Taking a pay cut with a new job - anyone made it work?

Taking a pay cut with a new job - anyone made it work?

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Discussion

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

228 months

Friday 12th May 2017
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That's the thing about my new job. Mon to Fri 9 to 5 and no on call. Brilliant family time.

Current notice finally sorted today. Leave next Friday and start at the new place on 30th May.

Wooooooooooo. woohoo

rossi1001

111 posts

121 months

Tuesday 16th May 2017
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Zetec-S said:
..... The job she was in required too many hours and put her under too much stress, and as she was studying at the time just didn't have time in the evenings so was falling behind.
This.

I left my previous company due to the above (and other reasons) for a small pay cut (£1,400) and I see it as one step back for two steps forward.

I now work fewer hours with less stress and am respected and valued already with some great feedback despite only being half way through my third month.

I wish I'd done it years ago! It will also give me the time to progress with industry related exams again after years of neglecting them, which should in turn help my long term career prospects.

colin79666

1,819 posts

113 months

Tuesday 16th May 2017
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Took a pay cut myself just a few months ago. Happy so far with better commute, decent pension and flexitime. I'm hopeful that longer term I'll be able to climb back up a rung or two without losing touch with the interesting stuff which was going to happen if I stayed where I was.

If you are sure you can handle the pay cut then I'd say go for it, echoing some of the sentiments of others there is more to a job than pay and while I miss some ex colleagues I don't think I'll ever miss the stress.

DSLiverpool

14,744 posts

202 months

Tuesday 16th May 2017
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I left a job as a director of a plc in 2005 to go on my own in ecommerce, the pay cut was brutal and I had many a wobble but the life was killing me (miles, staff hassle, French boss with a Hitler complex etc) - it was lovely not flying, driving or overly worrying for 5 years - do it and as to 3 months notice I very much doubt they could enforce it.

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

228 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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Thanks. smile

3 month notice was dramatically reduced to about a week and a half. Didn't need to negotiate much in the end. smile

Little Pete

1,533 posts

94 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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Well done funkyrobot! Reading this thread has brought a smile to my face. I did a similar thing some years ago and apart from a few doubts at the very beginning I have never regretted the decision. Good Luck. thumbup

K50 DEL

9,237 posts

228 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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andy-xr said:
I went from travelling to meetings the world and not really knowing what day it was and what timezone I was on, to being home based, spending more time with my family and friends. The pay difference was enough to hurt a bit and cut back on a few things but it was a fair trade off for actually enjoying the time I had outside of work.
Funny how different people want different things isn't it - that sounds like my ideal job, I was close to it a few years ago, multiple flights, more nights away than at home etc and I loved every minute of it....
I'm currently stuck in the same office day in, day out and it bores me to death.

hyphen

26,262 posts

90 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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K50 DEL said:
andy-xr said:
I went from travelling to meetings the world and not really knowing what day it was and what timezone I was on, to being home based, spending more time with my family and friends. The pay difference was enough to hurt a bit and cut back on a few things but it was a fair trade off for actually enjoying the time I had outside of work.
Funny how different people want different things isn't it - that sounds like my ideal job, I was close to it a few years ago, multiple flights, more nights away than at home etc and I loved every minute of it....
I'm currently stuck in the same office day in, day out and it bores me to death.
That lifestyle is fine when single, but once you are married/kids priorities change.

crofty1984

15,859 posts

204 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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Good for you!

K50 DEL

9,237 posts

228 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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hyphen said:
K50 DEL said:
andy-xr said:
I went from travelling to meetings the world and not really knowing what day it was and what timezone I was on, to being home based, spending more time with my family and friends. The pay difference was enough to hurt a bit and cut back on a few things but it was a fair trade off for actually enjoying the time I had outside of work.
Funny how different people want different things isn't it - that sounds like my ideal job, I was close to it a few years ago, multiple flights, more nights away than at home etc and I loved every minute of it....
I'm currently stuck in the same office day in, day out and it bores me to death.
That lifestyle is fine when single, but once you are married/kids priorities change.
I guess that's a part of it, I've remained single for 95% of my life so not an issue for me!

nealeh1991

1,149 posts

92 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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For what it's worth OP I think you have made the right decision,

A few years ago i took a 8k a year pay cut to leave the motor trade and go into estate agency,

Money didn't change drastically due to commissions etc and hours were more (working Saturdays) but I was so much happier, the previous job was so mentally draining and I could not do it anymore,

Didn't quite work out there but i met a investor who owned a company and he offered me a sales job there. Now earning more than both of the previous jobs combined + commission and it is like yours a Mon-Fri job, no weekends at all,

I hope it all works out for you !

Quattromaster

2,908 posts

204 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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My wife was a care home manager on 45k, the hrs were mental, including nights and weekends, plus stress, missed holidays, too exhausted at weekends to enjoy life.

Packed it in to become a mentor at a school for kids with ADHD, dropped to 15k a yr, but only 9.30-4.00, for 40 weeks a yr.

She loves it, I love it, I run my own business so would often work more hrs rather than come home to an empty house, I'm now working less, we are both less stressed and enjoying life.

All the best to you OP.