I am 45 and do not care about work any longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got laid off. Been working professionally for 25 years. Tired. Slow rolling any job applications. Hoping spouse can hold her job because we need her income.

If your wife isn't aware of this plan - what a jerk move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've met many W. European tourists, and they never mention what they do for living but always talk about their hobbies. I realized that their job is just means to support their lifestyle/hobbies and no more than that. We, here, can't aford to do the same, so we have to do a job we love and feel passionate about. I don’t earn much, but I’m fortunate to have an interesting job—something I’d probably do as a hobby anyway. Still, I’m only able to live comfortably because my husband is the main breadwinner, though he’s burned out. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably be stuck in a job I dislike, too.

Because the world is a group project, where Europe gets to ride the coattails of the hire performers who want an A on their report card (ie, the United States). The system only works because the US over performs and creates so much innovation to fuel the global economy.

You also have to look at the downside of being European. Most never own homes, which is pretty important to Americans, and many of their economies (like Greece in recent history) are in dire straits.

It would be nice for a few months tho!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of the opposite: I'm 51 with a 20-hours per week job that I really like, but as my kids get older, I've been thinking of looking for a job that requires more of me (and pays me better.) This thread has got me thinking that maybe scaling up is not the answer.

Don't do it. You'll just be miserable like the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

I mostly care about mine or at least think it is a net benefit to my life all things (including $) considered. But I work on NASA science stuff and pretty sure my job will cease to exist in the next several months. So that's cool.

I could do other stuff, but don't exactly need the money and don't really have the drive to hustle and start down a new path. But at least one of us needs a job. Spouse has a stable job that they mostly enjoy and would be on board for a break, but we both think I'd want to figure out something. Looking at opportunities abroad, but only vaguely because that is not simple either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of the opposite: I'm 51 with a 20-hours per week job that I really like, but as my kids get older, I've been thinking of looking for a job that requires more of me (and pays me better.) This thread has got me thinking that maybe scaling up is not the answer.

Curious. What do you do for 20 hours per week. I am recently retired and am looking for something like this. Just 20 hours. A light job. Don’t want retail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of the opposite: I'm 51 with a 20-hours per week job that I really like, but as my kids get older, I've been thinking of looking for a job that requires more of me (and pays me better.) This thread has got me thinking that maybe scaling up is not the answer.

Curious. What do you do for 20 hours per week. I am recently retired and am looking for something like this. Just 20 hours. A light job. Don’t want retail.

I'm a website editor.

[Anonymous]

The Sad part is the good rewarding jobs are not even available to 45. So you did the hard crappy work and now you give up just as it gets easy.

In America I noticed 21-40 is crap work for a lot then come 55 it is hold on for dear life as one gets older.

I would say 45 is the sweet spot. I would you bail them? When I was 45 I finally got my corner office. Staff to do the work, I just go to meeting with my cup of coffee and look important. I had a good run of 45-55 marking 350K to 400K just playing a role I would just read off the slides sometimes my staff made It was wonderful. Then 55 came and time for next 45 year old to take my job.

By 45 your worked 24 years to reach the VP/SVP/EVP level dont bail, that is crazy.

Or do my wife did call it quits earlier and be a SAHM. .Workig till 45 with kids and quiting is nuts. You missed the kids when really little for a job that you quit anyhow befored you made any big money. And that 45-55 year run is past the big childcare bills. And at 55 is not over, it gets shorter, some start up or company in a bind or smaller company will still hire you for a bit less pay and you might get another 5 years of pretty big money before 60 hits.

[Anonymous]

I'm sick of being owned.

[Anonymous]

Im 31 and work to live, that’s why im saving 55% of my net income (33% of my gross) to be “financially independent” by 45. I may keep working after 45 but at the very least might take a couple years off and enjoy life while I’m young. Might work a different job but not because I’ll need the money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Sad part is the good rewarding jobs are not even available to 45. So you did the hard crappy work and now you give up just as it gets easy.

In America I noticed 21-40 is crap work for a lot then come 55 it is hold on for dear life as one gets older.

I would say 45 is the sweet spot. I would you bail them? When I was 45 I finally got my corner office. Staff to do the work, I just go to meeting with my cup of coffee and look important. I had a good run of 45-55 marking 350K to 400K just playing a role I would just read off the slides sometimes my staff made It was wonderful. Then 55 came and time for next 45 year old to take my job.

By 45 your worked 24 years to reach the VP/SVP/EVP level dont bail, that is crazy.

Or do my wife did call it quits earlier and be a SAHM. .Workig till 45 with kids and quiting is nuts. You missed the kids when really little for a job that you quit anyhow befored you made any big money. And that 45-55 year run is past the big childcare bills. And at 55 is not over, it gets shorter, some start up or company in a bind or smaller company will still hire you for a bit less pay and you might get another 5 years of pretty big money before 60 hits.

Not OP, but for me, being a SAHM of kids who aren't school age yet would be really tough for me, and my job paid WAAAAY more than big childcare bills. Being a SAHM or part time mom once kids hit kinder sounds pretty perfect to me. Especially if you make decent money in your 30s and early 40s, have kids late enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got laid off. Been working professionally for 25 years. Tired. Slow rolling any job applications. Hoping spouse can hold her job because we need her income.

Dude. Not fair to your spouse. Downsize your lifestyle.

Why is it fair for women to slow roll applications, complain about work, long to be a SHP, but when a man does/says the same thing he’s an unfair jerk?

[Anonymous]

I’m 46. Hoping to hang on until 53-55, when I fully expect to be pushed out of the corporate workforce anyway, have planned financially accordingly, and can’t wait. I will never work a corporate job again.

[Anonymous]

Yep feel the same way (and I’m also in my 40s)… sick and tired of all of these changes at work… constant reorg, new orgs, new leaders… I am SO tired! Feel like I can’t complain though since I am fully remote, have a small team and money is decent… I guess I will ride it out for now and see if maybe something else comes along. But yes I do fantasize about part time easy work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of the opposite: I'm 51 with a 20-hours per week job that I really like, but as my kids get older, I've been thinking of looking for a job that requires more of me (and pays me better.) This thread has got me thinking that maybe scaling up is not the answer.

Curious. What do you do for 20 hours per week. I am recently retired and am looking for something like this. Just 20 hours. A light job. Don’t want retail.

I'm a website editor.

I did this for 6 years when my kids were in elementary. Best of both worlds - professional work but picked them up from school and played in the yard in the afternoons. Miss those days. I took a FT WAH job in 2018 and have been here ever since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got laid off. Been working professionally for 25 years. Tired. Slow rolling any job applications. Hoping spouse can hold her job because we need her income.

Dude. Not fair to your spouse. Downsize your lifestyle.

Why is it fair for women to slow roll applications, complain about work, long to be a SHP, but when a man does/says the same thing he’s an unfair jerk?

I don't think it is? He mentioned nothing about SHP?

In any of the cases, spouses need to discuss decisions together.