has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

On Friday I resigned from my job of 11 years. I held a very high paying position
(for my profession) working directly with a person I truly like. I feel very bad leaving him, it will be a huge change for him. We work at an intense pace and its exhausting mentally, but I always loved it.
However the overall management and culture of the business has changed in a way that I'm not comfortable with and I don't feel good about being a part of it. Plus I've hit that "glass ceiling".
I don't want to drive 100 miles a day and eat dinner by myself at 8:00 at night because DH ate already and is practically ready for bed.
I started a consulting business last year and I want to focus on that but it will be a while before its a full time job. So I'm taking a 33% cut in pay to work in a small low-key office where I will be able to do my job with my eyes closed.
So now my commute with be 6 minutes I'll be home by 5:00 at the latest and I'll have plenty of free time to work on my business.

Yet its bittersweet, I had dreams about my "old job" all night.

Has anyone else gone through this and did it work out the way you wanted it to?

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

I haven't done it yet, but think about it everyday. I think it's a matter of time. The pay cut will be hard, but it will be well worth it not to commute 1.5 hours each way, each day. I am jealous that you already made the move!

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

It wasn't a huge, huge pay-cut, but I did take a demotion with my current employer after my baby was born for this reason. I gave up a supervisory role because I wanted my life back again. Best decision I ever made. And I would do it again if I needed to.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

I did that, took a pay cut that I wasn't happy with at the time but we could still pay our bills. I worked at a large company, hit the ceiling, my boss was an abusive *******, the company laid people off every year, I worked days, and nights and weekends sometimes too for IT support.

We planned on buying a house in Suffolk so I took a job at a small company in Hauppauge and commuted from Long Beach. The commute was worse at first but once we closed on our house, my commute is now 7 miles.

2 years later, I make more than at the old job, only work normal hours, and the only thing that's stressful is the usual office b.s. of different personalities clashing. I've come to realize in the past few years that quality of life is more important than career advancement to me. I do value my job and my employer but it's what I get out of it that matters, and I'm happy with my life.

I know it can be scary Kelly, but I know where you're at too. I wish you success and happiness.

Message edited 10/18/2009 5:12:49 PM.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

Two years ago I left a great job at a great company making great money so that I could cut my commute from 4 hours/per day to 4 minutes/day. Unfortunately that came with a big pay cut. I do think about my old job and miss it sometimes. BUT I would do it again in a second. I actually SEE my husband and son every day now!

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

Went from FT to PT after I had DS. It was too stressful for everyone to get DS from daycare on time, etc.. Did not make sense financially.

I actually make about the same $$ just to work in another place and having private clients.

SAHM during the week taking care of DS and the house. Work on weekends only when business is the busiest for me.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

I did the same thing 5 years ago when my son turned one. I was the primary "breadwinner" with a very high paying salary but I was coming home at night too late, my DH got all the time with my son and I was constantly jealous of that! I did not, however, love my boss. He was very controlling and while I loved my job, I did not like being in the office. We struggle now a little bit more and we have had to make major lifestyle changes (less overseas travel, change of car, home, etc.) but I have thoroughly enjoy the time I spend at home with the kids (we now have 3 and there is no way that would have happened at my previous position). I will however say that I am thinking of going back to work. I am in no hurry and would like to be able to stay home another year while my youngest is still a baby but after that I am definitely looking forward to getting back into the workforce. Hopefully able to find a position that is family-friendly. Good luck with your decision! It's not an easy one.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

I dont think you can put a price on quality of life.

If you can afford to do and know you will be happier go for it

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

Thank you all for the replies
They really helped!
My last day at my current job is October 30, after 11 years it is SO weird leaving.
I'm pretty happy about my choice, I know its the right move.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

Good for you!

I think quality of life is more important that cash in the bank.

As long as you can pay your bills, then all is good!

enjoy your new "found" time!

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

Ditto to what Lisa said...as long as you can afford to take the cut...

What you get back not spending all that time commuting never mind less aggrevation - it's priceless!!

Good luck with your new job!!!

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

I haven't yet, but I plan to. And my pay cut will likely be more than 6 figures - at least starting out.

My job is - literally - going to kill me if I don't get out soon. The stress is often unbearable, and I'm not putting my health in jeopardy for a prestigious job. Even if that weren't the case, though, I simply am not happy doing what I am doing now.

In another year or so, we will be packing our bags for greener pastures (literally) and I will go back to pursuing what I love most.

For me (and this may not be applicable to the OP's situation), life is about the journey, not a destination. I hate what I do and I refuse to keep doing it for the next 20 years so I can have time for my passion "when I retire" or "when I've saved enough" or "when I've done my time." Screw that. Tomorrow may never come, so I'm changing my life to do something I love now and to make a living doing it.

You cannot put a price on happiness and you cannot underestimate the importance of being happy in this life.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

If I continued working in Manhattan, I could be making about $25k more. But, now I work 15 min from home and will be able to see my DS at lunchtime if I want, and his daycare is a few min from my office. That's more impirtant to me. I couldn't go back to the city now altho some days I do miss it. But now I am able to drive to work, see my family and get home at a decent hour!

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

I did, I quit my job a few weeks ago because I couldn't let go of the stress anymore it was so terrible.

Message edited 11/7/2009 8:18:28 PM.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

I did years ago as well. Stopped commuting to the city and started working at a firm on LI. I took a $21K pay cut, but it still was an okay salary (my boss gave me a 10K increase 3 months later). I went from leaving my house at 7AM and getting home at 8PM, to leaving my house at 8:30AM and getting home at 5PM with having a 10 minute commute. I figured I wanted kids and needed to get some sort of quality of life going. The place I went to was horrible, but then I found my current job 6 months later (got another pay raise) and have never been happier at a job.

Good luck, change is scary, but I am sure you will be very happy with your decision.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

Yes, I went from working f/t at a stressful job for a very large company that included international travel, to working p/t at a very relaxed, small company. I am being paid a great rate, but at 2-3 days a week compared with 5 days a week it is a big cut. Its totally worth it to me to have that extra time to spend with my son. When my mom passed away I had to re-evaluate my priorities, to live with no regrets, and working f/t was just not as important to me as spending quality time with my family.
Congrats!

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

YES and you are doing the right thing so congratulations.... money is nice but happiness matters MORE! I left a higher paying stressful job, used to travel all the time and work 12 hour days at the minimum. I made a switch to another job BUT i'm working regular 8 hour days, get more vacation time and less stress. I do get paid less but I am a lot happier. GOOD LUCK!

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

Well, it wasn't really taking a pay cut. But when I got my masters - I could have looked for a higher paying job like everyone else did. Something in Manhattan with a hellish commute and pretty business suits! But instead, I took a job at lower pay with the government and I love it! I feel like I truly "work to live not live to work"!

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

all of the replies have been awesome, I truly appreciate it!
Congrats to those of you that have already made the move, and to Kara GOOD LUCK! You know I'm passionate about living a "simple", eco-friendly life and even though I drive a hybrid, the long commute has always caused a confilct in my mind. When we moved this far east it was my intention to leave that position sooner. The fact that I enjoy and respect my boss so much made it too easy to stay.
I am hardly even the same person I was when I started there, I was a young struggling, single mom of a small child. I didn't even know my DH yet. Things are so different now and so much of what I learned from my boss has shaped me and allowed me to consult others in my field.
Its really like a chapter of my life ending, its exciting and a tiny-bit sad.
For those of you that are thinking about it, I have to say go for it! My decision was a few years in the making.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

Not yet, but I am looking for work in my old field and I will very likely take a pay cut. I could have gone back to my old job (following maternity leave), but it involved a long commute and long hours. I can't see doing that with a child. DH commutes to the city also, and works long hours (pluys makes more money than I ever would in my field). So I am hoping for something closer to home and at a lower level, which is fine. I really achieved all I wanted in my field for now, and I think I'd be much happier having extra time with DS.

I also figure if I am not commuting so far, there is some savings actually, so the paycut will be a bit smaller than it appears. And I might be able to save a bit more doing things myself rather than paying people to do them for me because I work long hours.

Congratulations to you for making a bold move, and good luck! You have to do what makes you happy and live your life.

Message edited 10/28/2009 2:58:00 PM.

Re: has anyone taken a huge pay cut for a much better quality of life?

I wish I had the guts to do that. I think about it all the time.