Have You Ever Thought About Quitting Your Job?

I once read about a woman who calculated the "cost" of the second income. It was enlightening. By the time she added in the cost of child care (for 2 kids), her professional wardrobe & haircare, lunches out, transportation costs, and other misc. expenses, she was working for less than half of minimum wage. She ultimately decided that by tightening the family belt, and carefully scrutinizing their expenses, they could, indeed, live without the income from her 9-5 job. Yes, it can be done.

I certainly understand the philosophy of the safety net: it would indeed be frightening to have the sole income provider of the family laid off. For those people whose jobs are less certain or lucrative, a dual income family is a good hedge. That or a substantial savings account to tide you over while looking for new employment.

Gee Lauren, great post.

I, I, I feel like we wrote three columns on this in 1981

Cheer up, Lauren. Think core.

My wife often thinks about quiting, unfortunatly as she earns a whole lot more than me it's not really an option, yet anways.

interesting link, i get tired of frugal living blogs that preach against working moms.

Ugh - I would love to quit - but I own my own business - I would be letting so many people down!

I only hope in 2009 I can learn to better balance the work-life connection and try and be thankful that I have a decent business...

I think that looking for another way to supplement income is a better route before quitting. Starting a home-based or internet business that compliments your work experience is a road that a lot of people have taken. There's the fear of quitting but then there is also the possibility that anyone can be a casualty in this world of layoffs.

www.startupbiztalk.com

Dear Mrs. Young,

pls do not ever think of quitting.
You are outstanding. I like your work ethic, the interviews; your hard deep research; and that you are really showing empathy.

You also represent the high standard of Business Week. You are needed more then ever.
Pls stay and even extend the areas you cover.
Kr,
Dipl.BW(FH) Elizabeth M. Zeilbeck,Munich

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill
A positive vision geared towards the future has prevented me from calling in quits several times. I am a college student who works part-time but I know I have a very bright future ahead of me. Knowing that things will get better, and taking the steps to expedite or facilitate that process is invigorating. I feel in control of my future. I set goals in order to get closer to what i ultimately want in life and am empowered every time I accomplish one, as I get another step closer to my ultimate success. Financial freedom is key, and by knowing this, I am taking the steps necessary to ensure that I never become a slave to my paycheck. Money will never adversely affect my demeanor, ethics or goals. If i find myself working for someone who is illegitimate, unconscionable and unethical, I will take my hard earned skills elsewhere and employ them somewhere they can be used to create something great and extremely beneficial to society. I have enormous dreams, and the fact that they cannot be denied gives me the power to persistently work hard regardless of how dire a given situation may be. "I have learned that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to the live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." --Henry David Thoreau

If your husband is a lawyer, who's firm is doing 'well' then you can afford to be a stay at home mom. I quit my professional 'sales' position when my daughter was 2 and although the transition was difficult, that decision was the best decision that I have ever made in my life. Being a MOM is the best. What you are able to give to your family, community and neighborhood is priceless. The value of stay at home mom's is too huge to measure, and yet America discounts it's value to zero. My daughter is in high school and I have just returned to the work force to have the money to put her through college. (another gift that I think parents owe their children)

Well, Lauren, if you do decide to quit, here's a way to make it memorable: www.leavethecompany.com.

Seriously, it is probably not the best time to take risks.