OT- Would you take a pay cut for a job you really want?

[plantlvr]

Went on a job interview yesterday and really liked the nursery, the people and the job duties. Unfortunatly due to the economy the owner is only willing to pay 3 to 4 dollars less an hour than I currently make. He even said if this was 2006 he would match my current pay in a hearbeat.
I know I would love to work there and am really beginning to loath my current job. My gut says to go for it but am still concerned about the pay reduction.
Need advice please

 

[Iowa Gal]

Yes..yes..yes... If you can cut a few extras out of your monthly budget to meet the decrease it can be so worth it. I went though a time of working at a job I hated and really didn't like the person I had become because of it. I hope you can make it work as being happy with your job makes life so much better

 

[HarmonyPB]

Absolutely! I firmly believe that if you hate your job you should move on. What is the point in waking up everday dreading having to go to work? You should be in a happy place, not forcing yourself to make a paycheck. I mean, if you have the choice of course. I am thinking about taking a paycut to do something I've always wanted to do. Not sure that I'll love it, in fact I might hate it, but I'd rather do it before it's too late than regret not doing it for the rest of my life!

Best wishes in whatever you end up doing Plantlvr! Gotta take care of you!

 

[Kimmy]

I say go for it, the economy could still rebound and eventually you could work your way back up to what you were previously making. Life is too short to stay in a job you hate.

 

[Morandir835]

Ms. Plantlvr all comes down to if you can afford to take the paycut. If you can, then by all means take it. If not, then you'll have to find a way to cover what you're losing, which could mean another job...

 

[keelalagirl55]

+1 to every reply!

As long as it doesn't put you into major financial hardship....absolutely! And completely agree with Kimmy....you never know what's in store right around the corner. If you can swing it.....take it!!!

He sounds like he appreciates your knowledge and skills.....that is a good sign for a pleasant working environment...Yay!

 

[K9Luvr]

Absolutely take the job! Loving what you do trumps hating what you do. You can learn which corners you can cut, what you can live without. Having gone from a high paying job, to being unemployed several times over the last 5 years, has taught me what I really need, versus what I really want. I love my current job, would stay even if they needed to cut my salary. You can do it, so go for it. Good luck and congratulations.

 

[plantlvr]

Thank everyone, appreciate all the advice and well wishes

 

[SnowDragon]

That a tough one Plant, life is short be happy. The biggest issue as I see it, after awhile a job is a job is a job. Sometimes the crew chemistry is great and work is enjoyable. Other times a few staff changes and work becomes grueling to the point of torture.

You have a lot of years with the company you are with, a company that can absorb recessions. If there is a slow down at the nursery naturally the owner is going to take into consideration who is on the bottom of the proverbial totem pole when it comes to seniority. Who knows what could happen with an independently owned nursery, one day the owner may just sell and retire?

Small independents tend to lean on their employees, "Well it's a slow year, with the economy being bad etc, so no bonuses, and we are changing our benefits carrier so your co-pays etc. will be going up." whereas a large national simply sheds it's workforce and senior staffers still receive their steady pay raises, bennies, and paid vacations.

I'm sure even the taste testor at Dreyer's Ice Cream dreads going to work every now and then.

Life is a gamble, follow your heart and your instincts...whatever decision you make will be the right one. No regrets.

I know....thanks for nothing....hahaha....however it works out it will be for the best.

 

[warlike36]

Yes, yes, and YES !! If you feel you can afford it by all means......BE HAPPY !!

 

[thejager]

When i was younger i was given good advice, and i think it still holds true today.

There are 3 major parts of your life, and to be as happy as possible you try to maximize your happiness in each one of them.

24hrs in a day

8hrs - sleeping ...so buy a GREAT mattress and sheets and pillows...it's a 1/3 of your life so dont make it unhappy

8hrs - work ... so find a job you ENJOY going to, sure everyone hates their job from time to time, but if you arent mad to go to work every day then you are maximizing another 1/3 of your life. Even if it is at times for lesser pay (im included in that), as money can buy you lots of stuff, but if you hate earning it then you are never going to truly be able to enjoy any of it.

8hrs - free time, family, hobbies ... find something outside of work and sleep that you truly love and enjoy and embrace it...for some it is family and children and wives and husbands...others pets...exercise...sports... music (playing or listen)...others still movies and tv...computers...the list is endless... and you dont have to have just one!...but whatever your other 8hrs are filled with...dont let them slip away doing things that DONT matter to you... dont sit in front of the TV out of laziness...dont go to bars and drink because you are bored... it's fine to do either...just make sure you WANT to do it...and do it all out!

(a sub category to all of this is food...eat what you enjoy, but remember that if all you enjoy are things that are bad for you..then you will have to spend some of that 'free time" making up for all the bad stuff you ate!)

If you can TRY to do these things, your whole life will become happy...not just bits and pieces...

 

[keyzygirl]

I always make a list of pros and cons.That way if you decide to take the job you feel good about your choice. Just listen to your heart and write it down.

 

[Jbags]

Like they say...find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day of your life.

 

[Dieseler]

I like what Snowdragon said and it makes a whole lot of sense.

 

[Morandir835]

He has a bad habit of doing that Dieseler sir....

 

[incantius]

i took a MAJOR pay cut for the job i'm at now (like 1/3 of my pay cut...) however even though i do have to put in some long hours at times there's no way i would ever go back to the job i had before. the recession hit the company here pretty hard but they have always put the employees first (management, etc took pay cuts to prevent some layoffs, etc). if you're in a job that you love even for less pay you'll be better off in my experience. i know that i'll be taken good care of here and that goes a LONG way.

 

[krazie_Kid]

Well, for me to answer this, I have to say a little thing first.

I grew up in a poor house, my family had to not buy clothes, to buy me baby clothes, or they did not buy something to afford to buy me christmas presents. I used to be jealous of other kids that had the newest system, the newest games, all that.

Now giving you that little insite of my growing up life, and how I look at life, I give you these words of advise. "Make sure you have enough money to pay bills, and a little extra to have fun with"

If you can have extra money from this job to have fun once a month, or even once a week, and not fun as in "Spend 500 bucks on dinner, movie and whatever else" But like an extra 50 bucks for you and whoever you decide to take out with you, friend, loved one, whoever Always try to have fun in life, as everyone stated, life is too short.

P.S. I did not give the insite for sympathy, or to "troll" and get people to feel bad for me, cause I know someone is going to say that I did. I did it to show you that even to someone in my position (And still am in a semi bad money position) that money means little to being happy.

 

[keyzygirl]

KK,Dont worry about it.I have been very poor and fairly wealthy and now Im ok but have alot of medical debt.Some of the best times in my life were when we were poor and struggling because we appreciated whatever we had and we shared and enjoyed every single thing that we did have. Life is what you make of it.

 

[Nana2B]

Like everyone has been saying if you can afford it do it! Assuming a 40 hour work week at $120-$160 less than you make now can you justify it? If you can I say don't walk RUN to happier days & stress less evenings. ...that's my little opinion. Good luck Plantlvr

 

[waylonjessi4ever]

heck yes ....and so would hubby ! makes it alot easier to get out of bed for a job you dont hate .Dont have to love it but you have to want to at least not commit harey carey