To ask how you would spend your time if you had enough money not to need to work

[PuzzledObserver]

Let’s imagine you came into some money (doesn’t matter how, but legally), which put you in a position to pay off any debts and mortgage, buy a house outright if you don’t already own one, and provide you with a household income similar to what you currently have. Or more if you’re skint.

Basically, you have enough income to live comfortably, for the rest of your life, without needing to work.

Let’s assume you are healthy.

What would you spend your time doing?

I wouldn’t give up work, but I would be working less.

My dogs would love it if stay home all day and keep them company.

There are also a few courses I would love to do.

Read, stitch, do jigsaw puzzles, work on a dolls house, travel, sit on my arse, walk the dogs... I'd love it and I really like my job, but I'd give it up tomorrow if I could afford to.

Study, that's what i want to do but we can't afford for me not to have a wage.

Get a dog

Sleep whenever I feel like it

I would do a lot of volunteering plus gardening and baking.

I'd never be bored. I'd garden, craft, have amazing days out with my kids, look after our chickens, get more chickens and maybe pics or goats, get an allotment, cook lovely meals every day

That should say pigs

Daily exercise
Cooking
Allotment
Part time supermarket job, I do like retail but it doesn't pay enough for me at the moment.
Volunteering
I'd have time to read again.
Catch up on sleep.

Train a therapy dog and volunteer with people with learning disabilities and autism. Swim, read, join a book group, write and paint. Long distance walks (with dog), and travel; spending time in nature rather than an office, study subjects I’m interested in.

There is probably more

I’d split my time between reading and creating. I’m never going to be a recognized artist, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have pieces in my head that I just don’t have time to get out.

Dog walk. Clean house. Visit friends/family. Travel. Read.

I'd definitely give up work. I would travel, run, knit, learn more languages (I speak a few already), read lots and write books.

I don't really even understand the concept of boredom tbh. There are so many interesting things to do. Even in the absence of books/hobbies, I could sit in a room on my own all day and keep myself occupied just by thinking about stuff. Not every day, maybe, but fairly often!

I'm in the 'never be bored' category myself. I'm also prone to being really into something for a while, and then wanting to do something entirely different. So, of the top of my head, I would:

• read/study
• travel
• keep the house tidier and improve the garden (not because I particularly enjoy doing either, just because I would feel a bit guilty living in the current level of mess if I wasn't working)
• be available for family if someone gets ill
• volunteer
• visit interesting places (museums, National Trust) etc
• read at least some of the 100's of books I've bought and not read
• join a book group and a choir
• long walks, join a gym

And best of all..... if I got bored of any of the above, I would drop it and do something entirely different

I’m there - Yay! Yoga, theatre, travelling, reading. I cook a lot for various charities and support groups too + some other volunteer work but I don’t commit to anything weekly anymore because it restricts my ability to travel.

I hope one day I will be lucky enough to have grandchildren and if that happens I will probably add some childcare to the list, but until then the worlds my oyster!

Travel the world, do my Masters, buy a house with it's own gym & indoor pool and get swimming lessons & a personal trainer. Volunteer at the local film club, help my family/friends, take art and jewellery lessons.

I would still work because I love what I do, it’s a big part of my identity, and I would like to think the work I do does some good (I work in clinical research related to a fairly serious long term condition).

But I might work a little more part time. I would travel more. And I would make sure my dc could do the things they’d like to do in terms of activities, school, etc and I’d try to spend more time doing those things with them.

First of all I'd start all the redecorating that our house desperately needs, and tackle the garden too.

I'd volunteer at my children's school (listening to reading, help with off-site visits etc). I'd probably also volunteer somewhere else too.

I'd try to go swimming on a regular basis and join a yoga (or similar) class.

I'm not sure I'd ever get board or run out of things to do.

I'd definitely buy 4 large dogs who take up all my spare time (and need encouraged into their paddling pools in hot weather) meaning I couldn't possibly work. Thankfully tax credits would buoy me and my lifestyle as the dogs would really equate to a full time job!

A couple of holidays a year at a different country every time (currently have 0)
Have another baby
Buy a dog or two (but not claim tax credits for them )
Do some work to my house that needs doing and spend hours a day cleaning (I actually enjoy doing it I just don’t have time after work)
Long walks
Shopping (of course)
Reading
Baking
Pay a hit man to take out the neighbours (semi joking)

I'd volunteer more. I already do a lot but could do more.
I would travel a lot too. Loads of holidays.

Opening poster, you have described my life (apart from the "healthy" bit, though my health is pretty much ok, considering).

So, what do I spend my time doing? I read quite a bit, I swim, quite a bit, I walk a lot, I have lunch with friends, or alone. I do just what I feel like doing.

Since I was born, I did exactly what I was told (parents, teachers,employers). At 70, I do exactly what I want.

I reckon I've earned the right. Curry for breakfast? Why not? Inappropriate clothes? My decision. Spending my money on things that please me? Again, my decision.

I sound selfish, I know. I'm not. I love my friends and close family and I would do anything for them.

But for once in my life, I'm doing the things that please me. It is so liberating

Travel

That's me . I Airbnb my house & travel about dog & house sitting. I'm currently in the Charente looking after 3 vizlas, 2 chickens & a duck. I cycle through the vineyards first thing, they run alongside & get nicely exercised for the day ( just the dogs, not the birds). I move on tommorow, slow amble up the Vendee coast in my van with my dog.

Home for a few days then another sit, local to me. Spare time is spent sailing, paddle boarding and I spent the winter season skiing in Chamonix. I never have time to get bored & love seeing my friends when I'm home.

I do have enough money not to work. I'd hate not to be working full-time. I'd laze around, watch shit TV, lose all respect for myself and more than likely get heavier than I want to be.

I don't want a a dog. I don't want to spend more time with the children. I hate 'crafting' and that type of stuff. I don't want to do voluntary work (over and above the stuff I already do).

I just need to work; for the time being at least

I would continue working part time. Pay to do an additional qualification that's fairly useless in England but that I would have done paid for by work if I hadn't relocated. I'd read more, swim more and sew more. And keep my same holidays/weekends away I have now. To be fair most of this I do already but I can't be part time forever. I'll be sad when it's over!

I'd go back and do my favourite job of all time 2 days per week.

Get more cats. Also buy a field and rescue horses (this is what DS would like to do).