mattyg1086 Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I am an electrician i currently work monday to thursday nights on a site for 35-40k per year i have a wife and two young girls my wife work part time as a paramedic so I cover the majority of the bills however my wife and I are tired of my shift work. I have one maybe two interviews lined up for day jobs one is similar money and static and one is 30k but I get a van so travel is free. So all that out the way how do you go about deciding what to do for the best I'd like to be home in the evenings cuddled up to my daughters but at the moment the bills are covered nicely and I don't have to work weekends for extra money however I am missing out so I am at a loss as to what to do any advice or personal experience is very welcome Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 You only pass this way once - take the family option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Bit of a no brainer really; similar money ( with or without a van ) to get off nights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Believe me, family comes first every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Having a young daughter I know what I'd choose. I do private work on Saturdays and the odd evening but make sure I'm always Back to give her a kiss and say goodnight. You will never get those years of their lives back no matter how much you earn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Agree with all the above.. Get your evenings back and spend time with your family bud.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 For my money, just do it. I was the technical manager for an engineering company but the bottom fell out of our main market (coal mining) and as the highest wager earner, I was the first to go. It gave me no pleasure to find out later that the owner admitted that he'd got rid of the wrong bloke. Meanwhile, a sales position which also meant I was away for many nights of the week went the same way due to the, then, recession with our customers closing down one after the other. I'd found other work with a massive pay cut, no car, no phone bill paid but was home every evening. Then the first company was sold and the buyers came after me. They knew of a market for the products as they were already selling their existing products there. Bigger salary with the perks but away a lot again and frequent trips to South Africa. But I'd already been there done that in the RAF. The best (and possibly the quickest) decision I've ever made was to stay put. Chief Range Warden on an MoD range, built a clay pigeon range and was qualified as conducting officer. Didn't go to work every day but went out to play. Happy me, happy wife and happy family - happy days. Do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 You only pass this way once - take the family option. +1 Believe me, family comes first every time. +1 Make the most of your daughters while they are still young. Although money is important, quality time with your family is much more important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djrwood Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Last year I left the company I loved as had enough of living away in the week, particularly with a baby boy at home. The first 18 months of his life went by so quick and I only got to see it 3nights of the week. I managed to get a decent job for a regional based firm and did so on the understanding I was changing firms to sort my work life balance. Theres no complaints when I leave at five or just before and I now have tea at home with the wife and boy every night. I miss parts of the living away lifestyle but on the whole don't think you can beat living at home. I've been offered several jobs since as my name is now on a few agencies when looking to move previously, some for 65k+ a year, but all involve working living away and weekend working. Never say never, but its not for me for the next few years. I'll wait till the babies are teens and don't want anything to do with me before I go chasing it again! As long as you can afford to do what you want to do, get yourself on days, you won't regret it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbob Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I agree with all the comments above. Youngens need time and love. I have passed over better pay so I can get home at a good time to see my 3yr old before she goes bed. As long as you can pay the bills now I'd spend time with the family before they grow up to soon and they will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyg1086 Posted August 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I think you are all right and I'm of the same opinion now. I just worry about money as I'm the main wage earner in the house and I never want to be in the position I was in a few years ago when we first got married and didn't have a pot to **** in but she said she doesn't mind me working g weekends aswell to make the money up as long as I'm home in the evenings. So that's settled my mind then. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I used to work away a lot, i would go away whenever i was asked for weeks on end, working extra shift patterns and the such, we had the sports cars, 3 week holidays in the Maldives, big wedding and never wanted for anything. I said i would do it right up until i had a family. As soon as we had a baby i knocked most of it on the head (i did do a few weeks away here and there to be honest) Why did i knock it on the head? My old man worked away, along with shift patterns that were all over the shop when he was back. I had our first 'family' Christmas at the age of 25 (my old man had retired that year, and had been away or on shift every year before). My old dear died a year later - we only ever had 1 family Christmas meal together that wasn't a week or so early (i think we managed to have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve once or twice) I remember him coming in at 2 in the morning and popping his head in the bedroom door and asking me if i had a good day (i used to pretend to be asleep on the few occasions i heard him come in) he would then have a conversation (with himself) about how school was and the like. He would do the same if he was off early in the morning. I vowed i would never be caught out the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Give up chasing money, you cannot earn enough money honestly or by working for it.......the government will see to that! Do what makes you happy, enjoy your life and your family, every day you are living your life you can't get it back!.......Remember living life is not a rehearsal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pork chop Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 more to life than money and once your kids have grown up you can't get it back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I don't work weekends but am normally away 1-3 nights a week. A rare week may see me away mon-fri. I don't do it through choice but in my area of knowledge, all the jobs are Thames Valley based. It allows my wife to work full time school hours and not have to use before or after school clubs but i do miss them. Another mate can be away 2-3 weeks at a time in the paper industry. It's all he knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Money means little , as long as you have enough to live on nothing else really matters. I deeply regret working shifts and long hours when my kids were younger , I wish that id spent every spare second with them and their mom , you only get one chance , do it right would be my advice. I work with a guy that cant stand to look at pictures of his kids when they were younger , it reminds him of how much he lost by working too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 As an alternative option. I left home pursued the salary and never looked back. Lived a simply amazing life. Still the most important thing in life is your children but they will leave home and do there own thing too. What is right for one is unlikely to be right for another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I'll disagree with most on here. During the school week the children are at school, doing prep, sports, or with friends. As they get older then school and school activities takes up more and more time. I rarely see my children during the school week and i don't think that has harmed them or me. I am now more precious about my weekends than I used to be. Whilst money isn't everything it's important to have enough, and only you know how much is enough. Not having 'enough' is miserable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I am an electrician i currently work monday to thursday nights on a site for 35-40k per year i have a wife and two young girls my wife work part time as a paramedic so I cover the majority of the bills however my wife and I are tired of my shift work. I have one maybe two interviews lined up for day jobs one is similar money and static and one is 30k but I get a van so travel is free. So all that out the way how do you go about deciding what to do for the best I'd like to be home in the evenings cuddled up to my daughters but at the moment the bills are covered nicely and I don't have to work weekends for extra money however I am missing out so I am at a loss as to what to do any advice or personal experience is very welcome Thanks you have answered your own question good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkAYA Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Can't live your life on regrets, would you regret it if you didn't take the opportunity 6months down the line?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Food on the table? A roof over your head? And most importantly time with the ones you love It's all a man needs, Need and want are two totally different things mate, I know lads who have to do the overtime just to keep up payments on the stuff they wanted, not stuff they needed, Keeping up with the jones's , nah not for me the Jones' can keep it, Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy bingo Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 follow your heart not your wallet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabhui Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Evenings with your family...no amount of money can buy that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyg1086 Posted August 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 I have no debts other than the mortgage. I don't own a flash car it's a 2007 vectra that I have crashed I'm looking to get a tucson soon but that is going to be free/very very cheap I'm not one to keep up with the jones's until the vectra I've always had old bangers just want to provide for the wife and kids. But on balance 30k a year and saving a load of money on diesel driving to work hopefully I won't be any worse off or ill just do a bit of overtime to make it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisThePelvis Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Great advice from everyone, when my first son was born we moved back to UK as soon as possible (after a year) having earned silly money in low tax territory I took a huge gamble and quit my job at the start of 2008 crash and starting doing consulting and then working for myself, money has been comparatively tight for the last few years BUT spending time with my wife and two boys as they grow up was priceless. Now the boys are older (9 and 5) I am back on treadmill again and have found the perfect job which I will enjoy but I can work from home 2 days per week, you can't put a price family and you can't buy time or health, once the bills are covered everything else is just background noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.