People Keep Saying I’m Lucky I Work Four Days A Week

[Treacle71]

As I was approaching my 50th birthday I decided to do something different and swapped my 37.5 hour week to a 30 hour week. I’m very careful with my money and only buy clothes from charity shops, etc, so I can just about afford 30 hour weeks now. I’m the only temp in my office (temping suits me). My boss said it was absolutely fine that I cut down as, (her words), “Well, you won’t get paid for that day anyway, so it’s entirely up to you”.
This was 2 years and 3 months ago and still I get said to me, “You’re lucky you don’t do Fridays anymore” or “It’s your Friday today, isn’t it?” (when it’s a Thursday), and then, “Aww…..lucky you….you just have four days to go this week”. The latest slur was from one permanent secretary who has been off ‘sick’ for just under two years and came back in December and said, “You’re so lucky you’re off tomorrow” (it was a Thursday). Well, she’s been off nearly two years herself allegedly sick!
What should I do? I do reply with, “Well, I miss the 5 day money” or I say back, “What’s stopping you from cutting down? You only get one life” and then I just completely ignore them when I’ve run out of reasons.
Any suggestions please?

[andy-hughes]

Take no notice.

[bobbinwales]

If your happy just say it suits you

[Gromit]

Go on a 3 day week to annoy them ;-)

[Hopkirk]

Go back to a five day week. That would shut them up, and you could afford the price increases we are all seeing.

[bhg481]

Life is not a dress rehearsal -you only get one chance. I see too many people spending so much time working they haven't got any time left to spend the money they've earned. The length of time you've got in this life is completely indeterminate so, so long as you earn enough to do want you want to do, make the most of the time you have.

[1ozzy]

Four days beats the crap out of 5 or 6.
Try your best to reduce it to 3.
Life is too short for some.

[barry1010]

Just bear in mind that some of those making the comments may be working five days a week, have a second part time job and still have no choice but to shop at charity shops and watch every penny they spend. They might have more commitments than you that drain their income.
So just smile and nod. No need to get defensive.

[davebro]

When on their deathbed no one says "I wish I'd spent more time in the office"!

[Treacle71]

Thank you for your answers so far - they're brilliant!

[1ozzy]

Except those that never created a life for themselves Dave, LOL.

[Ringlet]

You don't need to justify yourself to anyone.
If they think you're "lucky" because you just work 4 days instead of the 5 they work, let them think that.
You shouldn't be worrying what anyone thinks.

[bednobs]

I work a nine day fortnight and get loads of jealous comments from my friends about my "day off". I actually work full time hours, just arranged differently to them over slightly longer days, so I don't consider it a day off any more than they consider the time between when they finish and I do every day as "time off". Doesn't stop me feeling smug though:)

[pixie374]

Treacle, you have nothing to explain or justify to anybody. If anyone asks you, just say "yes". That's it. If you can practise a smug face... that may help:-)

[Stickybottle]

Tell them you no longer need to work full time any more as you are making a fortune on the side from your Only Fans account

Should put the cat among the pigeons ! Lol

[Treacle71]

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ANSWERS. WISH I COULD PICK MORE THAN ONE AS 'THE BEST'.

[RainbowRainbow]

None of their business.