To say I would rather be happy than earn loads of money?

[BlankSheetOfPaper]

I've been called unambitious, and lazy in the past, all because I don't want to climb the career ladder and progress. IMO, career progression brings responsibilities and stress.

I like working in general but I don't care about earning loads, just enough to pay the bills and have a little left over. And I manage despite not earning much. I have no wish to move up but it seems to be difficult for people to understand. I would even take a job with less money if it was something Id be happy in.

Yabu

You should do your best to maximise your capital especially if you have children. You may need to help out with university, house deposit or even have spate yourself so you're sufficiently homed in case worse comes to worse and you're homeless. At least then you'll have a big chunk to tide you through whilst you get back on your feet.

@BlankSheetOfPaper I totally get that, I don't use un-ambitious as an insult, a fact. But just to say ambitious people are rarely just chasing money, power is quite intoxicating too ha!

Having spare money can be a lifesaver and a massive weight off your shoulders.

On the assumption that I can afford to live a pleasant life outside of my work, I value time over money.

I earn rubbish money but I really enjoy my job. I'm also able to work school hours so I can do the school run etc and that's really important to me.

I'm very lucky that I can do this though. My partner earns enough to pay all the bills. If he earned less, I'd have to find a different job and work more hours.

I agree in principal op. As long as you're providing a good standard of living for you and any dependents then it's fine.
In practice, however, I am currently earning a much higher salary than I have in the recent past. I'm really enjoying having the extra money- I can treat my DC to extra weekends away or activities, I can have my nails done or my legs waxed without worrying about if I can afford it, and DH and I can eat out/go for a drink if we fancy. These things have actually enhanced the quality of my life and I would like to continue to earn a higher salary. I also enjoy the savings that I can make which I haven't been able to in the past because I've been able to afford bills, mortgage and have only a little left over.

It also depends who's saying this to you. Sometimes, I've noticed,.women say this when what they actually mean is I Iove spending what DH earns but not enough to earn more myself.

paulocoelhoblog.com/2015/09/04/the-fisherman-and-the-businessman/

People are different. Some need one thing, some need another.

Which is just as well, as the badly paid jobs need doing just as much as the well paid ones. (though of course it would be nice to live in a society where all jobs were paid enough to live comfortably on)

Seems silly to pretend that everybody has a duty to push themselves into a better paid job: the better paid people couldn't survive if somebody else wasn't there doing the other jobs.

I like having enough money to know we could survive a short-term emergency, but a lot of things that are important to other people- having your nails done, nice clothes, going out for a drink- just don't matter to me: they wouldn't make me happier. What is important to me is being able to work in the job I have always dreamt of and which I know I have talent for. If I gave that up and got a better paid job, the money wouldn't make me happy, because I'd always be hankering after my job.

I think that is the secret: know what makes you feel happy and safe. Good friends are friends who appreciate their friend for who they are, not ones that try to turn them into something else.

I've been called all those things too, and my husband. He has a steady job, at management position but not particularly well paid and isn't looking to climb, unsocial hours, and two "side hustles" that take no time and bring in a steady extra. I quit my job to be a WFHM, only work the freelance hours that make me the same as I was making before I quit my decent job, minus all the childcare, travel expenses of getting there vs working here. Never been happier. Won't be going on an abroad holiday for a few years though which seems to be a MN deal breaker. We live in a sunny country already though so...

I have always regardless of what job I am I at any particular time used the phrase that "I work to live not live to work". My job is ok, not brilliant but enjoyable sometimes. I would prefer that rather than dreading going in every day.

What do people mean when they say they are working for the “status” or the “esteem”? Are you seriously that bothered what other people think of you? Does it thrill you to be able to say to a stranger at a party, “ Well yes, I’m head of Fudging at Ripoff and Bodgitt”? Not being sarky, I’m genuinely interested: I was only ever in it to earn enough for my wants, then happy to put my feet up. I think I totally lack the ambitious gene.

I am like that, but happened to fall into a career (and recently promoted) that pays well. It is lucky that my chosen career satisfies my interests, is flexible and also pays a decent salary which will allow me to cover all our bills should my OH be out of work.

My husband on the other hand is not interested in office politics and loves a job in a support function that unfortunately will never pay well unless he wants to go into management. What I earn allows me to say to him to stay where he is, as that is where his job is.

I would rather my OH be happy to go to work in a lesser paid role then force himself to go to work in a job he hated for more money. I am extremely thankful that my salary will give him that choice.

@TinklyLittleLaugh I guess it's a part of having pride? Like wanting to do well in school? Pushing yourself to be the best you can be, to feel fulfilled (I appreciate that's not how everyone gets fulfilment) But yes, as it goes I do feel proud to say what I do, especially when it surprises people when I know some make preconceptions about me, is that what drives me? No, is it a part of the package, yes. Surely you can understand that?

I’d rather both tbh

notanother

Doing well at school is measured on a tight margin. Doing well at adult life is significantly more subjective.

I think it's un-ambitious avoiding career progression because of potential stress (ie responsibility) rather than money.

I don't really think in the same way (not that either perspective is 'wrong').

I've got a degree and spent 15 years climbing the ladder, eventually managing bid teams in a FTSE company - mainly because it's what I 'thought I should do' being from a well educated background etc.

However, I realised that I actually hate corporate culture and I don't get much satisfaction from being good at something which I wouldn't do if money were no object (which I think is the case for most people). I actually can't think of many realistic jobs which I'd enjoy.

I don't fear responsibility but neither did I get much satisfaction from being responsible for managing £15m+ bids which were ultimately just selling catering services.

I'd rather finally nail a 250kg deadlift (hopefully this year) or have the time to truly master the music software I was fascinated by in my teens and 20s. If I've got enough money to live a decent existence then I've no motivation not to prioritise the things I enjoy - nobody's going to talk about the contracts I won at my funeral.

It's horrible to really struggle for money but I'm much happier as a professional driver earning £35-40k with almost no daily stress. Once the engine goes off I don't think about work for a second. No work phone, no laptop/emails, conference calls...

I personally have less stress at work now I've been promoted to a senior level. I have more autonomy. I can work at home when I choose. I work the same hours.

The salary means we have no money worries and will soon be mortgage free, meaning early retirement is a possiblity. If I'd had no ambition, I would be in a much more stressful role with fewer holidays, a tiny house and retirement a long way off!

Each to their own, but I don't see ambition as something solely related to work/financial gains.

One of my best mates runs two successful music studios. He earns a decent executive level wage but will probably never make a six figure sum due to his disinterest in commercial music. However, I don't think he'd put on a suit and tie for another £100k a year.

I’d rather cry in my Mercedes than on the bus 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm probably a bit of a misanthrope lol, but I really like the fact that if a client is a prick I can tell them to their face and leave without it impacting upon my career in any meaningful way. I've never been able to do that in any previous job.

I don’t actually get it. I had a good career out of uni. Quit because I preferred to be at home with my kids.

DH then had a well paid, high status job that meant he never saw me or the kids. Quit to set up on his own and work shorter hours estimating he could cover our outgoings and we’d be okay.

I joined him in the business and we did far far better than okay. We dithered about expanding, realising we could make really serious money, but in the end decided we didn’t want to be slaves to it all. We prioritised our work/life balance.

So yeah, we’ve made enough to retire now, early fifties, but honestly the status thing has never come into it. We’re a scruffy low key bunch and DS once told his teacher and classmates his dad sold pens (he was giving away branded freebies) so we think the village at large assumed DH was doing the rounds of stationery shops with his samples in his battered briefcase.

Most people, who should really know better, equate sales with something like double glazing anyway. It’s not a high status profession and people by and large don't realise how massively well it pays. We could have carried on working for more and more money, but we’re comfortable and we’re very happy to have stopped.

I'm not sure about double glazing. I'd say the common view is the BDM driving around in a company pool car, usually a bog standard BMW or Insignia. The ones I used to work with were on £45k basic with commission on top (maybe about £60k OTE) but the ones at Honeywell, for example, often stay in that position until they retire apparently and can make £100k if good at their job - my old boss knew a guy who became a millionaire from winning a contract where his commission was a % cut.

I just grew tired of networking and having to pretend that I actually liked people that I didn't. But I'm probably not as well suited to the job as some.

Your second posts mentions anxiety. IME mental health issues can be challenging when working: finding this hard isn’t the same as “being unambitious”.

For me, earning “enough” means more than paying today’s bills - eg some savings in case of unexpected events, and a pension.

I was going to say exactly what @HeyNannyNanny said.