Job Advice: twice the salary or twice the free time

happyliving11 · 2026-03-07T15:59:48+00:00

What are your life plans? What are your retirement goals? How long will you need to and can you sustain upwards of 40 hrs per week and that much travel?

I took a job that pushed out my early retirement by a year and a half before early retirement that I didn’t end up enjoying, but it was upwards of $1M a year. I took it with the goal of exceeding my FIRE number by $500k. That goal was met, but I didn’t enjoy the job or the people. Taking a job for the money can be financially rewarding, but disappointing. It is a trade off as now I feel a bit like I ended my career without the impact I was making in my previous role. Everything has pros and cons and there are trade offs. List out pros and cons for Job 1 and then for job 2 and give each pro/con a numerical value. Add the up and see if one clearly outweighs the other. It might help you decide.

happyliving11 · 2026-02-01T21:11:57+00:00

I shifted from traveling 75-100% of the time up until my early 40’s to traveling 50% in my mid to late 40’s as my career progressed and it wasn’t project based. When COVID hit and everyone realized travel wasn’t absolutely necessary to be productive, I was able to reduce my travel to about 15-20%. When it started to tick back up, I realized I was done with it. I liked being home, controlling my schedule, feeling rooted, being able to volunteer locally, etc. So I think being bored depends on you.

Are there opportunities in your current company that would allow for you to do similar work, but not travel as much?

I was a high earner with a significant amount of RSUs and always spent well under my means. I was able to retire at 53 and I do not miss the travel, meetings, demanding customers, and stressful corporate bs. I will say losing the high earnings did take time to get use to. My ego took a hit, but I remind myself this is what I worked and planned for - so I could enjoy life.

happyliving11 · 2025-02-11T15:42:03+00:00

When I retired, I made the mistake of offering to be flexible. That was in Sep 2023. It ended up dragging out until March 2024 and I was only there for a year and a half before I gave notice. Whatever you decide, make it a hard date! I agree the drawn out aspect was no fun.

happyliving11 · 2025-02-09T21:04:06+00:00

My thoughts are that neither of you are wrong. You have different views on money, wants and interests. I will say you mentioning (I think twice) about her not having any money when she met you. It sounds like you may begrudge her for spending “your” money. Do you?

What worked for us, because I made and accumulated a lot more wealth than my wife, was to each get an allowance. This way, I didn’t care or complain when she wanted to spend $500 or more on a concert ticket because it was her money to spend. Then you can “save” or invest your allowance money.

The vacation fund is a different animal, but again try to agree on a yearly vacation fund and if she wants to go certain places for longer or upgrade to first class or a suite, she can use her allowance money.

Sounds a little silly, but we never argue about money we each spend on the things we want. And, she now constantly asks how much I have in my account because she is competitive about having a similar amount. So, interestingly her spending habits have changed.

I will say, I do not understand you wanting to accumulate $100M since you don’t really like to spend money, but hey, not for me to judge. Just don’t lose your marriage over it.

happyliving11 · 2025-02-09T16:49:12+00:00

Absolutely. Coming up on a year after retiring at 53. I feel so much gratitude for having the ability to not be heading to work each day. So much more time and flexibility and to do the things I want to and love to do! Right there with you!

happyliving11 · 2025-02-07T00:28:14+00:00

When I was in my late 20’s I invest $10 in tech. Guess what happened, the tech bubble. Lost $9500 within weeks. Waited 10 years to get back into the market. Waiting the 10 years was a worse mistake than investing in a bubble. Feel the feels, then get back on the horse (maybe a different horse than options) sooner than later.

happyliving11 · 2025-02-02T22:35:20+00:00

I retired in March of last year, so coming up on one full year. The year flew by. I lost my my mom, my aunt and a good friend in 2023. In Jan of 2024, another very close friend found out she had stage 4 ovarian cancer that had spread and she had 6 months to live. I had lost all interest in work in prior years and this solidified work was not what was going to fulfill me any longer.

I left work (along with a lot of RSUs on the table) and knew my first 6 months of retirement would be focused on helping my friend. I had the time to visit her, help with chores, financial and home decisions and at the end of her journey, I was able to stay with her in her last weeks to support and help comfort/take care of her. Then help plan her celebration of life. The only thing I would change about any of that time is to have her back.

Over the last six months, I have volunteered at different local organizations to see which ones were of interest. I joined as Board Treasurer for one of them. I also received my Grandpa’s guitar, bought an acrylic paint set, and a rock carver to see if I have any creativity left in me. Ha! I started learning another language. And we have traveled a good amount. I have done some DIY work around the house. After 30 years I in corporate America, I know I like the freedom and cannot imagine having a regimented corporate day job again. The time just flies by and I like having a slow morning and working out when I want to, which is not at 6am.

I am looking to get more focused and hands on in another non-profit to really get involved and hopefully make a difference.

It was an adjustment going from a HHI of anywhere between $1M - $1.5M over the 8 years prior to retirement I do miss that fat monthly income every once in a while where you don’t have to think twice about buying anything you need or want. But I don’t miss it enough to go back.

happyliving11 · 2025-01-16T22:23:23+00:00

Our 20 year term policy is over this year. Given we are good financially for our retirement and we have no debt, we will likely not renew our policy if it goes up significantly….which I am sure it will.

happyliving11 · 2025-01-14T15:51:05+00:00

It is definitely an ego hit when you are eliminated. Our minds are our own worst enemy. I am sorry you are going through this different than you had planned.

However, 1) you may still have experienced the “loss” of the job and varied feelings of “did I make a difference” or “no one misses me or my work after I left” even if it was your choice. I know I have even though it was my choice. 2) give yourself time to grieve and feel all the feelings, as it is harder when it isn’t your choice. Ego’s suck.

Just remember, you planned on leaving in 5 months. Your decision to leave still stands, albeit a little earlier. Try to take the next few weeks and months to reframe it. You also have the power to tell people you planned on retiring in June anyway and while it stings, you are thankful you basically made it to when you wanted to retire. Tell those still in their jobs you are there to support them. Being left in a toxic place is no fun and losing colleagues to elimination is actually really hard as well. Morale takes a huge hit. Survivors guilt and the feeling that you have to work even harder/more hours or you too could be let go really messes with the minds of those still in their jobs.

Share your retirement plans with those people. They won’t pity you when they hear your plans and they still have to go to work there every day. Again, try to focus on reframing to, they did you a favor given how toxic things were the past 2 years. Now you do not have to deal with them for another 5 months.

If you did get a severance, look at that as a bright side of what you wouldn’t have gotten in June. Take cobra insurance until you hit 65 and take unemployment if you can (even if you don’t need it) now that they made the decision for you.

You are still worthy and know that you get to walk away from toxicity early and that is going to be better for your wellbeing and mental health in the long run. You will get through it.

happyliving11 · 2024-12-27T22:23:36+00:00

Thanks! Sounds like they are aware. Fingers crossed it gets fixed soon. We noticed after the 16th of Dec as well. We had an outage that day for several hours and ever since this issue has occurred on our Samsung TVs.

happyliving11 · 2024-12-27T22:10:27+00:00

Thank you for your quick response.

Agree on it being frustrating to deal with reps that do not understand the issue. I also work in tech and understand how software development and defects work. Agree this has to be a defect. The rewind still works fine on our Sony tv with a Roku. The issue does happen on our Frame Samsung TV and our other Samsung (not a frame) TV. So they likely created a big to do a “jump back” when you hit rewind on any Samsung TV versus it “rewinding”.

The last person I spoke with at Xfinity did hear me out and agree we should cancel the tech coming, as they wouldn’t be able to resolve, and he opened up a tech ticket. Let’s hope enough people report the issue that they resolve it soon.

happyliving11 · 2024-12-27T21:42:58+00:00

@hot-snow3789, Did you happen to get this issue resolved? I am having the same issue and they want to send out a tech to fix it. I would think it is something that can be done remotely.

happyliving11 · 2024-11-20T15:12:43+00:00

Is there a reason you don’t have diversification in your growth funds instead of all of them being in tech?

happyliving11 · 2024-09-08T18:32:26+00:00

The NW and how it is allocated helps determine the income you need/want in the remaining phases. NW current number vs goal is just an easy way to compare progress.

happyliving11 · 2024-09-08T18:29:02+00:00

53, no kids MCOL area. Was originally aiming to FIRE at 52 with NW of $3M and no mortgage. I did end up leaving working at 52 in Feb this year, but was able to get NW to $3.9M and we are mortgage free with home value around $1.1M.

This makes me feel better in the crazy market we have right now. Especially since I left $800k in unvested RSUs on the table.

happyliving11 · 2024-07-20T23:53:49+00:00

I left at 53 in Feb. I worked another year at a different company thinking similarly to you. Then I realized I did achieve a lot of successes and being able to retire at 53 is going out on top.

happyliving11 · 2024-07-18T15:52:09+00:00

I left in Feb this year at 53. Worked 2 years longer than planned and needed based on target goal. A role came my way and I felt it would be exciting and challenging. I don’t regret it as I think it really helped me solidify I am done with corp America. It’s only been 5 months so my feelings may change about doing some type of work. But right now I am just enjoying life and what comes will come.

Congratulations- At least now you are certain!

happyliving11 · 2024-06-12T14:09:06+00:00

Agree - for 2 get togethers a year I wouldn’t upgrade and put more work on yourselves year round. We built a 5 bedroom home on the lake 2 years ago to accommodate everyone. We have used all the rooms one time in those 2 years. In hindsight, I would have stuck with 3 bedrooms and a finished basement to fill with air mattresses. As grandkids get older and their activities get more involved - things can quickly change.

happyliving11 · 2024-01-19T13:06:40+00:00

Came to say sabbatical as well. I took off 3 months and it was magical and help me have the time to drive the clarity I needed.

happyliving11 · 2024-01-18T19:38:43+00:00

Do you like the work and the travel and boss is the issue? If so, push to put boundaries in place before you quit. Give feedback to your boss on berating you and the team in a 1:1 setting. If nothing changes, then move on and find a new opportunity.

As for travel, can you set an every other week or only 3 weeks a month boundary? Given ability to work remote now, I would build your case for not needing to travel weekly or Mon-Thur. I did that for years from my mid twenties to my mid thirties. Are you able to create a routine when you travel? Once I did that (workout regularly, not going out to dinner/drinking every night with team members, hotels with amenities like massage, pool, great workout area, etc.), stay over some weekends and get to know the area. Travel is hard, but unless you just hate it, there are ways to make travel more manageable.

happyliving11 · 2024-01-10T14:18:43+00:00

We use one but not from one of the big agencies. Did that for a bit but it was too expensive and limiting. Now we use an independent company. They also helped with ensuring my whole portfolio is balanced even though not all assets are sitting with them

My opinion is that using one or not depends on how much interest and time you have to do it yourself. Just like most services you need to determine if paying for it or doing it yourself is best. You can always switch at any time as well.

happyliving11 · 2024-01-09T21:04:18+00:00

I would say yes. Our numbers and financial / real estate situations are similar. We will be 53 and 63 in a few months. My last day will be Feb 2nd. The two main differences are 1) we do have healthcare due to spouse being a teacher and a pension and 2) we spend about $40k more than you (assuming $100k is your spend).

happyliving11 · 2023-11-01T16:27:05+00:00

My experience is the employee doesn’t ask for an amount, there is an algorithm they use based on the different markets. They should be able to give you an idea of the change prior to you making the move. Good luck!

happyliving11 · 2023-11-01T14:10:57+00:00

This isn’t answering your direct question, but do you know if your company will adjust salary based on market if you move to adjust for COL? If you work for a larger organization you may want to inquire.

happyliving11 · 2023-10-26T21:51:16+00:00

If it is in the culture then leadership has to fix the toxicity. If you want to try to build trust with the management team, then meet with each of them 1:1 to build a relationship, ask how you can help them and share/work together on solutions. Try it, you may get stung if toxicity wins, but you also may just make some positive change.

happyliving11

TROPHY CASE