Continually bored & unhappy with jobs

[Frugal Firefighter]

It's that time again. The point I hit with almost every job I've had... boredom, frustration, lack of motivation, and ready for something new. Since I began working full-time while in college, 2012, I have worked at one fire department for just over a year, worked at a second department for 7 months, then was rehired at the first department where I've been back since 2014. Also, I've bounced around through a couple side jobs on my days off too.

It seems like it's a combination of several things;
1. We started a side business that, most months, brings in between $1500-3000, and I love working for myself and creating the work we do; however, it's not enough income to go full-time yet.

2. It seems like my mind is wired to constantly be learning different subjects.

3. I want FI so bad that I wish it was here tomorrow, but I'm in a job were you are looked down at if you even leave at the 10 year mark with vested benefits.

I plan to reach FI by 2022 or earlier, but by different methods. We currently own 3 rental properties, all purchase writhing the last 16 months. The plan is to have 8-12 paid off units to offset the majority of our expenses.

Anyone else have this issue or advice?

Current financial situation:
Married
2 kids
Minimum monthly expenses: ~$3500
Home mortgage: $98,000
-it's on a 10 year plan to be paid off with $500/month extra going on it every month

[norabird]

Can you move into a new field? Maybe firefighting just doesn't do it for you.

[des999]

I seem to have a similar issue, after about 3-5 years I begin to look for something new/different. 

Ever since I learned about becoming FI / FIRE, it seems to have only gotten worse.

Now I am looking at every option I have to either go part time, cut expenses more so I can FIRE all together, etc..

As much as I love reading about FIRE and crunching numbers, etc.. I feel like it makes me dislike working more and more, where to be honest I know I have a cushy, well paying job, that allows me more freedom than most jobs.  Yet, I can't help but daydream about how much quicker I can get to FI.

I have been trying recently to work on focusing on the moment, not so much the future (as FI is still in the future).  I've been doing it via listening to certain podcasts, TM (transcendental meditation), reading more positive things.  Also, I've tried to focus more on the positives with my job, rather than focus on the negatives.

It's tough, I'd love to hear what others do.

[Frugal Firefighter]

It's tough because I really enjoy the emergency calls, but it's the other 90% of the time that makes everything a drag.

I have two bachelors degrees; Biology and Health & Sports Science. Both are interesting, but each requires a master's to do much in my area. We live in a town of 5,000 people and moving isn't a preference. The town is right, the job is just wrong.

@des999... Yes to all of that! This was an underlying issue prior to MMM, but it's definitely at the forefront now. Damn you, MMM! Haha.

I honestly have a really good set up; ten 24 hour shifts per month at the FD, which I do my bookkeeping, customer emails, and sometimes boxing and shipping in the evenings at work. The other 2 out of 3 days are spent working from home on our decor business, 3 Nails Designs, or working on a rental property. It looks awesome on paper, but it's like a Monday every time I have to go the the FD.

[Felicity]

It's tough because I really enjoy the emergency calls, but it's the other 90% of the time that makes everything a drag.

I have two bachelors degrees; Biology and Health & Sports Science. Both are interesting, but each requires a master's to do much in my area. We live in a town of 5,000 people and moving isn't a preference. The town is right, the job is just wrong.

@des999... Yes to all of that! This was an underlying issue prior to MMM, but it's definitely at the forefront now. Damn you, MMM! Haha.

I honestly have a really good set up; ten 24 hour shifts per month at the FD, which I do my bookkeeping, customer emails, and sometimes boxing and shipping in the evenings at work. The other 2 out of 3 days are spent working from home on our decor business, 3 Nails Designs, or working on a rental property. It looks awesome on paper, but it's like a Monday every time I have to go the the FD.

Is it just the downtime at the FD that is frustrating (or other FD work that's more tedious)? It looks like you already do some side-gig work at work - is there a potential for doing more or taking an online class as well?

Would your side jobs be readily scalable? That is, if you had more time to devote to it, would they likely grow faster?

[ohmylookatthat]

keep it. most FD work maybe 8 days a month? pension to follow.

[Frugal Firefighter]

keep it. most FD work maybe 8 days a month? pension to follow.

We work 10 days/month. I would need to work 15 more years to be eligible to receive my pension, and then wait an additional 8 years before I could begin withdrawing it.

I can withdraw my contributions any time or wait until I'm fully vested in 5 years and pull out my contributions (9%) and the city's contributions (14%)

Is it just the downtime at the FD that is frustrating (or other FD work that's more tedious)? It looks like you already do some side-gig work at work - is there a potential for doing more or taking an online class as well?

Would your side jobs be readily scalable? That is, if you had more time to devote to it, would they likely grow faster?

There is a large combination of things that are leading to the unhappiness at this one; bosses, silly busy work (i.e. "there's always a truck to be washed or chrome to be polished"), a full day away from the kiddos, and the cancer rates & line of duty deaths with firefighters. The boredom is what I would explain as similar to a fad; I dive into each job, learn a fair amount about it, it's awesome, but the newness wears off.

With more time to devote to our side business, I think we could definitely get close to the $3000/month range, but the possibility is there. I have new designs and work that I just can't get to because I'm only able to complete our current order volume on my days off.

[The Owl and the Pussycat]

I am just about to step away from my job (including a promotion I am going to be offered).  Work do not know yet.  I am off on holiday at the moment and so I will be telling them when I go back in work.

I will be walking away from a pension and a regular income.  However, I will also be leaving a job that makes me ill, that I hate and that I see as pointless.  It is a big risk and at one point the pension was what was keeping me there.  I have become crushed by my job and lost my "umphm" so I am going to start freelancing. 

The one thing we have done to prepare for this is to reduce our outgoings; a very tight budget for food, best deal for water and electricty, no splurging on unnecesary items, pay down the mortgage etc.

Could you cut back on some of your current investments so that you need less monthly income to live on so that you can make enough from your second job?  Or, could you employ a student / family member on a temp basis to help manage the work that will grow the company?  The other thing it to try and like your main job more.  Could you train people at work, help manage peoples' exercise and fitness, take an advanced first aid course?

Also, don't worry about being looked down on for not putting in 10 years' service.  Why care what other peopele think?

[marty998]

If your "side-business" brings in up to $3,000 a month.... thats fantastic!

How much would it bring in if you were 100% focussing your energies in it? Is the potential unlimited or it is dependant on the fruits of your labour and hence capped at some theoretical maximum?

[Felicity]

Is it just the downtime at the FD that is frustrating (or other FD work that's more tedious)? It looks like you already do some side-gig work at work - is there a potential for doing more or taking an online class as well?

Would your side jobs be readily scalable? That is, if you had more time to devote to it, would they likely grow faster?

There is a large combination of things that are leading to the unhappiness at this one; bosses, silly busy work (i.e. "there's always a truck to be washed or chrome to be polished"), a full day away from the kiddos, and the cancer rates & line of duty deaths with firefighters. The boredom is what I would explain as similar to a fad; I dive into each job, learn a fair amount about it, it's awesome, but the newness wears off.

With more time to devote to our side business, I think we could definitely get close to the $3000/month range, but the possibility is there. I have new designs and work that I just can't get to because I'm only able to complete our current order volume on my days off.

Depending on your current savings/risk tolerance, you might be able to quit and invest more time and money into the side job, with the goal of turning it into your primary income.

I relate a ton to your feelings of new jobs being like fads - how you get over them quickly and start getting bored. You might find sites like http://puttylike.com/ or books like the Renaissance Soul to be really interesting and useful.

[Fishindude]

Simple fix, you need a new line of work that keeps you busy and challenges you more.
I've seen several firemen and paramedics successfully utilize their training to work themselves into "safety" related positions with contractors and industry.
Another idea, just about any and all skilled trades are starving for good help, if any of that stuff is of interest.   

[Frugal Firefighter]

I will be walking away from a pension and a regular income.  However, I will also be leaving a job that makes me ill

That's awesome. I admire that you're willing and ready to take that leap!

We live in a college town so I think hiring a student to work 8-10 hours/week would be huge. It's an idea we've tossed around, but the thought of $400/month out of our pocket is a big step to overcome, especially on our slow months that have been around $1300. Since it's an active income rather than a passive, it's limited to the hours during the day... also early mornings before the kiddo wakes up and evenings after he goes to bed.

If your "side-business" brings in up to $3,000 a month.... thats fantastic!

How much would it bring in if you were 100% focussing your energies in it?

That is truly the unanswered question. I know many people who have gone full-time doing similar work. There's a fine line I feel like I'm toeing right now; could it be a good sole income or would it put us in a financial bind if our sales plummeted?

Thinking about the kiddos, 1.5 years old and expecting #2 in January, pulls at my non-Mustachian side and tells me to stick with the safe route.

@Felicity, I definitely feel like a Renaissance soul! I'll check those out!

After talking it over with my wife more, we've decided to set a date (undecided yet). If things aren't better by that date, then it opens up the door to begin looking for another job or push to make our businesses full-time, which will likely be after our daughter is born in January for insurance purposes. My pension contribution refund at that time could be used for a large emergency fund since we'll have our own insurance or go towards another rent house to increase income.