Question

If you, or your Dh had a job that you werent happy at, but you had full benefits, and 401k, Would you take a job offer that was off the books doing something completely different but you know that you would enjoy doing it?

I work in an office, and someone offered me a job working for a contractor doing interior and exterior construction. This would be an entry level position....

What would you or your DH do? I dont know what I should do.

Scott

Re: Question

i wouldn't take it

it isn't steady work benefits and a 401K is very important

Re: Question

If this was my DH and this was a career choice for him, I would completely support him. I have a job with benefits so we could always use my medical insurance so I wouldn't be concerned about that but if I didn't have benefits, that is what would worry me.

Re: Question

Danielle has full benefits and 401k. Would it be possible to transfer my 401k over to her?
Scott

Re: Question

Re: Question

Message edited 2/6/2006 10:42:57 AM.

Re: Question

I'd love to answer that I'd follow my dream job, but the truth is I'm a wimp. I need job security with benefits - even though my husband has a job with full benefits for free. What I would do was take an off the books job as a part-time position doing the job until it came into a full fledged thing and I was sure it was going to pay off.

DH would probably do the same thing in terms of the p/t option, but he would not leave his job. It's a union job - he's got about 18 years in. We'd have to win lotto for him to quit those benefits.

Good luck - I know it's a hard decision. I do know people that started their own company and followed their dream. It certainly paid off for them and I hope it does the same for you.

Re: Question

no

Re: Question

It really depends...

Does DW have a steady job with medical benefits and a 401K?

Do you rely more on her salary than yours (at your current job) to pay bills?

Re: Question

If it were a similar job atmosphere, I would have concerns. But if it was something that he enjoyed doing and could lead to other opportunities, I would support his decision.

Re: Question

I would do it so long as one of us had the 401k and benefits. And I would double check, but I think that you can roll over your money to hers or just get an IRA and roll it over in that. Good luck! most people don't have the guts to do something like this, so I wish you much success and happiness!

Re: Question

Re: Question

Could you afford to keep up your bills if you didn't get paid for a few days? few weeks? months?

I would definitely support DH if he wanted to do something he actually liked...rather than complain about his office job that he was unhappy in, as long as I thought we could still afford to live. As for benefits...as long as one of you can pick them up through work, I wouldn't worry. Is Danielle tenured as a teacher? If not...what happens if she doesn't get tenure...you will both not have benefits or the option to get them?

Re: Question

Right now contractors are doing well, mostly because interest rates have been so low for so long, however, if the economy changes...

My FIL has been a kitchen designer for decades... while he has more business than he can handle today (and he's semi-retired) there were a lot of lean years... months would go buy and not much business, he would have to sue customers to get paid, etc. He said the 70's were rough.

Also, keep in mind what you would be doing is VERY physical. It's great for a young man but as you get into your late 30's and on it can take a toll. My contractor wears knee pads and has arthritis from crouching down doing plumbing work, etc. It's also a lot of heavy lifting. Anybody want to carry my jacuzzi tub upstairs?

Don't forget the elements... even if all of the work is inside if you are replacing windows, working in a basement, etc.... or in a gutted house it can get cold.

Personally, if I had a 401K... especially with matching with teachers don't have and health benefits that would be worth it.

Just things to keep in mind.

ETA: My father was a master carpenter before I was born but took a 50% paycut to join the phone company with full benefits. He couldn't take having a family w/o benefits or working regularly. I'm glad he did... I got a college scholarship and braces

Message edited 2/6/2006 10:58:37 AM.

Re: Question

Please do not take offense to this. This is only my own opinion in what I would do.

In all honesty, I wouldn't do it. You just bought a house, you are in the process of fixing it up and decorating it. You're a newlywed, maybe you are thinking of starting a family.
Right now, I would stay where I was or get a *new* job where I knew my salary and benefits (days off, hours, etc ...). I'm not saying you should be unhappy, but I think you should look for something that will provide securoty for your family. If you do have a baby, wil your wife stay home? How much is daycare? Etc ...
I'd weigh my options and really look at my savings, my benefits, my bills and debt before going to a friend's construction business. You aren't even positive of the regularity of his business.

Re: Question

You are right...Thank you for your honest opinion. I will have to weigh all the factors. I am sure when we have children, Danielle will want to stay home with them. I will discuss it with her tonight when she comes home, and see what she thinks I should do
Scott

Re: Question

It depends. If he REALLY hated his job and it was affecting his health (depression or something) or our relationship then yes, I'd want him to switch.

But the grass often isn't greener on the other side. I was in corporate direct marketing for a long time and had worked my way up the ladder and was very well respected and had a lot of responsibility. I earned more than DH, and he is well compensated. I decided it wasn't "fulfilling" and took a HUGE paycut to move into fundraising. The same BS that bothered me about working in a corporate environment was there in the non-profit sector. It was very eye opening for me, and reinforced the fact that it's called "work" for a reason. Otherwise we'd be going to "fun" every day.

Re: Question

Absolutely not, after the age of 25 no one should work off the books, it's too risky.

Re: Question

If one of was pretty secure in our job, I would do it & we were both ok with it, but workignoff teh books does make me a little nervous.

I would definitely find out as much as possible about the new job, so it doesn't turn out to be too good to be true.

I would also roll the 401K over into an IRA & make sure you can be added onto Danielle'sbenefits. Uualy it has to be during open enrollment or within 30 days of a qulifying 'life event' I would check to see if quitting your job qualifies as a "life event".

Re: Question

Right now my Dh has the full time job and the benefits and 401k. I just have a part time job. But he just applied for a part time job that he really wants, so if he gets it we lose all the benefits so i am going to go back to work full time. every once in a while you ahve to make a sacrifice for each other but if it makes each happy i think its worth it.

Re: Question

I wouldnt take it either. We're adults now and have a baby on the way, own a house, a boat...we need to have something with 401k and benefits.

Re: Question

I have great benefits and my DH left a job recently that made him miserable to take one that pays slightly less and I strongly encouraged it. I would also encourage him to leave if he wanted to do consulting or something and use my health insurance benefits. I am a firm believer in doing something that makes you happy, if you can support yourself doing it. My job's benefits are so good that I don't think even if we have children I will be able to give it up.

As other people mentioned, however, the problem I would have with your proposed job is that it is off the books. I would be concerned not only that you aren't getting benefits, but that you aren't paying into Social Security or disability. What is something happens and you get hurt? That is a real concern with contracting and would you be able to collect disability in that case, if you are off the books? This would worry me too much, and in this case, I would not encourage DH to take the job. Sorry Scott, JMO.

Re: Question

DH had a similar type opportunity a couple of years ago. But he is 15 years into a town job with awsome retirement and health benefits -- ones that can never be replaced by the insurance plan my company offers. He felt it would be irresponisble to switch jobs even though I supported the decision 100%.