edtb t1_j29bscl wrote on December 30, 2022 at 4:16 PM

You can look at different jobs and openings currently it won't hurt anything. But as it seems you know the grass isn't always greener on the other side. There you may take an increase in pay but what else will you get with a different company that y don't know about yet? I considered taking a different job with a 40% raise. But after interviews and talking with different people there I decided it's not worth going to a more restrictive company. As you said your boss is very flexible. I think you'll have a hard time finding that again.

pookiewook OP t1_j29ia4t wrote on December 30, 2022 at 4:58 PM

This is what I think too. And making even $20k more isn’t worth loosing that flexibility to me, at least at this stage of my life.

mrhitman83 t1_j2bl8wx wrote on December 31, 2022 at 1:16 AM

It sounds like you value time and flexibility more than additional money. Overall there seems to be more to lose (flexibility and time) than gain (money) by switching jobs. You could always look but here’s my advice as someone who took more pay with less flexibility. Be extremely open and upfront about what you want, this is as much a part of interviewing and negotiation as the salary. Explain what’s important to you as far as flexibility, and if you take the job, hold them to it.

When recruiters contact me there’s two things that I find out before having a conversation, what’s the pay and what’s the flexibility/PTO like, they like to stretch the truth but it at least saves us both some trouble.

P.S. You hit on the marginal utility of money, it’s a good economic concept to be familiar with. Essentially, the 99th to 100th bite of dessert is minimally better, but that first bite is wonderful. The $20,000 more won’t make a big difference if you already make 250-300k, but if you only make $10,000, $20,000 more is a massive improvement in your life.

deathleech t1_j2elswz wrote on December 31, 2022 at 6:13 PM

I’ve never understood why people who are financially stable and better off than most of the US come on this sub and ask questions with super easy answers. You’re a thriving adult with a good job and saving the max into retirement each year. Surely you can decide if you should look for another job or stick with your current company without asking a bunch of strangers their opinions?

Look at jobs, see what is available, even apply and get offers and if the pay is not significantly better, or the work life balance is much worse, don’t take it? Simple as that. As for wanting to do a renovation, stop paying so much money into your retirement for even a year, pay off the mini van, then take that extra cash from both and set it aside so you can do the renovation in a yea or two?