A job that pays really well but you can take only 3 weeks vacation per year maximum (all 3 weeks paid) but you can only take 2 weeks at a single time OR a job that let's you take 5 weeks off a year..2 weeks paid and the rest unpaid, you can take all at once if you so wish but the job pays less.
Posts: 141 | Location: Irvine, CA | Registered: 13 February 2008
Hi, I would take any of the jobs, but I would take with more pleasure a job that has 5 weeks vacation paid (my husband just got this in a new job and I believe this is great since he still has a good salary and it is a European company, so they know how to live better and take a break).
At my work I can take 3 weeks paid and could take 5-12 weeks unpaid (my choice), and now that I have a child I am thinking of taking both. Since my revenue is now second anyway, I think, I could manage with less money.
Now, this is something I would never do when I was younger or even in a couple, but I am just so exhausted most of the time, that no money could compensate a good vacation.
I would take the jobs and have a wonderful two weeks. Save up as I go and then when I retire use all those savings for the trips I didn't get to go on while working. You can never have too much money saved for the later years!
Can you afford going on holidays for 5 weeks with the salary of the "5 weeks" job? This is the question! I had a 6 months off job for years but during the first years I didn't make enough money to do anything during my 6 months off... now it's the other way round: I have a 12 months job and plenty of money to go on holiday.. there must be something wrong
Other then that it depends on how expensive your holidays are. Plenty of people would just grab a backpack and go hiking in the national parks etc. If you live close enough the cost to go on holiday isn't very high.
My husband is retired, no problem there. We started this year in Venice, returned to San Francisco the last week of January; then I worked hard and long hours for three months; then the next three months here in Paris (going home to San Francisco the end of next week); work again for another three months; and then three months in Venezia for thanksgiving, christmas and new year.
I get paid 4 week vacation, the rest is unpaid. It takes a lot of budgeting but we are living the life we prefer.
Posts: 458 | Location: san francisco but so excited being in Venezia for the holidays!! | Registered: 22 April 2005
In all honesty, I'd take the job where I'd be more likely to begin and end the day with a smile on my face. Vacations and travel are lovely, but I spend a hell of a lot more of my life working than vacationing, even given the three weeks difference given in the question.
I would agree with Amy. Maybe both jobs are the same, in which case I would go for more leave but if not, go with the one which makes you happy day to day.
Originally posted by Amy: In all honesty, I'd take the job where I'd be more likely to begin and end the day with a smile on my face. Vacations and travel are lovely, but I spend a hell of a lot more of my life working than vacationing, even given the three weeks difference given in the question.
Amy, I am with you! For a year I worked in a job where I had five weeks vacation, really great benefits, 37.5 hour work week, subsidized cafeteria, etc. I even had a company car for a few months. But I was miserable! I hated the job and I really didn't like the people, which meant that every day I was dreading going to work. So when I was on vacation I wasn't happy anyway. If it had been a regular boring old job, maybe it would have been fine, but I honestly felt such a dislike for the whole thing.
Now I work in the field I love, no benefits, long days (especially lately), no real job security (short term contracts) but it doesn't matter cause I love it! (Of course I wish I had benefits but hopefully one day I can get them. Plus I try to save and live below my means in case of emergencies.)
I am taking three weeks unpaid vacation in August. Not ideal, but still. Sorry if I derailed the discussion, but I thought Amy had a very good point!
for three months; then the next three months here in Paris (going home to San Francisco the end of next week); work again for another three months; and then three months in Venezia for thanksgiving, christmas and new year. 
