To ask WHY you work

Money, the intellectual challenge, the colleagues (they are all really lovely people and also really intelligent and interesting), the feeling that I am really making a difference.

Interesting question that I was only asking myself today…

DH is retired on a very good pension. I don’t have a private pension so I still work p/t, from home. He has said I can retire if I want to, he has enough to cover us both.

I don’t really enjoy my job, don’t really need the money, but it gives structure to my day/week. On days that I work, I’ll go to the gym/for a walk, come home and work for a few hours, do a few chores, and still have an hour or two spare to relax (and feel like I’ve earned it because I’ve done some work)

I think if I didn’t work I’d feel a bit pointless 🤷🏼‍♀️

Sanity, routine and structure, keeping mentally busy, providing a useful service to people in a tough situation. Having something for me, social interactions, challenging myself. Lots of reasons really.
The money is nice but I don’t really ‘need’ to work for money. Which is a nice position to be in because I stay because I actually genuinely like my job and colleagues.
I spent over 10 years as a SAHM and loved it but knew I wanted to go back to work when the youngest went to school.
I massively value my time off now and look forward to it.

Money, since my rent and bills won't pay themselves. I'd stop immediately if I would afford to and wouldn't give it a second thought - there are so many more worthwhile and constructive things I could be doing with my time.

I can’t wait to leave work. Only doing it for money now, the love for my job has well and truly gone.

On just above NMW and part time, it's not for the money 😅

Sanity. Was a SAHM for 8 years. I couldn't take it anymore, needed something else.

For money - no other way to pay a mortgage and bills.

I guess the second part to this question is why I work a stressful job with long hours for better pay.

The answer is financial security and being able to have a good quality lifestyle, and hopefully start to build generational wealth.

I’m not rich
I need money to live
I quite like work - when I get there. Getting up and faffing around at 6am is the piss take. Commute is quick

For money.

I enjoy my job for the most part, or maybe “enjoy” is not the right word but I do find it interesting and stimulating. But I’d be lying if I said I was at work for any reason other than money. And there are probably jobs that are less pressure but pay less that I would prefer if money wasn’t a factor.

money
pride
financial security
mental stimulation
contributing to society
setting an example to DC

Money only for me. I'd retire if I could. I don't need work for a purpose in life.

I love my job. It’s mentally stimulating and I feel very connected to it. It’s something I’ve been good at and enjoyed since childhood. I also really like making money.

I work because I have to. I also like having my own money and my own bank account.

It's very hard to define yourself without money, socially we are programmed to care about material worth - for humans this means you need money for a secure place to live, food and water. Company.

I’ve always enjoyed working, I get great feedback from people about how good I am at what I do. That combination is irresistible and I get to work with people who really are exceptionally bright and interesting.

some of the best times in my social life comes with these same people.

I'm past state pension age, I’m hoping to cling on as long as ever I can.

I have started to pick up some volunteer work to keep me interested once I do retire. Compare to work, working with volunteers are pretty slow and unexciting. Work much more sparky and fun. Hoping to stay in harness as long as ever I can, let them prize my staff is badge from my cold dead hands. 😎

I’ve always enjoyed working, I get great feedback from people about how good I am at what I do. That combination is irresistible and I get to work with people who really are exceptionally bright and interesting.

some of the best times in my social life comes with these same people.

I'm past state pension age, I’m hoping to cling on as long as ever I can.

I have started to pick up some volunteer work to keep me interested once I do retire. Compare to work, working with volunteers are pretty slow and unexciting. Work much more sparky and fun. Hoping to stay in harness as long as ever I can, let them prize my staff is badge from my cold dead hands. 😎

Money. I like my job, I like my colleagues, and I think I make a difference at work, but if I won the lottery I’d hand my notice in tomorrow. My job is ok but I can think of a million things I’d rather do, and see, and read, and learn…

I like being financially independent, earning my own money.
I take pride in job i do and find it rewarding
I enjoy the job and like the people I work with
It gives me much needed routine

For the money. That's it. I could find a million things to keep me busy and my mind occupied without a job, so it definitely is not to have a purpose. I could find many purposes, activities to keep my brain occupied and worthwhile things to do without it.

It keeps me connected to the world in a way I wouldn't otherwise be.
When I was younger it was the social side, which was an absolute blast. WFH suits my life now but I feel sorry for young people not having the social experience.

Well if people didnt work how could we have everything we have in our lives that we do now?

Because I enjoy it very very much.

I’m in a very fortunate position and don’t need to work, but I tried being a SAHM for a bit after DC were born and I didn’t care for it at all. Neither of us is domestic, so we have a housekeeper and the SAH version of me just sort of wafted about cafes, soft play and galleries. It got very dull, very quickly.

I’m ’clever’ and I enjoy my very clever job. I get paid quite well for it, but salary is just a way of keeping score, really. It’s not why I work.

For money.

I mean I do sort of like my job. But would I carry in doing it if I won £500m. No.

Also the little story is a parable. Not a parody.

Money. I’d love to never work. I’ve done SO much of it already. 😴

Hmm good question OP. Obviously money but wider than that because I am a competitive person who likes to achieve but I’m losing that now in my early 40’s, hoping to find a bit of the old spark again because I hate working right now and used to love it!

I primarily go for money, but I also enjoy the work, it’s given my life identity, meaning, and social status / a good lifestyle I think there’s dignity in putting in a day’s work for a day’s pay (whatever the work is), contributing to society via taxation, and doing something useful with myself.