4 ms·
The best way is simply not working full-time. Work part-time. I know you'll now come up with all sorts of excuses why it's hard/impossible. But hey, you want to
by perfunctory 8y ago
The best way is simply not working full-time. Work part-time. I know you'll now come up with all sorts of excuses why it's hard/impossible. But hey, you want to do a creative project. That implies you are a creative person. So get creative. I assume the partial loss of income is not a problem. Can't be in our industry. So go negotiate with your boss. Negotiate hard. Your boss can't agree because he needs someone to occupy a desk - work half a day. Trade other benefits. Get your colleagues on board. No luck - change jobs, become a freelancer. Hack, you could even become a freelancer at your own former employer. There are plenty of options. Get creative!
- scarecrowbob 8y agoI think it's incredibly hard to do this. But it's not impossible. I managed to do it; that's how I can afford to be a musician and play paying gigs. I had to negotiate a position at a very small firm, but I get a salary based on a 30h week and I've been doing that for several years now.
- magic_beans 8y ago> The best way is simply not working full-time I would LOVE this, but I can't get insurance or benefits this way (in the US).
- jcoffland 8y agoYou can buy your own insurance and save for your own retirement.
- mathgeek 8y ago> You can buy your own insurance Depending on where you live in the US, this can be more costly than it's worth (compared to group coverage).
- jcoffland 8y agoWith group coverage you are paying much more than you think. The cost to your employer could have been paid to you as wages. The best option for buying your own insurance is to buy the absolute minimum coverage with high deductible and HSA option. Then put money in the HSA and save on income taxes.
- dragonwriter 8y ago> The best option for buying your own insurance is to buy the absolute minimum coverage with high deductible and HSA option. It's probably the highest expected return, but the greatest exposure to downside risk (conversely, buying the near maximum coverage HMO plan is probably the lowest average return, but least exposure to downside risk.)
- qud 8y agoSo this is a stupid questions but, what's the importance of buying insurance? Is it mandatory or something? PS. I life in Australia
- codazoda 8y agoIt is mandatory in the U.S. as of a few years ago. There is around a $2,000 annual fine if you don't purchase insurance.
- baroffoos 8y agoMove to a better country.
- driverdan 8y agoWhy not? Make it part of salary negotiations.
- mk926 8y agoIf we do love this, I think we will eventually find a way. Just prepare for this.
- default-kramer 8y agoYep, I got this and I love it. Alternating one week on, one week off at about half my previous salary. I just released version 0.1 of a passion project, and now I think I'll take a break to practice bass guitar and play video games. It does sting a little bit to be saving so much less for retirement. On the other hand I wouldn't mind working part-time forever. I just hope age discrimination in tech isn't as widespread as some people say...
- snowisgone 8y agoCan you tell me more about how you did this? Would love to chat about this option because it's very appealing to me.
- default-kramer 8y agoI was the entire IT department at a small company. (Maybe 50% development; the rest management, sysadmin, and support.) I was pretty sure I could convince my bosses to allow it, since I perform well and am hard to replace. The only hard part was finding someone to share my job with me, because my bosses didn't want to increase my budget. Luckily someone in my network liked the idea, and now we share a job.
- frankhorrigan 8y agoYMMV, but: My previous employer told me part time w/ benefits was impossible. When I found a new job that offered part time w/ benefits, my previous employer made me a counter-offer: part time w/ benefits.
- onemoresoop 8y agoDid you take it?
- frankhorrigan 8y agoTook the new job. Wanted the chance to learn from new people. It was the right choice.
- snowisgone 8y agoHow did you find the job that offered part-time? Is there a list somewhere for this?
- frankhorrigan 8y agoHN Who's Hiring thread ~4 years ago.
- chadcmulligan 8y agoyes, this. I'm doing this and negotiating firmly is the key, but stick to your guns, be prepared to not get as much money as you could if you're full time, but if you have valuable skills then in the current market its certainly doable. They'll grumble a bit at first but once its a fact then life is smooth.
- _1fxn 8y agoHow much did you lose from your initial compensation? I am looking to do this, but I'm ~1 year in. How viable is this?
- chadcmulligan 8y agooh nothing hourly - just pro rata. But a lot of higher paying jobs are less flexible. The one I have now is a good balance - for me anyway.