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Original poster

To wish i’d known when younger the importance of going into a career with money

356 replies

Watermelonlollies · 14/06/2025 12:34

I don’t remember my parents stressing this to me.

I’m a teacher and used to have an okay lifestyle, got by happily and could have holidays and a few treats here and there.
Life isn’t like that now, as i’m sure it isn’t for many.

I’m not materialistic in any way, but as I’ve got older it’s really dawned on me the importance having money makes and I wish i’d gone down a different path

Does anyone feel the same and do/will any of you be expressing this to your kids?

OP posts:
Original poster
Watermelonlollies · 14/06/2025 12:45

OldChinaJug · 14/06/2025 12:40

I opened this thread knowing you'd be a teacher.

What else would you have done? And would you have listened to your parents?

I'm leaving the profession entirely this year (staying until Christmas) but my motivation isn't and never has been money. I don't think I could do something where it was the main draw.

If you're not happy, leave and retrain.

Edited

I never even used to think about money, but I suppose getting a bit older, having kids and just realising how much easier and enjoyable being comfortable makes life has me thinking.
What are you going to do instead?

OP posts:
Twelftytwo · 14/06/2025 12:45

I think things have changed a bit over time though.

Graduate public sector professions like teaching, allied health professionals, social work etc used to be a good solid option and you'd even have one parent working in those jobs supporting a whole family on a single income.

Life has got a lot more expensive and salaries haven't caught up.

ilovesooty · 14/06/2025 12:44

I've never been in a career with money. Apart from a couple of desperately awful career moves (one of which I should have got out of much earlier) I've been largely happy in the jobs I've had. It wasn't your parents ' responsibility to research how you could have benefited from a money focused career approach, and you've surely had opportunities to change career at some point.

BleachedJumper · 14/06/2025 12:41

the lifestyles a career used to be able to afford are now unobtainable for a lot of people, due to housing/cost of living and salaries not keeping pace.

OldChinaJug · 14/06/2025 12:40

I opened this thread knowing you'd be a teacher.

What else would you have done? And would you have listened to your parents?

I'm leaving the profession entirely this year (staying until Christmas) but my motivation isn't and never has been money. I don't think I could do something where it was the main draw.

If you're not happy, leave and retrain.

ImagineHarder · 14/06/2025 12:39

Respectfully, this isn’t on your parents. Surely you recognised as you were thinking about what to do for a living the need to be self-supporting and to have enough money? My parents desperately tried to get me to leave school at 15 and were opposed to me applying for university, but I’m ultimately responsible for my own choices. (I didn’t choose money, either, I chose interestingness — but that’s on me!)