The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Share Your Badassity => Topic started by: boarder42 on August 27, 2018, 12:46:48 PM
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
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yeah thats what we're doing this for right - time. and a 10% pay cut to get 52 more days off per year that doesnt really delay my FIRE timeline noticeably b/c we're in compounding mode is just fantastic. I wake up every Saturday like oh shit its not sunday i get a second saturday.
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That's awesome! I can't wait to get to that point. I did take every Friday off in June and July this summer and it was amazing!
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I worked four days a week for about a year before I FIREd. It's every bit as great as you would think.
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How do you find these jobs, you all must be engineers
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How do you find these jobs, you all must be engineers
Yeah. I'm actually a project manager now but engineering degree and still at the firm I started with
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yeah thats what we're doing this for right - time. and a 10% pay cut to get 52 more days off per year that doesnt really delay my FIRE timeline noticeably b/c we're in compounding mode is just fantastic. I wake up every Saturday like oh shit its not sunday i get a second saturday.
How did you approach your management to get this done? Curious.. Small, medium or large co?
Thanks for any info you are willing to share!
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yeah thats what we're doing this for right - time. and a 10% pay cut to get 52 more days off per year that doesnt really delay my FIRE timeline noticeably b/c we're in compounding mode is just fantastic. I wake up every Saturday like oh shit its not sunday i get a second saturday.
How did you approach your management to get this done? Curious.. Small, medium or large co?
Thanks for any info you are willing to share!
Large company. And I just asked. It was coupled with the birth of a child It's common for them to let women do this so it would be sexist to not allow me. We are also seeing increases in turnover of millennials at a company with extremely low turnover so they are doing everything they can to keep us happy. I have a very approachable management team and my projects are very profitable
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Thanks @boarder42 !
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Hard to say no to a good employee asking to spend more time with their family.
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how far are you from being completely finished working? I'd like to request something like this but I'm still quite a ways from full FI and don't really want to clue in the overlords that their dollars are holding less and less power over me. I'm comfortable with my time to FI, based on my current salary and saving rate, but would be interested in all future "raises" coming in the form of reduced hours instead of increased dollars.
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how far are you from being completely finished working? I'd like to request something like this but I'm still quite a ways from full FI and don't really want to clue in the overlords that their dollars are holding less and less power over me. I'm comfortable with my time to FI, based on my current salary and saving rate, but would be interested in all future "raises" coming in the form of reduced hours instead of increased dollars.
we are ~5-6 years from full FI. we will hit the 1MM networth mark in September. with around 800k invested. our FIRE number to live completely off of investments is 1.7-2MM dollars invested. I have some side hustles that i dont plan on lasting like selling tradelines that brings in 20k and could decrease this number. We're also not factoring in inheritance which could further reduce this number. I dont want to rely on either of these but if we did that could reduce our annual need by 35k making us only need 40-45k to cover our spending. which means we're probably a year away from being do whatever the hell we want kinda money.
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In my case, I worked for a small company with a government contract. The company had just won the contract, and all my co-workers and I were hired by the new company. One of the new company's metrics they were judged on for performance was retention of the people from the old contract to the new one. I took advantage of their situation to hint that I'd be less likely to stay on if they didn't let me go to four days a week. They readily agreed. That was actually a really good company. They've continued to grow and I think most of their employees are happy.
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Talked with my boss today and he basically said anyone could do this for any reason he didn't really care what the reason was. We have pretty good management here.
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I will probably consider asking for a similar deal when we hit 500K. We're currently closing in on 250K, so almost halfway there. Good for you. I can see myself working happily for a much longer time if I had a three-day weekend every week.
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Congrats! In the past I've done Fridays off for a period of time, and Wednesdays off for a period of time. I loved the long weekends with Fridays off, but with Wednesdays off there was something really awesome about only working 2 consecutive days in a week. Every Wednesday felt like a standalone holiday, and the anticipation of that impending day off really improved my mood on Mondays and Tuesdays. I'm tempted to say it was even better than a 3-day weekend, but I haven't decided for sure yet!
Anyway, downshifting is definitely part of our FIRE plans as well. We'd like to gradually downshift to...maybe 2-3 days/week and then stay there as long as we still enjoy our jobs. I could afford to do 4 days right now, but I'm too addicted to maxing out the pre-tax accounts, and we'd have to dial back our savings if I cut my hours. And -- just for you boarder42 -- I'd like to have our mortgage paid off before downshifting. ;)
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Congrats!
I cut back to 4 days a week this spring, and hubs is cutting back to 4 days a week starting this coming week! He is very excited- he's been feeling burned out for months now.
He doesn't hate his job and I like my job a lot, so we will hang out here for a year or maybe two, then possibly cut back to 3 days a week. I need the health insurance.
I didn't take a pay cut from full time (I take occasional evening and weekend phone calls in exchange), and I have a feeling DH will be just as productive in 4 days as 5 (he's on an "eat what you kill" model).
Honestly, this schedule may not have occurred to me if I didn't visit this site. (duh)
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Jealous!! Can't wait to downshift next year! Enjoy!
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I'm envious as well.
My company is NOT that flexible. I'm an Engineer. Been here 9 years.
I am the first person in our department to be granted WFH on Fridays (or any day). I was told repeatedly that it isn't policy, everyone will want to do it (so???), etc.
I did try to get a 4 day from the start, but it wasn't considered at all.
I've compromised in my own way...I slack off work even more on Fridays.
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I started working a 4 day week in 2000, my week was 3 mornings teaching 9am-12pm + an hour or so prep time. My brother-in-law started a 4 day week (4x 10 hr days) a couple of years back and loves it.
In my homeland (NZ) some companies have recently been experimenting with this "novel" idea and found it lifted productivity: https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/105580963/fourday-work-week-liberating-empowering-exciting
My only beef is public holidays. It is a tad annoying when everyone gets your day off and places that are usually quiet during the week have people about... It is also better to work Monday's rather than Friday's here as there are more public holidays on Mondays.
Still, as penance for my crimes of enjoying a 3-4 day weekends I'm working full-time (what was I thinking?) as a volunteer in a developing country this year. After a few months I am still struggling to see how people get used to a 2 day weekend. One day is taken up with housework, shopping etc and that leaves one day to enjoy, bugger that for a regular gig. Life's too short.
My former employer back home is keen for me to return and am happy to next year if he can find a max of 2 days per week for me to do, otherwise I'm not interested.
Kakanui
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Haha my choice to take Friday over Monday was due to the same reason. In the US there are more Monday holidays we only have one guaranteed Friday holiday each year and that's the day after Thanksgiving.
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Awesome!
I had done some playing with projections and found that going part time wouldn't really impact our date that much.
My wife is probably going to switch to 3 day weeks (9 hour days) next summer and I will follow her 6-12 months later. That is, of course, assuming both of our employers sign off on it, which is the biggest hurdle.
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I am now working 80%, starting this week! I am looking so forward to it. I have been at mo company for 4 years and got an awesome review last year. But I told my boss I had a lot of stress last both, both from work and privately, which she knows about. I also said that the long weekend we have are the best parts of my live and let us make trips and get our minds off work. I want to work 80% to have more of those long weekends. Told my boss that DH is also going to work 80%. I got it approved without discussion. Maybe they want to keep me happy and make sure I won't leave.
I have chosen to take Fridays off, but promised to be a bit flexible.
In my previous job I once asked to work an hour per day less, because the train commute was costing me so much time. That was refused immediately. I don't work there anymore.
DH is trying to get his 80% in the form of a sick leave after he has had his operation. Last year he really lost his health because of his job, so we think this is very realistic. If the doctor doesn't agree, he will reduce his ours officially.
I do now have a paying side-gig that I can do in the autumn. Currently 4 hours a week, but I will increase it a bit in the coming weeks. It is a hobby-related thing that I enjoy doing.
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In my homeland (NZ) some companies have recently been experimenting with this "novel" idea and found it lifted productivity: https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/105580963/fourday-work-week-liberating-empowering-exciting
The article is all about the upsides of it. But it is necessary that people can afford it. I am already told by a young colleague that he also wished he could work 80%, but could not afford it.
So I think it is a good thing for people who make more than enough income, but perhaps don't really realize it. But it should be an individual choice to do cut down your hours.
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The article is all about the upsides of it. But it is necessary that people can afford it. I am already told by a young colleague that he also wished he could work 80%, but could not afford it.
So I think it is a good thing for people who make more than enough income, but perhaps don't really realize it. But it should be an individual choice to do cut down your hours.
I thought the whole point of this forum was about figuring out how to spend money more efficiently so you have a surplus. Presumably, that person is not talking about "It would cut into my savings rate" with "I couldn't afford it."
If you default to the "Monthly net zero" approach to spending, and are spending 40h/wk of income, of course you can't afford less income. :)
I've done an 80% schedule at various points, and it's awesome. Depending on tax brackets, the total hit to takehome is less than expected, and the ability to get things done "in town" on Fridays when everything is open is awesome. Plus, three day weekends. Except for all those four day weekends. There's also more time to do stuff around the house/property that might otherwise be hired out. Lawn service? Nah, I'll just do that when everyone's at work on Friday. Same for assorted improvements.
And, honestly, I'm more productive at work on a 4 day week. If I'm left with a thorny problem, I can think through it on the weekend while I'm doing something totally unrelated to it and have things to try when I get back to work.
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Can confirm, 4-day weeks are awesome. I started this summer and I don't plan on ever working a 5-day week again in my life. Like Malkynn said, it's a very civilized way to work.
It doesn't even affect my FIRE timeline very much, because (1) compounding is doing most of the work in my portfolio anyway; and (2) because of marginal tax rates, you can get 20% of your time back for less than 20% of your salary. That sounds like a great bargain to me.
If your job doesn't offer this as a benefit, don't be afraid to ask! The power of FU money means that we can be the trailblazers. Future generations of workers will thank us.
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Thats fantastic :)! Its kind of different but my brother is a nurse and works 36 hours a week in 3 days. He has so much time to mountain bike or go to random cities or whatever when the mood hits him. Are you getting pretty close to full FIRE?
With how it works that any extra past your spending is 100% savings rate I would be tempted to just stay full time and knock it out as quickly as possible.
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With how it works that any extra past your spending is 100% savings rate I would be tempted to just stay full time and knock it out as quickly as possible.
By that logic, why not take as much overtime as you absolutely can?
It would depend on how one likes one's job and what else is going on in life.
I work somewhat less hours than I absolutely could right now, because I like the work/life balance generated. I'm not in some headlong rush to retire, because I enjoy what I spend my time on, but I also enjoy my time with my family and working on the property. Extra free time generally goes to property work, which is being done with the long term goal of reducing cost of living, regardless of what happens to the economy. I'm spending next year putting in a very large solar power system with battery backup, for instance.
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Thats fantastic :)! Its kind of different but my brother is a nurse and works 36 hours a week in 3 days. He has so much time to mountain bike or go to random cities or whatever when the mood hits him. Are you getting pretty close to full FIRE?
With how it works that any extra past your spending is 100% savings rate I would be tempted to just stay full time and knock it out as quickly as possible.
We're 5-6 years away regardless of this time I've cut. And I like my job I just don't need more money I want more time.
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Can confirm, 4-day weeks are awesome. I started this summer and I don't plan on ever working a 5-day week again in my life. Like Malkynn said, it's a very civilized way to work.
It doesn't even affect my FIRE timeline very much, because (1) compounding is doing most of the work in my portfolio anyway; and (2) because of marginal tax rates, you can get 20% of your time back for less than 20% of your salary. That sounds like a great bargain to me.
If your job doesn't offer this as a benefit, don't be afraid to ask! The power of FU money means that we can be the trailblazers. Future generations of workers will thank us.
This was our idea as well. The highest scale of income has the highest tax rate. We think working 20% less will cost 15% less nett income.
At my department no one worked 80%. There is one co-worker who works a full workweek in 4 days and takes Fridays off. He lives far away and sleeps on the premises during the week. I didn't feel like working 4 long days. I got my 80% without problems, telling them I needed to reduce stress levels. I think they are anxious to keep me.
Our FIRE stash is mostly depending on what we can sell our house for. When we are selling, probably spring 2019, it is important that we are able to spend enough time on preparing it for sale and having it look as good as possible.
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Thats fantastic :)! Its kind of different but my brother is a nurse and works 36 hours a week in 3 days. He has so much time to mountain bike or go to random cities or whatever when the mood hits him. Are you getting pretty close to full FIRE?
With how it works that any extra past your spending is 100% savings rate I would be tempted to just stay full time and knock it out as quickly as possible.
We're 5-6 years away regardless of this time I've cut. And I like my job I just don't need more money I want more time.
Sounds like an easy choice then =]. Have any good plans for the extra time?
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Thats fantastic :)! Its kind of different but my brother is a nurse and works 36 hours a week in 3 days. He has so much time to mountain bike or go to random cities or whatever when the mood hits him. Are you getting pretty close to full FIRE?
With how it works that any extra past your spending is 100% savings rate I would be tempted to just stay full time and knock it out as quickly as possible.
We're 5-6 years away regardless of this time I've cut. And I like my job I just don't need more money I want more time.
Sounds like an easy choice then =]. Have any good plans for the extra time?
Yeah we just had a baby. More time with her.
Once you get to a certain level compounding takes over. This year we may make more than we put in.
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When I first started working after college, we had a 10 day on, 4 day off schedule. So you'd work your 80 hours (8 hours a day) consecutively then have four days off.
There were four of us so two go thurs and fri's off and two got mon and tues off.
I volunteered for the mon/tues so I would work wed through the following friday and then have sat, sun mon tues off. I liked having the 4 days off although that first day off on saturday was mostly just relaxing and recovering.
I work 8 5's now and want to eventually drop fridays altogether but sadly my company doesn't allow it. When I'm ready to FI I will approach them with it and give them the option to either let me do 4 8's or I can just go.
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I just had my "goals for the coming year" - talk at work. There it was mentioned that I am now working 4 days a week. My boss commented that it was very good that people take responsibility for their own health. Maybe more people should consider it.
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I just had my "goals for the coming year" - talk at work. There it was mentioned that I am now working 4 days a week. My boss commented that it was very good that people take responsibility for their own health. Maybe more people should consider it.
Quite a different culture here vs in Socialist European countries i expect to get pressure to go back full time after a year of this. we'll see how i like it. ;) is what i say.
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
it appears you have used for free time very productively. that is, if trolling people about boats, eating out, big trucks, etc. is productive.
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
it appears you have used for free time very productively. that is, if trolling people about boats, eating out, big trucks, etc. is productive.
Oh shit, it made me laugh so loud I woke up my husband. I was sorry to see the eating out thread go. We have some wickedly sharp members here and it's always good to laugh at yourself on at least a semi-regular basis. The more, the better, in fact. Or is that the more, the merrier?
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Sounds good but have you paid off your mortgage yet?
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
it appears you have used for free time very productively. that is, if trolling people about boats, eating out, big trucks, etc. is productive.
Oh shit, it made me laugh so loud I woke up my husband. I was sorry to see the eating out thread go. We have some wickedly sharp members here and it's always good to laugh at yourself on at least a semi-regular basis. The more, the better, in fact. Or is that the more, the merrier?
Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
it appears you have used for free time very productively. that is, if trolling people about boats, eating out, big trucks, etc. is productive.
Oh shit, it made me laugh so loud I woke up my husband. I was sorry to see the eating out thread go. We have some wickedly sharp members here and it's always good to laugh at yourself on at least a semi-regular basis. The more, the better, in fact. Or is that the more, the merrier?
Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
It was very cunning!
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Sounds good but have you paid off your mortgage yet?
No because I'm not an idiot.
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
it appears you have used for free time very productively. that is, if trolling people about boats, eating out, big trucks, etc. is productive.
Oh shit, it made me laugh so loud I woke up my husband. I was sorry to see the eating out thread go. We have some wickedly sharp members here and it's always good to laugh at yourself on at least a semi-regular basis. The more, the better, in fact. Or is that the more, the merrier?
Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
It was very cunning!
I had read a bunch of it, but I missed how it ended up disappearing. *sigh* I guess that's what happens when I have to be a working stiff; I miss all the good forum action.
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Today I had my first Friday off without having obligations. Took a walk in a forest in a normally crowded area. It way nice and quiet. I also shopped and felt very different from most of the other shoppers. They looked like retirees or jobless. A need to get rid of my own predudices.
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Today I had my first Friday off without having obligations. Took a walk in a forest in a normally crowded area. It way nice and quiet. I also shopped and felt very different from most of the other shoppers. They looked like retirees or jobless. A need to get rid of my own predudices.
Yeah I'm out on the lake surfing right now. Pretty great.
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Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
It was very cunning!
And linguistic
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Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
It was very cunning!
And linguistic
Glad someone picked up on that.
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Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
It was very cunning!
And linguistic
Glad someone picked up on that.
I think @APowers did too, or I just have a dirty mind.
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Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
It was very cunning!
And linguistic
Glad someone picked up on that.
I think @APowers did too, or I just have a dirty mind.
You're right. I didn't even see that reply.
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Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
It was very cunning!
And linguistic
Glad someone picked up on that.
I think @APowers did too, or I just have a dirty mind.
Well, I didn't before, but I do now. SMH.
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
it appears you have used for free time very productively. that is, if trolling people about boats, eating out, big trucks, etc. is productive.
Oh shit, it made me laugh so loud I woke up my husband. I was sorry to see the eating out thread go. We have some wickedly sharp members here and it's always good to laugh at yourself on at least a semi-regular basis. The more, the better, in fact. Or is that the more, the merrier?
Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
Speaking of gone, it finally happened. After several warnings, our dear, curmudgeonly, B42 got himself banned.
What bothers me most was that he tangled with a couple of newbs, lost his temper, and pissed off the mods one too many times. Now we've lost a Walrus, and the newbs will likely be gone in a month, having contributed next to nothing. I miss him already. He will be fine, of that I am sure, but his smart, passionate voice will be sorely missed.
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Sorry to hear about the FMLA. There must be a medical issue.
In regards to a shortened work schedule, it is awesome. I took a large pay cut (25%) to be able to take three months off per year. It was the best decision, I ever made.
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DH has asked his new boss for a talk. In the talk, he is going to ask for working 80%. That would mean we could both be off on Fridays and that was our original goal.
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DH has asked his new boss for a talk. In the talk, he is going to ask for working 80%. That would mean we could both be off on Fridays and that was our original goal.
That's great, Linda! I hope the talk goes well. Does your husband have much leverage with his employer in the event that his boss is not amenable to the idea?
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DH has asked his new boss for a talk. In the talk, he is going to ask for working 80%. That would mean we could both be off on Fridays and that was our original goal.
That's great, Linda! I hope the talk goes well. Does your husband have much leverage with his employer in the event that his boss is not amenable to the idea?
He gets along very well with this boss. And DH is an important player in the new organization with lots of very relevant experience. He has to build up the Norwegian part of a bigger Swedish company. If things don't work out, he can go work as a private consultant. There is work enough and DH has a good reputation for delivering quality.
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
it appears you have used for free time very productively. that is, if trolling people about boats, eating out, big trucks, etc. is productive.
Oh shit, it made me laugh so loud I woke up my husband. I was sorry to see the eating out thread go. We have some wickedly sharp members here and it's always good to laugh at yourself on at least a semi-regular basis. The more, the better, in fact. Or is that the more, the merrier?
Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
Speaking of gone, it finally happened. After several warnings, our dear, curmudgeonly, B42 got himself banned.
What bothers me most was that he tangled with a couple of newbs, lost his temper, and pissed off the mods one too many times. Now we've lost a Walrus, and the newbs will likely be gone in a month, having contributed next to nothing. I miss him already. He will be fine, of that I am sure, but his smart, passionate voice will be sorely missed.
Wha???
Perma banned and temporary banned??
Banned period. So many sad feelings. He really grew on me.
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He gets along very well with this boss. And DH is an important player in the new organization with lots of very relevant experience. He has to build up the Norwegian part of a bigger Swedish company. If things don't work out, he can go work as a private consultant. There is work enough and DH has a good reputation for delivering quality.
I'm sure you'll let us know how the talk goes. I hope his boss is amenable to the idea. But it does sound like he has other options if his boss refuses. If it comes to that, it may take a bit of courage to walk away from the job and strike out on his own.
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Speaking of gone, it finally happened. After several warnings, our dear, curmudgeonly, B42 got himself banned.
What bothers me most was that he tangled with a couple of newbs, lost his temper, and pissed off the mods one too many times. Now we've lost a Walrus, and the newbs will likely be gone in a month, having contributed next to nothing. I miss him already. He will be fine, of that I am sure, but his smart, passionate voice will be sorely missed.
Wha???
Perma banned and temporary banned??
Banned period. So many sad feelings. He really grew on me.
Wow.
I am so sad about this.
I'm really sad about this too. I didn't engage with him much personally but his constant chiming in actually did make me refine my strategy and I'm much better off for it. B42 was a wise, very direct and blunt mustachian who delivered a strong face-punch but he really grew on me.
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Speaking of gone, it finally happened. After several warnings, our dear, curmudgeonly, B42 got himself banned.
What bothers me most was that he tangled with a couple of newbs, lost his temper, and pissed off the mods one too many times. Now we've lost a Walrus, and the newbs will likely be gone in a month, having contributed next to nothing. I miss him already. He will be fine, of that I am sure, but his smart, passionate voice will be sorely missed.
Wha???
Perma banned and temporary banned??
Banned period. So many sad feelings. He really grew on me.
Wow.
I am so sad about this.
I'm really sad about this too. I didn't engage with him much personally but his constant chiming in actually did make me refine my strategy and I'm much better off for it. B42 was a wise, very direct and blunt mustachian who delivered a strong face-punch but he really grew on me.
That's why I'm sad.
He single handedly pushed me to reconsider the entire way I was viewing my finances, which ended up making me feel really stupid and snowballed into a completely different financial path that I am sooooo much happier with.
I had been kind of "locked in" to a certain type of thinking that was actually causing me a lot of stress because I instinctively knew that my path wasn't right, but everyone else was hammering in that it was the only way to go. That's why I felt so dumb when he face punched me and I was like "oh shit...he's right! And it's so obvious!!"
Sounds like we need a Boarder42 obituary/memorial thread, lol.
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I too register my disappointment with the ban. Not sure what caused it but I will miss his knowledge.
Are we sure he is banned? It shows he was active today in his profile. When I looked the other day upon first notice of the banning, it also showed activity that day.
Paging @boarder42 just in case...
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I only work 4 days a week on average. Unfortunately I have to be in the office 5 days a week. : !
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He gets along very well with this boss. And DH is an important player in the new organization with lots of very relevant experience. He has to build up the Norwegian part of a bigger Swedish company. If things don't work out, he can go work as a private consultant. There is work enough and DH has a good reputation for delivering quality.
I'm sure you'll let us know how the talk goes. I hope his boss is amenable to the idea. But it does sound like he has other options if his boss refuses. If it comes to that, it may take a bit of courage to walk away from the job and strike out on his own.
DH's new boss approved of the plan. :-) Now DH needs to arrange the details with HR. At my company is was no problem.
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I only work 4 days a week on average. Unfortunately I have to be in the office 5 days a week. : !
Hah! I feel the same way too, although it may be more like 3.5 days of work over 5 days. That's probably why I'm really struggling with whether to drop to 4 or 3 days, I'll get those 1 or 2 days back to myself completely, but I'll still probably be doing the same amount of work, just for 80% or 60-ish%* of the pay.
*I lose benefits if I go under 75% time, but the pay is negotiable and could maybe keep something closer to 65% of pay to help offset losing company health insurance, life/disability insurance, and access to 401k + match
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I too register my disappointment with the ban. Not sure what caused it but I will miss his knowledge.
Are we sure he is banned? It shows he was active today in his profile. When I looked the other day upon first notice of the banning, it also showed activity that day.
Paging @boarder42 just in case...
He is really banned, it just took a while for it to kick in. It couldn't hurt for the moderators (or even Pete himself) to know how much he is missed and how important his voice was to you. Easiest and laziest way to reach them is to make a comment to that effect and then hit the "Report to Moderator" button. They'll see it. And B42 might, too and he will know he is missed.
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DH's new boss approved of the plan. :-) Now DH needs to arrange the details with HR. At my company is was no problem.
That's wonderful! Hopefully the HR part is just a formality. So what do you two plan on doing on your Fridays off together? :)
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I only work 4 days a week on average. Unfortunately I have to be in the office 5 days a week. : !
Hah! I feel the same way too, although it may be more like 3.5 days of work over 5 days. That's probably why I'm really struggling with whether to drop to 4 or 3 days, I'll get those 1 or 2 days back to myself completely, but I'll still probably be doing the same amount of work, just for 80% or 60-ish%* of the pay.
*I lose benefits if I go under 75% time, but the pay is negotiable and could maybe keep something closer to 65% of pay to help offset losing company health insurance, life/disability insurance, and access to 401k + match
I once had an informal talk about downshifting with my supervisor. She was incredulous that I would be willing to give up the $$ of full-time employment. Her suggestion was to try a compressed work schedule (4x10) and take off Fridays. I got a bit of wink-wink vibe like maybe she was suggesting that I wouldn't actually be expected to work full 10 hour days.
At some point our nest eggs will (hopefully) be large enough that the income isn't such a big deal, and we can more easily justify giving up some $$ to gain some time.
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I once had an informal talk about downshifting with my supervisor. She was incredulous that I would be willing to give up the $$ of full-time employment. Her suggestion was to try a compressed work schedule (4x10) and take off Fridays. I got a bit of wink-wink vibe like maybe she was suggesting that I wouldn't actually be expected to work full 10 hour days.
Good point, and this is something I've considered. However, I'm on a team of 3, and we had a 4th a few years ago who did this (3 days x 13hr, wink wink) for a year before just retiring at age 64, and the other two found it very annoying. I am the lead though, so I could certainly force it, but...I'd feel like a bit of an a-hole doing it. Actually, my thought was I could technically do that, but also ask for a salary reduction commiserate with a 40% reduction, so on paper I'd look full time, 39 hours, but in actuality I'd make only 60% of what the other 2 do... Thing is, one of the issues instigating these thoughts, other than just wanting some of my time back, was that things were slowing down. But now I'm told that a bunch of work acquired through an acquisition a year ago may suddenly become ours (requiring us to maybe double staff), so this may all be moot for me for a while until things settle!
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I once had an informal talk about downshifting with my supervisor. She was incredulous that I would be willing to give up the $$ of full-time employment. Her suggestion was to try a compressed work schedule (4x10) and take off Fridays. I got a bit of wink-wink vibe like maybe she was suggesting that I wouldn't actually be expected to work full 10 hour days.
Good point, and this is something I've considered. However, I'm on a team of 3, and we had a 4th a few years ago who did this (3 days x 13hr, wink wink) for a year before just retiring at age 64, and the other two found it very annoying. I am the lead though, so I could certainly force it, but...I'd feel like a bit of an a-hole doing it. Actually, my thought was I could technically do that, but also ask for a salary reduction commiserate with a 40% reduction, so on paper I'd look full time, 39 hours, but in actuality I'd make only 60% of what the other 2 do... Thing is, one of the issues instigating these thoughts, other than just wanting some of my time back, was that things were slowing down. But now I'm told that a bunch of work acquired through an acquisition a year ago may suddenly become ours (requiring us to maybe double staff), so this may all be moot for me for a while until things settle!
I hear 'ya. There are probably a pretty small number of situations where part-time works out well in professional / white collar work. I'm hoping to thread the needle and get there myself at some point. If the markets hold up for another couple years -- fingers crossed -- the 'stache might be big enough that I can give a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum.
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I've started dialing back my hours officially. I'm on FMLA til Oct. 8th in which i've been taking every Friday off working 4-8s to 4-9s on any given week. Today i started the process to officially go to 90% - 4-9's I was planning to go to 4-8s but i'm really working 36 hours most weeks so I figured why not just get paid for the exta hours vs donating them. Pretty awesome feeling to hopefully not work a friday again for the rest of my career.
it appears you have used for free time very productively. that is, if trolling people about boats, eating out, big trucks, etc. is productive.
Oh shit, it made me laugh so loud I woke up my husband. I was sorry to see the eating out thread go. We have some wickedly sharp members here and it's always good to laugh at yourself on at least a semi-regular basis. The more, the better, in fact. Or is that the more, the merrier?
Wait, the eating out thread is gone? Noooooooo......I missed it! What happened?
Speaking of gone, it finally happened. After several warnings, our dear, curmudgeonly, B42 got himself banned.
What bothers me most was that he tangled with a couple of newbs, lost his temper, and pissed off the mods one too many times. Now we've lost a Walrus, and the newbs will likely be gone in a month, having contributed next to nothing. I miss him already. He will be fine, of that I am sure, but his smart, passionate voice will be sorely missed.
Dammit. B42 was a major asset to the community.
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I have the option to work 4 days, but it's 4 10 hour days in the summer, and 4 8 hour days in the winter. I work 5 days instead right now, and like the flexibility of taking long lunch breaks, or leaving early. But I have been tossing around how nice it would be to have 3 day weekends! I just don't know if I could deal with 4 10 hour days in a row all summer (well, really from May to October). What I would love is to work 4 8 hour days all year round!
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DH's new boss approved of the plan. :-) Now DH needs to arrange the details with HR. At my company is was no problem.
That's wonderful! Hopefully the HR part is just a formality. So what do you two plan on doing on your Fridays off together? :)
The plan is to go more often on long weekend trips to our cabin or just a camping trip/hiking somewhere. As the winter is approaching, it is also nice to go cross country skiing without everyone else also doing so. And we both have time consuming hobbies that we can do better with a longer weekend.
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I have the option to work 4 days, but it's 4 10 hour days in the summer, and 4 8 hour days in the winter. I work 5 days instead right now, and like the flexibility of taking long lunch breaks, or leaving early. But I have been tossing around how nice it would be to have 3 day weekends! I just don't know if I could deal with 4 10 hour days in a row all summer (well, really from May to October). What I would love is to work 4 8 hour days all year round!
Our summer hours are 4 10 hour days. I have mixed feelings about it. The three day weekends are really nice to catch up on life, appointments, cleaning, etc. Plus, it's nice not to have to take a vacation day if I travel for the weekend (things tend to come up in my family in the summers). But it does get tiring waking up earlier and staying at work later to hit the 10 hours. I'm usually glad to go back to my 5 day schedule in the fall.
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DH's new boss approved of the plan. :-) Now DH needs to arrange the details with HR. At my company is was no problem.
That's wonderful! Hopefully the HR part is just a formality. So what do you two plan on doing on your Fridays off together? :)
Now it is formal from the 1rst of November. :-)
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I have the option to work 4 days, but it's 4 10 hour days in the summer, and 4 8 hour days in the winter. I work 5 days instead right now, and like the flexibility of taking long lunch breaks, or leaving early. But I have been tossing around how nice it would be to have 3 day weekends! I just don't know if I could deal with 4 10 hour days in a row all summer (well, really from May to October). What I would love is to work 4 8 hour days all year round!
I wouldn't be able to work 10 hours a day as a standard procedure either. Sometimes I work up to 9 hours voluntarily. But 10 every day would be challenging. When the days are nice outside, I want to get out of there as soon as possible.
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DH's new boss approved of the plan. :-) Now DH needs to arrange the details with HR. At my company is was no problem.
That's wonderful! Hopefully the HR part is just a formality. So what do you two plan on doing on your Fridays off together? :)
Now it is formal from the 1rst of November. :-)
Wow, congrats! That moved really quickly. Is your husband pretty excited about it? Was he a bit jealous when you moved to 4 days? :D
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DH's new boss approved of the plan. :-) Now DH needs to arrange the details with HR. At my company is was no problem.
That's wonderful! Hopefully the HR part is just a formality. So what do you two plan on doing on your Fridays off together? :)
Now it is formal from the 1rst of November. :-)
Wow, congrats! That moved really quickly. Is your husband pretty excited about it? Was he a bit jealous when you moved to 4 days? :D
The original plan was to both downsize to 80%. For DH most for his health and for me for stress. We thought it would be best to downsize both, so that we would have more long weekends to travel away. I just picked a date to ask for it and got it done immediately. DH wanted to wait asking until after his surgery. But that surgery is postponed until somewhere December/January and he obviously found out now that he doesn't want to wait all that time. Yes, last Friday he did notice that I had the day off while he still had to work... All the previous weeks I had been pretty busy or was away on longer trips and it wasn't so visible that I had the day off.