To ask which career you would choose?

[ivyrosa]

Would you rather choose:

A) A job that pays you enough to live comfortably, not rich but comfortable, with two days off a week and 5 weeks holiday and normal 9-5 shifts

Or

B) A job where you earn a lot more, like a LOT MORE, but with only one day off a week, lots more early mornings/late nights and two weeks less holiday a year

I'm trying to make a difficult decision. I know no one can make it for me.. but opinions are welcomed.

A but then Im lucky and don't need the money. Only 1 day off a week is soul destroying. It really does matter about your circumstances though. If you need money (pay off mortgage quick, save to retire early, like owning a flash car etc) then go for B.

Are you in the UK? I don't think three weeks leave a year can be legal if you are an employee.

Personally I'd chose A, I like having my own free time and value it over making a lot of money.

But if B would allow me to retire early then I may consider it? But what's the point in having a lot of money if you won't have the time to enjoy it....

how old are you?

B would kill me. But knowing me from 20 years ago I would go for it and burn myself out

Ideally B for a few years to save a nice chunk of money and then A. However if it will only ever be one or the other I’d pick A as B would not be sustainable long term for me.

B for a few years and then A, if that’s possible. But make sure you save the money and don’t get too accustomed to a high earning lifestyle!

A without a shadow of a doubt

It really depends on whay you'd consider 'a LOT more'. For something over £200K, the second option would be a go.

It depend on age and stage as well. If you are a young, ambitious lawyer with a fabulous opportunity then B makes sense for a few years. Then A may become more feasible later when you are established.

If you all have a family then A every time.

A as long as it was paying enough for comfort

It would depend on what the jobs were and your family circumstances. Sometimes the better paying, harder jobs can be interesting and more fulfilling. You also have to think about your commitments outside work such as family, kids and so on.

If kids are in the picture, definitely A.

Otherwise I’d be tempted by B, but only if it was a lot more money, and with a view to making enough money to scale down in a few years.

Depends on the nature of the work as well though, sense of fulfilment, and options for the future.

Depends on your circumstances. Before DC I was probably in career A. Loved the challenge and the income. Now with DH and DC I work part time and earn enough to live comfortably. Some of my friends think I've wasted my education and potential but I'm happy.

If you are young with little commitments why not give career A a go?

Whoops! Meant B

Depends on age. If young and not worn out, option B. Make a pile for as long as I could stand it and then get out. If old and knackered option A.

Do either of the options have future benefits - possibility of promotion or whatever?

A

Work to live not live to work.

Unless you live the job so much you won't miss the free time and are childless and happy to remain so (or have grown up children only).

I worked all hours in my early 20s and was happy to for a while - work was buzzing and we went out together after doing 12 hour days five days a week. Earned ridiculous amounts for doing interesting but socially pointless work, it was fun for a few years and I bought a flat...

Unless the alternative was being out on the street nothing would induce me to work more than a 40 hour week with dependent children though, and DH neither. If you choose to have kids priorities change and should for both parents imo.

A

How can B only have 3 weeks holiday, that’s less than the legal limit?

If it wasn’t for the holiday I would say B.....

I think. When you say 1 day off a week do you mean you’d work 4 days a week? Or do you mean you’d work 6 days a week?

Thanks for all the replies - some clarification and to answer a few people's qs @MrsJoshDun @SueDunome @blueyacht from memory

I'm 24. I left a job as a reception manager to start a new role as I thought it was more of a 'career'.. now I can earn up to £40k with commision but I have to bust my arse to do it. It's fair enough I'm working 6 days a week 8.30-5.30 and I'm pretty miserable. In my old role I had to work bank holidays but I got 5 & half weeks holiday to use how I wished. This new role we only get 20 days holiday (plus bank holidays) but considering we have to take the bank holidays off and can't use in lieu and I have to use 7 days annual leave when the office shuts over winter it leaves me with only 13 days to actually use how I wish. So mine and DP two week long hauls are out the window. We are in a good place financially, we aren't rich but we have a home, enough money to get by and still holiday etc, DP earns a good wage. We don't have any children but are planning to TTC in about a year or so. I feel like I should be striving for a career and working all sorts of hours and making something of myself but I can just have a better home life with my old role. Wish I'd fully researched what I was getting into but took a leap of faith.. never again!

For £40K no way. .

A. Definitely, now I've read your update.

definitely A after your update.

40k wouldn't be enough for me to consider working under those conditions. So A

You say you're miserable in job B so your description of it wasn't acute unless you would be even more miserable in job A!

Assuming that isn't the case the choice is no choice at all given your update. Job A.