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?

Because some people love their jobs?! For some people their jobs are their creative outlet, for some people their jobs involve making massive positive differences to people’s lives and that provides them with a deep sense of purpose and fulfilment. Not everyone’s main motivation to work is money. If that was the case, why would anyone become a teacher or a social worker? I think a lot of people have this romanticised idea of indulging in their hobbies and living some kind of ‘free’ unstructured life if they didn’t have to work. It’d be great for 6 months then I guarantee most people would spiral into depression and loneliness. When are you going to spend time with all these family and friends? They’ll all be at work! Humans need structure and routine and most people are not disciplined enough to build this for themselves when they have nothing or no one to be accountable to. Yes maybe you could get it from consistent, regular volunteering where you felt you made a difference to something you cared about, but just to swan about all day indulging in your hobbies would start to feel a bit pointless and lonely after a while IMO

Well good for you. Each to their own. It’s almost like people like different things. I don’t judge if people would give their jobs up. Why so snarkey about those who enjoy their jobs?

I get to do my dream job at the moment, which is also my hobby. If I did give my job up, I would just spend most of my time doing the same thing that I do for a living so I may as well get paid for it.

I have plenty of time to read
and pursue knowledge.

I would rather stick pins in my eyes than do any of the other things you have listed, honestly. I can’t think of anything more tedious.

I hope the charity you would start would be an environmental one if you would ‘pop on a plane to taste fresh food in foreign lands’.

@Fearlesssloth

Yep I’m in one of those professions. To me, contribution to others and meaning/personal challenge makes the “work” worth it. I also need demand and challenge in my waking life and I just wasn’t getting that off work. I don’t have a huge desire to travel. Mostly, I love to read when I’m not working. That’s my true hobby.

And I spend many, many hours pursuing knowledge at work lol.

I’d definitely give up work. I’d take the kids to/from school and to/from their hobbies. I’d spend time with my mum and try and improve my diet. I don’t exercise either so I’d build that up gently. We’d love a dog, but we’re not home enough to have one at the moment so we’d 100% get a dog.

Took me 30 plus years from a standing start to get this career. Such as it is. Giving it up would be like Giving up living in a house with a roof. But I would like to travel with it. Rent a place in Tuscany for 6 months and work from there.

Gardening.
Reading.
Jigsaws.

Oh, and my biggest treat would be to get a cleaner.

I have semi-retired aged 61 having worked since I was 16. Do some consultancy work, but basically keep the house mega clean, walk the dogs, go to the cinema, cook, go to crochet group, do jigsaws, sort my bird feeders. I’m bored I need something more.

Exactly. People really don’t get that some people are passionate about their work.

I adore what I do - it has taken me 37 years of working life to be able to do it. The line between my job and my life is practically nonexistent.

Snap!

I’d still work but try to make a difference. That’s why don’t understand many millionaires or billionaires, like Elizabeth Warren said, you did good? Great, now pay it forward for the next kid who comes along as no one makes it on their own.

So do you agree with pay it forward?

I definitely wouldn't work if I didn't have to and I like my job! I would sign up for a physical challenge that I would train for daily. Do some volunteering at the kids school. Take some courses in autism and neurodiversity to support my son. Take trips into london for theatre and general mooching. Go to the cinema in the afternoon on my own. Do some furniture upcycling. Couple of days a month I would binge watch something for most of the day... could easily fill my time!

Of course. 💯

Fair enough. I’m don’t think I could

I’d work my current NHS role one day a week, I enjoy it and it’s a privilege to be able to help people.

I would have more time to prepare healthy food and exercise, hiking outdoors along with weights and running.

I’d visit my Mum more often and take her out and about.

Id like to volunteer as a foster carer for rescue dogs, help to rehabilitate them so they were able to be rehomed.

Id like to not have the ongoing nagging worry about my pension while my ADHD encourages me to bury my head in the sand and pretend it’s not happening 😬

Buy property in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Profit of it. Live in the UAE and have a chill life, be safe and secure.

Good luck with that, given the current situation

I would invest so I didn’t have to work . Then we would travel a part of the year

It's sad but it's only been 10 civilian deaths. Absolutely tragic though. Will be great to go once the war ends.

Also with the money I'd probably buy something that allows you to invest in an EU country to get citizenship there

Yeah
I just can't see me having an employer with millions in my bank, maybe self employed?
I mean if you like teaching, open a school, social worker, open a women's and children's refuge perhaps
Freedom to do what you want is what money provides
Otherwise just donate it all init

Quit work with immediate effect.
Pay off my mortgage.
Have improvement works done on my house.
Give my parents £1 million.
Buy a house for each of my children.
Pay off all debts.
Put at least £1 million in each child’s savings.
Employ a cleaner for everyday.
Employ a chef to prepare ingredients.
Employ a gardener.
Pay for mounjaro.
Pay for a private trainer 4-5 days a week.
Have weekly massages.
Use a steam room a few times a week.
Have a facial twice a month.
Buy a Chanel handbag.
Go to Japan for a month.
Start property developing if what I had leftover wasn’t enough money to see me through comfortably and pay for a care home place if I need it when older.
Give money to, and volunteer at a dog rescue centre.

My job isn’t one of those worthy ones but it is something I am passionate about and that consumes me. And yes, freedom to do what you want is great, so I would continue to do that.

Most of the activities mentioned would bore me witless. I have sufficient leisure time so that I do most things I want already but most of it is spent doing very similar to what I do for a living.

I have never flown and I haven’t been on holiday for about 40 years so that wouldn’t be an option.

But I don’t see why I would donate it?

To answer the why wouldn’t you give up work questions this is my experience. I was a sahm for a few years. Whilst it was fine when the kids were little, I struggled when they went to school with forging a proper routine for myself. It was nice at first having a few hours to myself but long story short in the end my depression got really bad and I was very isolated. Covid made everything worse. Going back to work has been the making of me, I have some confidence back, I’m slightly less mental and i’m lucky that I also really enjoy my job and get on great with colleagues. Going to work doesn’t necessarily feel like going to work, I don’t get that Sunday dread.

It’s not just about the money, it adds a net positive to my life in other ways that no amount of money would make it worth giving up at the moment. I never want to go back to that place, and with the hours I work I’d still have plenty of time to do hobbies or travel or what ever without worrying about affording it. So win win for me.

@sunshinestar1986

I know a few rich teachers who opened their own school. Farm schools I call them. They get big money from the LA to take on SEN kids as they’re independent. They are grim, although they look nice. I wouldn’t open my own school. I like staff, colleagues and the massive hustle and bustle of hundreds of teenagers. I laugh everyday.

Some people just love their work. My mum did too. She was a mental health nurse, moved up to consultant, did tons of research and opened new centres etc etc. She loved it.