This conversation is so encouraging. I will accept reasonable levels of rejection. A lot of jobs applied, and moments in the interview where they ask about gaps (this is the tough interview Q for me, bc I answer about my family, and I’ve been told I shouldn’t??). A few years ago, pre-pandemic, I found a perfect fit job for me to return. It wasn’t exactly the right time in my life, but I was willing to flip for this job which was like “entry-level, but not menial version of exactly what I was doing and enjoyed doing before.” And was working with someone I know. And I could see how the job worked daily for him. So, I was ready. Dusted off the resume, which was 3 years less of a gap than NOW. Interviewed, thought it went pretty well. Told job was put on hold for 6 months (which I know is a polite rejection). I can accept doing that 10x over. I just feel awkward navigating the gap question. Advice.??? Similarly, I feel awkward that people on this board (and maybe society at large) make huge assumptions about SAHMs. Like, that i am workshy, overly maternal, unorganized, that it will take me a month for things to go smoothly, don’t have my childcare ready, will ask for privileges, that I’ll complain about work-life balance. None of those are true. When I say I am ready to get back in, I reflect on the hurdles, but I won’t bring that to the job. -OP |
Op here again. I guess this is a new thread, or a continuation of the 1-2 SAHM-returning-to-work-threads that have existed this spring. How it relates to my net worth is that I have the period of DH’s education (when I was working), DH’s low salary period (when I was working part time), and the cost of his education, which pays us back, and dumb-ish choices…. We should be solid and building going forward. I’m already looking for work for this fall or next fall (timeline based on my kids’ school and childcare setup). And this is kicking me in the butt not to delay. |
|
We are at $10m, with about $3.5m of that in two houses. Most of the home value is recent appreciation on the beach house, which could be fleeting. Our basis in the houses is $2m and a remaining mortgage on one of $300k. About $3.5-4.0m in retirement accounts and the rest in taxable accounts and savings.
But we are early 60’s and expecting to retire in the next 5-6 years, and have been saving for a long time. So we should have way more than someone in their 30s. Also have already fully paid for college for 2 kids, grad school for 1 and wedding for 1. |
|
46 year old divorced woman 2 teens
Savings - $60k Investments- $842K Retirement - $1.04 million 529s - $390k (my portion) Home - $900k Rental - $150K Net Worth - $3.382 million |
You’ve made some admittedly dumbish choices, have high debt, are supposedly ready to work but you’re looking to work this or next fall? Doesn’t make sense. Work. We retired young but we had the means to do it. Go to work THIS fall. |
|
Mid 50s
Retirement accounts (including Roth and HSA) - $2.5M Non-retirement accounts - $3.5M Used to be about $1M more end of last year. Expect this to go down by another 500K before it picks back up again. One spouse works; HHI $250K. We don't include primary residence in our net worth reckoning but if we did that would be an additional $500Kish (Home value $900K less $300K mortgage; $100K misc.) 1 kid in college and 1 in HS; Their 529s (included in non-retirement net worth above) are reasonably funded and the plan is to supplement with cashflow or other savings if there's a shortfall. |
I would guess OP means that if she doesn’t have a job by this fall she won’t pay for full time care for her kids. That means she’s have to wait until next fall for spots to open up. |
Lol 529s are not a part of your net worth. They are money you gave to your kids. Try again. |
|
Early 40s, had kids very young and H went to college in his 20s, so we had a late start on savings.
Asset — Liability House: $1.3M (for now) - $620k mortgage Retirement: $1.2M Brokerage: $100k Cash: $67k Cars: $45k? College is fully funded, one kid is already done. We will also have a pension worth $100k. Full disclosure: my parents paid for my college, but we paid for whatever grants did not cover for H’s while I worked/had kids in daycare. My parents have probably also given us $25K sporadically over 20 years (and we’ve probably paid H’s parents $10k). Net worth: $2M |
|
40 y/o
House: $6M Vacation Home: $1M Investments: $15M Mortgage Debt: $4M NW: $18M |
DP. Not really. They are yours. You can always not spend that money and transfer it to a different beneficiary, including yourself. |
|
1.1mil home - paid off
2.2mil rentals generating income - paid off 480k vacation home - paid off 1.4mil 401k 800k brokerage 1.5mil iras 25k money market 4k checking don't include kids prepaid & 529s or paid off cars we're mid 50s retired |
Would it materially impact your life if there was nothing in these accounts? If the answer is “no” then don’t ask. If the answer is “yes” then you should ask. |
NP. I think you’re mixing up FSA (flexible spending accounts) and HSAs (health savings accounts). FSA s are mostly use or lose, though you can sometimes roll over a small amount, depending on your employer. HSAs are yours until you spend them. Lots of people use them as a kind of health care retirement fund by saving as much as possible per year ( paper by the IRS similar to an IRA) and paying for medical costs out of pocket. HSAs are only available to you if you also have a high deductible health plan, but once the money is in there you can spend it, even if you switch back to a non high deductible plan. It’s worth asking your HR person about it. |
Op here. I meant that two of my interests and opportunities may be improved if I take some courses. Brush up on accounting and/or teacher certification. This fall I have fewer free hours with a preschooler (paying for more care if my opportunities are full time). Even with care I need time mid-day to pick him up. I have more hours when DC goes to Kinder. And can do an aftercare with a sibling at the school or on a bus. |