Navigating the Cost of Living: Why I’m Considering Returning to my Previous Career
With the continuous rise in cost of living, I find myself tempted to return to the career that allowed me to have a decent salary. I left the world of nanying a couple of years ago as there wasn’t any room for growth or advancement but I am now wondering if I made the right choice.
Nannying was never part of my original plan. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was younger so I opted not to go to university straight after high. Instead I became an Au Pair which allowed me to spend two fantastic years in California where I got to travel to some amazing places. However, when I returned home to my small town I felt lost and there weren’t many jobs around for someone with my particular experience. I was longing for more but couldn’t go back to the US as I’d need a visa, so the next best thing was London. I already had childcare experience so getting a job as a nanny was not that difficult.
After working with several nanny families for over a decade, I eventually landed an office job. While I enjoy the feeling of being able to progress in my career, transitioning to a completely new field without prior experience came with its challenges. One major drawback was taking a significant pay cut after having built a 15-year-long career in nannying. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the opportunity, but it’s hard not to compare it to the decent pay I once had as a nanny.
As each day passes, we receive bills that have gone up yet again — council tax, water, gas, electricity, and now we’re in the middle of having to remortgage. Three years ago, I was happy to become a homeowner and have something of my own. However back then, I had a decent salary. Now it feels like everything is falling apart, and as every day passes by I feel tempted to apply for a nanny job once again. I’m starting to realize that working as a nanny again, where my experience could land me a job that pays at least double what I currently make, may be the best solution right now. As I browse through different nanny job ads, I can’t help but wonder if I should make an application. It’s not an easy decision to make, especially when I think about all the hard work I’ve put into changing my career. But with the rising cost of living, I’m starting to question if I made the right decision.
