is a short term motivator - I’d rather be a little poorer and happy than a little richer and miserable
Take the job nearer home. You won’t be on skivvy wages, you have enough to survive and £500 pcm is plenty to be able to do stuff.
Think about what you need to buy, not what you want. This is quite liberating - do I need those new trainers? Have I got enough....stuff?
Plus, if you do climb the ladder as you predict, the lower salary won’t be forever.
Money is a short term motivator - I’d rather be a little poorer and happy than a little richer and miserable
I’m in a fairly similar situation to yourself. The trouble is outgoings seem to increase as you earn more, and now I would find it really hard to go back to perm.
Would this company still have jobs going in 6 months time? Maybe you could smash some hours in for now and get some money behind you to help with the transition?
Would this company still have jobs going in 6 months time? Maybe you could smash some hours in for now and get some money behind you to help with the transition?
It never gets easier unless you make it easier. 26 and you’re doing well for yourself, but young enough that you can afford to make mistakes and it not be too late to do anything about it... take the local role, I’d imagine in your field, networkinnis important, maybe keep available for contract work on odd weekends when you fancy some over time. If it doesn’t work out, or you can’t manage on the money, suck it up, move on and take a 1hour commute role?
For what it’s worth I did a 1 hour commute role that I hated, but it got me the experience to get a pay rise and a 3 mike commute.
What ever you do, make it work for you.
For what it’s worth I did a 1 hour commute role that I hated, but it got me the experience to get a pay rise and a 3 mike commute.
What ever you do, make it work for you.
I think it's all about work/life balance, assuming you can afford to live on your earnings. If you can get the family to agree a plan it will help.
For over 30 years I had a fab job with good earnings, supposedly 9-5. During the last 20 years or so, due to an office location and house move, I had a car commute and although only 30 miles away all this was M25, so I used to leave home no later than 6:00am for the near regular 1 hour plus motorway journey to the office. I tried to get away by about 4:30pm in which case the journey back home was about an hour. Leaving at 5:00 pm was not worth it...1 1/2 to 2 hours sometimes. A great help was to find a radio station which provided me with interest or a good playlist., or maybe learn something from a CD.
I took the view that I would forgo seeing my son in the morning: his mum could do everything including the school run. He became more my responsibility during evening, although of course we did lots of things as a family together.
The job involved quite a bit of travelling and being away for several days at a time but between the three of us I think we managed to get the balance about right.
R.
For over 30 years I had a fab job with good earnings, supposedly 9-5. During the last 20 years or so, due to an office location and house move, I had a car commute and although only 30 miles away all this was M25, so I used to leave home no later than 6:00am for the near regular 1 hour plus motorway journey to the office. I tried to get away by about 4:30pm in which case the journey back home was about an hour. Leaving at 5:00 pm was not worth it...1 1/2 to 2 hours sometimes. A great help was to find a radio station which provided me with interest or a good playlist., or maybe learn something from a CD.
I took the view that I would forgo seeing my son in the morning: his mum could do everything including the school run. He became more my responsibility during evening, although of course we did lots of things as a family together.
The job involved quite a bit of travelling and being away for several days at a time but between the three of us I think we managed to get the balance about right.
R.
Muzzer79 said:
You can’t buy happiness or a personal life
Take the job nearer home. You won’t be on skivvy wages, you have enough to survive and £500 pcm is plenty to be able to do stuff.
Think about what you need to buy, not what you want. This is quite liberating - do I need those new trainers? Have I got enough....stuff?
Plus, if you do climb the ladder as you predict, the lower salary won’t be forever.
Money is a short term motivator - I’d rather be a little poorer and happy than a little richer and miserable
Thank you for your reply. This is exactly my thoughts really.. Take the job nearer home. You won’t be on skivvy wages, you have enough to survive and £500 pcm is plenty to be able to do stuff.
Think about what you need to buy, not what you want. This is quite liberating - do I need those new trainers? Have I got enough....stuff?
Plus, if you do climb the ladder as you predict, the lower salary won’t be forever.
Money is a short term motivator - I’d rather be a little poorer and happy than a little richer and miserable
The only real concern isn’t necessarily about affording new trainers, but also the more important stuff like fixing a broken car. I would try and limit this by getting a smallish Petrol Japanese car but even they break sometimes
CX53 said:
I’m in a fairly similar situation to yourself. The trouble is outgoings seem to increase as you earn more, and now I would find it really hard to go back to perm.
Would this company still have jobs going in 6 months time? Maybe you could smash some hours in for now and get some money behind you to help with the transition?
I can’t really know for sure if they’ll have jobs in the future. Would this company still have jobs going in 6 months time? Maybe you could smash some hours in for now and get some money behind you to help with the transition?
Tomorrow’s jam and all that, but because it’s a fairly new team they want a couple of supervisors but will only promote from within. My experience would be perfect for this kind of promotion and the company recognise that, however if I go in there in 6 months time the jobs will be filled and progress much slower
meehaja said:
It never gets easier unless you make it easier. 26 and you’re doing well for yourself, but young enough that you can afford to make mistakes and it not be too late to do anything about it... take the local role, I’d imagine in your field, networkinnis important, maybe keep available for contract work on odd weekends when you fancy some over time. If it doesn’t work out, or you can’t manage on the money, suck it up, move on and take a 1hour commute role?
For what it’s worth I did a 1 hour commute role that I hated, but it got me the experience to get a pay rise and a 3 mike commute.
What ever you do, make it work for you.
Thanks for your point of view. You are right really, I could just go back to contracting if I didn’t like it.... probably worth a try.For what it’s worth I did a 1 hour commute role that I hated, but it got me the experience to get a pay rise and a 3 mike commute.
What ever you do, make it work for you.
The Leaper said:
I think it's all about work/life balance, assuming you can afford to live on your earnings. If you can get the family to agree a plan it will help.
For over 30 years I had a fab job with good earnings, supposedly 9-5. During the last 20 years or so, due to an office location and house move, I had a car commute and although only 30 miles away all this was M25, so I used to leave home no later than 6:00am for the near regular 1 hour plus motorway journey to the office. I tried to get away by about 4:30pm in which case the journey back home was about an hour. Leaving at 5:00 pm was not worth it...1 1/2 to 2 hours sometimes. A great help was to find a radio station which provided me with interest or a good playlist., or maybe learn something from a CD.
I took the view that I would forgo seeing my son in the morning: his mum could do everything including the school run. He became more my responsibility during evening, although of course we did lots of things as a family together.
The job involved quite a bit of travelling and being away for several days at a time but between the three of us I think we managed to get the balance about right.
R.
I guess some trial and possibly error is needed to try and get the balance right.... thank you for your reply For over 30 years I had a fab job with good earnings, supposedly 9-5. During the last 20 years or so, due to an office location and house move, I had a car commute and although only 30 miles away all this was M25, so I used to leave home no later than 6:00am for the near regular 1 hour plus motorway journey to the office. I tried to get away by about 4:30pm in which case the journey back home was about an hour. Leaving at 5:00 pm was not worth it...1 1/2 to 2 hours sometimes. A great help was to find a radio station which provided me with interest or a good playlist., or maybe learn something from a CD.
I took the view that I would forgo seeing my son in the morning: his mum could do everything including the school run. He became more my responsibility during evening, although of course we did lots of things as a family together.
The job involved quite a bit of travelling and being away for several days at a time but between the three of us I think we managed to get the balance about right.
R.
S9JTO said:
Have you considered moving closer to the contracting jobs? You're renting after all so shouldn't be much of a difficult transition?
I could be in the same position even if I moved to be honest, I could move nearer some contracts and then some would spring up an hour away again. It’s fairly spread out and family ties and my girlfriends job etc mean it’s probably better if I don’t move.I’ve been doing some serious sums...
I worked out that if I average 45 hours per week, (its usually more...) and work 47 weeks per year, assuming I stay at the current contract and don’t go for a big money one, and put £3000 aside to cover 5 weeks hol/sick, I should take home £2,521 assuming tax and deductions are 15%, which they usually are. Minus the fuel of around £300, I’m actually only around £250 a month on average better off than I would be with the seemingly much lower paid permy job near home.
Massive food for thought. I suppose where I can just work more hours and earn more money at the moment it feels like I’m not so strapped for cash but needs reality it’s not that different.
I worked out that if I average 45 hours per week, (its usually more...) and work 47 weeks per year, assuming I stay at the current contract and don’t go for a big money one, and put £3000 aside to cover 5 weeks hol/sick, I should take home £2,521 assuming tax and deductions are 15%, which they usually are. Minus the fuel of around £300, I’m actually only around £250 a month on average better off than I would be with the seemingly much lower paid permy job near home.
Massive food for thought. I suppose where I can just work more hours and earn more money at the moment it feels like I’m not so strapped for cash but needs reality it’s not that different.
My 2p, from experience, is that you should go with what is best for your family, or future family and you.
I had a job where I would be away from home all week, usually Monday to Friday but also sometimes Sat or heading off on the Sunday. I promised the other half that when we had a child I would stop and get something where I could be at home more. Earnings wise I have probably dropped to half my salary but apart from when the other half gets on my nerves im also a heck of a lot more relaxed.
I loved my old job and do miss it in fairness, but I have never regretted the decision.
When you have a kid, being there the first time they smile or laugh or when they take their first steps is not over rated at all. Every time he gets to that milestone, and I get to see it, im thankful that I kept my promise as otherwise I would have missed it.
With the money I was earning, I saved and then invested into a business where (as I said) the earnings are a lot lower, but the staff do the work, I'm now lucky in that I can pick and choose my hours and do as many or as little as I want. (apart from when things go tits up and im required)
So, what would I do? Take the closer job for your own health and you current/future family. Work really hard now and get up the ladder at your new job. When you then decide the time is right for the kids, spend as much time with your family as you can. Work to Live.
I had a job where I would be away from home all week, usually Monday to Friday but also sometimes Sat or heading off on the Sunday. I promised the other half that when we had a child I would stop and get something where I could be at home more. Earnings wise I have probably dropped to half my salary but apart from when the other half gets on my nerves im also a heck of a lot more relaxed.
I loved my old job and do miss it in fairness, but I have never regretted the decision.
When you have a kid, being there the first time they smile or laugh or when they take their first steps is not over rated at all. Every time he gets to that milestone, and I get to see it, im thankful that I kept my promise as otherwise I would have missed it.
With the money I was earning, I saved and then invested into a business where (as I said) the earnings are a lot lower, but the staff do the work, I'm now lucky in that I can pick and choose my hours and do as many or as little as I want. (apart from when things go tits up and im required)
So, what would I do? Take the closer job for your own health and you current/future family. Work really hard now and get up the ladder at your new job. When you then decide the time is right for the kids, spend as much time with your family as you can. Work to Live.
VRSphil said:
I can’t really know for sure if they’ll have jobs in the future.
Tomorrow’s jam and all that, but because it’s a fairly new team they want a couple of supervisors but will only promote from within. My experience would be perfect for this kind of promotion and the company recognise that, however if I go in there in 6 months time the jobs will be filled and progress much slower
I reckon you should go for it. Can always go back contracting. Tomorrow’s jam and all that, but because it’s a fairly new team they want a couple of supervisors but will only promote from within. My experience would be perfect for this kind of promotion and the company recognise that, however if I go in there in 6 months time the jobs will be filled and progress much slower
VRSphil said:
I can’t really know for sure if they’ll have jobs in the future.
Tomorrow’s jam and all that, but because it’s a fairly new team they want a couple of supervisors but will only promote from within. My experience would be perfect for this kind of promotion and the company recognise that, however if I go in there in 6 months time the jobs will be filled and progress much slower
I reckon you should go for it. Can always go back contracting. Tomorrow’s jam and all that, but because it’s a fairly new team they want a couple of supervisors but will only promote from within. My experience would be perfect for this kind of promotion and the company recognise that, however if I go in there in 6 months time the jobs will be filled and progress much slower
VRSphil said:
I’ve been doing some serious sums...
I worked out that if I average 45 hours per week, (its usually more...) and work 47 weeks per year, assuming I stay at the current contract and don’t go for a big money one, and put £3000 aside to cover 5 weeks hol/sick, I should take home £2,521 assuming tax and deductions are 15%, which they usually are. Minus the fuel of around £300, I’m actually only around £250 a month on average better off than I would be with the seemingly much lower paid permy job near home.
Massive food for thought. I suppose where I can just work more hours and earn more money at the moment it feels like I’m not so strapped for cash but needs reality it’s not that different.
If you factor in to those sums the total hours including travel time, I bet the £/hr will be very close.I worked out that if I average 45 hours per week, (its usually more...) and work 47 weeks per year, assuming I stay at the current contract and don’t go for a big money one, and put £3000 aside to cover 5 weeks hol/sick, I should take home £2,521 assuming tax and deductions are 15%, which they usually are. Minus the fuel of around £300, I’m actually only around £250 a month on average better off than I would be with the seemingly much lower paid permy job near home.
Massive food for thought. I suppose where I can just work more hours and earn more money at the moment it feels like I’m not so strapped for cash but needs reality it’s not that different.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff