Going part-time in your mid-30s?

Going part-time in your mid-30s?

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Original Poster:

10,922 posts

217 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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I’m considering going part time, but want to get some views on potential negatives of doing this, and would really like to hear from people who’ve done similar.

I’m looking at 3 days week. Bit of info about me:

35 years old
Mortgage is almost paid off
Totals for bills come in around 25% of what my new take-home would be
No wife or kids to think about (at least currently)


Not quite sure what I’d do with the time yet, but possibly pick up a different job, or travel, or volunteer, or think of starting up a business, learn new things, or something...

My main thinking is that there’s a lot of things to do out there in this big world, and I won’t get time to do it all otherwise. Well, more of it. You’ll never do it all!

MOBB

3,575 posts

126 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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I did it in my mid 40’s, a couple of years ago I started doing 3 or 4 days per week, I’m a finance contractor. I’d been full time for nearly 30 years and just wanted to change things.

Most of the time I find my day off is chock full of other stuff to do, sometimes I don’t know how I used to fit every thing when I was full time !!

The other thing I found was initially I struggled when quantifying the amount of money I was “losing”. I know that’s not why I went part time, but it was there in the back of my mind for ages. Also I felt a bit guilty and perhaps lazy as my wife, friends and family all work full time.

Overall it’s a great change in my life, I’d highly recommended it if it’s viable.

23rdian

387 posts

162 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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I did it and don't regret it in the slightist. In fact I would hate to work full time again now. I don't even think I could do it. I dropped my hours from full time to 30 per week (barely full time) and then to 24 per week (4 days a week)

I kept been told I would be working until I was 68. I thought - no I'm not and while I have to be working I want to be hardly be here. As long as I clear a grand a month I couldn't care less. I can also commute out of rush hours and pay less tax. My goal is to pay as little as possible due to our corrupt system.

agent006

12,029 posts

263 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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Do it. We have quite a few people at work who've gone part time and not a single one regrets it.

One thing to bear in mind is to be fully aware of any effect it might have on your pension, especially if you're lucky enough to be on a final salary scheme (unlikely at your age TBF).

pfnsht

2,134 posts

174 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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I would 100% do this if I could. But alas my mortgage is not nearly paid off and i've got two young kids and a part time wife (employed wife). When you look at it that way why should a bloke feel guilty working part time. There is loads more to life than slogging your guts at a desk for someone else for 40 years.

I'm always thinking of ways where I could achieve part time working or even just working 5 days from home and getting back 10-15 hrs of my life through not commuting and probably 20 hrs of office politics I hate.

My current goal is to move out of my high cost area, buy a reasonably priced house fit for my family and setup my own accountancy practice. Use my skills for me.


Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Wednesday 4th December 2019
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I went part time at 39 after taking voluntary redundancy then went self employed - again part time - a couple of years later. Fast forward 20 years on to now and I've walked away from the business I built up and I'm just doing a few days a month now for something to do and a bit of beer/petrol money more than anything else.

Bottom line is you really need something interesting to fill your free days with. It's just way too easy to sit drinking gallons of coffee and bhing or wasting your life on the internet or watching daytime TV or saving up the ironing or sorting out the recycling for when you get really bored or wondering if 4pm is technicially too early to start drinking.

So my solution is long walks and travel and holidays, a 20 year old car and a needy 250 year old house with a big garden to potter around about in and some voluntary work over summer weekends trying to ram the basics of marine navigation and tides into the tiny little minds of hormonally challenged Yoofs spanking a RIB about the Thames estuary.

Did anybody mention schlepping around after after the grandbabies as well? Fkuck me, there's not actually enough hours in the day smile

pete_esp

232 posts

94 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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Well done on getting the mortgage almost paid off already!

I did it a few years ago when I was 36 to help with childcare, actually I'd handed my notice in at work and they were keen to keep me on board. I still have a mortgage and ended up almost doubling it about a year later as we moved to a bigger house.

I'm still part time (32 hours a week vs 37), now the kids are at school I could go back full time but I just don't think its worth it.

Put it this way, you can always make more money but you can't buy more time. (Just don't spunk your new found leisure time away on nothing)


NickCQ

5,392 posts

95 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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Interesting and timely. I just updated my 10y plan spreadsheet so am thinking about the mid to late 30s timeframe (late 20s now).

Currently doing fairly full-on front office work but am thinking that 8-10 years more would allow me to semi-FIRE and go part time / do something charitable or voluntary, AS LONG AS I moved out of London. (and also gave up yachting probably).

The thing that worries me is the fact that I might never get back to the same earnings potential if I took a few years out. I don’t know whether I’d ever have enough certainty in what I wanted to do in life to lose that optionality.

A500leroy

5,085 posts

117 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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23rdian said:
I did it and don't regret it in the slightist. In fact I would hate to work full time again now. I don't even think I could do it. I dropped my hours from full time to 30 per week (barely full time) and then to 24 per week (4 days a week)

I kept been told I would be working until I was 68. I thought - no I'm not and while I have to be working I want to be hardly be here. As long as I clear a grand a month I couldn't care less. I can also commute out of rush hours and pay less tax. My goal is to pay as little as possible due to our corrupt system.
Yep me to, i dont have a flash car or my own home but i have enough to live on if i clear 1k per month so why bother with the stress? If you work it out on min wage money you work 1 day a week when full time for the tax man anyway!

alabbasi

2,469 posts

86 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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Those type of plans tend to look good in a good economy but usually go sideways when the stock market tanks and your saving / investment account tanks with it. In my mid 30's, I would say that I was at my most productive as I had a good balance of energy and experience. If you're disciplined, consider doing this in your mid to late 40's so that you don't have to reconsider in your 50's - 70's.

Just my 0.02c

Deesee

8,331 posts

82 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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I compressed my hours at 27, 35 hours (bank work) 5 days to 4 same pay, same holiday same benefits.

Look at this option.

designforlife

3,734 posts

162 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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I would kill for this... do it.

snorkel sucker

2,662 posts

202 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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I've read a lot recently about financial independence which in some ways, does relate to working part time, as (broadly speaking) if you're able to sustain your life(style) without physically having to work then you're creating that independence.

I see it working one of two ways. You're either able to work less and sustain your current life(style) or you work less but at the same time accept that you refine your life(style) to suit a reduced income.

As it stands for me right now, I'm also in my late 30's, and refuse to accept the notion that I'll be working (PAYE work) until I'm into my 60's. So current strategy is part investment (ever increasing % of salary goes into investment ISA), B2L that I've had a while and also learning another skill that will eventually allow me to replace my current income, work remotely, independently and for probably a handful of hours a week. (Forex Trading).

Ultimately, as long as you've thought about it and have a plan, I see no reason why it can't be done. My only regret is not having that plan when I was in my mid-20's!

I for one say kudos for anyone who takes the plunge and does it though.

dazmanultra

428 posts

91 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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I would say a lot depends on how financially secure you are as well as what you want to achieve in the next few years in terms of your career. From about 35-45, for most men you're going to climb as far as you can in your career, and potentially reach the peak of your earning power. If you 'skip' this stage, you have to ask where you might be 10 years down the line, or where you'd like to be.

Perhaps it was my job or the company I was at, but a couple of years ago after the birth of my son I went down to 3 days a week with a pro-rata decrease in pay. The issue I was finding is that the days I was off - nothing was being done in my absence and I was essentially trying to fit 5 days worth of work in to 3 days. It was actually quite stressful. After three months, enough was enough and I actually handed in my notice.


NickCQ

5,392 posts

95 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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snorkel sucker said:
learning another skill that will eventually allow me to replace my current income, work remotely, independently and for probably a handful of hours a week. (Forex Trading).
eek
might as well take up scratchcards

hotchy

4,454 posts

125 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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I dream of getting 2 days off let alone being part time. I shall manage it one day. Hopefully before it's too late.

RDMcG

19,096 posts

206 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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Had the opposite strategy. I loved the work , advanced technology, long hours, made enough not to need work.

Now 71 and have eased off to 30 hours a week. Lived in seven countries, have seen the world. LOVE the stress, the excitement of new stuff, the current fun of Board work. Still do the car stuff, photography and so on, but would go crazy with a life of leisure. I do not need the money at all, but I need the feeling of being useful in a senior capacity. I cannot think of anything I missed...(slight regret I never did Concorde,but that's about it).


We're all wired a bit differently.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,230 posts

234 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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I was a bit older than OP.

I retired at late 40s but it was a bit dull as the other half was still working. I then moved to a three day week & it really was the best.

Over ten years moved from 3 to 2 to 1 to now properly retired.

If you can do it OP I strongly recommend.

Rollin

6,077 posts

244 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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I've worked 2.5 days a week since I was 45. I did this because I was financially able to and work was getting in the way of other activities and hobbies.
I didn't go part time because I was desperate to do less work, rather, I wanted more time to do the other stuff.

egor110

16,818 posts

202 months

Thursday 5th December 2019
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I’m looking into this .

45 , work 6 days a week for 5 weeks then get the whole 6th week off plus usual 5 weeks annual leave , delivering to same village for past 10 years.

I could go part time and work 3 days a week , only potential downsides are I’d work every Monday , Friday , Saturday and would loose my regular delivery , I’d just be spare cover.

Others who’ve done it have just made midweek there weekend .