4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[missuscluck]

Im going to have a ramble now. Bear with me

 

I have been giving some serious thought to changing what we do for a living recently. My hubby and I run our own business and we have been doing so for 18 years.

We have built it up to be successful and it pays all our bills nicley which only serves to make the choice more difficult.

 

The thing is, we have done what we do for a long time now so it can be quite mundane, and hubby works very hard manually. We deal with the general public on a regular basis and whilst most folks are very nice there is a definate shift towards people being extreamly stressed out in life and wanting the earth delivered right now..on a plate...with bows on! I guess that is just the nature of modern living .

 

What we have considered doing is selling up the business, pay off the dreaded mortgage and find something else to do, preferably in an agricultural vein. I realise this would mean starting up a whole new buisiness from scratch which is always an uphill struggle, but may well be worth it for the satisfaction.

 

I guess sometimes you have to stop and think about your quality of life. Yes, you cant live on fresh air (unfortunatley) but could we survive and be happier in our day to day lives .

 

I wondered if any of you had had made any major life changes, and how things had worked for you. Did you make the right decision, or do you regret the choice you made. Have any of you given up stressfull or uninteresting jobs and found yourselves far happier doing something compleatly different, even if it paid you less.

[Mutrix Farmers]

I now how you feel! OH has worked for the same company for 20 years, I've been with my employer for 18 years. We feel stuck in a rut, albeit a secure one!! We'd love to have a change but are a bit too scared (we're cowards when it comes to financial risk!!)

 

A friend of mine is facing redundancy (or a huge drop in salary and more hours to keep his job!!) but he is thinking of taking the leap to become self employed. The same thing happened to a mutual friend a couple of years ago (gentleman in his late forties) and he says the change was the best thing that could have happened for him.

 

You've set up one business, you know the pitfalls, and how much work it entails. As you say quality of life is what counts.

 

Wishing all the very best whatever you decide!

[Olly]

I haven't gone for self-employment, but I do believe that taking risks is what makes life more satisfying, and sometimes you have to take risks to move on.

 

I gave up a 'safe' job, a settled group of friends and a house with a fairly small mortgage to move to London 11 years ago. I took on a huge mortgage (in comparison), a run-down house, a job in which I was on probation for six months and could have been chucked out, and I only knew one person living within a five-mile radius of my new home.

 

It paid off a hundredfold and my life now is much better than if I'd stayed in 'safe but boring'. Life's not a dress-rehearsal - do you want to spend another 20 years doing what you are doing now? I'd say go for it, with some careful planning of course.

[Snowy]

I agree with Olly, life is not a rehearsal! You do have to decide what is more important sometimes and if that means drastic changes, so be it! Good luck with whatever you decide

[Egluntyne]

Best of luck.

 

 

If I was 10 years yonger............

[Paola]

OH left a secure well paid job to start his own business about 4 years ago, which is very successful. He had to do it as he felt that he could not be in the same job wondering what if. We are now looking to sell the business early next year and move to Italy, no mortgage, better quality of life for the family, land (something we cannot afford here) and more chickens As others have said, this is no dress rehearsal

Edited June 23, 2008 by Guest

[cammy73]

I left a very safe job for another very safe job....but I had to take a BIG pay cut and as i'd done my first job for over 13 years it was a big step moving to a profession that I knew nothing about. But now 4 years on, I am happier than I could ever imagined and would say to anyone, if you feel that you need a new challenge or are stuck in a rut.. go for it, you only live once....

 

Good luck whatever you decide to do....

 

Sharon x

[Looney]

Always hard to make big changes. My OH left an established job in a very unusual trade (i.e. not transferable) so that he didn't have to commute to London and back every day as we were expecting our first baby.

 

The new job seemed perfect in all ways apart from he would miss what he used to do for a living. It was a few minutes from home, pension scheme, car, health care, decent wage etc etc....

 

....six months down the line they have made him redundant and he is now job hunting again On the positive side he is enjoying spending time with his 11 week old son but he feels extra pressure to get a job quickly. We may also have to decide that I go back to work full time and he stays at home to look after our baby if he can't get a job that pays enough to balance my loss in earnings plus nursery fees.

 

You have to make changes though and fear of change often stops people doing what they really want and they regret it later on. Obviously there are always risks mind you...

[Tiggy]

I made a move 9 months ago, OK from one job to another in the same proffession but it was in a different area where I hadn't roots/friends/contacts but it was the best thing I ever did,

[Christian]

We moved to the country 2 years ago and love it!

 

Granted, no change in job, but we are still a fair way from family and friends.

 

The job thing is the biggest hurdle, but as you have already made a go at one business and succeeded, another can't be that much of a daunting task?

 

Wish you all the best

 

 

 

[Lesley]

We moved to the farm two years ago - but also kept our jobs as they pay the mortgage

 

The farm was almost on our doorstep, so we didn't have to change things too drastically. It's not ideal but we are hoping that part of the work balance will change soon and we will be doing a much more agricultural thing than we are now.

 

Change is scary - but you won't know unless you try.......

[chelsea]

 

Change is scary - but you won't know unless you try.......

 

completely agree.

 

most people dont like change or risks. 5 years ago I saw a cottage in the scottish highlands with land for £50k. We would have been mortgage free but hubby was too scared to go for it regretting it big time now (as its proabably tripled in value) and I remind OH of his mistake all the time!

 

I agree with you how stressful and demanding serving the general public is these days.

 

I really think you should go for your dream, then 20 years down the line there will be no "if onlys" "i wish" or "buts", you are young enough to do it.

 

-----

 

So sorry to hear about your hubby Lorna - hope he gets a new job soon.

[Cate in NZ]

I agree with all the responses so far. Change can be scary, and it takes a lot of planning and flexibility, as well as courage, but sometimes it really is worth grabbing the bull by the horns and making the change when the opportunity presents itself. It's already been said, so I know I'm not being original, but it is true you know.....life really isn't a dress rehearsal

 

Weigh up the risks, work out what you really want to achieve and go for it ........oh, and wishing you loads of good luck with it.

[MedusA]

Last year, after 20 lovely years and one, final, hellish year in the NHS, I took voluntary early retirement. It was a tough decision to do this rather than fight with 4 other people for the 2 jobs (instead of 5) which the powers that be saw fit to reduce our team to. Never mind that they have now realised their mistake and seconded two more people back into the team!!!

 

My "salary" has dropped from around £31,000 a year to less than £6,000 and I have never been happier! I can manage on this as I had a good lump sum, reasonable savings and my outgoings are very small. It gives me the freedom to do things that I love - my stained glass, looking after my 2 allotments, my garden, my bunny and my girls (the chooks). I am always busy and wonder how I ever found the time to work full-time. The fresh air and exercise are much better for me than working in a stuffy hospital. I have no regrets!

 

I'm not saying "Give it all up", just that change can be a good thing. Even if it is scary!

[Joojoo]

I can't offer you any good advice hun but just wanted to say that whatever you do I hope it works out well for you all

[Snowy]

Me too Medusa. Gave up a well paid job (but very stressful) when I got pregnant with no2. Went self employed, massive drop in earnings (because I only work when I want too!) but also means I can diversify and do more gardening and crafty stuff and spend lots of time with the children. Love it! Never been happier! (even when we are skint which is most of the time! )

[missuscluck]

Thanks so much for all your replies. OH and I have sat together and read them all through. Life is too short isnt it and no matter how hard you plan you just dont know whats comming anyway.

[Tina C]

You never regret what you do, you only regret what you don't do.

 

Go for it.

[Rhapsody]

Thats deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep Tina!

[Tina C]

No it isn't - its a simple philosophy and it works every time for me

[Ardene5]

Hi

Well it comes to us all at some time or other that step in the dark and what to do.

I have found that life can change for the better in health and within your marriage if you can take that leap.

I had worked for 33+ yrs for a firm who then said we do not need you so took early retirement @ 52.

Yes it took 18 months to get over the pressure from the work , but now with the hens, ducklings, dogs, 2 children and a lovely caring wife I do not miss it at all.

Who every gets the chance to change jobs or retire early I would say go for it.

You could always find a part time job to suite you to help not waisting hard saved money.

We would love to move to a small holding and live off the land it might be hard work but it would be so rewarding.

 

Best regards

 

Ian & Valerie

William & Harry

Missy & Millie dogs

5 ex battery Hens

3 ducklings

[poachedegg]

OH gave up a well paid job about 3 years ago after working away and long hours for all our married life to start his own business..........it is the best thing he ever did!!

 

No red tape, no office politics, no having to ask for days off for sports days and assemblies etc, "Ooops, word censored!"ody to answer too (well, except me ). We initally had to watch our pennies, but the business has built up nicely.

 

Don't get me wrong it hasn't been really easy and he has had to work hard, however, after years for working for other people, the confidence it gives you knowing that this is your business and the new skills you learn along the way......We feel we could take on practically anything now!

 

After 3 years of working from an office at home, yesterday he moved into his own office (and he is really quite pleased with himself!! Oh and I get the house back to myself during the day ).

 

Our philosophy when making decisions is - what is the worse case scenario and could we deal with it? If so we go for it!

 

Good luck!

[Louise]

I moved back to Scotland 8 years ago and don't regret it at all

 

I was in a very stressful job living in a city I hated (Oxford) and so far away from my family

 

I got offered a job near Edinburgh it wasn't paying more than I was earning already in fact for the first couple of years I was earning less

 

I now live right on the edge of the river Tweed and no matter how abd a day I have the journey home is sooooooo relaxing

 

I rarely go away for holidays because where I live is so nice

 

Work can still be a pain and stressful but alot less than before mind you I have a major Audit today so that won't be any fun

 

I would have regretted not moving if I hadn't done I don't have as many friends as I used to have on the doorstep but there are still people nearby who I call friends and it is always a good excuse for a holiday when people come to see me