Career Choices: Money or Fun?

soehlerking
soehlerking Posts: 589 Member
in Chit-Chat
So I'm 26 y/o, college graduate, and I have a cubicle position that pays my bills and has excellent benefits. The only real downside? It's boring. The slow times are VERY slow, and the busy times are hectic, with lots of angry clients. But it's a stable job (for which I am quite grateful), there's room for upward movement within my department, and my co-workers are nice enough.

So my question is: When you chose your career, did you choose something that "paid the bills" or something you're truly passionate about? Do you think you made the right choice for you? My parents always told me that I MUST choose something I am truly passionate about, but I'm 26 and I still don't know what that is. I'm probably not going to base my life choices off a forum post, but I'm just curious where everyone else is at on this.
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Replies

  • RN514
    RN514 Posts: 1,107 Member
    I went with what I'm truly passionate about. Yes...it pays the bills and I'm thankful for that, but I would still be a nurse even if it didn't pay as much. :)
  • Broderick50
    Broderick50 Posts: 842 Member
    I made my choice based off what I thought I loved. It wasn't till I started doing it that I realized I'm bored to death. I've been having this debate with myself lately to go and find something that will be more fun but pay the bills.
  • beernpizza2
    beernpizza2 Posts: 553 Member
    I'm 27, my job pays the bills. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Something that is a balance of both.

    I think there is a continuum and they don't have to be mutually exclusive. Some lucky people have both. I don't hate my job, but it's not my burning passion. And now, off to a meeting. Not one of the parts I like :tongue:
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I chose something that was interesting and fun to me. Because of TV I thought architects were rich, but really it's the builders and developers that make all of the money. We were told this during freshman year in college that we would have to love the job to stick with it.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    I'm on MFP all day, so my job is awesome....I love it.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    I'm on MFP all day, so my job is awesome....I love it.

    x2

    and it pays well
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I'm on MFP all day, so my job is awesome....I love it.

    x2

    and it pays well

    Haha, right!?
  • RunWinterGarden
    RunWinterGarden Posts: 428 Member
    I love my job, it's not always the most fun thing int he world, but I love it. I did make sure when I chose a career that it would be one where I would make enough to have the living I want to have.
  • wonkosane
    wonkosane Posts: 42 Member
    Read Cal Newport "So Good They Can't Ignore You"

    It takes a pretty intelligent stance on the culture of passion based career planning.
  • annamaries13
    annamaries13 Posts: 12 Member
    My career is what I love - but it doesn't pay the bills (yet).

    So my "day job" is - well, it pays the bills. I do care about it, and the people are great, but it's a means to an end. Which in some ways helps me keep perspective: when things at work are stressful, i work hard to get things done but can leave the emotional commitment at my desk instead of taking it home with me every day. Of course, I hope that my real love can pay the bills some or all of the time - but that's also because I'd like to be able to devote ALL of my energy to it, not split my focus and time the way I do now.

    Basically, it seems to me that the"9-5" should be something you care about, but doesn't have to be your highest passion. As long as you have room in your life to pursue what you love, I think that's what matters.
  • jonnyman41
    jonnyman41 Posts: 1,032 Member
    when I first taught an adult ed class I thought great, I really have found what I was meant to do and compared to the dead end jobs I had done before (to fit in with child care needs and study) it even paid quite well. Fast forward 15 years of doing this and even rising to dept/curriculum manager posts the pay now does not seem that good and it is easy to feel very jaded with endless govt initiatives, real funding challenges, far to much paper work etc and I am sure this job no longer holds what it once did for me and is just about paying the bills these days. Just go with what you need to do at the time, money, when you are young and childless has less importance if you also have supportive family to go back too. Money with a mortgage, children etc means you very much have to stick with what you know will be secure and bring in enough!!
  • Beckboo0912
    Beckboo0912 Posts: 447 Member
    I am lucky enough to have a job that I love and I'm passionate about, it's fun! I also am lucky enough to go back to school and do what I really want. Sometimes you have to settleish for now until what you want really comes up. My aunt just started the job of her dreams after working for 30+ years doing something different
  • EMTFreakGirl
    EMTFreakGirl Posts: 597 Member
    I chose passion. I am a paramedic...got my first cert way back in 1990. I responded to 3 MAJOR disasters in about 6 years time, including 9/11. When I was due to recert after that one, I chose not to. Biggest regret of my life. I went to work as a regional manager of a pathology lab, and man did THAT pay the bills, but I was miserable. I moved to my dream spot and retook the paramedic class. (had to, I'd been out too long.) and just "re-" graduated this past spring. (Now I have a paramedicine degree X 2!) I make peanuts and have to work 4 jobs to make ends meet, but I've never been happier. I make a difference and get to do it doing what I love. I'm in my 40's and my friends are horrified that I walked away from a good paying job to live my dream, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Confucius: 'Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.',
  • iamanadult
    iamanadult Posts: 709 Member
    Money so I can have more fun when I'm not at work.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    Depends on your plans. If you want to have a family, your options are a little different than if you just want to be single and live by your wits forever. There are some working environments that are just not worth any amount of money to me, but in general, I think if your intent is to have a family, their quality of life is more important than your job being fun. And even if a family isn't on the immediate horizon for you, the decisions you make now will impact the choices that are available to you down the road. There are a lot worse things in life than having a job that pays the bills, offers great benefits, and comes with tolerable co-workers.

    When I think about the things I really, truly enjoy doing, I almost feel like I'd grow to hate them if I had to depend on them to make a living. Baking, for example, is something I genuinely love to do. It is a creative outlet for me. It is also an expression of affection. As cool as it would be to wake up and create an awesome new cookie or cupcake recipe every day, I would rather do it for fun or as a kind gesture. Depending on that for money would add stress to my life and take away one of my outlets for stress relief.
  • MG_Fit
    MG_Fit Posts: 1,143 Member
    I'm a fan of money too, so that I can play when I'm not working. But everyone passions are different right? I enjoy travelling, partying and lifting. Since I'm not an agent to the celebrities nor have the credentials to train anyone in anything, I work. However working in Europe with a month of PTO is more appealing than what we have here in the states (generally speaking).

    But I take what I can get. Off for a two week vacation next week in 2 continents :bigsmile:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm an accountant...I'm very good at it and it comes naturally and easily for me...and it pays well. That said, it isn't my dream job...but I wouldn't really be able to support my family if I was just livin' the dream. My family obligations trump "dream job" for now.
  • stackhead
    stackhead Posts: 121 Member
    Money - the fun is for after work.

    That said, if you TRULY hate it - it's not worth if. I it's alright and you're good at it. Keep going.
  • JeaninePaige
    JeaninePaige Posts: 464 Member
    I chose my passion. I went after it and it's paying off.
  • Broderick50
    Broderick50 Posts: 842 Member
    I'm an accountant...I'm very good at it and it comes naturally and easily for me...and it pays well. That said, it isn't my dream job...but I wouldn't really be able to support my family if I was just livin' the dream. My family obligations trump "dream job" for now.

    spoken like a fellow accountant
  • mrslcoop
    mrslcoop Posts: 317 Member
    I’m a 28 year old CPA and I can honestly say I enjoy what I do. It’s not the most exciting thing in the world to most people (and might even scare some), but I really like it and I think that has to do a lot with the industry I’m in. How could a girl not love to work in the fashion retail industry? It pays the bills and then some, but I’m NEVER bored. I have no idea what boring at work would be like and I’m always challenged and doing new things and I honestly enjoy coming here.

    Does your job need to be your passion? I’m not sure. I wouldn’t say numbers, my pencil, and my 10-key are my passion, but do I like going to work? Yes. Do I like the people I work with? Yes. Do I feel challenged and empowered? Yes. That to me is a good job worth sticking with. I hope you find that someday.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    I went with both.

    "Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life!"
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    MOst people aren't passionate about their jobs. I doubt I ever will be passionate about any job I do but I do love the money that comes in so I can have fun in my off time. I'm back in school now, going after my second degree (at 33 :ohwell: ) just so I can get a higher paying job at the end of it. Petroleum engineering degree, I'm looking at you.
  • Striving4Fit_MrsOrtiz
    Striving4Fit_MrsOrtiz Posts: 399 Member
    FUN!
  • djeffreys10
    djeffreys10 Posts: 2,312 Member
    Eh, I have a tolerable career that pays really well. So I can afford to have fun when I am not at work.




    In reality, I don't do anything but hang out with my kids when I am not at work. Or just sit at home when they visit their mom. But I can afford to have fun if I ever choose to do so lol.
  • AusAshMommy
    AusAshMommy Posts: 845 Member
    It's a toss up that's personal to each person - my job is BORING, but it pays well, does it pay the bills, No? Do I have any chance in heck of movement, No? But my kids' need for stability trumps all of that.

    Saying that though, it wasn't until about this time last year that I figured out what it was I truly truly wanted to do with my life, and I am beginning the process of taking baby steps in that direction - no not going back to school, Lordy day I have a two degrees, don't need another one - no instead I am researching options and doing other items voluntarily within the industry in my spare time.
  • ekz13
    ekz13 Posts: 725 Member
    money... don't have the luxury of fun..
  • addicted2numbers
    addicted2numbers Posts: 83 Member
    I am still in school for nursing. I chose it because it's a win win for me. Something I am 100% interested in and it will pay the bills.
  • Broderick50
    Broderick50 Posts: 842 Member
    If you can have fun while paying the bills DO IT. I don't live to work I work to live.

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