[user104658]

Originally Posted by Lush

Honestly A, even if it meant working a minimum wage job.

Life is too short to be doing something you hate and there is nothing worse than a job where you're living in fear of going in every morning and simply living for the weekend.

I agree with that for a single people / couples but, unfortunately, as soon as kids enter the mix it goes out the window... as life on low income with kids is very, very hard and miserable in itself.

When my eldest was born I was in a crappy low paid job and it was awful... that fear of a bill etc. landing on the mat and knowing you'll struggle to pay it. I never worried about things like that when I was single and childless ... it was a case of "meh, whatever" and I'd just have moved back in with my dad or dossed on my sister's couch if worst came to worst. But yeah, low income with kids is horrible.

But I did / do hate the job honestly, and back then I swore I wouldn't do it for more than a few years. It's just that I got promoted, and then promoted again... so now it's 8 years later and I'm in a position where I *still* hate the job, which tbqfh is more or less the same as the basic role 90% of the time with a bit more responsibility and a few hours a week doing easy "management stuff", but - while we're not exactly loaded - we are comfortable for the time being and that's more important than me doing something I actually like. That said, we are working on it, my wife is at University and I should be able to break free when she qualifies in a year and a half's time .

Plus it could be a lot worse. I mean... I could do the job in my sleep (and sort of DO do it half asleep ) and it's comfortable and warm and an old lady always gives us snacks. I just low-key despise the dodgy smelly ****ers I have to converse with every day .

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I agree with that for a single people / couples but, unfortunately, as soon as kids enter the mix it goes out the window... as life on low income with kids is very, very hard and miserable in itself.

When my eldest was born I was in a crappy low paid job and it was awful... that fear of a bill etc. landing on the mat and knowing you'll struggle to pay it. I never worried about things like that when I was single and childless ... it was a case of "meh, whatever" and I'd just have moved back in with my dad or dossed on my sister's couch if worst came to worst. But yeah, low income with kids is horrible.

But I did / do hate the job honestly, and back then I swore I wouldn't do it for more than a few years. It's just that I got promoted, and then promoted again... so now it's 8 years later and I'm in a position where I *still* hate the job, which tbqfh is more or less the same as the basic role 90% of the time with a bit more responsibility and a few hours a week doing easy "management stuff", but - while we're not exactly loaded - we are comfortable for the time being and that's more important than me doing something I actually like. That said, we are working on it, my wife is at University and I should be able to break free when she qualifies in a year and a half's time .

Plus it could be a lot worse. I mean... I could do the job in my sleep (and sort of DO do it half asleep ) and it's comfortable and warm and an old lady always gives us snacks. I just low-key despise the dodgy smelly ****ers I have to converse with every day .

Yeah, all good points, and kind of similar to my situation really. I mean I don't hate my job but it's boring and samey but I couldn't cope with anyone telling me what to do so I'll stay here forever

[Lush]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I agree with that for a single people / couples but, unfortunately, as soon as kids enter the mix it goes out the window... as life on low income with kids is very, very hard and miserable in itself.

When my eldest was born I was in a crappy low paid job and it was awful... that fear of a bill etc. landing on the mat and knowing you'll struggle to pay it. I never worried about things like that when I was single and childless ... it was a case of "meh, whatever" and I'd just have moved back in with my dad or dossed on my sister's couch if worst came to worst. But yeah, low income with kids is horrible.

But I did / do hate the job honestly, and back then I swore I wouldn't do it for more than a few years. It's just that I got promoted, and then promoted again... so now it's 8 years later and I'm in a position where I *still* hate the job, which tbqfh is more or less the same as the basic role 90% of the time with a bit more responsibility and a few hours a week doing easy "management stuff", but - while we're not exactly loaded - we are comfortable for the time being and that's more important than me doing something I actually like. That said, we are working on it, my wife is at University and I should be able to break free when she qualifies in a year and a half's time .

Plus it could be a lot worse. I mean... I could do the job in my sleep (and sort of DO do it half asleep ) and it's comfortable and warm and an old lady always gives us snacks. I just low-key despise the dodgy smelly ****ers I have to converse with every day .

I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm talking from my own perspective, being single, living at home and having no commitments other than financing my car and saving money so I can go back to uni. However I can only imagine how hard it must be trying to support a family on minimum wage, while also trying to pay bills, rent and everything else that life throws in your way.

It's good to hear you're at least getting somewhere in your job and it's not totally dead end, but the feeling of doing the same thing every day and almost feeling like you're "above" the work you do is a horrible feeling and one I can kind of relate to as well.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Lush

It's good to hear you're at least getting somewhere in your job and it's not totally dead end, but the feeling of doing the same thing every day and almost feeling like you're "above" the work you do is a horrible feeling and one I can kind of relate to as well.

Well, it pretty much IS dead-end at this point, there's very little scope for progression beyond where I am now. Not without committing a lot of time, effort and enthusiasm and I guess a real interest and passion for the industry that I just don't have. To be honest even if you have that there are few positions and they only come up every couple of years; I know guys who have been slogging their guts out trying to progress and getting nowhere.

But yeah, two more years and I'm out! Hopefully . And I'll still be 4 months off working for them for 10 years so I consider that a win . Maybe I'll stick around a few months, get my 10 year bonus (it's £100 of Amazon vouchers. Not even joking...) and then tell them to stick it .