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Original poster

Would you rather have more money or more free time?

109 replies

chompin · 28/04/2022 20:14

Heard something recently about two groups of women who lived in poverty. One group were given more money, the other more free time. Whilst both experienced increased levels of happiness, the group given more free time had higher levels of happiness. After some thought I think I would probably prefer more free time when initially I would've thought it would be more money

OP posts:
BustPipes · 28/04/2022 22:18

I mean, seriously, the absolute wankery of the premise. Two groups of women in poverty, and the ones who 'get more time' are happier?

More time so they can worry about feeding their kids? More time so they can worry about meeting their bills? More time to they can sit about listlessly because they've already cut back so much on their own nutrition and health that they have no energy left to do anything, or feel happy, or even feel anything other than despair?

'Poverty', be it absolute or relative, is fucking exhausting, in and of itself.

For people who are financially comfortable, 'more time, or more money' is a reasonable question to ask. But don't make up shit about women in poverty as an excuse to ask it.

ForgottenWhyImHere · 28/04/2022 22:20

More money.

Divorced, work FT, have two DC and despite recently getting a lodger, can barely make ends meet. Rising costs are scary. I have every other weekend and 1-2 weeknights free so it would definitely be money. If I had enough, I'd get a cleaner.

WeCouldBeSpearows · 28/04/2022 22:24

Now - money.

Three years ago - time.

MidnightMeltdown · 28/04/2022 22:25

Time. It's the most precious thing we have

Ponderingwindow · 28/04/2022 22:29

Faced with this decision, I chose time.

it wasn’t a difficult decision because I was still able to have a good supply of money as well. It’s easy to walk away from more money when you have enough money to meet all your needs and many of your wants. It’s a harder decision if money is more precious.

DockOTheBay · 28/04/2022 22:29

I'm a SAHM so I have a lot of free time. So I would say money.

However what I actually want is for my older (school aged) daughter and husband to have more free time so we can spend more time together, not just evenings and weekends.

RaininSummer · 28/04/2022 22:31

Been wrestling with this conundrum this evening as there is an offer of overtime for Monday. Think I have decided that my 3 day weekend is better.

tootiredtospeak · 28/04/2022 22:32

If I had more money I could work less and have more free time. If it was a choice one or the other it would have to be money. It would benefit more than just me

colouringfoxes · 28/04/2022 22:40

More money. I have plenty of "free time", aka time stuck in bed in pain as I'm disabled and can only work part time. If I had more money, I could pay for private healthcare and buy myself some snazzy mobility aids so as to be able to get out a bit more and do things with some of the time I have.

LaurieFairyCake · 28/04/2022 22:50

Depends how much money

£5k a month then yes, more money

£1k a month, nope would rather have the time as £1k a month wouldn't lift the stress enough

pixie5121 · 28/04/2022 23:14

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

WeAllHaveWings · 28/04/2022 23:24

More money now so i can get more free time (retire early).

LaWench · 28/04/2022 23:28

I've had the free time, maternity leaves and pt working. My kids are older so I've gone ft for more money.

I loved the time off but the money is definitely better for us now especially with the economy as it is.

oioimatey · 28/04/2022 23:31

I would like more free time, please.

Sunnytwobridges · 28/04/2022 23:32

coodawoodashooda · 28/04/2022 20:17

More money. I have more time and less money just now.

This. I have tons of free time, if I had more money I could use it during my free time. LOL

SunscreenCentral · 28/04/2022 23:36

I am nearly done With with work. They've had my best
ill take the money, Bob

Kite22 · 29/04/2022 00:02

Well it obviously depends on how much money you have now, doesn't it.
If you have a nice house and no mortgage, you are in a different position from someone who rents or someone who lives in a horrible area.
Ditto time. If you currently work 60+ hours a week, then the idea of more time is going to be more appealing than someone who works 16 hours a week.

OnceUponAThread · 29/04/2022 00:23

I think money because you can buy extra time with it and have better quality free time too.

E.g. full time housekeeper meaning that none of your free time is spent cleaning.

Having enough cash to drop a day at work so that you get more free time with no financial impact.

Etc etc.

Whereas more time in the absence of money sounds grim.

Dragonofautumntwilight · 29/04/2022 00:34

More money, significantly more, would buy me much free time.

JockTamsonsBairns · 29/04/2022 01:17

The premise of the study doesn't really make much sense. As other pp have said, it depends on your starting point.
Also - how much more money? £20 a week? £2000 a week?

JockTamsonsBairns · 29/04/2022 01:28

18 years ago, when DC1 started primary school, I was a single parent on benefits. I had all the time in the world to sit and look at the mould growing up the walls in my 14th floor tower block flat.
I don't see how more free time would have enhanced my life?
Some more money would have helped me immensely - just enough to buy him an ice cream occasionally, let him join football club, take the train out to the coast.

Fast forward to now. I'm married with two more DCs, 14 and 12, and I work 50hrs a week on relatively low pay (£24k). DH has a reasonable income (£36k) so we do ok.

I do shift work, so I get 2 midweek days off a fortnight, and obviously my kids are older now - so not as hands-on as having wee ones.
I'm a bugger for squandering my days off - so I don't think I want more time to waste.
So, I'd still go for more money.

DropYourSword · 29/04/2022 02:36

If someone gave me money then I'd be able to work less, giving me more free time. Win win.

Goodpepper · 30/04/2022 05:47

Fast forward to when your kids are adults...

Will they be in the same position? Will they need more time or money or both?

That's what concerns me more than my situation. I need both. I don't want my daughter to be in the same situation, so I'm researching ways to improve this for her and hopefully for other kids.

Billandben444 · 30/04/2022 06:29

I get less than 1k a month in state pension so your too-small increase would make my life much easier. It's all relative isn't it - all the time in the world but no spare cash to do anything isn't much fun.

Billandben444 · 30/04/2022 06:30

Sorry, reply link failed! This was for poster who'd choose more time rather than a measly 1k a month increase.

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