Hot take: I turned down a $15k raise to stay at my current job

Ngl everyone thought I was crazy when I told them. Last month I got an offer from a competitor in Austin for 15k more plus a bonus. But I looked at the commute, it would have been 45 minutes each way in traffic. I work from home two days a week now and my kid gets off the bus at 3:30. The extra money just wasn't worth missing that time with him. Has anyone else passed on a bigger paycheck for something that mattered more?

2 comments

2 Comments

hill.sarah26d ago

What was the commute like though? I turned down cash for fewer hours and it was worth it.

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gray_nelson25d ago

@hill.sarah I get what you're saying about trading cash for time, but I really don't see it the same way. Your point about the commute being worth it just doesn't click for me. I've had jobs where I took less money for fewer hours and it honestly made my life harder, not easier. The extra time is nice but not if it means stressing over bills or missing out on stuff my kids need. Some people can make that trade work, but I think it's way more about what you're actually giving up than just clocking out early. To me, cash gives you options, and fewer hours doesn't always mean less stress if you're scrambling to make ends meet.