If your DH could double his pay but had to travel often, would you take it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on number of days/month of travel and if there is any extar vacation he is accumulating that you can perhaps use more frequently. and if you see any big expenses coming up that you can cover for: house? private school?

DH is basically using his accrued vacation to do this second consulting job. Instead of going on a summer vacation, he is using the time to do the consulting work.

DH normally earns about $250k per year. He has earned about $200k extra from this consulting role in the past 7 months. The consulting role will probably only last for another 1-2 years. DH thinks he should just milk it and save the money.

We have no large expenses coming up.

If it were permanent, entailed more than a week per month, and we had your husband's current salary I wouldn't think it was worth it. If my DH made $250/year we'd have no need of an extra $5-10 grand/month, other than to pile it into savings. But I might consider it on a short term basis.

I think it's more about whether your DH is burnt out by that travel, whether you are burnt out by frequent solo parenting, and whether the kids are feeling stressed out by his absence in their life. 1-2 years could be okay knowing that it would end. But it's not worth it if you feel frustrated at his not being around.

[Anonymous]

OP, this is DH's decision, not yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH has a very niche technical skill and was offered a very lucrative consulting role earlier this year. He can pick up $10,000-$50,000 extra per month. Since the money was good, DH accepted the consulting role and DH can do the work when he is available but it requires him to travel about 2x per month. It has been about 6 months and this extra consulting job is basically at the expense of ALL DH's free time. DH thinks he should continue doing the work and we should save the $. I personally don't think it is worth the expense of all our family time. DH doesn't like being away from our family either. He doesn't particularly enjoy the work. It's just purely for the money.

Would you have your DH continue to work the extra hours for the money?

Wait a minute here - $10,000-$50,000 extra PER MONTH??? Some people make $30K - $50K in a whole year!

Rich people problems! I wish I had those.

I suspect that OP exaggerates. She is a board house wife who is feeling unloved and un-valued. Her only value is her husband's cash but that makes her feel a little dirty deep inside so bragging is salve on that wound.

[Anonymous]

OP will this lead to future opportunities for DH? For example going into business for himself down the line?
If you have an end date and both of you can manage this with grace and compassion for each other, do it. If either of you feel slighted or resentful, tread carefully as you may wind up divorced.

[Anonymous]

I would pleasantly encourage him not to do it, due to loss of family time, extra stress on me, and frankly how is he not totally exhausted? If he insists on doing it, I would try to negotiate an end date with him

[Anonymous]

Yes - absolutely...but with one condition. I would 100% bank the $$$ and the expectation would be that this was a very short term arrangement (like 1-2 years tops). Also, it couldn't mess up his current job.

I think being able to bank that amount of $$$ in such a short period of time, all the while maintaining a good job is worth it. First, I don't think having your husband checked out for a year or so from the family will really make that big of a difference in their lives. Kids are forgiving and will forget about it in no time at all. Second, I think - for that money - I could suck up doing 100% of the child care and housework. Though I certainly would utilize the help of a house cleaner and part-time nanny during that time to help my sanity.

My husband makes about $250k/year as well. But him making double that would allow me to quit working and still let us save really good $$$ for college/retirement/etc.

If it were me, I'd absolutely sign on for that for a year or so (tho no longer).

[Anonymous]

We might choose to do this in our family - if it served some long-term family goals. For instance, I would agree to this for a year or two if:
- we hired help so I had some periods of respite when needed
- certainly family times were sacrosanct - b'day, holidays, vacation, etc...
- the money was all banked for future specific goals - paying off the house. one or both parents staying home for some period of time. a once a year month long family trip somewhere, a vacation house, etc...

This is/should be a family decision IMO. It could be a great opportunity, or it could be a miserable reality.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on number of days/month of travel and if there is any extar vacation he is accumulating that you can perhaps use more frequently. and if you see any big expenses coming up that you can cover for: house? private school?

DH is basically using his accrued vacation to do this second consulting job. Instead of going on a summer vacation, he is using the time to do the consulting work.

DH normally earns about $250k per year. He has earned about $200k extra from this consulting role in the past 7 months. The consulting role will probably only last for another 1-2 years. DH thinks he should just milk it and save the money.

We have no large expenses coming up.

If it were permanent, entailed more than a week per month, and we had your husband's current salary I wouldn't think it was worth it. If my DH made $250/year we'd have no need of an extra $5-10 grand/month, other than to pile it into savings. But I might consider it on a short term basis.

I think it's more about whether your DH is burnt out by that travel, whether you are burnt out by frequent solo parenting, and whether the kids are feeling stressed out by his absence in their life. 1-2 years could be okay knowing that it would end. But it's not worth it if you feel frustrated at his not being around.

OP here. I do work full time with a flex schedule. DH has no student loans but I had about $50k left earlier this year. The first thing we did with the extra money is pay off my student loan balance so now the only debt we have is our mortgage. We have two children under age 5 at an excellent preschool with good extended care.

I don't think DH is burnt out by the extra work. I am. When he is home, we take turns with bath time, playing outside, running errands. When he is gone, I get strained. We have hired some help but it really isn't the same as DH being home.

[Anonymous]

If only he takes MIL with him.

[Anonymous]

Do it and bank the money.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have 7 months of experience with this arrangement. How are you all doing? Your marriage? You can probably see how everyone is doing and how you're managing with the extra money.

[Anonymous]

No, but we don't need the money.

[Anonymous]

Heck yes. Save that money. Maybe becaus I can't imagine ever making that much, I would do it in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on number of days/month of travel and if there is any extar vacation he is accumulating that you can perhaps use more frequently. and if you see any big expenses coming up that you can cover for: house? private school?

DH is basically using his accrued vacation to do this second consulting job. Instead of going on a summer vacation, he is using the time to do the consulting work.

DH normally earns about $250k per year. He has earned about $200k extra from this consulting role in the past 7 months. The consulting role will probably only last for another 1-2 years. DH thinks he should just milk it and save the money.

We have no large expenses coming up.

If it were permanent, entailed more than a week per month, and we had your husband's current salary I wouldn't think it was worth it. If my DH made $250/year we'd have no need of an extra $5-10 grand/month, other than to pile it into savings. But I might consider it on a short term basis.

I think it's more about whether your DH is burnt out by that travel, whether you are burnt out by frequent solo parenting, and whether the kids are feeling stressed out by his absence in their life. 1-2 years could be okay knowing that it would end. But it's not worth it if you feel frustrated at his not being around.

OP here. I do work full time with a flex schedule. DH has no student loans but I had about $50k left earlier this year. The first thing we did with the extra money is pay off my student loan balance so now the only debt we have is our mortgage. We have two children under age 5 at an excellent preschool with good extended care.

I don't think DH is burnt out by the extra work. I am. When he is home, we take turns with bath time, playing outside, running errands. When he is gone, I get strained. We have hired some help but it really isn't the same as DH being home.

As an engineer who's salary options pale in comparison on this, can you broadly describe the niche or industry your DH is in? Especially if you plan to have have him quit consulting in a few years so maybe there will be some work left on the table

[Anonymous]

I did it and loved the money. You would be surprised at how that much money smooths over many little worries.