Time vs money - career change?

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skewby

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Just pondering a thing I often ponder. I have a demanding job, which I do really enjoy, which pays well, but has a long commute and occasional long hours and quite frequent travel.

This week I had to go abroad and because I hate leaving my animals I try to go away for as little time as possible - this leaves me getting up in the middle of the night to catch a flight, travelling for hours, then working late into the evening on arrival. Then up early the next day to carry on, then travelling home late into the night.

Because of this, I often end up completely incapacitated in my free time! Today I had to cancel my lesson, that I have been looking forward to for days and days, because I was exhausted, sick, and got a migraine. In future I will probably stay away longer as this is not the first time this has happened!

But it's led me to think....at the moment, I have plenty of cash for my hobby. But time is always so limited. I run a lorry with ease and can go wherever I choose, whenever I choose. I can hunt when I want, which I know a lot of people can't afford - but then, equally, I can't afford the time! Anything horsey needs I can get him and I really like that.

But, I have a long commute (1 hour minimum) and am always knackered, especially in winter.

What do you all think on this topic - would I be happier if I down-charged in some way, had much less disposable income, but more time to enjoy horse? Would I be able to go from money no object to economising? I know much of the stuff I can do is free - hacking, schooling, XC (latter are all in at my yard). But would I have to forego my weekly lessons, which I love?

Also, if I did do something else...what on earth would it be?!

Thoughts hugely appreciated on my ramble!! Thanks
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Just don't do what I did and take a job that pays less AND is more stressful and time-consuming
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I do love it, but I reckon at least 50% of that love springs from some form of Stockholm Syndrome
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Well lots of things have happened in my life which led me to the decision that my time and health is far more important than money, so this year after a period of sick for stress I reduced my hours so I could have more quality time, so I would deffinately say TIME is MORE important, however I can say that because I can still afford to do the things I like within reason

trust me you soon adjust to less money and the benefit to you will be priceless go for it, good luck xxxx
 
I had the opportunity to take redundancy from a very highly paid job. The package i was offered meant i did not need to work for at least 2 years.

I took it and now work for a quarter of the wage, no company car, no pension pot - but i am soooooo much happier. In my last year of the company i was out of the country for 8 months out of 12 - i hated it - i had two horses and although my company would pay for their livery charges it was really pointless owning them.

Now i have 3 horses, a horse box, and yes i do have to budget - but they are now MY horses. I do everything with them, turn them out, catch them in, feed them, ride them, hold their hooves when blacksmith, dentist or vet arrives. Mine know when i arrive, they either see me, or sense me. Not like the past where they looked through me and wanted the yard girls more than me !

Yes i know i no longer can go to Robinsons and spend £800 quid on a whim - or order a new saddle just because i want one - and yes i now think "oh i have back lady due in 6 weeks time, so i need to put away x y or z"
I also no longer have 4 hours of lessons a week - i have cut back to 1 hour (2 x 30 mins).
I definaltley give up money over time, but i am fortunate i can spend all my earning on my hobby, as other half is very very generous.
 
Hmm thats a toughie! But... know yourself (what your strengths are, what your weaknesses are, where do you like to work- indoors/ outdoors, at a desk/ out and about etc)
know your options (Are there any jobs relating to what you are interested in in your area? would you have to retrain to get into a particular career/ job, do you need any previous experience to be able to apply? Would this career match with what you know about yourself already?)
know how you usually make decisions (Do you think with your heart or your head, do you like to try new ideas out first or just dive in)
know what influences and perhaps blocks your decision making (eg money, childcare, work/ life balance but can these decision blockers be overcome?)
There are loads of tests you can do to discover what careers might suit but this is a good starting point http://www.skillsandinterests.com/careersadvice/
Good luck
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I would love to work part time - I too have an hour's commute.

If I worked part time I would have to think very carefully about about it I could afford to compete.

I know a lot of people who keep horses on extreme budgets and I know how stressful it is to find the money for things like the vet if they are sick or if they need anything extra that is unexpected.

My main concern would be having to make decisions about my horses health based on my finances if insurance does not cover it.

I would perhaps do a practice run before jumping ship - work out how much money you would get in a less paid job and then try living on it for 6 months.
 
Ohhhh - sorry i assume that everyone has enough dosh in bank for the emergencies - i am lucky that i used to be able to save a large amount each pay check - and even now i save at least a third of my wages.

I must appear to be a right muppet - sorry !
 
lol, I wasn't made redundant, I changed career - a good decision despite everything! But I didn't own so much as a goldfish so only had to worry about feeding lil ol' me
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I know the feeling - I have a busy job in HR and a bar job and at uni doing a masters - when i ride i instantly feel better and i spend all day thinking why i am running myself into the ground and normally end up ill.

I dont own my own horse as it wouldnt be fair time, experience and for monetary reasons but i do think very often why didnt i go into what i love rather than spending every day stressed and working from home most evenings which is what im doing now!!
 
I gave up practising as a solicitor and I seem to have more money now. I run my rental properties more efficiently, do most of the maintenance myself, or at least the redecoration, have time to shop around for good deals and landed a 12 hours per week lecturing role with a very high hourly rate. I actually think I'm busier than before but I'm also getting a second horse so its more doing things I want to do.

I don't think a job, as in making money for someone else on a salary, is all its cracked up to be.
 
I wont go into my financial details but I am absolutly gobsmacked on how little I can live on having left the highly stressful hamsterwheel of a job I did for over 25 years.

The only way to make this sort of big decision is to do a bit of a cost benefit analysis on your life or as in my case have your hand forced by circumstances.

I got redundancy shoved in my face and it took a lot of spreadsheets and whatif calculations before I caved in and downsized my world. Cat horse man house and no more hairdye etc. I panicked I cried I was sick but I did it and that was just giving up the expensive hairdos.
 
You can live on less. I gave up my job but had saved to be able to do it. I cut down on competing, kept up my lessons as part of the reason i gave up was because my horse needed physio and i couldnt do it when working, and it was essential i had an instructor on the ground, didnt buy clothes (I have several wardobes full anyway!) Stopped eating out . If buttons fell off they were sewn back on! I even sewed up my jodpurs when they got torn! Horses were given the food they required rather than the posh stuff! Fancy unneccessary supplements went out the window! Rugs mended not binned! Extra jumpers went on before I turned the heating on! Silly little things really.


I was lucky and landed a lovely job a mile from home. I earn about 5k a year less but when you take out tax and NI, the petrol and the time I spent travelling I am better off by far. I am about £500 a year worse off! £10 a week! I wouldnt say the job itself is less stressful than before but the fact I can leave work at 5.30 and be home by 5.31 makes a huge difference. I can also pop home at lunchtime if i want to.

It is not until you have no commute that you realise just how much the commute takes out of you! I was arriving at work stressed!
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To me, having more time is the best thing ever. It has made a huge difference to me.
 
Hey lovely x

I didnt know you were thinking about this?????

Its nice to have the time (like I do) but its also nice to have the money.
Why dont you try something new and if it doesnt work go back to being geeky lol

Hows ur pony, oopps ponies... anyhows?? And Lorraine?

xxx
 
I wouldn't dream of advising you on what would be the best course of action would be, I can only say what I did.

I was in a stressful job & as time went on it got more & more stressful & I was taking on massive responsibilities where if I got things wrong the outcome could have been dire. I was working long days & being called out at all hours. Anyway I retired from that job when I was 50 & I got a reasonable pension. My mortgage was paid of in the month I retired, which was great & I was then able to do what I wanted to do.

After 10 months of doing bits & pieces at home & jobs at the stables I needed something to do so I now am a driver for the local council, delivering school dinners to little village schools etc. I only work about 3 hours each weekday at lunchtime which leaves me plenty of time for the horses. I have the school holidays off as well, earn some pocket money to help pay for the horses, I have never been happier & am stress free.

I don't need as much money now as I did when working full time. I don't buy lunch each day, I don't keep filling up my car with fuel to travel the 60 mile round trip to work each day. I don't need to buy suits etc for work....... I only wear a suit now at weddings & funerals. As you can see you just don't need as much money & when you don't need as much you can take a less stressful job which may pay less.

Obviously without my pension I couldn't do this, but my life is good at the moment. As long as you can earn sufficient to cover your bills & have a little behind you for emergencies then why chase the big bucks? This life we have is the one we've got, it aint a rehearsal, make the most of it!.
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You have to think what is more important to you: time or money.

Do you want to spend less time travelling and more time with your animals or do you want the cash to be able to pay for what ever you want without having to budget.

What is your job now and is there anyway you could still do it without all the travelling?
 
Oh wow, you have all been so helpful. What great replies and you have really helped me think things through!

I suppose the upshot is, I don't need all this money I earn (don't get me wrong, I'm not that high powered, but what I mean is, for me and the things I enjoy, I don't need as much as I get).

I went out for a lovely long hack this afternoon and it did lead me to conclude, I want more time. I really, really want more time. Life is ticking on (I am 38) and, though I enjoy what I do, I just don't like the thought of doing it forever...

I have often thought about finding a job with less hours in the field that I work (IT) but they just don't seem to be about. I lose so much in tax and NI that dropping a day a week would be perfect. But I'm not sure there's much scope for it.

Spending-wise, I am quite happy to compromise, anywhere and everywhere, apart from on my horse. I absolutely need to be able to run a lorry and take him out and about in it. But, I think with some sums, and compromises elsewhere, it could still be done. It would just make me prioritise, and that would do me good.

Fox that link was sooo helpful and I had no idea that things like that were out there!

I have a few days off at the end of next week to look after a friend's horses, I will use some of that time to really start doing some investigations. Not sure where I start...so advice on that appreciated!!

Vicky, lol you cheeky mare, I will always be geeky
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we are all fine and doing great, hope you and your lot are well. You gotta come visit again soon
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Thank you all, loads!! What a fab forum this is
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