Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

190 replies

PuzzledObserver · 27/06/2019 17:26

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?

OP posts:
wishing4sun · 27/06/2019 18:09

I would buy the pre-school I work at and still work but may be less.
Lots of holidays, decorate my home, borrow lots of dogs to walk, run, gym , sit in coffee shops, learn to drive (maybe) I'm not really a crafter bit would like to ring something I enjoy like that, I've always fancied making audio books. (No idea why)
And I'm sure there would be more but for now (and always) wishful thinking. X

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 27/06/2019 18:11

I would spend time with DS and decorate the house all by myself. It's something that I love doing but don't have the time.
When that's done I'd go to the gym regularly, swimming and yoga. I'd also take my ds to see the world .

IceQueenCometh · 27/06/2019 18:11

Gardening
Furniture painting
Walking
Travel
Reading the stack of Gardeners World and Country Living that I haven't opened
Visit Kew and other places NOT at weekends when they are rammed
Draw & paint
Read a book a month
Paint the house
Vacuum daily

The list is endless actually

NorthEndGal · 27/06/2019 18:13

I babysit one day a week to get my baby fix (my DC are 20 and 22)
The rest of the week I take care of the house and go to the beach.
I beach comb for glass and driftwood, make art, and sell it at craft markets and on line.
I garden, bake, and resell thrift store items on line.
And hang out with crows!

SpringLake · 27/06/2019 18:17

I wouldn't keep on working under the same contract (too much complicated office politics) but maybe stay with them on a contractor basis part time. The rest of the time I'd almost certainly default to working in the voluntary sector... can get some really rewarding positions (if you don't need financial security! )... my problem is I can't sit still and too much of a home bird to travel much :)

LakieLady · 27/06/2019 18:18

Travel in our motorhome, read, walk the dog, go out for nice lunches and generally loaf.

I'd like to go all round Britain, sticking as close as possible to the coast. That would take a few months, if we stopped for a good look round at everywhere even vaguely interesting. And then go from the furthest points south-north and east-west.

If I could be arsed, I might write a blog about it.

JontyDoggle37 · 27/06/2019 18:20

Salsa lessons.
More horses.
Compete more.
Build my business.
Go on holiday more.
Have a personal trainer come to my house.

Fatted · 27/06/2019 18:21

All of the things I wish I could do now!
My kids are still primary age, so be home more for them firstly
Do my house up
Cooking and baking
Go to the gym
Read
Drink lots and enjoy being a lady of leisure

DH would no doubt spend 8 hours a day on Xbox live.

twirlypoo · 27/06/2019 18:22

I had this life with my ex.

We would do the school run and go back to bed. Eat out a lot. Goto the cinema and watch box sets. Have a lot of sex. When you are wealthy you get invited to lots of “stuff” so there was a lot of lunches and stuff which were boring as hell but my ex liked to be seen at. I went for breakfast with the girls a lot. Golf lessons. I hate shopping but some of our friends do a lot of that too.

In the summer holidays there was a team of nannies for his kids (I still had my Ds!) so we would go on these really weird family days out with 2 extra people along to help with the kids. They were lovely women who I became friends with, but it was a strange dynamic!

MarianneAgain · 27/06/2019 18:28

I'd ditch the job like a shot.

I'd take singing and piano lessons
Read a lot of books and cook
Go to all the conferences for my main hobby - which happen all over the world
Travel all round Europe and try to learn some of the languages

Do more of the volunteering activity I started two years ago and absolutely love.

HarrysOwl · 27/06/2019 18:29

This is me. I volunteer, travel and have a few other hobbies like the occasional yoga class and running. I see friends when they're free.

I'm always doing something. Another business idea, or selling homemade bits on Etsy, DIY around the house, there's loads I want to do and learn...

I'm extremely lucky and I should appreciate it more.

Choca · 27/06/2019 18:29

My days now - light housework, lots of dog walks, reading, seeing family and friends, relaxing!
I never returned to work after maternity leave when I had DS(11.) DH took early retirement a few years ago so we moved house and bought outright, it's bliss having no mortgage, no debts, and lots of free time. DD due to start uni in September, so no more school fees to pay.
(My late DF had left money to cover the children's uni costs.)

shinynewapple · 27/06/2019 18:32

I am in my 50's so will assume In this scenario I've been able to take early retirement on my current salary (which isn't a lot anyway).

Ideally I would like to move to the coast but while we still have my elderly mum and FIL we'll just have to make do with lots of holidays instead.

I would like to spend more time exercising, taking dog for long walks instead of just quickly round the block.

I would do some voluntary work and read a lot.

Not sure what I'd do about DH though as he has said he'll be one of those people who struggles with retirement. I'll maybe buy him a music shop. He'd like that.

LightsInOtherPeoplesHouses · 27/06/2019 18:35

I like my job but would reduce hours, maybe do a job share?

There's loads to do in the house and garden, so I'd get on with that, I also have a lot of hobbies, more than I have time for really, so I'd get on with them. Maybe do some courses related to them, I've seen some in the past that I've wanted to do but couldn't fit them round work.

Maybe set up my own business.

I'd love to be able to do this, I've pretty much planned it all already just in case.

Slazengerbag · 27/06/2019 18:36

I would give up my job tomorrow. It’s very rewarding but it’s just so stressful.

I would bake, craft, garden, write a book, travel, have lots of facials and walk the dogs. Dh would give up work too and we would have lots of loud sex when the teenagers are at school Wink

WellTidy · 27/06/2019 18:39

Declutter my entire house (I would love to have the time to do this and get properly organised)
Maintain my garden better
Arrange for all the odd jobs and improvements to be done - I am in the position where I have money to pay to get jobs done but don’t seem to find the time to arrange for someone to do them, follow that up, be in to let them in etc
Get a dog, definitely
Finish my cross stitch
Read
Collect the children from school myself every day

Original poster
PuzzledObserver · 27/06/2019 18:43

By the way - carry on working is an acceptable answer.

OP posts:
Seniorschoolmum · 27/06/2019 18:43

Set up an artisan food co.

Loopytiles · 27/06/2019 18:44

Would immediately resign from my current job.

DC are quite young, so would initially just do bits and bobs in the day, and hobbies, and be there for them after school and in holidays, which can be difficult now.

Bit of volunteering locally, using my skills from work.

Research and writing, exercise, campaigning.

Loopytiles · 27/06/2019 18:45

Maybe more studying.

challengeyourreality · 27/06/2019 18:45

I would decorate everything for everyone and finance interesting start ups that I could get involved in

Pinkfinkle · 27/06/2019 18:45

My DGM retired from teaching about ten years ago and she can easily afford not to work. She owns her house outright (has done for years) and has four pensions... She still has a PT job basically sitting with elderly or disabled people to give their relatives respite. She doesn’t need the money, she just hates not working. She actually ‘retired’ about five years before she actually retired for good. She lasted a few months before missing her school and pupils too much, they took her back Grin.

I can’t say I’d be the same! I also teach and find it very rewarding but also knackering... I’d probably take the opportunity to travel lots.

Chanellta · 27/06/2019 18:47

Travel, I'd wander the globe.

SkiingIsHeaven · 27/06/2019 18:50

I would spend the ski season traveling between ski resorts skiing all over the world. Bliss.

ReasonablyIntelligent · 27/06/2019 18:51

This is pretty much where me and OH are at, I have a business that pays us both a substantial income and the vast majority of the work I delegate out.

We're mortgage free so the bulk of the money is spending money.

It's actually surprisingly challenging (in a nice way) as we're both in our late twenties so there's no "traditional" routines to take up as there would be if we were at actual retirement age. A lot of daytime activities are tailored to either mums with young children or retirees.

We have a dog now, we walk her for a few hours each day. We read lot, make things, we're renovating our house which takes up time. I visit my Mum. We go for lunch.
I have business projects I work on for fun.
We both paint, I make paint (a weirdly satisfying hobby) we are no strangers to afternoon naps Blush

There's no point at the moment because the house is a renovation tip, but in the future I'm planning on getting a housekeeper.
The vague plan is to move to a property with land and keep some animals and build a conservation area.

I really want a large collection of bees...