Would you rather be rich or happy?

[MamaLema]

If you couldn't be both? I need some advice. I am at a job now that pays very, very low. On top of that, it is only a few hours a day. But I LOVE the job. I honestly don't even feel that I go to work, I love it so much. I consider my coworkers my family, that's how much we all get along.

I have a chance to get a job that requires me leaving my workplace. It would pay very, very well, but I will probably be miserable there, and have to commute far away, and see my kids for maybe an hour in the evenings. The pay is awesome but I know I will never be as happy as I am now in my current job, but more money would really come in handy.

 

[C.Ann]

If you can afford it, stay where you are.. Loving your job is really a dream come true..

As for the actual question? Happy - even if it meant dirt poor in terms of money..

Good luck with your decision..

 

[krcit]

If you are able to pay your bills, I say stay where you are.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

If you love your job and can pay the bills, then I'd stay. If you take the higher paying job, but never see your kids and can't enjoy the extra $$$, then why bother?

 

[mhsjax]

If you can pay your bills ,stay. You can make lots more money, but not being happy with a job is not worth more money. It will carry on to all other aspects of your life and you will spend your time off doing nothing but dreading going back to work. So not worth it, if you can survive on your current salary.

 

[punkin]

There are hidden costs in commuting and being home less. Make sure you are actually going to be better off financially if you do take the new job. As for me, I would probably stay where I am.

 

[Donaldswife]

I am all for loving your job, and this is a VERY personal decision, with that said.....

I would take the job with the money. Sometimes you have to make hay while the sun is shining, and put as much of it away as you can for when it rains. None of us knows what is down the road for us, what if you get sick and can't work, do you have enough saved for medical bills, kids colleges fully funded, retirement fully funded including enough saved for the supplemental private health insurance you would need? For me personally, AND THIS IS JUST ME, I would not be comfortable NOT taking the job if it meant I could attain these goals much more quickly and provide security for my future. That is the reason I am still working full time even though since my DH got his masters degree and much better paying job I really don't have to. For me, happiness comes with financial security. I can put up with a job I don't like in order to do that, and find my happiness elsewhere.

Everyone is different on that though, and if you are comfortable where you are financially and want to stay where you are I think that is great too!

 

[lynxstch]

My Husband worked retail for over 40 years..6 years ago he quit..he's been working since then for a non profit group, as residential counselor of a group home for mentally and physically challeneged adults..he says its the best job he's ever had and the most rewarding thing he could be doing..the pay isn't what he was making before..but it's enough to pay the bills, and they provide great health insurance..he's SO MUCH happier at that job than the other one!!

 

[Carly_Roach]

Another minority reporting in here: I'd rather be rich. Happy I can do on my own.

Happiness is an emotion that I'm totally in control of, therefore I could be working in the worst atmosphere possible yet be totally happy because I know that I control that emotion. It is only when I put my happiness in the hands of other people that I suffer.

Money, or rather income from another person, OTOH, is something I cannot immediately control. Would I leave a poor paying job where I was very happy for a better paying job that I might hate? Yep. Been there, done that. And I was miserable in that job until I learned that only I can control how happy or sad I was, not every other miserable SOB surrounding me. Then the job got better, I was happy AND I had the money to boot.

At least until they started laying off people.

But like Donaldswife said, everyone's different. What worked for me may not work for you.

 

[Sorsha]

If you love your job and can pay the bills, stay. A job that makes you happy is rare indeed, and being miserable in your job really isn't usually worth it.

WITH THAT SAID HOWEVER I will play devil's advocate... I do not believe that one can truly ever be really actually POOR and HAPPY, not in this economy, not in this country. Too much to worry about, too many bills, too much insecurity. Given the option, I would always chose RICH. Yeah, there may be other headaches that come along with it, but just give me a chance to have THOSE headaches instead of the multitudes of ones I have now as one of the POORER people, and I'll let you know how it works out, ok?

Money may not buy happiness, but it sure can go a long way towards buying a lot of things that will help me to HAVE happiness - like a house with no mortgage, cars that were actually manufactured in this millenium and don't leak oil all over the garage floor, a trip to the doctor and the dentist when I need it...

So I picked RICH.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I voted for being happy, but my question to you is, are you sure that you would not be happy with that job? If so, why are you so sure? Also, how far is the commute & how old are your children? If you are talking a 30 minute drive and you have very young children that's different than say an hour drive with older children at home.

I am a SAHM, and I have chosen this because I want to be happy and I want to be here for my kids. My DH makes good money, but it would really be nice if I had a job that I would really enjoy going to everyday. If I was offered something, I would strongly consider it. Sometimes I think about all that I could do with that extra money. (mainly Disney more often)

 

[Mrs. Charming]

If you can afford it, stay where you are.. Loving your job is really a dream come true..

As for the actual question? Happy - even if it meant dirt poor in terms of money..

Good luck with your decision..

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Dis4]

If you couldn't be both? I need some advice. I am at a job now that pays very, very low. On top of that, it is only a few hours a day. But I LOVE the job. I honestly don't even feel that I go to work, I love it so much. I consider my coworkers my family, that's how much we all get along.

I have a chance to get a job that requires me leaving my workplace. It would pay very, very well, but I will probably be miserable there, and have to commute far away, and see my kids for maybe an hour in the evenings. The pay is awesome but I know I will never be as happy as I am now in my current job, but more money would really come in handy.

If you love your current job so much, why are you applying for other positions?

Now I don't want to sound mean but you say you only work a few hours a day. I mean who wouldn't love that but that's not real life. Most people grind out a work week from 8 to 5 and collect their checks. They try to enjoy their evenings and definitely enjoy the weekends. Then they get back at it the next week.. that's life unless you're one of the few fortunate ones who make a ton of money doing something they love.

 

[bballmom56]

Happy.

I work for someone who has more money than I would know what to do with and she is miserable. Lots of problems in her life, many of them as a result of having money. Nope. I look at her life and mine and I wouldn't trade mine for hers. And if I had hers, I could stop working immediately and not even have to worry about funding our retirement.

Time with your kids is something you can't get back. Make sure you think it through.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Happy at all costs!

I have been in the middle and I've been really poor. Really poor stinks but as I had it really poor and unhappy was a pretty awful combo to be avoided at all costs. I went to college to avoid being really poor. I almost married into rich twice but both guys made me miserable so rich and unhappy wasn't for me either. When I got engaged to my DH I was still in college and he was working at a Cinnamon Bakery and not even back in college yet so I took my chances with poor & happy if that's what it meant to be happy. If I remember correctly at the time I was choosing who to marry the song "Two Princes" was really big

I continued on the same path when I left my fabulous job to be a SAHM and never looked back. As it turns out I'm in the middle and happy which is a nice place to be.

 

[Robinrs]

No money in the world is worth being in a job you hate. I've worked for a little money and a LOT and would choose happy over money anyday.

 

[Tricia1972]

WITH THAT SAID HOWEVER I will play devil's advocate... I do not believe that one can truly ever be really actually POOR and HAPPY, not in this economy, not in this country. Too much to worry about, too many bills, too much insecurity. Given the option, I would always chose RICH. Yeah, there may be other headaches that come along with it, but just give me a chance to have THOSE headaches instead of the multitudes of ones I have now as one of the POORER people, and I'll let you know how it works out, ok?

Money may not buy happiness, but it sure can go a long way towards buying a lot of things that will help me to HAVE happiness - like a house with no mortgage, cars that were actually manufactured in this millenium and don't leak oil all over the garage floor, a trip to the doctor and the dentist when I need it...

So I picked RICH.

I very much agree with this post.

Middle Class and Happy is pretty easy, and if you can achieve that where you're at, then stay with your current job.

If you are poor, then I agree with all of the above and think you should take the new job. That new job could lead to a better job that pays more down the line as well.

 

[DWGal210]

Carly, I completely agree with your post.

Only you know your circumstances, OP - but I have been on the "I like this job better but it pays less" side. At first, I did like it - but as I found personally, having to scrimp was not fun for me. I had the money for the necessities, but that was it. So I was fortunate to go to a job that I LIKE - I am not miserable and I feel I am good at my job, but it doesn't give me warm fuzzies all the time. But I am more financially secure and THAT makes me happy.

I personally don't look to my job for happiness - that comes from other places.

But, as Carly said, different strokes for different folks. Do what YOU thnk is best for you & your family.

Another minority reporting in here: I'd rather be rich. Happy I can do on my own.

Happiness is an emotion that I'm totally in control of, therefore I could be working in the worst atmosphere possible yet be totally happy because I know that I control that emotion. It is only when I put my happiness in the hands of other people that I suffer.

Money, or rather income from another person, OTOH, is something I cannot immediately control. Would I leave a poor paying job where I was very happy for a better paying job that I might hate? Yep. Been there, done that. And I was miserable in that job until I learned that only I can control how happy or sad I was, not every other miserable SOB surrounding me. Then the job got better, I was happy AND I had the money to boot.

At least until they started laying off people.

But like Donaldswife said, everyone's different. What worked for me may not work for you.

 

[C.Ann]

If you couldn't be both? I need some advice. I am at a job now that pays very, very low. On top of that, it is only a few hours a day. But I LOVE the job. I honestly don't even feel that I go to work, I love it so much. I consider my coworkers my family, that's how much we all get along.

I have a chance to get a job that requires me leaving my workplace. It would pay very, very well, but I will probably be miserable there, and have to commute far away, and see my kids for maybe an hour in the evenings. The pay is awesome but I know I will never be as happy as I am now in my current job, but more money would really come in handy.

If you love your current job so much, why are you applying for other positions?

(Underlining mine..) I didn't see where she said she was applying for other positions.. She simply said, "I have a chance to get a job..." etc..

I've had jobs offered to me out of the blue - after someone has taken it upon themselves to make a recommendation to their employer - simply because they thought I was well suited for the job - and even in the course of a simple conversation with a neighbor, friend, or relative..

Not sure if that's the case here, but it could be..

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

When I was a child, we were dirt poor but happy. In my life, I have found myself in just about every socioeconomic class except rich. I am now considered upper middle class, but it is still a pretty big leap to rich.

I would take poor and happy over what I have today (economically) and miserable in a second.