Anonymous wrote:With two small children, I would not give up 100% remote, comfortable job that I liked with good coworkers, and 5 weeks (!!) PTO for $5-10k a year unless my financial straights were dire.
I also wouldn’t refer to myself as the “breadwinner” if I was making $15k more.
Honestly, you only have a leg to stand on if he makes like $35k and you make $50k. Then, yeah, you’re the primary breadwinner and $5-10k would make a big difference.
But if he’s making, let’s say, $85k to your $100k, then 1) stop calling yourself the breadwinner, you are both bringing in a substantial chunk of your HHI income 2) he would be crazy to give up those perks to go from $185k HHI to $190k or $195k 3) you can live on $185k! Adjust your spending and expectations. You’re in a fabulous spot, don’t rock the boat 4) if you really really want upward mobility YOU need to find a way to give up your fed perks and make more in the private sector. But I would advise against that.
+1 to all of this. 2 kids is a shock to the system. If you want an equal partner in taking care of the kids and everything else, you want DH to have this flexible job.