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Original poster

If you had a million pounds, would you carry on working?

204 replies

theveryveryhungrycaterpillar · 02/10/2026 10:38

I know a lot of people will reply they love their jobs and would no matter how much money they have but if I’m honest I don’t enjoy mine at all (teaching, if that’s relevant!)

Interested to know.

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 02/10/2026 10:39

I could retire early.

GOODCAT · 02/10/2026 10:40

I would retire early too

SpreadHummusNotHate · 02/10/2026 10:40

I would immediately hand my notice in, no hesitation. Not saying I’d never work again might use some of the money to retrain but I wouldn’t carry on in my current job that’s for sure 🤣

Maverick11 · 02/10/2026 10:42

theveryveryhungrycaterpillar · 02/10/2026 10:38

I know a lot of people will reply they love their jobs and would no matter how much money they have but if I’m honest I don’t enjoy mine at all (teaching, if that’s relevant!)

Interested to know.

Yes will still working , but just normal hours with no stress.

Dandeloosha · 02/10/2026 10:43

I have a £300k mortgage and two kids I’m putting through university so that would put a huge dent in it. I’d also want to help them buy their first homes with a comfortable deposit. It would make life more comfortable for sure but it wouldn’t be life changing. £10m would be a whole different story 😁

KingOfPoundbury · 02/10/2026 10:43

One would not even start! Guffaw, guffaw.

godlikeAI · 02/10/2026 10:44

If it’s £1m liquid cash landing in my lap on top of my current financial position, then no. I have a big corporate job - I use it to create a low stress life with passive income (vs spending it) and doing things I enjoy (volunteering, gardening etc.)

Geranium1984 · 02/10/2026 10:44

Yes I would carry on working. I have pre school age kids so I'd invest it and use the income to pay for education, nicer holidays, extend the house etc. Then once they have fled the nest retire.

BugJuice · 02/10/2026 10:45

Yes. While it would certainly make life more comfortable, it wouldn’t actually keep us in our current lifestyle for long.
I’d pay off the mortgage, put aside money for university and a decent house deposit for my three children and carry on as normal!

PippaDee123 · 02/10/2026 10:46

We are millionaires thanks to my DH’s business. I work full time and have got no plans to stop soon as I love my job!

We are extremely lucky that we can use my earnings for things such as helping our grown up children financially.

Original poster
theveryveryhungrycaterpillar · 02/10/2026 10:47

Geranium1984 · 02/10/2026 10:44

Yes I would carry on working. I have pre school age kids so I'd invest it and use the income to pay for education, nicer holidays, extend the house etc. Then once they have fled the nest retire.

I’ve worked out to send my two through private school (at senior level, not too fussed about primary) would be around £300,000.

So still leaves a fair amount … not too sure about holidays; think I’d rather not work!

OP posts:
Badbadbunny · 02/10/2026 10:48

Yup, without a doubt. We're utterly fed up of working. We've both worked since leaving school, so over 40 years for both of us, (both mostly full time) and it's time we finally had some time to ourselves to enjoy what's left.

Mum2Fergus · 02/10/2026 10:48

Depends entirely on situation…age at the time, plans/hopes for the future. I’m early retired now so would make little sense/no difference to me on a day to day basis.

cartagenagina · 02/10/2026 10:48

No, but I am 61 and had expected to be able to retire at 60.

Damnloginpopup · 02/10/2026 10:48

Nope. No way. Not a chance. I can easily live off that for the rest of my life.

SpottyAlpaca · 02/10/2026 10:48

No.

For me, £1m would be enough to retire on comfortably.

In any case, I don’t think I would be capable of continuing to work if I didn’t need the money. I would just go ‘fuck this’ in the middle of the first difficult day & walk out.

PhysicsBowlChampion · 02/10/2026 10:48

Probably not. I have university costs next year and want to move house. It would be used for that and then save the rest. It doesn’t go that far…..

ItsAlwaysTwins · 02/10/2026 10:48

One million? No. That wouldn’t be enough to fund us without working. A few million, yes.

professionalcommentreader · 02/10/2026 10:49

Wouldn’t even work my notice, but I’m older.

Annualsouptime · 02/10/2026 10:49

For next 10 years yes. Million is not as much as it used to be! In late 30s now

Original poster
theveryveryhungrycaterpillar · 02/10/2026 10:50

It’s not and I agree £10 million would be an easier decision!

OP posts:
Fernsarethebestplants · 02/10/2026 10:50

I am not sure I'd stay in my current quite high pressure job, but I would keep working. I can't imagine getting up and not having a project to work on, writing-wise. Perhaps the job would go, and I'd get up and write something else, but I wouldn't just retire and go on holiday; I find holidays a bit stressful and aimless anyway, although I do relax into them after a few days.

concertinacornflake · 02/10/2026 10:51

I'd do something nice for two days a week, term time only. I work in a sector where there are loads of small bits of project work so you can pick up interesting things if paying the mortgage doesn't matter!

Sososadaboutmytree · 02/10/2026 10:51

Wouldn't be able to write my notice email quickly enough! But I am early 50s, no kids and planning to retire in a max of 5 years or so anyway if all goes to plan.

SomersetBrie · 02/10/2026 10:52

It's funny but I was thinking yesterday that if I won a million on the premium bonds this month, I'd jack in my current project and take a break. I work freelance so I could do this easily. I could also pick up more work later on if I wanted to.

I didn't win anything so I am continuing with the slog.