Reply to Debating whether to quit work at 50

Forum Index » Jobs and Careers

Reply to "Debating whether to quit work at 50"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m closing in on 50, two young teen kids, and am in the very fortunate position that we do not need my income. I’m trying to decide whether to step out of the workforce—including potentially keeping one toe in with some kind of minimal consulting—but mainly focusing on volunteering and other activities I find fulfilling. Right now I work about 75% time and am relatively low-earning, and while my colleagues are wonderful and the work is intellectually stimulating, it’s also very stressful. That’s the nature of the niche area I’m in so a new job wouldn’t have an impact there.

Even though I know that quitting my job will have no meaningful effect on our finances, it still feels pretty weird to make this change after almost 30 years in the workforce. DH is supportive of whatever I decide but wants to make sure this isn’t a grass-is-greener phenomenon.

I don’t really have friends IRL in this situation and feel awkward talking about it. I’d welcome input from anyone in the DCUM crowd who has considered this kind of early retirement (or whatever it should be called), whether you ultimately took the plunge or not. Any regrets? Things to think about ahead of time? Thanks!
[/quote]

I did not read the thread, OP, so this may be redundant.
DO NOT QUIT YOUR JOB.
Please. You will never work again. 
I quit my job, thinking, I'll jump right back in when my kids are in school.
I was over 50 when I started job hunting, and I got nowhere. My age, and that gap in my work history killed me.
I ended up going back to school and training for another profession, which I'm in now.
It was a terrible mistake to become a SAHM, and I regret it totally.
If you can work 50% of the time, that will be OK, but don't work much less than that.
When your kids are in college, and your nest is empty, you will want to go back to work, and you'll find doors slamming shut in your face.
BTW, I have two Ivy degrees, and years of experience. I never thought I'd have trouble finding a job because I've always found employment very quickly and easily.
Yes, the job market has changed, but I'm certain I would have been able to bounce back from a part-time job if I'd stayed in the work force.
You will be bored out of your mind at home, especially if you don't have nonworking friends.
I don't need the money, but I need to work for my sanity!!! And I love the work I do now. I'm not going to stop working until I'm 100![/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics