Commute vs Pay Cut

[NewtonHawk11]

I may have an interesting dilemma on my hands.

I pretty much got offered a job recently to do something a bit different in the financial field involving higher education. The job is close to home, like 5 minutes close, offers flexible work/life balance and some other pretty good benefits in PTO, holidays and the like. However it’s going to be about a 20% pay cut from my current job which I’m just not feeling and it’s about a 40 mile/35 minute drive to and from each day.

Do I take a leap of faith and do something a bit different in a position created for me with a cut in salary or continue to do the longer commute at a job that I don’t love coming to daily, doesn’t offer a great work/life balance like they say they do and just deal with the stuff that comes with it?

After difference in pay, cheaper benefits and less gas/car maintenance, I would still be shorting myself about a total of 5% in overall compensation but being home and saving parts of my day and attending more of my kids stuff and not being late a lot may be worth it.

[KUTradition]

live to work, or work to live

[sdoyel]

20% is a big cut tho…

[KUTradition]

20% is a big cut tho…

at face value, sure

but how much is happiness and more time with family worth?

[zsn]

5% overall cut at the end is not too bad. Maybe you can talk them into a salary that is 15% cut rather than 20% ….. but I’m with Trad overall. Hopefully you will get caught up in a few years with the annual raises

[Cascadia]

5% overall cut at the end is not too bad. Maybe you can talk them into a salary that is 15% cut rather than 20% ….. but I’m with Trad overall. Hopefully you will get caught up in a few years with the annual raises

This would be my take as well.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

I feel you answered your conundrum right here....

"The job is close to home, like 5 minutes close, offers flexible work/life balance and some other pretty good benefits in PTO, holidays and the like".

"or continue to do the longer commute at a job that I don’t love coming to daily, doesn’t offer a great work/life balance like they say they do and just deal with the stuff that comes with it"?

"but being home and saving parts of my day and attending more of my kids stuff and not being late a lot may be worth it".


My worthless advice is.....
As long as you can still live comfortably (financially) on what would basically amount to a 5% decrease in salary - for me it would be a no-brainer.
My question is why you chose the title of the thread. Seems it's a lot more than just the commute vs. the pay cut.

[pdub]

Almost seven years ago I took a 50 percent paycut for a better work life balance which included shaving almost two hours off my daily commute.

Dont regret it one bit.

[jhawks99]

Unless your expenses demand, go with the job you like most.

[KUTradition]

not that it’s any of our business, Newton, but the most important question has yet to be raised…what does your better half think?

[shindig]

Not dealing with the commute would be a big bonus to me. Have you asked your wife if she can get a second job to make up the difference?...

[jfish26]

Unless your expenses demand, go with the job you like most.

I tend to think that, long term, you will make the most money AND be the happiest doing the thing(s) you like that you are best at. Pieces fall into place from there.

[NewtonHawk11]

not that it’s any of our business, Newton, but the most important question has yet to be raised…what does your better half think?

Not the biggest fan of the pay cut at face value. But understands other things like being close to home, cheaper benefits and a bit more vacation/time off days matter.

Having 3 kids at home is the main proponent of me even thinking about this. I leave by 7am and home by 6pm. It’s not the best as they have practices, dance class, etc. Plus, I coach some of that, so I have to be there for a lot of it.

I’m in a customer facing role primarily, so I have to be available from 8-5 M-F. This job would be 8-5 but it’s more of a non-facing role and if it’s slow, free reign to go home or work from home here and there.

[KUTradition]

not that it’s any of our business, Newton, but the most important question has yet to be raised…what does your better half think?

Not the biggest fan of the pay cut at face value. But understands other things like being close to home, cheaper benefits and a bit more vacation/time off days matter.

Having 3 kids at home is the main proponent of me even thinking about this. I leave by 7am and home by 6pm. It’s not the best as they have practices, dance class, etc. Plus, I coach some of that, so I have to be there for a lot of it.

I’m in a customer facing role primarily, so I have to be available from 8-5 M-F. This job would be 8-5 but it’s more of a non-facing role and if it’s slow, free reign to go home or work from home here and there.

ugh…i’m sorry

dealing with customers can be the absolute worst

[CrimsonNBlue]

Getting rid of a commute had a really positive impact on me. But, it didn't come with a pay cut. Pay is also really important, but a 5% decrease MIGHT be a fair trade for the benefits of the other job.

Something I would also look at is upward mobility at each, but perhaps this is the first of a few different moves.

[Mjl]

Unless your expenses demand, go with the job you like most.

I tend to think that, long term, you will make the most money AND be the happiest doing the thing(s) you like that you are best at. Pieces fall into place from there.

Yeah, that's been my experience as well.

[jfish26]

Unless your expenses demand, go with the job you like most.

I tend to think that, long term, you will make the most money AND be the happiest doing the thing(s) you like that you are best at. Pieces fall into place from there.

Yeah, that's been my experience as well.

One of the (some-to-many) pieces of advice I have that come from doing something different!

[CrimsonNBlue]

My experience as well, but it comes from such a privileged context--good to recognize that privilege and good fortune, and makes it harder to give good advice. 20% paycut is a complete nonstarter for the majority of workers.

[Mjl]

My experience as well, but it comes from such a privileged context--good to recognize that privilege and good fortune, and makes it harder to give good advice. 20% paycut is a complete nonstarter for the majority of workers.

Totally, if you're supporting a family and living paycheck to paycheck you can't absorb a paycut like that.

[jfish26]

My experience as well, but it comes from such a privileged context--good to recognize that privilege and good fortune, and makes it harder to give good advice. 20% paycut is a complete nonstarter for the majority of workers.

True on all counts.

But certainly influences how you parent. I made most of my formative choices out of financial necessity, which is a huge influence in how I plan my own career and steer my kids - want them to have the financial and mental/emotional/etc. freedom to do what they like and are good at, even should that be (temporarily or permanently) not the most lucrative option on the table.

And I'm not talking about them being on the payroll, god no. But avoiding them being in crushing debt in their 20s? Yes.