[USER]

Hi! My spouse and I are in our 40s, raising 3 elementary school aged kids.

Im SOOO sick of my full time job. I love what I do but the people I work with..well, not that great. I consider walking out a few times.

I’ve been job searching for 18 months now, not much luck. I have a side job that brings in maybe about 1k/month.

I started working since I was 12, I’m considering taking a break but I’m scared.

My spouse’s income just enough to get by monthly.
If I quit, we’ll survive except we wont have anything left to save.

House 275k?- paid off
I have about 700k in Index funds, won’t be touching it until many yrs later.

2 decent cars-paid off
NO any other Debts
Spouse has VA benefits and pension when retires in 10yrs.

What advice do you have for me?

[Cheryl]

Your children are young and I can hear from that you feel close to breaking.

This is a FIRE community so likely you’ll get ‘hang in there’ advice but from a Mom who walked away from her job when her kids were 2, 4 and 7 I can tell you that the children and your husband need you more than your company or your bank account does.

When I walked away I had no grand plan. We had a 2 income lifestyle and 2 income debts to go with it.

All I knew was I COULDN’T TAKE IT any more. Within 6 months of leaving I had started a company and was making triple of what I earned in corporate America.

My life changed exponentially for the better when I came home. Sending you hugs!

[Michele]

Do you have sinking funds for car repairs/next vehicle? Emergency fund set up?

Make sure you’re covered so if something happens you don’t go into debt, then move on.

[David]

Are you paying anything for child care right now? Pausing your career puts that money back in your pocket even though your income drops.

Likely still a net loss, but something to consider when making your financial decision around pausing work.

[Stef]

Hang in there a little bit longer. Keep working your plan to try for a better job and enduring the current one for the meantime. Right now you can basically outsource any of the kid related things.

But once they are tweens and especially teens, they will need their parents for emotional support and deep conversations.

And of course taxi-ing them around to all the things. Life can get crazy busy with teens.

That’s when you take the break to be off work.

[Knee]

Not sure what your goals are but you might be close to CoastFire?
I know my Coastfire number is 1.2m if I want to fully retire by 45.

You might be able to coast on that 700k, stop contributing to retirement and get a different job that will cover your expenses (so you and your husband aren’t “scraping by”)

[Scott]

It’s easier to find a job while you have a job. That said, you take a break and do side hustles for spending money and investing if you wanted a change for a bit.

[Ella]

I say quit and focus on your side job for now and try to make more money in your side job. Life is too short.

If you want to find another full time job in the future, you do not technically have an employment gap, you can say that you’re self employed via your side job.

[Charice]

I say be brave and take the leap! Take the time to regroup and refocus. My guess is looking back you would regret continuing instead of quitting.

[Drew]

I think the biggest factor is to discuss this with your spouse and check their comfort level.

I know you said the family can live off of just their salary but just make sure they’re ok with that and not stressed or feeling extra pressure for being the sole income earner.

If everyone is on board, then take some time off and hop back in the job market when you’re ready!

[burg]

You and me both!!!! I am so sick of my job and am also job hunting. Such a freaking waste of precious time.

We are savers and in a good position, but we have 2 teens who are not yet in college, and that’s going to be a big expense.

I am still thinking of options and do have a side hustle but it doesn’t equate to the earnings I make at work.

[Chrissy]

If your husband can cover the majority of your costs, maybe you could a low stress job.

It doesn’t have to be in the same field but it would just bring in some income.

[Meng]

Try getting into passive investing. There are some management companies out there that offers decent returns to investment daily.

[Author]

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