To ask if you would choose money or happiness (career wise) ?

[felttippenguin]

I'm at a bit of a cross roads career wise. I currently work in finance while I'm finishing up my degree. My field is charity sector and it's not well paid for how highly educated you have to be, jobs are also somewhat scarce so volunteering etc is expected to gain experience/make connections.

My finance job was a pay the bills jobs up until now. But I've reached a point where I could easily progress within the company and make a career out of it.

My earning potential in finance is higher but I do find it boring. I find the work in my field of education incredibly fulfilling.

I'm trying to think about my life in ten years. Will I regret choosing to work in a job that pays well and funds a good lifestyle but bores me to tears? Or would I regret having less money but an enjoyable job!

I know it's totally individual but I'm not the only one to make this choice and I'd love to hear what people think is more important? Money or happiness?

Op I’m in an arts based profession, where the earning capacity is low and a lot of people who work in the field have another source of income (inheritance etc).

i love it, but it gets tiring - not so much the low pay, as being surrounded by people who don’t understand what it means to actually live off the salary. IMO the low salaries attract people who can afford to work for less, which in turn means the salaries can remain low because people don’t need to argue for more.

As a result I have become an advocate for better pay and conditions. I’m quite proud of the changes I’ve been able to make for other people. I am amongst the highest earners in my field, and i still have another 20 years to go in my career so I anticipate this rising further - I will just have to make the case.

I have often considered doing a money job and even got quite far down another route - training for a finance role. Problem is, I hated it. I was bored rigid. It made me realise that I love my job, it gives me purpose and meaning. Not everyone feels the same (god knows life would be easier if I didn’t) but if that’s the way you’re wired then money just won’t be enough.

So I’m proposing a third route: forge a new path in the sector you love. You won’t be the only person who wants better pay and conditions

I was just thinking this.

It's a bit naive to believe that a job that's enjoyable / fulfilling at early career stage when it's all shiny and new will still feel the same ten years later once you've been burnt by the realities of stretched budgets / politics / regulator pressures and being under financial pressure yourself.

Conversely the finance job may become less boring over ten years as you progress and do more varied/challenging work.

Go for happiness at work - it’s where you spend a huge amount of your life.

You can always pivot later into a better paying career, or keep an eye out for opportunities to combine the two. But first give the thing you love your best shot.

Money does matter - it gives you freedom - but it’s important to live in tune with your values, and be able to look back and feel that your long hours at work were invested in things that matter to you.

I also think it’s important to have work that aligns with your identity. When people ask what you do, would you feel that it reflects who you truly are to say ‘I’m a finance specialist’ or would you feel prouder / more yourself if saying ‘I work in [x] charity sector’. You want to feel that you belong in your profession.

@user628468523532453 oh I'm definitely not under any illusions that working in my "dream job" would mean I wake up everyday and skip to work!

A pretty key aspect of the job I want in the charity sector (without being too specific) is working with children and families, and connecting them to someone I'm passionate about. I wouldn't be able to get that in any capacity really in finance or banking.

Unfortunately a lot of jobs working with kids are quite low paid which is sad really.

Go for the money then try to wiggle yourself into a cushy number there once more senior (has worked pretty well for me).

Money! I spend more of my time outside work and want money to fund it so ill put up with 'boring work'. End of the day i work to live so long as I am not miserable i don't care.

I did a job that i was miserable in but paid very well and I became used to that money. But it took so much time out of my life (had to work every few weekends as well) and i became incredibly depressed. I left and got a more interesting job that was a regular 9 to 5 but halved my take home pay, and although i miss the money and its been an adjustment financially i am glad not to be so miserable all the time. The money ended up being a trap. It made some things easier of course but was it worth it? I dont think so. But that was being miserable. If it was just being a bit bored thwn it would have been worth itfor that money.

I hope to climb ladders again amd make more money but im content for now.

So i'd chose happiness and less money over money and misery, but id choose bored and wealthy over interested and poor.

I think it depends. If I love the job but it paid so little I would really struggle financially then I wouldn’t do it, I go for the money. But if I could live fairly comfortably then I’d go for the job I preferred. Also I guess if I hated the job o couldn’t do it no matter how much it paid, but if it was just a bit boring but ok then more money is tempting. It just depends really.

As someone who personally went for happiness, I would advise money.

Money gives you choices and experience gives you better job prospects. I did the high flying 'greedy' job for years but saved enough that I can now work 2 days a week for a charity. And my experience elsewhere means I get a higher rate and status at the charity than many that have worked up through the charity ranks. So I'd say at this stage go for the money job, save a bit as you go and see how you feel in 5 years

Money. As the lack of it devastates any chance of happiness. Poverty brings its own misery.

Boring and money. Life will bring enough hurrah to keep you entertained without having a “fulfilling” job. A boring well paid job is a great thing to have.

Having Choices can’t be underrated.

I will get roasted for a blunt honest opinion but get yer popcorn out MN:

You are responsible for your life, no one else is. This country is so wet with benefits up to the eye balls and people moaning about their live's but never seem to do anything to improve or change their lot (seems popular on MN). Take responsibility and own your situation.

The fact is money does buy happiness, we all know it, makes life a damn sight easier paying off your mortgage, good food, heating etc so you're physical health is better.
It means you can treat the people you love as much as you want, get them what they need, no arguments and less stress so better mental health etc.

Anyone who says money doesn't buy happiness is poor. I think a lot of people who are unhappy are to lazy or unwilling to face change to sort it out. Seen it a lot over the years and those same people still have their shitty lives and still complain.

For me, money drove me to go into the field I work in, worked my bollocks off to now a director, student debt all paid off and I moved companies to work with decent people that are aspirational and positive rather than mopey, negative and blame everyone else, so very happy.

Tell me I'm wrong....

@5thCommandment Neither job would have me destitute or relying on benefits and to be honest the lower paying sector tends to have more responsibilities/"hard work" for a lower wage. Its definitely not about being lazy

I had this dilemma almost 15 years ago. I chose interesting work because I absolutely couldn't stand being bored (I have ADHD and working for no purpose other than making money left me miserable). I was then able to pivot my interesting work into a niche area and now earn the same or more than I could have in the boring job.

So I think the answer is - don't do something just for the money, but keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to earn more while doing something you love. Basically, find a middle way. You're obviously someone who can be successful in different fields however neither of the ones you're looking at seem like quite the right fit. Keep looking.

Happiness, if you can afford it.

Money doesn't buy happiness. As long as you can pay your bills and have some left over for fun, then I would pursue happiness. You'd be surprised, if you're driven, you can usually make money from most sectors.

I'd aim for the finance job with a view to possibly going part time and enjoying my time off/volunteering/etc

Happiness all the way, although it's worth noting I have always had the safety net of well-off, generous parents, so knew I would never be on the bread line.

When it comes to work, money always. A job is ultimately a means to an end in the context of the rest of your life.

I would choose happiness. Unless your boring job would allow you to only work, say 3 days a week, freeing up time for you to do other things you actually enjoy. You spend so much time working. What's the point of spending most of the week to do something you hate just to have 2 days off to do something you enjoy (which will mostly be filled with doing all the mundane shit you have to do anyway, like cleaning and batch cooking and life admin). If I'm spending most of my week doing it, assuming I could survive on the salary, I'd want to do something I actually enjoy that has meaning for me.

At this stage of my life? Money. 100% money.

I've done the low paid jobs that offer fulfilment for £20k but now I want to do what needs to be done, go home at the end of the day and switch off knowing a good wage is coming in.

Happiness. 8 hours a day is a huge part of your life.

(The assumption here is that we're talking liveable/happy (say 30k) vs. miserable and pretty decent (say 75k))

Work in finance and volunteer with kids? Your employer may even have a scheme where you get paid for spending time volunteering.

I've done both and would choose the money every time, because what mattered to me wasn't work, it was my life outside work. If you have a fulfilling and interesting private life then work is just something you do to facilitate that. If you don't have much of a private life then what you do at work is much more important. I have two friends who do poorly paid work, because they enjoy it, but I'd hate that!