Quote:
Originally Posted by Bestwifeever
I've read all the posts in this thread and if I were you, I would keep working a few more years until I had more in the bank--seven more years for $2 million more? I would do that.
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To me, you are lucky that even though your job is stressful, you are compensated very well for that stress. Maybe you can work on appreciating the income vs. focusing on the stress?
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This is obviously something I think about a lot. It is a difficult decision.
DH could retire any time, take his lump sum, do the stuff around the house and he has retiree medical. Kids and I could go on medical insurance at my work (although it is not as good and is more expensive than what we have through DH). We have thought about this. And, yes, I could work 7 more years.
The thing is that when I think about working 7 more years with my current situation I want to shoot myself. Well, not literally.
DH's job is not stressful to him at all. He has great benefits and while he is not a workaholic at all and would be happy to retire if our financial goals were met -- he also doesn't really mind working 4 more years.
My job is extremely high stress and becoming more stressful every day. I have focused on the high pay for years. About 15 years ago I decided to get out. I spent several years going to school part time in the evenings to earn and degree and become licensed in another field. However that other field would pay me about 85% less than what I make now.
I ended up not switching careers. It was a point where I had to choose career change or having the large family that I wanted. I chose the family and decided I could live with the career that I had that paid well.
For the last 15 years I've thought about the higher income and I've been thankful I had it particularly when I had children that had a lot of expensive needs.
But as time goes on it is more difficult to work the long hours and high stress. I have the type of job where you never really get time off. That is, theoretically I get vacations or can take off when I'm sick. But in reality I have a certain amount of time I am expected to bill during the year and I take off or get sick then I'm really expected to make up that time.
So, I do have choices. Gut it out, miserably for the next several years. But would that extra money really be worth the misery?
One thing I am seriously thinking about is asking to be paid 20 to 30% less in exchange for working 20 to 30% less. I can't do that right now (too much work that must be done over the next several months) but in 6 months or so I will explore this. If this would work out, then I could see working for several more years. I like the people I work with and my actual job tasks so if stress and hours were lowered I wouldn't mind working.
If we move and can live on DH's salary alone I could even look for a different job although it would likely not be as well paid and I think I would have difficulty given my age.
Or, once we move and have saved money for a few years, maybe DH and I could retire together recognizing we would have less income than if I worked for several more years.
At this point I don't have to decide this. My first step is still selling the house as all options flow from that.