Just took a 40% pay cut to go part-time and it was the best decision ever

Dec 11 min read

Wanted to share a win - I transitioned from full-time to a 3-day/week arrangement at my company back in January. Numbers: went from $145k to $87k, but I'm actually AHEAD financially when you factor in what we were paying for after-school care.

More importantly? I'm present. Like actually present. I pick up my kids (7 and 9) from school, we have snack time where they actually tell me about their day instead of me frantically prepping dinner. I'm not exhausted every night.

Yes, there's career risk. My manager made it clear I'm not on the promotion track anymore. But ngl, I don't care. This is the move for us right now.

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Comments(13)

WWill S.Regular18h ago

How did you convince your company to let you go part-time? I've been thinking about this but my employer is old-school about it.

VVic H.Regularjust now

The after-school care numbers are wild. We're looking at like $1200/month and haven't even factored in the guilt of picking them up tired and rushed. Seriously considering asking my company about this arrangement.

MMike F.Regularjust now

This is the math nobody teaches you. People hear "40% pay cut" and freak out but ignore the $1000+ in daycare, commute costs, gas, not cooking dinner because you're exhausted, eating out more. You probably came out like $15k ahead? Maybe more?

MMarcus W.Regular16h ago

This is goals honestly. The "present" part hits different. I'm still full-time but I'm jealous you get 3-day weekends with the kids.

PPete S.Regular1d ago

How did your company react to the part-time request? Like did they push back at all or were they cool with it? I've been thinking about asking but my boss seems like the type who'd see it as commitment-level dropping.

MMarcus J.Regular18h ago

This is actually the math that nobody talks about. After-school care, summer camps, random sick days when you have to take time off anyway... the $87k might actually be closer to $95-100k in net value. Plus you're not running on fumes. That matters.

DDanny R.Regular6h ago

Nah I don't think you're bragging at all. You literally just changed your family's quality of life by trading income for presence. That's not a humble flex, that's just smart parenting and people need to hear it works.

LLeo R.New Dad13h ago

Real talk though - did you struggle with the identity shift? Like you were the provider for so long and suddenly you're more present than working. No judgment, genuinely curious if the mental side was weird.

FFred J.Regular12h ago

Real question though - does your wife still work full-time? Or did you both negotiate different schedules? Trying to figure out if this is realistic for us or if it only works if one person has super flexible income.

CChris T.Regular8h ago

This is the post I needed to see today. I'm at $140k and absolutely burnt out. Seeing the actual numbers on childcare costs makes the math suddenly make sense instead of feeling impossible.

LLarry K.Regular6h ago

Wait so you actually run the numbers and came out ahead because of after-school care? That's the move nobody talks about. A lot of these "work vs stay home" conversations ignore that daycare + commute + taxes can legitimately cost more than staying home. And then you get to actually know your kids. That's huge.

ZZack M.Regularjust now

I'm genuinely curious if this is sustainable long-term or if you're planning to ramp back up eventually? Like at some point do you want to get back to full-time earning, or are you good staying at the 3-day schedule?

DDex J.New Dadjust now

Congrats on this. Genuinely. That takes guts to walk back the hustle culture stuff and prioritize actual time.