Full time for 3 years or Part Time for 6?

[Nicster]

I am a mid-level manager in healthcare and could FIRE in ~ 3-4 years if I stay in my current position. My job is moderately stressful - somedays its rewarding, but most days not so much.

There is an open 'front-line' position in my department that is 20 hours/week with a great schedule - 2 days on, 4 days off, 3 days on, 4 days off. I would still have healthcare, 7% 403b matching and other benefits and a lot more free time to enjoy the rest of my life, but this would delay FIRE by 2-3 years.

What would you do - suck it up for a few more years and then call it good, or have a higher quality of life over the next few years but extend the length of time until I am completely FI?

I've had a few people close to me die recently and unexpectedly who were about my age and pretty darn healthy. We really never know when our roller-coaster ride is going to be over.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I value the opinions of this community.

[lbdance]

Do you have post FIRE plans?
If it was me I would be really tempted by the part time role, as it would allow me a transition to FIRE. Start finding things to do with the rest of my time, so that I was confident when I did FIRE I would be happy / healthy / and have a great lifestyle.

[Mrs. S]

If it was me I would take the part time gig and tighten my expenses at the same time. That might help me retire maybe in 5 years instead of 6 and on a part time gig that would be NICE! Not sure if you have kids and use childcare but I would think 4 days off would help get that cost down easily.

[dess1313]

Go for the less stress and better schedule.  Stress is a killer

Tighten up the belt, start some semi-retirement hobbies.  think of it as practicing for retirement on the lower income.  stay as long as needed until FIRE

I work in health care too.   I'm not waiting until some day down the road to do things that i want to do. 
I see too many of my patients go from totally healthy to very sick, or freak accident changing their entire life, and/or worse.
I started working on my bucket list 3 years ago at age 29 after a bad night working in ICU. 
None of us are guaranteed anything out of life.  We might get 80 years.  we might get 10 years. we might get 1 year.  Make the most of out what ever you have.


"The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present"

[BlueHouse]

Yep, I have to agree, if I could manage to do my job par time, and still have it be secure, I think I would go for it.

[cchrissyy]

definitely the part time idea

[ltt]

Part-time.

[debbie does duncan]

Was FT in healthcare. I waited for the part time line to open up.
 Jumped at the chance......every full timer howled b/c they thought I was nuts.
Best jump ever.
 It worked out that once a month I would take off my single night ( vacation pay) in the middle of 5 off and 4 off and have 10 days off a month . Easiest rotation ever.

[Beardog]

I'm working part time on my way to complete retirement within the next year or so and it's great!  You may find that just by being an individual contributor and giving up the responsibility of being a manager, your stress levels will plummet.  I'm so glad I don't have to deal with the bullshit of management power struggles and other unpleasant behavior anymore.  As an individual contributor, I work quietly in my office and and am only responsible for my own work and mentoring a relatively new colleague.  I highly reccommend part time work.

[MoonLiteNite]

No advice, but one thing to point out, you may be getting taxed lower over all if you work part time

[WerKater]

I am also hoping that I will be able to ease my way into FIRE with a part-time position at some point. In your position, I would probably take that position immediately. One caveat: If it is too likely that you might lose the job in the next 6 years, I would remain full-time. How likely is "too" likely is your call, of course.

[undercover]

The rational side of me says to stay full time since the extra savings compound more quickly - and then once you're done...you're done. You will have this huge sense of relief the first week you're actually free. Also, your expenses are presumably going to go up unless you just plan on staying around the house and reading/internet/walking. So, less compounding and more expenses. Again, YMMV - just raising some points to consider. Look at the numbers thoroughly and make sure that the 3yr difference is accounting for these things.

On the flip side, even staying at home all day doing "nothing" to me is better than going to work - unless its a job I truly loved.

[ReadySetMillionaire]

Other than the schedule, is this new part time role less stressful in terms of the work you have to do?

[Goldielocks]

I find that I can not fully release thinking about work when I am part time, so it is like being "half on" or "half off"  all the time.  When I get back to work, others think that I should be fully up to speed on all the issues, all the time.

FYI  I am an upper level manager, and no one else replaces me when I am not working, less work just gets done, and the junior staff pick up some of the slack.


Much better for me would be 8 months on and 4 months off.  Or full time for 3 years instead of PT for 6.