Career changes

Anonymous

Career changes

Hi IMs and IDs,
Hoping to get some advice, and some direction down the right path.
Last night, my husband opened up to me about how he is feeling. I knew something had been off for the last couple of months, but with everything going on I thought he was just going through a stressful time.
We are a young married couple, 2 children, a mortgage, and a one income wage as we are close to having a 3rd surprise baby.
We live week to week, we manage just fine, our mortgage gets paid, food on the table, minimal savings in a separate account for bills and just in case.
The problem is, my husband feels like he is busting his butt and getting nowhere.
He is in a trade that that isn't paid well, but he is damn good at what he does. He is paid a better wage for his trade than anyone else we know, but it is still minimal wage. He is quite depressed about the fact that he can't give us all more (not that I expect it) and he is very much over his trade.
He wants to do something different with more money involved. The one thing he does want to do, is become a mature age apprentice, but to do this we would lose at the least $200 a week. He refuses to put us in that situation, and said he would prefer to continue working and pushing on, than to put us in a bad situation.
I feel helpless, I want to help! When we brought the house, the plan was for me to find work and start paying off the house quickly, but that obviously hasn't gone to plan.
I want him to be happy, I hate seeing him like this, he is a loving father, a great husband and my best friend.
I should include, where we live there isn't a lot of options available, so I am at a loss on what to do.
Any suggestions? Sorry about the long post.

Posted in:  Life Lessons, IM's In Business, Money

3 Replies

Anonymous

I am in a similar situation. My partner is paid a good wage for his trade aswell but it is still a trade that isn't paid well either. We plan to stick it out for a few more years until the kids are a bit older as we have a baby and toddler at the moment then when first one goes to kindy I will be returning to work which will enable him to persue a different career because we will have 2 wages coming in again. Congrats on the surprise baby too! Xx

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Anonymous

Yeah its tough when the main income earner hates their job but feels stuck because of commitments. (mortgage etc)
Explain to him that his happiness is worth far more than his income. If he wants to do an apprentiship you will find a (budget) way of making it work for a few years.
If its more money he is after and he has some sort of mechanical trade then coal mines pay big bucks. Just an idea.

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Ce'Nedra Bramich

Okay this is a big leap for you I'm sure, but what about moving to a mining town? My husband (23) and myself (21) live in Mount Isa and earn $170,000 at the mine here. He works 4/4 days and nights, I work 8/6 days only. Pm me on Facebook if you like :)

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