STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

bluediamond · Dooney & Bourke

Going insane: Seeking your advice/words of wisdom please.

Elle · Hermes

Well, IMO no amount of money is worth sacrificing your happiness for. You could try thinking of the difference in salary as what it costs you to 'buy' your happiness back.

But, I've found that I feel like I need less spending money when I'm happy with my job/life. When I'm not happy with my job/life, I end up shopping and spending as a way to feel better; for comfort.

Maybe you could also try putting the difference between what you're making now and what you'd be making in savings for a few months? That way you'd get to test drive living on that amount, and you'd have a bit saved up for fun stuff to reward yourself for making such a change

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NCshopper · Hermes

bluediamond wrote:
My problem is….how do I “convince” myself that it’s really time to go and I need to do this. For my sanity! I’ve been such a bitch lately, at work, at home, I just don’t feel like the same person anymore and I know that taking the pay cut would mean a whole new world of opportunities, which I am really excited about, but I still feel scared.

This is exactly how I felt when I was leaving my old job. I felt like I was a total bitch at work and a total bitch at home. I was having heartburn non-stop and just never felt like myself.

Let me tell you though, as soon as I got another job, it's like I'm back to my old self. I feel interested in learning again and I don't feel like I have to just plod along through my work day. I'm much nicer now too!

Really, being unmotivated and unhappy at your job will just quickly suck the feeling of life out of you. If you have the opportunity to move on, take it! The financial aspect of it will pass and you'll probably be back to making what you were in no time.

Good luck!

shopaholic · Dooney & Bourke

I am kind of in the same situation. I work for my parents and I HATE it. I started working for them after college b/c they needed the help and I just HATE it. I hate how I am at work b/c i dont like my job and I'm this mean, bitchy, no patience person. After work, when I'm home, I am this complete opposite person. I get paid really well working for my parents but my I love working in retail. Some people think its a crappy job but for some reason, i LOVE it! The pay cut is going to be at least 50% less for me but I'm ready to take the pay cut. I hate who I am now and I just think that doing what you really enjoy means so much more than what you make. Besides, like you said....the pay cut isnt forever...

I agree with Elle, I spend so much money on shopping when I'm unhappy.

HTH! Dont worry, be happy!

Kitty · Hermes

My boyfriend is going through this right now. He's absolutely miserable in his job and I can see the effect it has on him every day when he gets home from work. When we're on vacation and he's not thinking about the office, it's like he's a totally different person than the guy I know at the end of the day. The only reason he's stuck it out for as long as he has, is that the pay is really good and he has an awesome title. He's finally come to the realization that no amount of money is going to buy his mental health and that he needs to get out.

He's very close to accepting another position and I can't wait! honestly, there's no amount of money worth it if you're miserable at the end of the day.

Do what you love/want and the money will hopefully eventually follow.

Good-luck!

kenzie · Chanel

NCshopper wrote:

This is exactly how I felt when I was leaving my old job. I felt like I was a total bitch at work and a total bitch at home. I was having heartburn non-stop and just never felt like myself.

Oh, this is so me right now, minus the heartburn, plus major migraines. I most likely won't have to take a paycut, but I know that it's time to move on because of how I feel.

But, I have been in the situation where I took a paycut to get out of a hellish job. When I worked in retail, I was literally losing my mind. I was much worse than I am right now (stressed and pissed). Then, I was depressed and completely miserable. I took a huge paycut to leave my job and didn't actually have a job lined up when I quit, but my sanity quickly returned as soon as I handed in my store keys and danced out the door. Granted, the job immediately following was pretty bad, too, but it was temporary and eventually I got my current gig, which was good for a while, but I know that it's time to move on. I've hit the ceiling and it's time to find something new where I can advance in my career.

So, all that to say-- your sanity and happiness is worth the paycut. When a job starts sucking the life out of you, no amount of money will get that back. Just take the leap. Your happiness is worth it.