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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you rather spend money or time?

28 replies

CaliforniaDream · 16/05/2018 16:40

If you could sell your time for more money or pay money for more time, which would you choose?

I think people in general these days are more cash rich and time poor than previous generations. Is this a better quality of life? I don't want to romaticise the more widespread poverty and inequality of the past, but it also seems to me that there is so much pressure these days to work long hours and seek high wages at the expense of actually having time to enjoy your life.

So which would you choose?

OP posts:
JenBarber · 16/05/2018 16:41

I don't have much of either.

Honeybooboo123 · 16/05/2018 16:41

I pay money to spend my time doing things I enjoy. SO I have a cleaner, a gardener, and outsource to organise some things that would take me time that I would rather spend elsewhere.

VioletCharlotte · 16/05/2018 16:43

I think I'm cash and time poor unfortunately!

If I had the money, I'd definitely outsource work (cleaning, ironing, etc) to create more time.

MiddleClassProblem · 16/05/2018 16:44

But if you’re buying time surely it just goes on the end so you have more years being very old and possibly not all there? You would have to make a real effort to stay fit longer and keep your mind sharp but you still can’t rely on nature and whatever your body/mind might have in store for you.

The only answer for me would be don’t do either.

Original poster
CaliforniaDream · 16/05/2018 16:45

@Honeybooboo123 I do the same and it's been a real life changer for me in terms of making me feel like I have my life back a bit. But I fully recognise that it's a privilege and I'm very lucky to be able to.

@JenBarber that's the worst of worlds Sad the worst part of the low-wage economy in the U.K. is that it forces people to slave away for long hours for far too little recompense

OP posts:
Original poster
CaliforniaDream · 16/05/2018 16:46

@MiddleClassProblem I suppose I mean more time in the present. So questions like - would you choose to pay a cleaner if you could so you had more time for fun, or would you rather have the cash so you have more to spend? Or would you rather work long hours for more money, or fewer hours but earn less?

OP posts:
IIIustriousIyIllogical · 16/05/2018 16:48

I already "sell" some of my spare time by volunteering for an organisation, which has the knock on of looking after other peoples kids so they can get a bit of time back too!

Original poster
CaliforniaDream · 16/05/2018 16:49

@IIIustriousIyIllogical that's a lovely thing to do! Though I would call it generously gifting your time rather than selling it!

OP posts:
EscapistTendencies · 16/05/2018 16:51

The company I work for have just introduced a policy whereby we can buy or sell holiday. Absolutely no chance would I sell but seriously considering buying some if I can afford it. I could also choose to work more hours but again have zero desire to do this at the moment. I get by ok and am not in the least materialistic so time is definitely more important to me.

Chattymummyhere · 16/05/2018 16:54

It’s finding that balance isn’t it. People spend more time working or sleeping than they actually get to spend awake with friends and family. A lot of the time sold on the put in the hours then you will have more money but more pay seems to just lead to even longer hours as it comes with more responsibility. There is only so much you can outssouce like cleaning/gardening/cooking but that still doesn’t always leave time for even simple reasonable timed family meals and things like that.

MiddleClassProblem · 16/05/2018 16:57

Oh I didn’t get that lol.

I have neither to trade

Lollipop30 · 16/05/2018 16:57

I work minimum hours in order to have more time at home. We are poorer than those that have two parents working full time but we’d rather sacrifice money over time especially whilst the children are young.

Original poster
CaliforniaDream · 16/05/2018 16:58

So true chatty - really hard to find that balance! I definitely don't have it right at the moment (always too little time!).

escapist that's great that your company is so flexible!

OP posts:
swingofthings · 16/05/2018 16:58

I was happy to sell my time for money, now I've got the money but can't seem to be able to buy time as employers don't want to go PT, not at my level grrrr!

Peterrabbitscarrots · 16/05/2018 16:59

Money (if/when I have it). In my job I have the option to buy holiday by paying a self-employed contractor to cover my days. I do this as much as I can afford.

ShotsFired · 16/05/2018 17:03

I am lucky in that I can choose which one.

Some things I enjoy spending time on, other "problems" I just throw money at to make go away, like our cleaner.

(I also chose things in my life to create more of both e.g. no kids = £££; work in a place that's easy to get to with no traffic = extra hours)

auditqueen · 16/05/2018 17:05

Money all the way. There's always something that needs doing in the house, handbags I want to buy, or cars that need repairing.

Storm4star · 16/05/2018 17:09

I guess I have made this choice as I've recently switched to a working from home role, with the added bonus that I can do the work any time I please, it doesn't have to be done in "traditional" work hours. It is lower pay than my previous office based role but will give me back hours of time each week. Not just the not having to commute anymore, but also being able to fit in work around my life rather than fit my life around work.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 16/05/2018 17:10

Neither! It's too difficult!

swingofthings · 16/05/2018 17:11

Sounds like a dream Storm, which industry is this in?

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 16/05/2018 17:11

I have more time than money, but I value both.

BillywigSting · 16/05/2018 17:14

I have been cash poor and time poor before.

I feel as long as I'm fed and reasonably warm, being time poor is much much worse.

I have spent money to save time too so I guess that's the answer. I'd rather spend money

Storm4star · 16/05/2018 17:39

@swingofthings

It's public sector but essentially a specific project which, at the moment, they are looking at it taking around a year. They will have more of this type of work over time so hoping I can continue. (I can return to office based work if I need to)

Furano · 16/05/2018 17:42

I swap 10 days pay for 10 days annual leave a year.

That is essentially buying time.

swingofthings · 16/05/2018 17:42

@storm4star, up my street too but need to get on with that Prince2 foundation!