Non car related question for my local buddies

[Knuckle Dragger]

OK, a lot of you guys I've personally met seem to have your thoughts straight so I'm asking for some man to man advise.

Would you walk away from a fairly lucrative job you don't care to do anymore for a position that pays a substantially lower wage to be happier?

Right now I work flat rate in the used car department of a Ford dealer. I feel like I give away a little piece of my soul everyday with the personal and professional compromises I make. I'm so unhappy there these day I practically dare them to fire me weekly. But it makes (or did make) a lot of money. I could move to another similar position working the retail side of the shop at another dealer, but the a county maintenance facility has all but offered me a job. It's a lot less money, like bare bones, kid comes out of the private school, no more modifications to the car, let's eat mac and cheese for diner money. Steady money, that's not subject to a failing economy or fickle public spending like the flat rate commission is. It will improve in a year or so when the youngest comes out of preschool, and the raises go into effect. But no doubt it's going to be hard on the whole family for a bit. If I go I feel like a failure to my kids and wife because I have always been able to provide at least a little more than we need. But if I don't the long term retirement and probably my health is going to suffer. Where I'm at my income has dropped about 21% in the last two years, with no real hope it's going to come back. Gas is up, what 50% and my health care just jumped 19%. I'm ready to worry about doing the job and not what the book pays, knowing my pay and befits are stable.

What are your thoughts?


Sorry for the Dr. Phil post, I just don't have a lot of people in my life I can sound things off with. My wife will support me in what ever I do, but she's a bit worried too.

 

[Batman]

I take it the County isn't going to up their offer? How much lower (percentage-wise) would you be making? Are the hours better? Would you be able to do side jobs to help with the difference, and would you have the time? How far is the commute compared to Fritts? Bottom line it that it's your call. While family comes first, don't ever forget that you're part of the family.

 

[rgearhead]

wow sorry to here this is turning out to be a dead end stress filled whole,,,, well dave ondly you know what $$ money wise you can live with at least for a short while,,,now every thing i have ever heard about you in the last year on this site is dave is a hussler and bust his ass guy (verry highly reguarded) so im dead nuts on your gona do good ,,but dont rush from a bad job aka shiet hole to end up in another bad job ,,go along best you can till you find a place thats really good for you+employer,,,,it took me 14 years to get the job i now have and i love it i acutally like going to work because they respect me,,,and what i know,,,,

 

[tom3]

Have a good friend who worked for a bigger GM place. Got really fed up with faking "Certified Used" cars knowing they had problems that would cost money down the road. (I didn't know you can temporarily fix a lot of stuff in a late automatic tranny by reprogramming the ECM) Quit and got a job for about half the money, building houses for a family type outfit. Got a whole new lease on life from what I can tell. If the glove don't fit, git.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

I take it the County isn't going to up their offer? How much lower (percentage-wise) would you be making? Are the hours better? Would you be able to do side jobs to help with the difference, and would you have the time? How far is the commute compared to Fritts? Bottom line it that it's your call. While family comes first, don't ever forget that you're part of the family.

They are going to try to get tier two which is about the the same as I'm guaranteed at Fritts. I'll bet there isn't a bunch of overtime available so the hours will be less than the 60+ I do when we're busy with Ford. I'll be all over the OT if it's offered. Right now the commute is about 20 miles more, but they say once I get the swing of the system they are going to try to get me into the San Marcos facility that is the same as I drive now.

No doubts about it, I'll be working a second job on Saturdays. The county provides all my tools, so my personal stuff can get left at another shop for part time work. I'd rather do side work, but I have found that tends to be a feast or famine type of deal.

 

[April81Z28]

Okay, how about a little woman to man advice?

I worked at a job I HATED. There's nothing worse than getting out of bed dreading the day beause you hate the assholes you have to deal with on a daily basis. Your health suffers, your attitude suffers and your whole quality of life suffers. Including family time - because you are so miserable at work it inevitably comes home with you to a certain extent, no matter how hard you may try to leave it at the door when you leave work.

That being said, don't jump at the first thing that comes along just to get out of there - UNLESS it's something you think you are going to like better. Leave the money out of the equation for the moment. Working conditions, people you have to deal with, flexibility in doing the job, pressure (I would thing the dealer would be a higher pressure situation), expectations of the employer, etc. Weigh those carefully. It isn't worth making a move if you aren't going to be happier doing what you do with the people you're going to be working with.

Okay, NOW factor in the salary, benefits, retirement, vacation time. Salary is lower, but are the benefits better? Do you even have retirement at the dealer? Is the vacation policy better with the county? Sit down with a realistic budget of what you spend now and see if it even makes economic sense to consider making this move. If you can cut some here and nip some there in the current budget and make it work....go for it. It will probably end up being a temporary set back money-wise. Been there and done that myself. But in the long run, it's your health and happiness and that of your family that matters. And with the way things were going at Fritts, how much MORE would they end up taking away from you money-wise?

And whatever you do, don't go feeling like less of a man or a poorer provider for your family. If you end up dead from the stress at Fritts - you're no provider at all. You're very lucky in that you have a wife who supports your decision. And I'm sure also plays a very active role in making this decision. Sometimes you need to take a step backward to REALLY move ahead.

 

[Kunihiro]

Dave,

I just read your e-mail this morning and responded with a very lengthy return.

Please read it and digest it for what it's worth.

Now, I've never met April81Z28, but I would agree with her. Money is important in anyone's life, but it should not be a primary consideration.

We can all pontificate til the end of time about these types of issues and some people don't mind being miserable and making a lot of money, but I'm sure they are far and few in between.

All the points made by April (Is that her real name?) are all true and very important things to consider.

There is always a happy medium somewhere in terms of enjoying your job, your life, $$, providing for your family and and a bunch of other things. Just gotta find it....IF WE ALL KNEW WHERE TO FIND IT,,,,THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM..

Now, on a more jovial note, if you weren't so uppity, thinkin' your better than we are and you showed up at the Hooter's run, we would have all been able to discuss this with you in person....... You were probably a little scared of us after that goofball April fools stunt you pulled on us,,,HUH!!!!

Allen

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

Now, on a more jovial note, if you weren't so uppity, thinkin' your better than we are and you showed up at the Hooter's run, we would have all been able to discuss this with you in person....... You were probably a little scared of us after that goofball April fools stunt you pulled on us,,,HUH!!!!

Allen

DAMN, ouch that hurt. Actually Allen, I was in fact a little depressed due to some shady crap that went on at work the week before. I figured I'd end up whining to anyone that would listen so I decided to stay home a feel sorry for myself. I am considering the cool running Camaro's run next weekend.

How is the car running these days, cool as a cucumber?

 

[Marks71BB]

Yes Allen her name is April, April Lee. both of you are well spoken I must say.

Dave,
sometimes you have to follow your heart. First crunch some numbers and see can you survive on the lower wage? I gave up a 75k/yr job to move to the mountians and get out of the bay area. I wound up making under 50k, but I am now a homeowner. We had to live on a shoestring for a couple of years but our lives are so much better now and we have no regrets. I have since then(2000) recieved wage increases and am doing well.

If you have to take a step bakwards to go two steps forward its OK to do so.
I have been at jobs like you speak of where you dread getting out of bed and going to but ya do it cuz ya have to. Botton line is, if you dont have to, dont do it. You will be happier in the long run.

I wish you sucess in life whatever it is you choose to do. Remember success is not defined in dollars in yer pocket

 

[Kunihiro]

Mark,

Thanks for your kind words. I saw that April posts a lot here in the CA. section, I thought there might be some type of nexus as to where she lives and us CA folks....

Dave,

I hope my e-mail was informative and not too confusing for you.

Meeting with group members, in any forum, is a good way to meet and connect with people you feel comfortable with. I can only speak for myself, but you should never feel like you can't discuss something other than cars, when we get together as a group.

Remember, in my line of work, we're always on the receiving (listening) end of other peoples concerns. I don't like to use the word "problems", I like to view them as "concerns and issues."

I drove the car around town today and it is running cooler than what it was.....it's really good on the streets, and looks like it ran around 190-200 on the freeway....

Allen