What is more important...
AmberLee2012
Posts: 540
in Chit-Chat
money or happiness?
I'm at a job right now where I make good money but I am not happy. I never sleep on Sunday nights because I'm so worried about work the next morning. I am a contractor and so I can't take days off either and I have no vacation time. I will be at this job for a year in August. My commute isn't too bad, a half hour each way, but with gas at $4.10 a gallon it would be nice to work in the city I live in.
Anyway, I've been browsing other jobs and it looks like I'd have to take a $3 - $4 pay cut to work in the city I live in. I have been looking at more active jobs instead of the sedentary job I have now. I've been in the legal field since I was 20 (I'm 32 now) and I'd love to work a job where I can move around a lot because I feel like that would help with my weight loss goals as well. Taking a pay cut like this would result in having to penny pinch in other areas and less social activities, however, I'm wondering if I will be happier in the long run. Obviously, I know this is a decision I have to make, but I'm just wondering what you would do if you were in my shoes? My husband supports me as he just wants me to happy. Decisions, decisions!
I'm at a job right now where I make good money but I am not happy. I never sleep on Sunday nights because I'm so worried about work the next morning. I am a contractor and so I can't take days off either and I have no vacation time. I will be at this job for a year in August. My commute isn't too bad, a half hour each way, but with gas at $4.10 a gallon it would be nice to work in the city I live in.
Anyway, I've been browsing other jobs and it looks like I'd have to take a $3 - $4 pay cut to work in the city I live in. I have been looking at more active jobs instead of the sedentary job I have now. I've been in the legal field since I was 20 (I'm 32 now) and I'd love to work a job where I can move around a lot because I feel like that would help with my weight loss goals as well. Taking a pay cut like this would result in having to penny pinch in other areas and less social activities, however, I'm wondering if I will be happier in the long run. Obviously, I know this is a decision I have to make, but I'm just wondering what you would do if you were in my shoes? My husband supports me as he just wants me to happy. Decisions, decisions!
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Replies
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It stinks to work a job that you don't like.
If you figure in wear and tear and gas for your car, does that make the pay cut less drastic? How valuable is your time? You spend an hour a day commuting.0 -
Money can offset a soul sucking vacuum of life destruction work.
But the ratio of money to misery has to be something you can live with. And you are right only you can decide that.0 -
The politically correct answer would be happiness. I say money .0
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There is a happy medium I think.
But all things being relatively equal, I'd choose to be happy
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The one time I worked in a job that caused me stress similar to yours, I barely made it past the year mark. I was ecstatic when leaving, despite liking the people I worked with very much. I suppose it helped that I got myself into a fairly sizable salary bump when I left. Still, one vote for HAPPINESS.0
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If I worked in the city I live, that would definitely cut down on the amount of gas I use. I could even ride my bike if it was close enough and not raining. I've worked in the legal field for 12 years and I've been unhappy with the work I'd say for the last 4 years. My experience is all legal though, unless you count the year I worked for Meijer right after high school. I do have an Associate's Degree. I think I am going to keep looking and see what happens. It's nice to have extra money, but I'm just tired of losing sleep and constantly being stressed out over work. Most of the jobs I've been looking at (secretarial/reception/stocking) are all part-time so that's why I haven't made the leap yet. I guess I will just keep checking the job boards and see what comes up.0
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My personal experience with this is that if you find a job and/or working environment that makes you happy, your performance will reflect that, and there will be a domino effect. You work harder, you get noticed, you get promoted, you get more money.
If your husband/family are not depending on you to put food on the table for them, now is the time to go after what you really want to do and not get so caught up in the financial aspect.0 -
Really depends on how much the Corporate Suck invades your personal life. If you only go 8 hours for good money and there's no intrusion into your real life or health then suck it up and deal with it then make the most of your free time with the $$$ to be happy.
If $$$ isn't really an issue then go find something you love doing that you can make a buck at.
Example. Harrison Ford hates acting. He does it so he can fund his woodworking. LOL0 -
Happiness easily.
If you are happy at your job you are naturally going to be more motivated and work harder/smarter - so IMO even if you are taking a temporary pay cut, you will probably make that up in the long term - at least that has been my personal experience.0 -
Oh and I forgot to mention, the people I work with are really great for the most part. They are all stressed too. We have dry erase boards in our cubicles and one of the girls has a drawing of herself being swarmed by piranhas that say "work" on them and she is saying, "Help!". One of the guys has a rock on top of a picture of himself. The rock says "work" on it as well. I really do think it's time for me to move on, I'm just hoping I can find something that I like that is full-time time and pays enough. Tough to find the way things are here right now.0
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Money can't buy happiness, but it can get you really really close.0
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My personal experience with this is that if you find a job and/or working environment that makes you happy, your performance will reflect that, and there will be a domino effect. You work harder, you get noticed, you get promoted, you get more money.
If your husband/family are not depending on you to put food on the table for them, now is the time to go after what you really want to do and not get so caught up in the financial aspect.
This makes a lot of sense. Thank you.0 -
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"They say money can't buy happiness? Look at the f***ing smile on my face. Ear to ear, baby. Anybody who tells you money is the root of all evil doesn't f***ing have any."
-Jim Young0 -
Well happiness of course. For some, having/making lots of money is happiness.
I worked in a job that netted me very good money every month. The problem? I didn't work out as much, I was always on edge if I wasn't doing more than the other person, I spent more time at work because that's what you had to do to stay competitive.
But I wasn't happy with that. So now I work way less, spend way less and still have the same amount of money I had when I was working longer. Oh, and I really love my job compared to just being content with my previous job.
It's subjective, but you don't have to make a lot of money to end up having a lot of money.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
This!Money can't buy happiness, but it can get you really really close.0 -
I am in the same boat as you. I am learning that happiness needs to come first. I am in a horrible situation also, but have stayed due to the money. However, my health has gone downhill over the years - and still I've stayed. After recent months and some really bad health issues, I've decided that happiness 9or health in my case) needs to come first.
Of course, I have yet to act on that.0 -
It's a simple enough Math equation. Plug in the numbers and the answer should be fairly obvious. You need to factor in the potential for advancementy at the newer position as well.
The only variable you can't factor in is the wear and tear on you personally, when you work at a job you don't like.0 -
Happiness or job satisfaction is important, but as another poster mentioned, you often have to seek a balance. At the end of the day, I still need to put food on the table for my kids, so that is always a consideration for me now. There have been a couple of times where I quit jobs where I was not satisfied. My wife and I did not have kids at the time, and she was supportive of my decisions. How much money do you actually need? Are other people relying on your income?0
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Having spent 9 years doing something I hated before reaching a breaking point, I can say that happiness is definitely more important. I took a pay cut when I left that job 3 years ago and I've never been happier! (I should point out that the position I was up for at my former place of employment was at significantly higher pay - like 30K/year more - and I still opted to walk away. I don't regret it AT ALL!)0
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My vote is for happiness.
A few years ago when my husband and I were just starting out on our own he left a job he loved for a job that paid much more money.. but he hated that job. Over time it just got worse and worse. He quit to go back to the job he loved for much less money. Sure, it was nice ot have that extra bit of money around but it's not worth it if you aren't happy.
If you are fine with less money, take a job you will love. You can make it work with less money or find a way to make it work.
I don't believe money buy happiness and I would much rather work in a job that I love but be poor.0 -
Money.
With money you can buy a jet ski. And no one can be unhappy on a jetski.0 -
I think "happiness" is over-rated but, if it is as stressful as it sounds then that is not good either. I was where you are in 2009 and left for my health and my marriage. Four years later I still make 27% less but my only regret is I stayed at the old job as long as I did.
Life is far too short to be miserable at your workplace. It sounds like you are doing the right thing, check out what's available and make thought-out, calculated decisions with your spouse involved. It will get better, sometimes you have to wait for the opportunity.0 -
I stay at my miserable job, but start working on a way of positioning myself for a new job with less pay. I'd do this by paying down debt and reducing expenses as much as I could.
Good luck.0 -
I had a job I hated. Literally hated. I had an MBA at the time (well, I still do, I just don't use it in my current job). I quit that job to go back to school, get into more debt, and work 2 jobs (watiress for $$, pharmacy tech for insurance). I became a Registered Dietitian. I went back at age 24, finished at age 28, got married at 29, paid my loans back by age 32 by living very frugal. I drive a 12 year old car, and plan to until it dies. I couldn't be more happy with my decision. I had to scrimp and save 10 x more when I quit that job, and work 10 x as hard (2 jobs AND school as opposed to 1 job) but it was so worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.0
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I was in a similar place 15 years ago. Working all the time at a job I hated. No time for me. I left it and took a $20k /annual pay cut. Best decision I ever made0
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Well it's work it will all inherently suck. I only work for one reason and that's to make $. I'm not happy ever at work, but content most of the times.
If it's truly a terrible job of course start to look, but if it's just another grass is greener and you'll end up only looking forward to the weekend then stay with the money.
Work sucks and with the way things are going you are looking at being in the work force for another 40-50years.0 -
Happiness!!!!
I took on a minimalist lifestyle for this very reason. I got rid of all debt, sold my house and moved to the beach.
I don't earn a ton of money but I earn enough for my kids and I to live with what we need. I don't need fancy clothes, I am always in a swimming suit or workout clothes. I own a few going out outfits and sundresses. We got rid of over 3/4 of our "things". We donated it all.
We no longer spend money on "things", we spend money on experiences etc. We rent a small beach house which means I am no longer spending hours in the yard or on repairs. I take my kids to school and I pick them up at 2 everyday. We have lots of time together and we
are very active.
Yes, we live on what most consider poverty but we have everything we "need". I work for myself so sometimes it can be stressful but we always make it work.0 -
Money.
With money you can buy a jet ski. And no one can be unhappy on a jetski.
LOL this!0 -
how can u enjoy ur money if u r stressed out all the time?
conversely, if u r doing something u enjoy, how much money do u rly need to be happy?0
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