How much do you earn?
Discussion
Some interesting comments I think it's probably worth taking a moment to think of the people that have no choice but t work their balls off just to get by. Southern people. Those with kids etc. It's a real privilege to have that choice and knowing that the choice is better than the material things you used to hanker after is a real revelation in life and one that not all that many people get to. I think if you have had that revelation you have achieved real success.
I had a moment earlier this year where it was a choice of setting myself up for 5 years of really hard graft expanding the business in a pretty serious way. Offer of external funding on the table all that. Went the other way and am currently downsizing slightly with the ultimate aim being to try and get down to a 4 day week and attend to a couple of other little projects I have on the go. Ultimately I could have developed a pretty big business but what for? I live in a nice house with a few toy cars we get away in holiday when we can. Couple of cold beers in the fridge and I don't really crave much more than that so why risk health/marriage and free time?
I had a moment earlier this year where it was a choice of setting myself up for 5 years of really hard graft expanding the business in a pretty serious way. Offer of external funding on the table all that. Went the other way and am currently downsizing slightly with the ultimate aim being to try and get down to a 4 day week and attend to a couple of other little projects I have on the go. Ultimately I could have developed a pretty big business but what for? I live in a nice house with a few toy cars we get away in holiday when we can. Couple of cold beers in the fridge and I don't really crave much more than that so why risk health/marriage and free time?
fridaypassion said:
Some interesting comments I think it's probably worth taking a moment to think of the people that have no choice but t work their balls off just to get by. Southern people. Those with kids etc. It's a real privilege to have that choice and knowing that the choice is better than the material things you used to hanker after is a real revelation in life and one that not all that many people get to. I think if you have had that revelation you have achieved real success.
I had a moment earlier this year where it was a choice of setting myself up for 5 years of really hard graft expanding the business in a pretty serious way. Offer of external funding on the table all that. Went the other way and am currently downsizing slightly with the ultimate aim being to try and get down to a 4 day week and attend to a couple of other little projects I have on the go. Ultimately I could have developed a pretty big business but what for? I live in a nice house with a few toy cars we get away in holiday when we can. Couple of cold beers in the fridge and I don't really crave much more than that so why risk health/marriage and free time?
I feel quite fortunate to have the revelation about 'what I want' and being in a position that I earn 'enough' not to worry about spending day to day / meal out / night out / taxis / clothes / holidays and without the need to push myself too hard to 'move up the ranks for another 20-50k or if i was to move abroad - some multiples of that.I had a moment earlier this year where it was a choice of setting myself up for 5 years of really hard graft expanding the business in a pretty serious way. Offer of external funding on the table all that. Went the other way and am currently downsizing slightly with the ultimate aim being to try and get down to a 4 day week and attend to a couple of other little projects I have on the go. Ultimately I could have developed a pretty big business but what for? I live in a nice house with a few toy cars we get away in holiday when we can. Couple of cold beers in the fridge and I don't really crave much more than that so why risk health/marriage and free time?
I also realise that life is very difficult for some people and feel fortunate, but don't often remember it enough when you are so busy all the time just getting on with life (albeit, in a bit of a bubble). Good luck with your 4 day a week plan.
fridaypassion said:
Some interesting comments I think it's probably worth taking a moment to think of the people that have no choice but t work their balls off just to get by. Southern people. Those with kids etc. It's a real privilege to have that choice and knowing that the choice is better than the material things you used to hanker after is a real revelation in life and one that not all that many people get to. I think if you have had that revelation you have achieved real success.
I had a moment earlier this year where it was a choice of setting myself up for 5 years of really hard graft expanding the business in a pretty serious way. Offer of external funding on the table all that. Went the other way and am currently downsizing slightly with the ultimate aim being to try and get down to a 4 day week and attend to a couple of other little projects I have on the go. Ultimately I could have developed a pretty big business but what for? I live in a nice house with a few toy cars we get away in holiday when we can. Couple of cold beers in the fridge and I don't really crave much more than that so why risk health/marriage and free time?
This makes a lot of sense. I do get the impression that most of the people posting here likely have VERY high incomes compared with most folks though!I had a moment earlier this year where it was a choice of setting myself up for 5 years of really hard graft expanding the business in a pretty serious way. Offer of external funding on the table all that. Went the other way and am currently downsizing slightly with the ultimate aim being to try and get down to a 4 day week and attend to a couple of other little projects I have on the go. Ultimately I could have developed a pretty big business but what for? I live in a nice house with a few toy cars we get away in holiday when we can. Couple of cold beers in the fridge and I don't really crave much more than that so why risk health/marriage and free time?
I suppose what most of us agree on is that it is 'quality of life', rather than the quantity of money that is the really important thing. The puzzle is trying to achieve that somehow.
I had a wake-up moment when, after my divorce from my first wife, my oldest son (7 at the time) told his paternal grandmother that he "didn't really know daddy, as he was always at work".
That was a cold shiver moment and changed my priorities overnight.
Some of the happiest people I know have very modest incomes and spend parsimoniously but thoroughly enjoy life and the hand they have been given (or made for themselves).
Conversely, I also know some wealthy people who are as miserable as sin!!!
That was a cold shiver moment and changed my priorities overnight.
Some of the happiest people I know have very modest incomes and spend parsimoniously but thoroughly enjoy life and the hand they have been given (or made for themselves).
Conversely, I also know some wealthy people who are as miserable as sin!!!
I'm in the midst of a shareholder dispute, it's messy and stressful. I earn good money from the business I founded. I chased growth and brought the wrong people into the business.
I've had probably the worst 8 weeks of my professional life. What is made me realise is that my life, my wife, my kids, are far more important than anything else.
Let's not be daft, you need money to live, to maintain a life, a lifestyle, but happiness is not a monetary value. It just isn't. Bring rich is about being rich in your life, rather than your bank balance.
Sadly, the more time I spend around already wealthy people who see growth of their personal wealth as the creation of their happiness, the more I realise they're often pretty horrible people. Certainly doesn't apply to everyone in that position, but it seems to be a trend.
I've had probably the worst 8 weeks of my professional life. What is made me realise is that my life, my wife, my kids, are far more important than anything else.
Let's not be daft, you need money to live, to maintain a life, a lifestyle, but happiness is not a monetary value. It just isn't. Bring rich is about being rich in your life, rather than your bank balance.
Sadly, the more time I spend around already wealthy people who see growth of their personal wealth as the creation of their happiness, the more I realise they're often pretty horrible people. Certainly doesn't apply to everyone in that position, but it seems to be a trend.
This thread has been a really interesting window into a number of different lifestyles. I used to be obsessed with comparing myself with others and trying to get more from life, convinced I should be doing more.
For me, time and the way it spent is more important than money. I'm just under 40, my wife & I both work part time. We have 2 kids so I get to see my kids for 3 days and I'm usually home for dinner with them most days. Our jobs are flexible so we can always work more to earn more when we want/need.
But the most important thing to me is where we live, we always have kids at our door wanting to play with our eldest, we have about 3 street parties a year with our neighbours and are always helping each other out with school runs, movie nights with kids etc.
Sometimes we're winning, sometimes we're behind, depends who we compare ourselves to. But on the whole, I'm pretty content (Mrs Esp is always after more holidays), I'm still tempted to start my own business but the risk of losing what I've got puts me off just now.
For me, time and the way it spent is more important than money. I'm just under 40, my wife & I both work part time. We have 2 kids so I get to see my kids for 3 days and I'm usually home for dinner with them most days. Our jobs are flexible so we can always work more to earn more when we want/need.
But the most important thing to me is where we live, we always have kids at our door wanting to play with our eldest, we have about 3 street parties a year with our neighbours and are always helping each other out with school runs, movie nights with kids etc.
Sometimes we're winning, sometimes we're behind, depends who we compare ourselves to. But on the whole, I'm pretty content (Mrs Esp is always after more holidays), I'm still tempted to start my own business but the risk of losing what I've got puts me off just now.
My approach is make hay while the sun shines, meaning maximise earnings and savings while your health and inclination allows, subject of course to maintaining an acceptable work/life split. Sounds like a truism but I’d also say tip the balance in favour of work while you’re still physically able because there will come a day when the opportunities thin out or you don’t have the health to take them.
I don’t have a clear ‘number’ I want to reach after which I can stop or go slow. Instead I focus on spinning out what I now have for as long as possible, adding where I can. It might end tomorrow or in 20 years but I’ll know I wasn’t premature in deciding to get off the treadmill.
I say this as someone who likes working and doesn’t really want to stop.
I don’t have a clear ‘number’ I want to reach after which I can stop or go slow. Instead I focus on spinning out what I now have for as long as possible, adding where I can. It might end tomorrow or in 20 years but I’ll know I wasn’t premature in deciding to get off the treadmill.
I say this as someone who likes working and doesn’t really want to stop.
Edited by Porridge GTI on Monday 19th November 17:04
Well I've just come back from a job interview. If I'm successful then I'll be anywhere from £7,500 to £12,500 pa worse off with a longer commute (from 10 minutes to potentially 20 to 30 minutes). I'm hoping I get it. I'd rather be happy, financially comfortable and able to sleep at nights again than well off and miserable as I am now. Instead of dropping £6k on Mexico, I'll be dropping £600 on a cottage in the UK but at least I'll be making jokes and enjoying the break rather than thinking about work. Oh and at 44, I've done a good stint and would retire tomorrow if I had the money. Life's too short to spend all your days working.
janesmith1950 said:
I'm in the midst of a shareholder dispute, it's messy and stressful. I earn good money from the business I founded. I chased growth and brought the wrong people into the business.
I've had probably the worst 8 weeks of my professional life. What is made me realise is that my life, my wife, my kids, are far more important than anything else.
Let's not be daft, you need money to live, to maintain a life, a lifestyle, but happiness is not a monetary value. It just isn't. Bring rich is about being rich in your life, rather than your bank balance.
Sadly, the more time I spend around already wealthy people who see growth of their personal wealth as the creation of their happiness, the more I realise they're often pretty horrible people. Certainly doesn't apply to everyone in that position, but it seems to be a trend.
Amen to that.I've had probably the worst 8 weeks of my professional life. What is made me realise is that my life, my wife, my kids, are far more important than anything else.
Let's not be daft, you need money to live, to maintain a life, a lifestyle, but happiness is not a monetary value. It just isn't. Bring rich is about being rich in your life, rather than your bank balance.
Sadly, the more time I spend around already wealthy people who see growth of their personal wealth as the creation of their happiness, the more I realise they're often pretty horrible people. Certainly doesn't apply to everyone in that position, but it seems to be a trend.
Some nice sentiments on the last couple of pages which I wholeheartedly agree with.
I'm never going to be massively rich, and therefore the stable of Porsches, Astons, etc probably is never going to happen.
But, I have a very nice lifestyle and if I can continue like this until I curl my toes up then that will be great.
It brings it all into focus when a schoolfriend's husband dies of a brain tumour at 43. As I get older I find I'm appreciating the 'small things' more and more.
Simple pleasures like a wonderful view, the smell of the sea air, banter with friends at the gym, going out for a cooked breakfast with my wife, etc. The sorts of things I hope I can enjoy for a long time regardless of income.
I'm never going to be massively rich, and therefore the stable of Porsches, Astons, etc probably is never going to happen.
But, I have a very nice lifestyle and if I can continue like this until I curl my toes up then that will be great.
It brings it all into focus when a schoolfriend's husband dies of a brain tumour at 43. As I get older I find I'm appreciating the 'small things' more and more.
Simple pleasures like a wonderful view, the smell of the sea air, banter with friends at the gym, going out for a cooked breakfast with my wife, etc. The sorts of things I hope I can enjoy for a long time regardless of income.
pete_esp said:
This thread has been a really interesting window into a number of different lifestyles. I used to be obsessed with comparing myself with others and trying to get more from life, convinced I should be doing more.
Sometimes we're winning, sometimes we're behind, depends who we compare ourselves to.
This, even more so when you can log onto Facebook and see what old friends are up to. Or have it thrown in your face on your news feed. Sometimes we're winning, sometimes we're behind, depends who we compare ourselves to.
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