[Closed] Anyone just left their (horrible) job and survived?

You'll survive, be tough for a while. I'm in the same boat, left my job last week, not exactly my choice but it was making me very ill, nauseous every morning amongst other things. It wasn't going to end well whatever happened. I'm not exactly chilled about having no job and limited finances but already feel a lot better having left behind the ridiculous demands and unsupportive management.

From experience it's very difficult to get out whilst in that situation, the last thing you have is the motivation to effectively job hunt after coming home from a rubbish day at work. If you've already got an opportunity for casual contract work it sounds like a good start point and will give you the push needed to look for something else knowing it may come to an end.

Theresa May?

Just do it. I had a good paying job, big mortgage and a nice car (financed Audi). Work was just a means to pay the bills.
Finally my mental health suffered and I had a massive burnout which meant I attempted suicide twice. This was triggered by the fact that my job was not good for me.
I quit work with no plan.
I basically looked at my finances and worked out what I could do. I sold the big house and car, moved to Austria, got an old broken house and older Skoda Fabia.
I've never been so happy. I'm working as a bike wine guide along the river danube.
The money is shitty, but enough to pay the bills and save a bit.
Just do it.

I left my job about two months ago. Happy with that decision really and even with the issues around finding something else i still think it was the right thing to do.

Yes, done this twice now. Both times with absolutely nothing to go into. Both times I've ended up back at the old places, contracting, within months, on more cash, less stress and not having to buy into all the corporate crap. Having your mental health broken by an employer seems to be increasingly common.

Lots of advice to be found in this place, certainly saved me a few years ago & I'd never go back now. Good luck!

...or you might end up sleeping on cardboard under a bridge! 🙂

perchypanther just made me laugh, something I'm missing recently :o)

iolo - that's sounds great!

Wife and someone at work say 'just do it, it'll get you out of your situation'. When I was offered the casual work it did feel like an enormous weight had been lifted, maybe it's the right thing to do. I wouldn't need to worry about money until the end of August so I'll have a while and I can earn extra doing the casual work as and when over the summer and hope I get offered it permanent.

Thanks all.

Yep. Been there, done that. 4 years ago I was in a job that bore little resemblance to the job I'd been sold. I used to wake up and dread going in there. I absolutely hated it! My mental health was really suffering as a result, and I wasn't good to be around.

One day I had a 'straw that broke the camels back' moment and just phoned Mrs Binners up for a chat, then wrote my resignation, there and then. I had nothing to go to but had literally reached a point where I couldn't face another day of it.

Never looked back. I've been self-employed ever since. Yes, its hard work as you have to be proactive looking for work, it's insecure, and that can be stressful but compared to what went before it... I don't have a sociopathic lunatic telling me what to do all day, or go to work in a toxic environment. You can always pick up casual work when things are quiet, as long as you're not sniffy about what you do.

I've been sat at home drawing pictures of Golf GTi's this morning, for a series of big prints for a bloke in Surrey, and I'm off out for a ride on the moors this afternoon. Because I can 😀

I will never, ever do a full-time job again. Sod that! I'm an annoyingly happy bunny nowadays

Good luck!

I did, not that I hated my job but I was arranging the best part of a month off to get married in NZ and discussing what would happen when I got back - yet another client in a far flung part of the country, multi-month project that would mean staying in a budget hotel M-F and I just didn't feel like coming back.

Ended up having about 3 months off, did a brief stint in a company that wasn't right at all, but then walked in to a brilliant job at a company I really liked and am still at. It can take a frustratingly long time to get from interview to starting at most places though, most expect you'll need a hefty notice period before you can start.

This was before buying a house and having kids though, I'd always kept enough stashed away to be able to walk away from jobs and go an extended period without working. Would be much harder now with a mortgage and nursery fees to pay.

Never met anyone who didn't love delivering groceries for Asda. Quite a few of my friends do it and say it is very relaxed and a nice enough way to spend your working time.

I was made redundant (not the same, I know) from a job I hated and it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I've been self-employed for the last 9 years and while it's been a financial struggle at times I really enjoy what I do now. You learn to cut your cloth accordingly and limit unnecessary spending (ie live within your means and no credit cards or loans) which, without wanting to bang the drum, is better for the environment (if you're not buying stuff you don't really need) as well as your mental health.

It's brill, I'd struggle if I had to go back to a place of work now.

If you're wife's supportive of your desire to leave, then you're over the major hurdle. Sounds like she'd prefer a poor, relaxed husband over a loaded stressed one!

It's lunch time now. Why not spend it typing out your resignation letter?

Wife and someone at work say ‘just do it....

If your wife is on board get it done.

Do it, you'll be fine. I've done it a few times, on one occasion I was offered the same role on a 'consultancy' basis so only worked 2 days instead of 5 for the same money. Other times I've had nothing to go to but you will survive and the feeling of being in control of your own life and making a proactive decision rather than being reactive and on the back foot all the time is worth the initial scariness.
Good luck but seriously your happiness and mental health are worth a lot

Do it.

I've learnt one thing over the years is make it so work don't think they own you and you need them to survive

My mate told his boss he'd won a decent chunk on the lottery and didn't need the job during a rollicking. Stopped the threat of being sacked from being used as a stick.

I wanted to leave my job, bottled it for about a year then company announced voluntary redundancy, I was there at the front of the queue. It was the push I'd been looking for for about 18months, no ideas what was out there young family, mortgage, been in this job since I left school, so about 12years. I was lucky my boss offered to pay my notice without having to work it. Finished on the Friday night went away for a week with the idea of a new career, came back the following week, went into the job centre on the Monday morning, before I got to the counter one of my ex workmates rang and said we start our new job in the morning. So much for a new career, but more money same hrs, different people an dhtat was 20yrs ago and still there.
So yes there is life after an old job, if you worry too much you won't do it, we did and now we laugh about it.

Yes, contracted for a while then found another permanent job that I might not have seen if I'd still been with last job and has generally been good. Then they (shit job) had a couple of management buyouts, each worst than the last from what I read, before administration and liquidation. So the stress and uncertainty of leaving were probably less than that of staying.

So yes there is life after an old job, if you worry too much you won’t do it, we did and now we laugh about it.

..don't regret the things you do, just the things you didn't

Do it!

I left a job after having a terrible boss, was dreading work everyday and was actually starting to feel depressed. I had only recently started so I was unsure whether I'd be hire-able. Got myself a new job and haven't looked back since! End of the day jobs can be boring unless you do your dream job but nobody should have to put up with rubbish bosses/co-workers.

I've done it a few times, most recently last week (currently intending on taking the summer off) . Its always worked out for the best for me, but you do need to make sure you can afford to do it.

I gave up a well paid (12 yr) career for a global-mega-bank-Of-evil

I’m now attempting to finish the first year of a graduate medicine degree at the age of 38. Only 2.5 yrs to go ..

(Shiny BMW replaced by ancient ford
Mundano and the kids get fed econo-nuggets for three meals a day)

I left my job, boss was invloved in illegal activity which he brought into work.

It wasnt worth the stress, so I just didnt turn up one day, no job and no amount of money is worth it!

It will be hard short term, but long term it will work out ok!

Just do it.

I have done so a couple of times. Both when young and had parental accommodation/support to fall back on.
Both times worked out well but second time was a few concerning months before getting a far better job.
I would definitely nowadays go for having a replacement before jumping but thats because have commitments to keep.

If I weren't on the verge of retiring to a nice wee flat with views on the Med, I'd be tempted by this And I'm not even unhappy with things

I'm on suspension with full pay at present, company trying to go for gross misconduct, not a prayer according to my union adviser. I shan't be going back having now read my "colleagues" witness statements as I might get angry with them.
Applying for driving jobs as mentioned above for Asda etc. Paying off the mortgage, car etc. So minimal outgoings.

Done it a couple of times. Current job driving me insane with 'jobs worths' - oh we don't do that any more, really, it still needs 'efing doing.... off sick this week - had enough - back to docs at weekend for AD's - been doing well, been off them over 6 months but latest shenanigans has tipped me over. I've registered with an agency, but not prepared for a salary drop this time as dropped £10k on my last move.

I've decided to do it!

I work in a school so we got long summer holidays which will cover my notice period and I'll be paid without having to go in. The new job I can start as soon as I'm on holiday, it's actually driving a school minibus for a summer school and it can be as often as I like or when needed. It's a couple of pounds an hour less than I get now but it'll be soooo much less hassle and grief and it's a 20 mins commute from my house. Hopefully they'll be able to sort out a permanent position once they know what they need at the beginning of the next school year, otherwise I'll have time to apply for anything else that comes up or even stack shelfs in the local supermarket as a stop gap to pay bills. It's just not worth the stress, anger, hassle that I have at the moment for a few pounds more.

Good call. Best of luck sorting something permanent

Not personally, but my wife was working a job a while back that made her unhappy, I spoke to her about it and she quit the next day, she's had a few jobs since and is currently at a place she really enjoys and feels valued at and as a result is much happier.

Life is short and jobs aren't all that hard to find if you are prepared to earn a bit less or look a bit differently at things.

It does help that only one of us needs to work to pay the bills, but as someone pointed out recently we now both work for tech startups, so we live a little dangerously (approximately 65% fail!).

It’s just not worth the stress, anger, hassle that I have at the moment for a few pounds more.

No, it really isn't. Neither are the health and social problems that being unhappy for that percentage of your life you spend at work. All the best.

Well best of luck, I wouldn't personally if I had mortgage commitments etc. and no savings (people posting they quit haven't said if they had savings to fall back on or another earner in the household that could cover the bills short term).

Good call and good luck!

I'm in a similar situation, on a term time contract and seriously considering just jacking it in over the summer break. Wife is supportive in theory but might leave me if I did, so that would solve another conundrum.

Good luck OP, wish I could jack my job in. Not been happy for over 2 years now, I’m constantly knackered, head is bursting and generally feeling totally burnt out. Working far too many hours, driving upwards of 550km every day and mostly in the Highlands, which is lovely to look at put hard going in a 44t fuel tanker.

Nothing much out there that I’m qualified for or will pay the bills though unfortunately so I’ll have to suck it up for now.

If anybody wants to pay me mid 20k’s to do something interesting (I’m a quick learner and hard worker), outdoors, home every night and in Tayside area then I’m all ears.

I did it. Left behind a chunk of cash, a company e class amg (now drive a 5 yr old passatt... ) and a load of grief and stress to move to another company, similar work but no big bonus or company car.

Yes the money side is a challenge, i can't just do or buy the things i want but i am so much happier at home, switch off the second I leave the office and have more energy!

Its amazing the things you find to do that are cheap at the weekends, loads of museums are free, walking lots of places, taking a sandwich as opposed to buying food out etc. So long as the bills are paid you will be grand!

You're not alone.
My notice has just gone in - last 3 years I've been working as a contractor, on the road Monday to Friday, get home late Friday have to mob again Sunday afternoon a lot of the time. Money's good but it's killing my soul, my social life and my will to live. On the other hand I've nothing lined up but I do have a good amount of savings, a part time freelance job to fall back on, no children and a partner who is about to do exactly the same thing.

Change is good, embrace it, but be smart about it. Listen to your heart and your head.

I was "asked" to leave. Sacking dressed up as redundancy. I'd seen it coming so got my finances straight. Had nothing to go to. Drifted into a completely different line of work, really by accident. Finished up earning more money for fewer hours than before. A lot more money.
Glad it happened, but I had to get off my arse to make it work. Best thing that's happened to me.

Thanks again everyone. Luckily our mortgage is small, our monthly bills, council tax, gas etc is more and shopping and everything else we could cut down on. You don't get a fantastic wage working term time/support staff in a school anyway, it's the holidays that make it for me but my boss is even messing around with those. I didn't realise how grumpy and short tempered I've become, the boss has been off for a day this week and last and the wife has noticed a difference in my mood on those days.

Kojacklollipop, where abouts are you based?

I work in recruitment for a specialist Police Force. If anyone fancies a change of career message me. https://cnc.jobs/
*Mods, hope this is allowed,trying to help...

Space police?
I'm in!
Can I WFH?

Here's a view from the mentally unwell, debt-ridden side of the fence.

Made redundant from a well paid job in late 2008, small amount of payout from 3 years work, £40k of unsecured debt, mortgage and no aptitude for budgeting. (Depression is bad for buying new shiny things that you don't want, need and make you more unhappy).

We survived on Mrs S wages and cooking seasonal veg, locally sourced stuff and a DMP for the debt. We managed to put the boy through University as well and fund some of this too.

It took me 16 months to find a job (there was lot's of odds and sods for a week here and there, Thank you Yellow Pages and Thompson).

I now work for a good boss who knows not to take the piss because I will walk as I know we can get by without my 'pin-money'. I stopped buying shiny stuff unless it's needed to repair/replace something.

I can't recommend longer-term unemployment as a career choice it truly sucks. The depression and isolation is horrendous. On the plus side I know the local roads and trails for cycling like no-one else.

On the subject of driving jobs,

For years a mate of mine struggled to hold down a long-term job not least due to mental health issues. A little while back he got a job as a delivery driver for Amazon and he reckons it's the best thing he ever did. They estimate delivery times and pay accordingly, so if you're efficient you still get paid for the time they think you should take. He wound up routinely knocking out a full shift in half the time they expected and was netting (IIRC) something like £20-£30 an hour as a result (and of course a free half-day off).

He's now progressed from driving to being a warehouse manager or something similar for them, and loving it. Worth a look perhaps.

I have never regretted leaving any job

Just leave, life is too short to even think about it much unless you have zero cash to live on and even then there are always temp jobs, agency staff in factories etc to get you by.

I've done it a couple of times when I felt like the stress wasn't worth it any more. both times things ended up better in the end. The second time I started to feel better the moment I gave my notice in.