Would you work if you didn't have to?

[JorisBonson]

If you won the lottery or came into a life changing sum of money some other way.

I like my job fine but they wouldn't see me for dust if I won the lottery. And I would spend my days fostering kittens in my mansion.

Definitely not. Never understand why people bother buying a lottery ticket if they don't want to change their life 🤷‍♀️

lottery win I would be giving in my notice on Monday without a backward glance

God no, work gets in the way of doing what I like doing.

Yes, I love what I do.

No, if i was independently wealthy I wouldn't work. I had 6 months off a couple of years ago between contracts and it was amazing. Lots of exercise, gardening and crafting. I didn't struggle to fill my days at all.

No. Dh took retirement when he was made redundant at 61. I'd always planned to retire at 60, which was the age I should have retired until the government increased it. But how, even though my state pension has reached the maximum amount, I still have to work, and contribute until I'm 67. My work pension would be enough to survive on, coupled with DH's pensions, but it cannot be paid until I reach state retirement age. So, yes, I would absolutely give up work and enjoy spending time with my husband and my children and grandchildren.

Yes and I do.

Don't get me wrong we're not well off in the lottery win sense but I don't need to work.

If I won't the lottery I would still work but probably do something different that I could do as and when I felt like to stop me getting bored.

I’d have six months off and then see how I felt.

It would be lovely to have the choice

No, I would just study degree after degree and maybe sell/teach some crafts on the side, as well as volunteering by talking to old people (already do this) and cleaning up the local nature reserve.

I'd study Chemistry, then Fashion Design, then Psychology.

But I couldn't just do nothing - I've had months off unemployed and even though I had 3 years of savings so money wasn't really a worry, I was so fucking bored and miserable and unmotivated. I got none of my hobbies done, didn't see anyone and sort of became part of the sofa. So I'd need a routine and commitments.

On a consultancy basis

No, but I woud need something to fill my time so would do some courses and degrees.

I would volunteer 2.5 days a week at the SEN school I currently work at. I get bored in the summer holidays when DS is away with his dad! I think 2.5 days to do life admin, exercise and potter would be perfect.

Absolutely not

Absolutely not.

I would retire tomorrow if I could afford to. I have contributed more than my fair share to keeping the economy going over the last three decades.

I would do so much. Because without the yoke of needing to earn to survive, and pay for my children, I could just do cool stuff instead.

I’d volunteer in the same type of role I have now.
Alternatively I’d love to live in outer London - I’d need a life changing sum to be able to afford it. It might mean I could afford-to live comfortably and work in London in the job I love.

I work full time. Financially I don't need to, I have inherited property and can live off that.

I would be SO bored without work. I enjoy it, it challenges and interests me, and I'm setting a good example for my children.

Mahoooosive difference between "not having to work" - as per title question - and "won the lottery".

If either dh or I had to stop working now, we would cope. So you could argue I don't have to work, but our life is a lot more comfortable because we do both work - and always have.
I enjoy my job - I feel I do something that makes a difference, and I don't particularly enjoy housework / cooking / gardening / decorating / etc, so, I prefer to work and then have a cleaner (and people in to decorate / garden as need be). I like the fact we can afford holidays and being able to run two cars.

If I came into millions however, that would be a completely different story.

I dont have to work but i still do. It provides a balance for me and a nice financial top up as well as keeping my mind sharp and my body exercised. Sure ill pull the plug sometime but just not now..

Hell no!

I guess there is a difference between not having to work but not being able to spend loads of money, and not having to work while having millions. In the former which I've been in, all you can do is sit at home and watch TV really. In the latter, you can run a business that constantly loses loads of money (Victoria Beckham) or just do endless degrees and watercolour painting classes.

Maybe. But it wouldn't be as a full time teacher. I'd perhaps keep some tutoring going as a way to have the love of seeing someone learn and improve, but without the school politics/paperwork and targets. And the full class of 30+ pupils.

I would be a voluntary consultant and offer my skills into community projects that I wanted to support. God I would love it.

Yes I would still work, I wouldn't know what to do with myself without a job. I might have longer gaps between contracts, or consider moving somewhere else to work.

My mother 'retired' when she was about 40, devoted herself to volunteer work. Maybe5 yrs later her marriage fell apart so she had to go back to work & felt this was extremely challenging.