working poll

[acejka]

I work mostly for pleasure, I contribute a bit to our rent, and to help pay off some debt we have from our wedding etc. Once those bills are gone, it will be totally play money for me... Oh and I pay for our DVC membership loan because I really wanted it so the deal was I could have it as long as I paid for it.

I am currently working in a lawfirm, fairly unhappy but well paid.

I have the chance to go back to a very successful small business that is owned by people who are basically family members, they want to create a managment position for me. I will be taking an hourly pay cut (but not too big of a paycut) but some parts of the year, I will be working 50 hours a week, if not more. I will be managment but will get a chance to work with my hands, see the rewards of my hard work first hand, and I will have a very flexible schedule. I will have a guaranteed minimum number of hours, so its not like I would work 20 hours one week, then 14 then 47 the next week, I will always get at least 35. Oh and not to mention, I wouldn't have to put my kids in daycare when I have them because of how flexible the hours are, and my grocery bill would be cut down becuase of the type of store this is.

So all in all, would you rather be rich and unhappy, or poor and happy?

 

[PrincessKitty1]

You left out the rich and happy option on the poll!

In your situation, I'd take the new job in a heartbeat--you said it's not a huge paycut, and you'll be much happier there, so I would go for it!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

If one cannot be poor and happy, being rich changes nothing. The sad thing, if one cannot (or has not) found happiness within himself by a certain age, he probably never will.

And if one is not happy in a job, there is no gaurantee that a job change will alter anything. Look inside for peace...

 

[minniecarousel]

It doesn't sound like this would be a bad move for you, as you wouldn't take a huge paycut. I say go for it!

I don't want to be poor (happy or unhappy) but I don't see being rich and unhappy an option either.

 

[JessicaR]

The answer to that specific question seems to be a no brainer. I would choose the 'happy' every time. Thats the only part that truly matters.

In your case I would give that new job a shot! If you do, best of luck!

 

[Planogirl]

Poor and happy IF not too poor. If I made enough to get by I'd pick happy over more money any day.

 

[NVDisMom]

I'll take poor and happy any day. We did it for years...it made our marriage all the stronger and defined our priorities early on. Its made for even happier times as the money situation improved and the fear of going back to poor isn't really there. We survived it once, we will again.

From what you said, my choice would be to take the job change, enjoy the freedom and deal with the change in cash flow.

 

[barkley]

unhappiness on the job can lead to stress which can lead to illness which can be (as in my case) devistating. based on that i would always reccomend that a person look to what their financial NEEDS are and consider weather a job that will make them "rich" won't cost them and their family much more than they can afford physicaly/mentaly/emotionaly.

dh made very good money on his former job but he hated it. we finaly decided we could get by on much less $$$. sure it meant less big vacations, fewer "toys" and what the family traditionaly thought of as "fun" activities but in the long run dh is much happier, i'm happier cuz i'm not constantly worrying about getting a phone call that he keeled over at work, AND the kids are living in a much more enjoyable home environment (and dh and i always did our best to leave work at work, but that does'nt mean the effects of the unhappiness or stress were'nt apparant to our kids/did'nt effect our homelives. dd is 14 and has commented that while she misses taking the "big vacations" she does'nt feel like we need to "get away" as much "because dad is so much more relaxed and happy so it's more fun to be home").

 

[Cool-Beans]

I've lived with money and I've lived without it and I have to say that having money beats being broke every single time.

I'd go with the money. If you don't need it, save it. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

 

[Buckalew11]

I hardly think you'll be poor so I think you should take the job. Sounds like an awful lot of pluses. Of course, this is basically what I do, working for *fun*. I could make more but be stressed so I keep my lifestyle one that I can be *poor* and be happy all at the same time. If I had a lot of bills to pay, working for fun would go out the window. Life is short, enjoy it!

 

[barkley]

curious what most people visualize when they think of being "poor".

i know lots of people who by virtue of their income would be considered "rich", but balance that against what they in-debt and they are much worse financial shape than their neighbor who makes a fraction of their income but has little or no debt so they are able to live and afford a comparable or in some cases much higher quality of life.

i find the perception interesting because a couple of years ago we were approached by a well meaning local church offering us a christmas basket. they presumed we were "poor" because dh was unemployed and i'm disabled and can't work. their assumptions were way off the mark and we suggested they look to the needs of the families whose kid's were obviously showing signs of great need despite the public perception that they were "rich" (driving a leased luxury vehical because they could'nt afford to break the lease, but were making the payments at the cost of the kids not bringing lunch to school , kids in "designer clothes" that were obviously outgrown/shoes worn through the soles , tuition checks that regularly bounced at the bank...).

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Sorry. I can't partake in your poll.

I don't know of anyone who can be completely happy when they're worrying about where their next meal is coming from or whether they'll have a roof over their heads tomorrow.

But, money can't make you happy.

I would like to be somewhat comfortable and happy.

 

[ntsammy5]

rich and happy

 

[C.Ann]

I prefer being happy - and I'm smart enough to know that "money does not buy happiness"..

 

[perla75]

If one cannot be poor and happy, being rich changes nothing. The sad thing, if one cannot (or has not) found happiness within himself by a certain age, he probably never will.

And if one is not happy in a job, there is no gaurantee that a job change will alter anything. Look inside for peace...

I agree with everything you said, except I don't think it's ever too late to find happiness at any age

 

[loco4dis]

Will the job switch really make you "poor"? If so, I would not switch jobs. I suppose it's true that money can't make one happy, though poverty can interfere with happiness in countless ways. I've been poor and now I'm rather comfortable. I prefer the latter.

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

I would have said Rich and unhappy a few years ago but I know several people that are Rich and and unhappy and I would NEVER want to be like them! I know very few rich and happy people.

 

[Colleen27]

I prefer the middle ground to either extreme, but we've chosen at every juncture to live a more modest life in order to pursue the things that make us happiest, namely time with our children. Some things are far more precious than money IMO. We had a lot more money when I was working 40+ hours/week and DH was routinely working 60+, but we were missing out on too much. Now we live on about 1/3 of what we did when we were first married, but we're much happier overall, we still have everything we need and some of what we want, and we're not so stressed and hurried all the time.

 

[MrsPete]

I work mostly for pleasure . . . I am currently working in a lawfirm, fairly unhappy but well paid.

You sound a little confused about your current job -- in the above quotes you describe yourself in two different ways.

You can't look at just these two simple options. I'd ask a couple more questions:

Since these are "family members" with whom you'd be working, how's that going to work out? If you have a conflict at work, or if you want to quit, or if they want you to quit, or if any other conflict arises, how's that going to affect your personal life?

Right now you say you don't really need the money, but we all know that can change quickly. What if tomorrow your circumstances change -- not to wish anything bad upon you, but what if your husband should lose his job or become disabled? -- and what is now fun-money suddenly becomes necessary? Which of these two jobs offers you the most potential for future work? Are both of these companies strong in today's difficult economy?

I assume you're newly married. What about when you have children? Which of these jobs would offer you the most flexibility in work hours?

What kind of retirement options do each of these jobs offer?

Money aside, what perks does each job offer? For example, does one offer a shorter commute, free lunches, tuition reimbursement, health benefits, chances to travel? These things can be valuable enough to sway your opinion.



I think it's a knee-jerk reaction to say, "Always choose happy". The question is larger than that. If you were really, really miserable at Job #1, that'd be one thing -- but you don't sound like you are. I'd probably remind myself that work is work, not life; and I'd probably end up choosing the one that has the most potential for my future career.

Thinking back, I can remember a time when I chose money over happiness, but it wasn't really much of a choice: I had worked at a summer camp for years, and I loved it. But my parents screwed me over on financial aid forms, and I NEEDED more money for college than I had needed in the previous years. I gave up the summer job I'd loved for years, and I worked a miserable 2nd shift factory job, AND I worked part-time first shift too in a retail store. I was tired all the time. I hated, despised, loathed every second of those jobs . . . but I knew it was better to make that (temporary) choice rather than to go into debt for college. I don't regret it a bit.

And I can also think of a time when I chose happiness over money. I finished college with my first degree and was satisfied enough with my first professional job; however, in thinking ahead to when we'd have children, I couldn't imagine myself working those hours and then coming home to children. So I went back to school and earned a teaching certificate. I earn less than I could've if I'd stayed in that other job, but I've had more hours at home with my children and my retirement benefits are significantly better. Again, I don't regret it a bit.

 

[MrsPete]

I would have said Rich and unhappy a few years ago but I know several people that are Rich and and unhappy and I would NEVER want to be like them! I know very few rich and happy people.

I know people who are rich and happy.
I know people who are rich and miserable.
It seems to be about whether the individuals in question keep their money (and work) in the very center of their lives, or whether having money is just one aspect of their lives. Those who have friends and families, and those who have interests other than work tend to be happy.

On the other hand, everyone I know who's poor -- I mean genuinely poor -- is utterly miserable. Wondering whether you'll be able to make your rent, worrying about how many days of groceries you can buy this week, and hoping that your kids' feet won't grow 'til school's out 'cause you can't afford more tennis shoes . . . well, it's hard to be happy when that type of thoughts plagues you.

However, I don't believe the OP is really either rich or poor. I think she's going to lean towards upper or lower middle class, depending upon which job she chooses.