Author Topic: My first step in escaping the rat race....  (Read 10321 times)

Rodstar

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My first step in escaping the rat race....
« on: December 16, 2013, 05:29:56 AM »
Just wanted to share with everybody that I took my first step in my plan to escape the daily grind!  I had a good chat with my boss and we've agreed that I go part time from October 2014.  The plan is 4 days a week, instead of 5, with only a slight reduction in remuneration.

This is a big deal :)

lifejoy

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2013, 05:54:32 AM »
Woohoo! Way to go, I'm jealous!

arebelspy

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2013, 07:13:26 AM »
Nice!  Those three day weekends (presuming you get Friday off) will make the Sunday nights even worse than now... ;)

I am a former teacher who accumulated a bunch of real estate, retired at 29, spent some time traveling the world full time and am now settled with three kids.
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Megatron

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2013, 03:01:31 PM »
goddammit. that is awesome.

Sebastian

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2013, 10:46:31 AM »
I seriously wish I could do something like this at my workplace. I wouldn't even mind the pay cut! 5 days a week is just tooo long not to mention I do 10 hours a day anyways. blah!!!!!

Greg

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2013, 10:51:16 AM »
Congratulations.  I've always wondered why we don't just work tuesday through thursday and have 4 day weekends.  People would enjoy their lives more and I think it might even employ more people overall.  I guess some people would have to work friday through monday like they work weekends now.  Might even be better.

Rodstar

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2013, 05:18:55 PM »
Thanks guys! :) It's a big step and not taken lightly.  We are conditioned to work at least 5 days a week and to earn as much money as we can, so I hope I am making the right choice.  Also, considering the amount of money we owe on investment property!  Our situation is explained in this post:

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/our-strategy-for-financial-independence/

My boss is pretty good and I am sure he will allow me to go full time again if our circumstances change.  *Deep breath* :)

pac_NW

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #7 on: December 25, 2013, 06:14:00 AM »
What a great next step. Congrats!

Rodstar

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2014, 07:55:23 AM »
Update!  I've just had my performance review with my bosses.  We've firmed up the part time work arrangement.  I asked for a 9 day fortnight with no change in salary.  They said YES!

I swear if I new how to do cartwheels or backflips I would have! :)

boarder42

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #9 on: July 13, 2014, 08:27:11 AM »
what does 9 day fortnight mean in english

Paul der Krake

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #10 on: July 13, 2014, 08:36:57 AM »
what does 9 day fortnight mean in english
He gets to work only 9 days every two weeks instead of the usual 10.

boarder42

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #11 on: July 13, 2014, 10:49:09 AM »
oh so 9-80s as we would call them here.  unless he is not working the full 40/week and its 9-72s

Exflyboy

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #12 on: July 13, 2014, 10:56:02 AM »
Very nice.. And I agree the 5 day workweek is madness.

What is even more mad is that we earn as much money as we can.. then blow it all on crap.. THEN are in constant fear of losing our jobs.

Frank


boarder42

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #13 on: July 13, 2014, 03:30:46 PM »
yep ... my plan is similar to the OPs gonna try to go to 4 day weeks with a 20% pay cut at 30... dont know how this will fly at my work... probably have to sell them on the fact that i'm working on an independent project.  that project in reality will be life.

Tempe

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #14 on: July 13, 2014, 03:34:57 PM »
I'm hoping to go back to a 4 days work week when my stash is built up a bit. 4 days a week is awesome, I'm hoping to eventually have mondays, thursdays, and some other day off a week. Congrats!

Rodstar

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #15 on: July 14, 2014, 05:01:39 AM »
A 9 day fortnight means I am working Monday to Friday one week and Monday to Thursday the following week.  The upside is I do not have to make up the day off to make the same money.

Fortunately for me my job is not based on having my bum on a seat 9 - 5 each day.  I work in consulting in a role centered around chargeable or recoverable hours.  Clients pay for my services either on an hourly basis or for a fixed fee until the task is completed.  I have annual targets to meet, so the key to making this work is to deliver the same output in less time.

My boss is taking a leap of faith here, however I've been with the company 8 years and have always delivered what I have promised. 

So the tip for all out there - don't assume you have to take a straight line pay cut to get some of your time back!

allergic2average

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #16 on: July 18, 2014, 01:25:06 PM »
Congratulations :-) Next step is for him to give you a raise so you're making your previous salary on just 4 days work

Gone Fishing

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #17 on: July 18, 2014, 01:34:52 PM »
Your boss needs to talk to my boss!  I live in a very traditional small town and alternate work arrangements are still frowned upon.  Some of our offices in larger cities are allowing mothers to work from home some, but even then they don't like to talk about it!

arebelspy

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #18 on: August 05, 2014, 10:58:24 PM »
A day off every other week (i.e. 10% less time) for the same amount is money is fantastic.  Congrats!  :)
I am a former teacher who accumulated a bunch of real estate, retired at 29, spent some time traveling the world full time and am now settled with three kids.
If you want to know more about me, this Business Insider profile tells the story pretty well.
I (rarely) blog at AdventuringAlong.com. Check out the Now page to see what I'm up to currently.

MicroRN

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Re: My first step in escaping the rat race....
« Reply #19 on: August 06, 2014, 12:29:48 AM »
Excellent :-)  One of the things I love about nursing is the nonstandard work hours (I work 2-3 12hr shifts/week).  It makes a huge difference, and I never want to go back to 9-5 5 days a week.