Choosing between money and happiness?
Discussion
Just after some general guidance really..
I've not been happy in my current employment for a good few months, which has shown in my work, lack of commitment ave drive etc.
My employer has placed me in a position where I now have two choices, sort myself out and work hard and keep my job, or carry on as is and be performance managed/leave.
The problem is that I have worked hard over the last few years to get myself to s comfortable earning level, which if I leave, will without doubt, drop.
I am still good friends with q previous employer and they have approached me on a few occasions about returning to work for them. The work is completely different, a lot less stress, a lot more time for myself/to spend with the wife and a lot more perks. Most importantly, its something I loved doing.
The question is, would you take a 10k (to start off with, new job would be commission based also which could lead to more money) paycut to do something you love? Or put your head down to work in a job you don't like, for a boss you don't respect, in a company you don't value?
I could sustain that kind of drop for maybe a few months, but would have to work hard to tey and regain as much as possible.
I look forward to hearing the PH answers
I've not been happy in my current employment for a good few months, which has shown in my work, lack of commitment ave drive etc.
My employer has placed me in a position where I now have two choices, sort myself out and work hard and keep my job, or carry on as is and be performance managed/leave.
The problem is that I have worked hard over the last few years to get myself to s comfortable earning level, which if I leave, will without doubt, drop.
I am still good friends with q previous employer and they have approached me on a few occasions about returning to work for them. The work is completely different, a lot less stress, a lot more time for myself/to spend with the wife and a lot more perks. Most importantly, its something I loved doing.
The question is, would you take a 10k (to start off with, new job would be commission based also which could lead to more money) paycut to do something you love? Or put your head down to work in a job you don't like, for a boss you don't respect, in a company you don't value?
I could sustain that kind of drop for maybe a few months, but would have to work hard to tey and regain as much as possible.
I look forward to hearing the PH answers
The businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied only a little while.
The businessman then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, señor."
The businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But señor, how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "15-20 years." "But what then, señor?" The businessman laughed and said, "That's the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions." "Millions, señor? Then what?" The businessman said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"
-Author Unknown
Personally, as I have no family, I would opt for the money to fund my lifestyle out of work.
The businessman then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, señor."
The businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But señor, how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "15-20 years." "But what then, señor?" The businessman laughed and said, "That's the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions." "Millions, señor? Then what?" The businessman said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"
-Author Unknown
Personally, as I have no family, I would opt for the money to fund my lifestyle out of work.
Edited by I Love Lamp on Friday 7th January 08:53
First of all, make sure your finances are in order. I.e. its no good taking a big cut if the mortgage, car repayments, credit cards andd descretionary spending are above what you'll earn. If they are not then stick at it until this is sorted.
Secondly - you've pretty much answered your own question. You cant put money of quality of life with the missus, kids, low levels of stress.
Get out and enjoy your life.
Your a long time dead.
Secondly - you've pretty much answered your own question. You cant put money of quality of life with the missus, kids, low levels of stress.
Get out and enjoy your life.
Your a long time dead.
Haighermeister said:
The work is completely different, a lot less stress, a lot more time for myself/to spend with the wife and a lot more perks.
If you're being honest about 'a lot more time for myself' then I don't see it as a £10k drop (obviously it is in £££'s but perhaps not in time).I wouldn't mind guessing that the £10k drop is pretty much equal to the difference in working hours, thus meaning you're not actually losing out, just making a good exchange.
Time is extremely valuable IMHO as is job satisfaction. I know plenty of stressed out guys that earn a packet but have poor health problems and no time to spend their wealth.
It's a no brainer for me. Best of luck
dave9 said:
if on 20k i wouldn't take a 10k paycut
if on 100k i probably would
depends - 10k after 42% income tax and NI is only say £5800 a year.
if on £45k plus i'd consider the drop
It's more like 30k-20k but obviously the 20k is + commission. And I'd be getting a company car so would saving on fuel too.if on 100k i probably would
depends - 10k after 42% income tax and NI is only say £5800 a year.
if on £45k plus i'd consider the drop
The other annoying part of my current job is that I regularly have to travel to bristol and Birmingham (i live in cornwall). I do this roughly 2-3 times per month, always requiring an overnight stay.
New job would be with a locally based company so would negate any travelling and the expenses accrued with that....
Haighermeister said:
dave9 said:
if on 20k i wouldn't take a 10k paycut
if on 100k i probably would
depends - 10k after 42% income tax and NI is only say £5800 a year.
if on £45k plus i'd consider the drop
It's more like 30k-20k but obviously the 20k is + commission. And I'd be getting a company car so would saving on fuel too.if on 100k i probably would
depends - 10k after 42% income tax and NI is only say £5800 a year.
if on £45k plus i'd consider the drop
The other annoying part of my current job is that I regularly have to travel to bristol and Birmingham (i live in cornwall). I do this roughly 2-3 times per month, always requiring an overnight stay.
New job would be with a locally based company so would negate any travelling and the expenses accrued with that....
Dependant on how much you travel, a company car often works out cheaper than running your own when you take into account fuel, insurance, depreciation, tax and maintenance (nearer £400-£500 per month for a basic car), whereas a company car is usually between £200-£300 if we're talking similar value cars.
If you can earn around £4k commission, I don't think you'll really notice the difference.
One thing to take into account - Less time at work means more time you'll be shopping and doing things, which in turn, costs more!
Can't fault the financial bits of ILL.
I know a number of people who are considering taking significant wage drops down to new incomes of £30k-£35k in return for new jobs doing something they either/and/or love doing, gives them more flexible working hours, less responsibility, is more rewarding, closer to home, employs less Cunits.
I know of one chap who is looking at a total career change and will be taking at least a 15k drop if they do, to them though it is 100% worth it for their sanity and happiness.
Money sure can buy you a better class of misery and is very important but once you have covered the house and food bills and a bottle of wine a week the rest is really only gravy.
I know a number of people who are considering taking significant wage drops down to new incomes of £30k-£35k in return for new jobs doing something they either/and/or love doing, gives them more flexible working hours, less responsibility, is more rewarding, closer to home, employs less Cunits.
I know of one chap who is looking at a total career change and will be taking at least a 15k drop if they do, to them though it is 100% worth it for their sanity and happiness.
Money sure can buy you a better class of misery and is very important but once you have covered the house and food bills and a bottle of wine a week the rest is really only gravy.
Im in the process of making a career change, if succesfull, I will be taking a £13000 - £18000 pay cut, I dont have an exact figure as presently I get a bonus every 6 months and it varies depending on how the company is doing. (Nothing sales related)
It is for a better quality of life, less stress, less worrying and more time at home and doing things I enjoy. Once I gain more experience in my new role I will earn a more, but its not so inportant to me.
When I worked offshore, I earned alot of money, however the sacrifice was that I was away most of the time and never saw much of my friends and family. I find people who chase money are never really happy with how much money they earn, or are not as happy as people who have less. Earning alot of money does make things easier but it does not make you happier. I found I just wasted more money.
as I was told by some American
" Its not how much you earn, its what you do with the money you earn thats inportant, and it took me a long time to relise that"
It is for a better quality of life, less stress, less worrying and more time at home and doing things I enjoy. Once I gain more experience in my new role I will earn a more, but its not so inportant to me.
When I worked offshore, I earned alot of money, however the sacrifice was that I was away most of the time and never saw much of my friends and family. I find people who chase money are never really happy with how much money they earn, or are not as happy as people who have less. Earning alot of money does make things easier but it does not make you happier. I found I just wasted more money.
as I was told by some American
" Its not how much you earn, its what you do with the money you earn thats inportant, and it took me a long time to relise that"
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