Hi,
So I have been having an internal struggle for the past 9 months and could use some advice.
I make a lot of money ($110,000), but hate my soul sucking job (family businesses are hard). I am 31 and about to have my first baby. My husband does not make a ton of money ($51,000), but is moving his way up. We have been paying off student loans aggressively over the past several years ($30,000 remaining, down from $90,000), and don't have too much in retirement or other investments. We are now saving cash life crazy to prepare for our growing family. Also, we live in a really expensive city.
My job really sucks in terms of mental pain. However, it is non stressful, very flexible, and I can dress casually. On one hand, I have it really good (can work from home, pick my own house, awesome pay, low stress), but on the other I am becoming depressed because the work sucks and my boss is my dad who has serious behavior problems. It is like my head (common sense) and my heart are fighting. My job is really impacting me in a negative way.
Am I being crazy for thinking of other options, a slightly lower paying job, but one where I would have to dress up, be in an office 50 hours a week, lots of stress, and commute 1 hour each way? Right now, my flexibility will allow me to be with my baby around 3:00 each day.
How do you weigh taking care of your family financially and being there due to job flexibility vs. mental happiness/career fulfillment (after all, I spend the majority of my week working)?
I lean towards sticking it out, because most people would kill for a job like this. How can I get over the terribleness of a family business and work that you hate?