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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
FindingMeno · 30/04/2022 06:36

So long as I can cover the cost of a simple life, more time.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 30/04/2022 06:43

Time, this why I work part time (and am always skint)

ginsparkles · 30/04/2022 06:47

I would (and have previously) always said money.

But now I am more financially stable I would definitely choose time. If at my pay review I could chose extra days on my annual leave entitlement rather than a pay rise I would.

If I was in poverty, I would choose money though. That's what I have done throughout my life so far. I use to sell back holidays to my company when I was younger.

1AngelicFruitCake · 30/04/2022 06:50

I value time but money would give me more freedom to do the things I spend a lot of my time thinking about! I’d get some house problems sorted, buy a set of summer clothes for the children and some treats.

drpet49 · 30/04/2022 06:54

More money.

CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory · 30/04/2022 06:55

More time, but that is because I have given my time to earn a good salary. If I could keep that and have more time it would be wonderful. Unfortunately I think what I need to do is try and earn more money first and then I can cut back on the time in a few years. That's the dream anyway!

PeaceLurking9to5 · 30/04/2022 06:57

I went 90% a while ago (every second monday off) and that cost me about 40 a week so at that point I wanted more time.

But if you mean more time in a universal sense, wow, that is a difficult one because I'd need a good pension for that, which means more money.

I'm 52 and I would like to KNOW that I will be healthy fit and active for (close to) another 30 years. If I could that in writing I'd be happy.

GetThatHelmetOn · 30/04/2022 07:00

It depends on your circumstances:

Broke, with spiralling debt and choosing to eat or warm the house: More money

Working long hours in a well paid stressful job: More free time.

If you can afford it, more free time always win. If you can afford it.

WilmaFlintstone1 · 30/04/2022 07:01

Having been in and out of work (due to needs of disabled son) I would say that free time is great when it allows you to meet the demands of everyday life.

However having enough money to pay the bills is also a pretty good feeling. I’m fortunate as I have the best of both worlds now with part time job and some free time.

robocracker · 30/04/2022 07:06

Well if I had more money I would have to work as hard so would have more free time?

Depends on the situation, if I was getting paid more for the hours I do I'd say money, if I was going to have the same income as now but work less then I would say time!

Mommabear20 · 30/04/2022 07:18

Money as that would allow me to do more things with my kids. Time but no money would end with me sitting thinking of all the things I'd love to be doing with them

EveSix · 30/04/2022 07:43

More time. But you need to set clearer perimeters around the question and a similar base line (eg a 40h working week). Too many variables in original question.
How about:
More time option: working a 40h week, assured that all necessary living expenses are met, but you literally never have to take work home for evenings and weekends (that's the "more time" bit; guaranteed evenings and weekends to spend as you please), and have a very modest monthly spending budget.
More money option: working a 40h week, with an expectation of 15-20h overtime per week or similar amount of additional home working to complete on evenings or weekends. All necessary living expenses are met and you are remunerated well enough to be able to save and invest, as well as having a generous monthly spending budget.

I'm having the worst of both at the moment; no time, and not enough remuneration to buy time.
As a teacher, I work insane hours, so would love some more time. Caring responsibilities for DC with additional needs take up loads of time, and there are related expenses. Pay isn't enough to outsource cleaning or DIY. I'm getting around to thinking that if I knew my basic expenses would be met, I'd happily do a basic 40h week with minimal spends.

Noisyprat · 30/04/2022 07:44

More money. You can then buy more time. Having more time is nice but you need money to be able to do things in that time. Eventually you will have lots of time when you retire and you will need to money to support you and all that free time.

IwaswhoIam · 30/04/2022 07:55

More free time . Money doesn’t buy (me) happiness.

Whatsmyname100 · 30/04/2022 07:59

over2021 · 28/04/2022 20:20

More time. I work too hard.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have more money so you can work less, to have more time Confused

PrettyPinkBonnet · 30/04/2022 08:03

More time.

I’m a higher tax bracket earner, in a full time job with two primary school age children, working 60-80 hour weeks, with 10 hours commuting a week.

I’d love time…

HeDidWhattt · 30/04/2022 08:03

More money without a doubt.
money buys time.
if I had lots of money I’d hire a cleaner, cook and house maid. I’d start a business then employ people to run it for me. That’s how I would make my money buy me time. I’ll be swanning off doing what I like with money to actually be able to do those things!!

can you tell I’m broke at the moment 😭

gogohm · 30/04/2022 08:05

Currently we are maximising earning so that in 4 years or so we get free time all the time aka semi retire but will need to seek consultancy work/short contracts between trips, not that rich

shivawn · 30/04/2022 08:06

I've just dropped from a 39 hour week to a 30 hour week at work so that I can have more free time. Its not a huge difference but I'm also very fond of money so need to try and keep a balance.

Maverickess · 30/04/2022 08:19

More money! If I had more money for the same amount of working time then I wouldn't have to take the overtime at the level I do and have little work/life balance just to stay afloat, so more money would buy me more time to not be rushing around cramming everything else around work and being shattered all the time and doing a half arsed job of home life.

TenoringBehind · 30/04/2022 08:30

money can buy you time

ResentfulLemon · 30/04/2022 08:42

Work full time. Carer for terminally ill parent. Parent to children.

I'd ask for more money because no matter how much spare time you give me it'll be filled by something that exhausts me. At least more money would remove one of the stresses that has it's foot firmly on my neck.

UnicornPooPoo · 30/04/2022 09:05

More money. You haven't specified the amount so I'm going to assume it's loads! If I had loads of money then I'd basically buy more free time eg.

A cleaner
Gardener
Housekeeper who would do laundry/cook.
PA for household admin
Having a box from Stitch Fix every time I wanted one so my wardrobe is always fresh
A general handyman to do all odd jobs
Paying tradesman for bigger jobs
Getting the windows cleaned regularly
Having someone come to the house to clean the car so I don't have to take it to the car wash
Mobile hairdresser so I don't have to waste time leaving the house to get my hair done. Same with any other beauty treatments.

I'm sure there's more. Sounds like bliss!

changeyourusernameag · 30/04/2022 09:06

More money. I want to buy every opportunity and experience for my kids.

DisforDarkChocolate · 30/04/2022 09:08

More money, but not that much more. If I could find enough work to keep be busy 2 - 2.5 days a week I'd be happy.