big time help

**halloweenfreak** · 06-11-2006, 02:13 AM

my husband just informed me he wants to bid on another job at his work place. it is a salary job and pays every 2 weeks as opposed to every week like we're use to. i know he cant be a tire builder his entire life out there, as he's already wearing out after only 6 years. this new job will be alot less stressfull on his body, which im happy about, but (eek) its also a 10,000 dollar pay cut for the year. or about a 416 dollar cut a pay check.... i want to be happy for him because this also means a chance to move up in the company, but im also worried sick about the pay cut. i dont know if we can make it on what he might be making. he hasn't put in for it yet because he wanted my opinion first. do i tell him take it, we'll make ends meet somehow or do i tell him i know this job is hurting you, but we wont be able to make it otherwise?? i dont know what to do. IF i have everything calculated right, and IF i keep the same amount of bills we have right now, we might have 200 dollars left over every month for groceries, gas, emergencies and play money. we wont make it on that, gas alone will use all that and thats just counting his vehicle. advice PLEASE!

**Early Bird** · 06-11-2006, 07:46 AM

I'd review those calculations again and again. Have your DH work the numbers with you. Would your DH be willing to live a much more frugal life in order to take the job? Is there room for salary growth in the new position?

Could you sell a car and eliminate a payment? $200/month for gas, groceries, and entertainment sounds mighty tight -- okay for a very temporary situation, but not comfortable permanently.

Just from life, when my DH changed jobs within a company, it never meant a pay cut...is it because of the salary vs. overtime issue?

**guest32** · 06-11-2006, 09:02 AM

All I can tell you is that my dh did this. He took a drop in pay (I can't remember how much, is was 8 years ago) when he went to work for another company. But....his health was suffering and he was miserable at his other job. Both kids were in high school ($$$) and we had orthodontics, car payments, etc....but we just *had* to do it. Somehow it all worked out and we managed to get through till the raises kicked in and we got back on track. He worked his way up from that *fill in* position to regional manager, and has nearly doubled his salary. It could have never happened at the other company. His health and well being were priority because he was the breadwinner for our family. I hope you can make it work....can you work part time to fill in for awhile?

**starsapphire** · 06-11-2006, 10:27 AM

I can partly relate. My DH is in a job that just tears up his back every summer (busy season). I keep telling him he needs to get another job because nothing is more valuable than your health. And he's already injured his back before at a previous job. I think he's not ready to change jobs yet because he likes most of the other aspects of it. I'm just afraid that he won't change jobs until he REALLY injures himself and then its too late.

I think if you support him in this, he will be happier, healthier, and things will work themselves out like Mermaid said.

Just another big reason for us to get out of debt in case he gets another job and has to take a paycut or God forbid, injures himself again.

**PrairieRose** · 06-11-2006, 10:37 AM

Oooh boy, yeah we've been there and done that too. I have to echo the fact that it's extremely important to safeguard his health and mental well being first and foremost. We've taken the huge cut in pay and managed, although it wasn't easy. We grew in many ways and learned very much about ourselves. I think you'd learn to be even more creative in your frugality and finances. If you take the leap that your dh wants to take I really think you'll be richly rewarded in many ways. It's very scarey though, I know

**halloweenfreak** · 06-11-2006, 11:46 AM

well i told him i would go out and get a job, but neither one of us really wants that since we do have a 4 year old that we would have to find day care for. so i would mostly be wasting my pay check to pay for that. and we only have 2 vehicles, mine is paid off. but we've done the 1 vehicle thing for awhile and with a kid i dont feel safe being left afoot all day long, and since the hubbys job is so far away, its not an option for me to take him and pick him up. not to mention he rotates shifts so when school started that wouldn't work anyway. as for getting rid of some bills, the only luxory bills we have are the internet, security system and sat. dish, which only frees up about $130. well of course the credit card bills, but cant exactly dump those.... but i told him to bid on it. its not certain that he'll get it if he does bid, but i guess we'll manage somehow.

**halloweenfreak** · 06-11-2006, 11:54 AM

oh i forgot, its such a pay cut because tire building is the highest paying job in the company (except for the bigwig managers of course) because its so hard and so repetitive that people just cant stay there for that long. its hot, loud and a dangerous position to work. but they give you a quota and if you meet it or even fall under, you get a flat base pay. for every tire you build over that quota, then you get incentive pay. my husband is a very hard worker so he's always bringing home alot of incentive pay. he said he could turn into a slug and not work so hard and just bring home base pay, but that wouldn't look good on him either, since the supervisor thinks well enough of him to have my hubby fill in for him when he's gone.

**schellie69** · 06-11-2006, 01:24 PM

I have been in the place of the job i had was putting my body under so much stress, I left the job, it was tight and hard for my family but I am glad I did, unfortunaly i stayed to long and now have the medical bills to pay to correct all the health issues. Now my dh says he wished I had quit before I did, the money was a small thing, now I can't work and I am heading for surgery on June 14th I would look at the budget again, maybe there is a way to work a few hours somewhere when your husband is at home. call your internet and dish provider see if they have a lower plan or a better deal I did this and cut both my bills $20 each I know it does not sound like much but if you go through and see what you can cut, that money does add up. also, while he is still working at the tire job, stock pile anything that you use that you can get on sale or cheap, that way when money is tight you won't have to buy that stuff for awhile, what about over time is this a possiablity in the new job, I have 5 kids, and on most days I am with out a car, cutting the car has been a big money saver, insurance and gas plus tags, if I need a car i do take our roommate to work and use his car, I have a bicycle that i can use Maybe trading one of the cars for a moped or investing in one could help part of the time. also do you have friends or family close that if in an emegency could take you and your child to the doctor hospital ect. these are things to think about. also maybe you can sell somethings that you don't use at a garage sale, ebay or something like that. do you have a phone check you bill see if there are things on that you can cut, do you have long distance and if so how much do you use it is it something that the phone company might have a better and cheaper plan, also check water, electric and gas bill see if there are things that you can do to cut those bills, we are insulating our house to help lower our gas and electric bill. try and see what you can do before he gets the job to lower you bills maybe put more on some credit cards pay those off. just remember that sometimes health and mental health are more important then money. I know my medical bills are really hurting us now but we have no choice, i just wish i had quit before the stress and stain of the job did the damage that it did. but i always remember that this to shall pass. and it always does, and we are making it one day at a time...and so will you.

**pecunierrant** · 06-11-2006, 01:53 PM

Thats a large pay cut. Im just gonna toss some ideas your way, not sure if any will apply, but maybe something can help.

If its just a few months before he starts to get raises in pay, maybe you can go to a bare bones beans & rice kinda budget.

Is there any way to start paying down the credit card bills in a bigger way before the change takes effect?

Id recheck the grocery and eating out tab, I know I have more leeway there.

Is it possible to downsize homewise?

Id sell the car that has the loan on it and either buy a 2nd car with cash or do with a single car. If this saves you a couple of hundred or more a month it could be worth it, especially if its only for a half year or something along those lines.

If you need to work maybe you could go opposite shifts as DH or weekend work, part-time, etc.

I know how stressfull this is, we've been through it but DH had no choice in the matter at the time. It was a real struggle, we went down to one vehicle and DH worked over an hour away (gas costs went way up for this too). We walked to school and saved all errands and shopping for when we could use the car.
The savings in insurance, etc helped a lot. There was nothing for eating out or entertainment, luckily the park & library, etc. is free.

Good luck, it sounds like quite a challenge but better for your DH health.

**Early Bird** · 06-11-2006, 02:00 PM

Here's some inspiration for you:

http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspo...-part-one.html

Sounds like you'll never be down to just two eggs.

**Persimmon Lace** · 06-11-2006, 02:42 PM

My husband took a 40% cut in pay to take a job close to home. It was substantial but our family life is better because of it. The only thing is he hasn't gotten a raise in awhile but I have learned to live on a set income and we have still paid off debt. Sometimes health and happiness are more important than money.

**Telephus44** · 06-11-2006, 05:16 PM

I agree. My DH once had a job that he hated and flat out quite - we lived on my income alone for 9 months, but it was still worth it not to see him be totally miserable and physically ill at the end of the day.

I'm sure that you have probably looked at all the angles, but I'd also ask if there are any additional perks for going salary. I've had a salaried position for many years now, but DH just got his first one in April. Things like getting paid for lunch, not having to punch a clock, not getting docked in pay if you're 15 minutes late, not having sick days (if you're sick, you just stay home - but you still get paid for the day) are all perks that I enjoy (and use responsibly, of course). All of these can also make a work environment much easier to deal with, and he may be considering those benefits, too. I'd also ask if the benefits are the same (medical, dental, etc.) because I know sometimes they are the same, but sometimes they are different. Bonuses probably work differently, too.