https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:56:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-136198 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:30:30 +0000 Mrs. Bee 136198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: that sounds great! good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-136197 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:28:22 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 136197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The plot thickens ... Looks like I snagged an interview for a lecturing job. Also not so great on salary, but academic teaching schedules are generally much more flexible, so that could be worth it.</p> <p>They want me to come in Friday. I'm three hours away and probably have nothing that will fit that is interview appropriate. I'm happy to be considered but ugh on the short notice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-135115 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:21:49 +0000 daniellemybelle 135115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To me, it doesn't seem worth it. Unless the cost of living is considerably lower in your new city, it's never a great idea to take a step back in terms of salary. I would keep looking and freelance until you find something - I know you will!</p> <p>Have you shared where you are moving? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134969 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:59:55 +0000 mrs. wagon 134969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I were you I would go for the job... but that's me. I actually was a SAHM specifically because the only kinds of jobs I could land at the time would require a huge pay cut for me, and I figured, if most of my salary was going towards childcare, I might as well be a SAHM. I was home for 18 months and I really hated it, unfortunately. I'm glad I got the chance to do it because it really taught me that I'm not cut out to be a full time SAHM, and now I have the perfect situation (a great job 4 days a week, 8am-4pm). </p> <p>Ah! just read your comment about freelancing with flexible hours... Can't agree more. You will be surprised at how much work is out there for freelancers and contractors. If you can afford to take the risk of not having work for a month or two at a time, it's a great option. I was lucky to find a permanent type contractor job, but if I hadn't found this, I'd probably be looking to freelance a few days a week. You have to figure out your taxes on your own, but the part-time work in a full-time type position is PERFECT for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134960 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:52:05 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 134960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all. At this point, I think I'm leaning toward a no. If I'm going to be underpaid, I'd rather be underpaid as a freelancer with flexible hours or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134869 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:04:02 +0000 heffalump 134869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably have quit my job if it was high paying if we could afford it to be a SAHM. I love staying home with LO, and I don't love working. But you should do what makes you happy. Maybe that job can lead to another one, which pays more money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134842 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:50:12 +0000 mediagirl 134842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: I think the retirement savings and good health benefits might tip the table for me. If you could make your schedule even slightly flexible, I'd probably do it. When I go back, I'm going to ask to work earlier hours, so I can be home for our daughter's dinner, bath and bedtime. </p> <p>It might be a good thing to have for now. Since you were considering being a sahm and not having a salary, pretend you don't have that salary and put it all in savings. That will give you a buffer and a head start for the future. </p> <p>With other jobs that come up, will they have been to know your salary or salary range? Is that all public knowledge? I think taking a job with a lower pay range due to a spouses job move always gives you a little more wiggle room in future job interviews. </p> <p>Good luck with your decision! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134836 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:05:40 +0000 looch 134836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: I understand! I was working for 14 years, so I was used to my financial independence. Where I feel stressed is having my husband shoulder all of the responsibility for the family finances in terms of earnings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134832 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:49:52 +0000 Andrea 134832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I would keep looking unless you can negotiate a higher salary or arrange your schedule so that you can spend a lot of time with your LO so that the pay cut would be "worth it". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134830 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:44:53 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 134830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Probably roughly the same. Well, a bit higher since it is a city.</p> <p>I think part of my SAHM fear is of being financially dependent. Hate that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134801 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:10:16 +0000 looch 134801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What's the cost of living comparison to where you live now? That could be an explanation to another employer. </p> <p>It's a tough choice. It's hard going from an office job to being a SAHM, but it can be done. I did it and have survived for 16 months so far! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134729 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:13:39 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 134729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: Papa Y will have benefits and we can all be on his health plan if need be, but I obviously won't be building my own retirement fund if not working. And we're really not in the same field -- we only work at the same place right now because otherwise there would have been nothing for me in this town! </p> <p>The job I'm looking at is higher education marketing, which I do a decent amount of now in my current job. I would love to bounce back into writing/editing whether print or online, as that is the bulk of my resume ... but opportunities are pretty few and far between, and there's so much competition for them because everyone wants to freelance!</p> <p>I am lucky to be in the position where this is an actual choice, I know. In an ideal world, I could do motherhood part time and something flexible, whether in office or freelance, part time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134727 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:04:33 +0000 Mrs. Bee 134727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: well i would say benefits are worth a lot when you have kids. but doesn't mr y get good benefits too since he's in the same field?</p> <p>would you ever consider switching fields? i could see you doing something writing online! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134723 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:01:07 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 134723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: I've put in a couple of other applications, but haven't heard anything. I'm not holding my breath, either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134721 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:59:28 +0000 Mrs. Bee 134721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: are there any other jobs that you are considering? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134716 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:47:28 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 134716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: It is within the pay grade for the job. I gave them a range that was within the pay grade, too, but higher within it. It doesn't sound like there's a lot of room for negotiation, because basically they're telling me salary from the get-go so that they don't "waste my time" by taking me through the interview process if I won't accept that salary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134714 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:44:10 +0000 yoursilverlining 134714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you countered their salary offer yet? Depending on the type of university job it is, you should be able to look up the actual salary (public record), often for several previous years, and see if they are low-balling you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134713 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:43:46 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 134713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: I don't think so. Traditional office hours. Perhaps I could negotiate a compressed workweek or something ... but that would still be nothing compared to what I have now. (But I *know* I'll never have anything like I have now.)</p> <p>I guess I wonder if I would constantly be looking elsewhere if I did take it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134706 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:36:45 +0000 Mrs. Bee 134706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>if it were me, i would take the job because i know i'm not cut out to be a sahm.</p> <p>would it be as flexible as your current position that lets you work from home and spend a little time with baby y? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lower-paying-job-vs-sahm#post-134701 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:29:33 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 134701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, what would you do in this situation? </p> <p>A potential employer wants to interview me for a job in our new city (we're moving in a few weeks). The problem? The pay is a lot lower than what I was expecting/hoped for. I would be tempted to write it off without much thought, but there are a few extenuating factors: the benefits are good (university job), it's a field I would probably do well to get more experience in, and well, I am kind of afraid of being a SAHM. On the other hand, though ... I would hate to lose almost half of my take-home pay to daycare, and it would suck to have to explain why I went so far backward in my salary history to any future potential employers. Almost doesn't seem worth it ... but maybe this is the reality of the economy now? I've been fairly sheltered from it so far...</p> <p>Thoughts? I'm bummed. </p>