What would you do if you were rich enough that you didn’t have to work?

[Fearlesssloth]

Say a mystery long-lost aunt left you a few million in her will. Would you give up your job, go part-time, be a SAHM if you have kids? If you chose not to work what would you do with your time?

I'd hand in my notice, join the local David Lloyd gym and be there at 10am daily in term time. I'd focus on my hobbies, finish my OU course without the stress of having a job as well, and travel every summer for a month with the kids.

I'd spend time baking, reading, sorting out my garden, and getting involved in local 'church work days' and charity events. I'd volunteer to read and help with the primary school kids.

I'd act as taxi/escort for the kids so they could do all the extra-curriculars they fancy.

I'd support DH in his career, being available to manage the kids while he goes to boring meetings and conferences.

I would paint, join a choir, actually make things without worrying about costs...

It would be wonderful.

I’d quit work, move to a more rural location with a bit of land and have more dogs.

If it was mega millions I’d convert a period property into a fantastic day spa for women only that wouldn’t need to be profitable as I’d be subbing it with my megabucks.

DH would have a recording studio and he’d be in there forever!

I’d employ a housekeeper chef person as well.

We’re not rich, but we have enough that I don’t have to work so I don’t. What I do instead is take care of all our pets - and there are a lot of them!

Our house has a fair bit of land and I’ve used that to house the animals that don’t live inside. I am categorically not a rescue, all our animals are pets but by having the means not to work, it means if anyone locally wants/needs to rehome their pet, I can and usually do adopt them. It means that I stop some animals being disposed of like they’re trash and luckily my husband doesn’t have a clue how many pets we have so he rarely notices any new additions 😄

I am genuinely living the best life possible for me, and I am grateful every day for this.

I'd move or at least get a second home in the South of France, away from the coast, maybe in a small town. I'm a bit obsessed with the Peter Mayle Provence books, and the UK doesn't have enough sunshine and markets and the general rustic feel for me. DC would grow up bilingual.

I'd buy a newer car, probably an electric one, and set up a homestead. I adore gardening and I'd do that a lot ~in between lunching out~

I'd be on the Board of Directors for a charity or some community project. And donate to the upkeep of a library with the oldest, most interesting books I can find, and help with their archiving and preservation.

I'd roam around the UK visiting my ancestors' graves; I know of some dating back to the 1700s and would enjoy visiting their old addresses too.

I'd spread my mum's ashes at her favourite place to go on holiday abroad. Currently I can't afford to go there.

I'd play outdoor tennis a lot more often.

I'd hire someone to do all my food shopping for me (I'm very particular about the items) and cooking and laundry.

Oh I love a thread like this. I started something similar about how much money one might 'need' but it got lost in chat.

1. Quit work
2. Buy a house and furnish
3. Then potter about looking for nice bits
4. Once house is sorted and parents/kids
5. Embark on a 6 month travel plan
6. Then charity, study, family

I'd be happy to continue working in my current role, but I would just do 2 days a week, then volunteer or study something with the rest of my time. I'd love to employ some people to declutter, cook and clean.

DH reckons he'd buy a horse and ride around his massive estate, doing bugger all...

I am rich enough not to work. I work. I like my work!! Find work and purpose for you

YES! This!

I am 55 and I have managed only recently been able to take a role that gives me genuine joy and fulfilment. The line between work and home is almost nonexistent because it’s my hobby too 😬

Read, travel, exercise daily, do wonderful things with my kids, have a gorgeous house, learn a language.

That's fine for you, but I'm much more fulfilled by things like travel, creativity and learning than I am by work.

There are many things in my life that give me sense of purpose, but work isn't one of them. Consequently I would give up work instantly if I was rich enough and focus on the things I find meaningful.

I am sorry you don’t feel fulfilled by your job.

I get to do the creativity and learning as part of my job and I wouldn’t travel even if I could.

I don’t work and we’re not all that rich -BUT - I have a lovely time and am a better sister, wife, daughter and friend than I used to be. The houses are maintained well (we have two), the dogs are walked off their feet and have heavily focused cuddle time, I’ve regained my attention span and read books again now instead of doom scrolling around my overwhelming former job and I cook a LOT.

I am grateful every day that I can get up when I like (realistically I get up at 9.30 about twice a year and 7.30 to 8am the rest of the time) and that I can have long massages mid week and slightly pissed lunches with girlfriends in London and road trips to Wales catching up with old school friends and then weekends where DH and I only do nice relaxing things because I do the boring house admin during the week. It’s awesome. We don’t go abroad unless to visit family, don’t have warm well insulated properties or luxury skin care or swanky cars but it’s great.

I think this is what I would end up doing, I follow quite a few rescues and want to bring them all home but I can't afford it and I have to work 😔 I'd love to be able to rehabilitate animals that need it and just give them a good life and a peaceful place to live out their days.

My DH would retire tomorrow but I like my job. However, I might reduce my hours or just do some freelance work. I would probably work Fridays because that's when everyone else is off and in the way ;)

It's nice to think I'd have time for hobbies but my hobbies are evening things and don't happen in the daytime. I guess I'd just find others. My local cycling club does a lot of weekday rides so maybe I'd get into that. And I'd do some language courses abroad. Doing an Open Learn course every week is a good idea, I used to do a lot of Futurelearn courses before they changed the way they charged for them but with all that money I could have a subscription!

And I would see my mum more often, I could just pay for a taxi to drive her to me so I didn't always have to go to hers (she does drive but not very far).

I'd buy a new car. I don't need a new car but it would be stupid not to with all that cash.

I'd also have a personal chef. I like eating but I don't like cooking.

I worked in the voluntary sector so I would probably continue to do something similar but as a volunteer.
That way I could pick and choose the parts of the job I find most rewarding and take off on holiday whenever I like.

Give up work, travel, move house, go to theatre etc. more often, visit scattered friends, read more, see a PT, get my roots touched up more often and have weekly blow dries and regular facials. I’d keep myself very busy! I’d also train myself to get up a bit later, I wake up too early on non-work days.

I'm a SAHM and we can live comfortably without me working. I do some freelance work when it suits me. It means I can cover all school pick ups and holidays. I spend time on my hobbies, I sometimes ago out for the day. I do stuff around the house. I volunteer with two local charities, but that doesn't take up much time as it's mainly in an admin capacity. I usually have a good daytime nap once a week. I often cook at lunchtime for my husband when he is WFH and we have a meal together, or we might go out fur lunch. Later this year we will be doing some major house renovations and I'll probably be quite involved with that - managing ongoing works and planning etc.

If we had unlimited money I'd pretty much do the same but probably go out more often for lunch etc.

I’d enjoy my hobbies.
I would love a proper craft/art studio. I love sewing and making things. Want to learn to make pottery’s if definitely get a whee and furnace. A separate kitchen for my baking.

Sahm for a few years, then start my own business teaching a couple of yoga classes a week.

When my youngest was 3 I'd enjoy quiet mornings to actually get stuff done, exercise, meet friends, shop. Go on holiday a lot!

In the immediate term it would be lots of parenting but without the work stress, no nursery fees, no money worries.

I would give up my job and go gym in the mornings when I be fresh instead of after a 10hr work day plus commute

I would have breakfast/coffee with friends more and like a pp say a clean house

I has a amazing life when I no be at working but sadly I does has to work

I would still work. I like working really hard. A life of leisure and pleasure isn’t truly for me.

Just had 3 months off work fully financed. Could have had more. Fully embraced my art, cinema, coffee dates, gym, cooking, walks, swimming, reading.

Fuck me was I bored. Feel relieved having gone back to work.

I'd still work. I like the challenge of my work and the rewards are esteem not just salary. I also like my colleagues and we do a lot of social things together.

Why would anyone choose to work is beyond me, like we only have a max of 80-100 years in this.world.and you want to spend that working?
What about traveling, reading, building a beautiful house, pursuing knowledge, gardening, starting a charity, spending time with family and friends, just popping on a plane to taste fresh food and veg in foreign lands, exploring every inch of thr British Isles, writing a book, taking up photography...
I could go on
But you'd never find me working to earn more money, no thanks

I’d be out of my job in a nanosecond , and they could donate my months notice to the staff charities . We own our house outright , so I’d retire , and then buy a really decent horsebox so I can take my horse to all the lovely places around us like the beach without having to worry about the cost of the faff of hiring . I’d probably spend the summer and early autumn going to various lovely hacking places , and pretending I was 15 again instead of 55 ! Husband is already retired , but he could get contractors in to sort out some land maintenance instead of doing the hard graft himself , and be able to concentrate on his fun projects , like designing his workshop out of completely recycled materials.

I’d probably also volunteer at our local RDA , who are always desperate for help.