[jasonlfunk]

The best thing that I was able to do is to reduce my fulltime job hours to part time, initially 3 days/week, and used the other time to grow my own business. This may or may not be applicable in every situation, but if you are a positive contributer in your working environment, it's unlikely that your boss would rather just replace you (and retrain a new person) instead of just having you work less. This eases the stress tremendously on the new business if you don't have to worry about eating and rent/mortgage payments.

[archi42]

This is exactly what I'd do. I'm currently at 20h/week due to finishing university. After that I'll go to 40h/week for a while, and if I figure out the ideas I have are "more than a hobby"-worthy I'll reduce to 80%, pursue those and see where it goes from there.

My SO and I don't plan to have kids and our rent is already well affordable; this makes it easier (plus FT job \subset hobby helps a lot); so additional earnings would go straight to savings anyway...

[sreyaNotfilc]

You know what, I've never thought about that possibility at all. Usually, when you hear about starting a business while working, you're just working extra hours on top of your 9-5.

Maybe I can try that with the leave I have saved up and then ease my way into a part-time gig. Well, after I start making money on the side business.

Thanks for the insight.

[ibz]

1st step, going from 5 days / week to 4 days / week is pretty much a no brainer. You get 50% more free time for 20% less money. I did that 2 years ago and never looked back. Sometimes I switch to 3 days / week, then back to 4 days, depending on how I feel. But I would never consider a "full time job" more than 4 days / week. But sure, I am getting shit done, so I don't have a problem asking for that.

[imhoguy]

Well said! Just for a statistical curiosity, which weekdays do you work? :)

[ibz]

Mon-Thu or Mon-Wed. I like long weekends. Not that it matters really.