To think there's nothing wrong with wanting the simple things even if I am just coasting

[beaniesteve]

Inspired by the other thread about the 'coasting' husband.

I have worked in the same place for 8 years, it's a media environment and I use my degree in my job to some extent. I am paid just shy of £22,000 but started on £16,000. The job I had before (for 7 years) was in Retail and I earned less than £14,000 a year.

I'm 38.

Is it wrong of me to be happy to coast along in my job? Should I be more ambitious, or trying to get more money?

What do you think of people who aren't ambitious and who don't seek a big pay packet?

My OH earns around the same.

Does it secretly bother you and that is why you are asking or are you genuinely curious? If you have enough money to live on and are happy, then why change?

It doesn't bother me, but there was a comment by Xenia saying "If someone was brought up in a family with no drive? One hopes school will encourage them."

Does my low wage and lack of ambition mean I don't posess drive? Is that how other people look at it? Maybe my drive is used for other things?

I think it's fine to coast, depending on

• whether your employer is happy with what you're doing
• whether you're happy with what you're doing
• whether you're happy with your work/life balance and salary

It depends on what you want I suppose. I earn ok money but don't work that hard for it, I have a long commute but once I get there it's not too hard. Mind you, that is because I've worked v hard for the past six months to fix things so my next six months will be easier.

My objective is to be paid as much as possible for doing as little as possible and so far I'm succeeding. But I realise I'm lucky - I do things that I find easy and some people don't and they say "that's fab" when it only took me an hour. Fair enough though, they're paying for that I suppose.

To be honest, if I worked harder I wouldn't see any rise in my pay so there's no point.

But I could look elsewhere for jobs, I just don't want to because I am happy enough.

And I earn enough to have kids don't I?

If you are happy and your immediate family (i.e. hubby and kids) are happy then I think it's great.

no need to slog your guts out if you are content with what you got.

there's never a need to live up to someone elses stereotype or expectation.

Beaniesteve....

that's not what Xenia meant at all.

there is nothing wrong with what you are doing if you are happy...

The point Xenia was making was in relation to southEastAStra's point that, even if you have no ambition, don't want to work etc., you should still expect all the perks that someone who works (and earns) more...

As the other post proves, earning or having 'more' money doesn't necessarily solve all of your problems......

Think I'm like you beaniesteve, the things I've been driven to achieve in my life so far have all been the intangible things like happiness, stable home life, good mental health etc. I couldn't give a crap about my job as long as the money's ok and the working conditions are favourable. Then again, I've never had a job I enjoyed (never been driven to find one as focusing on the other things listed above was more important), so maybe I just don't know what I'm missing.

Well if you're not going to earn any more or get any promotion (are you sure you couldn't) for workng harder than I could see why you wouldn't.

There are other ways to fulfill yourself than by being ambitious in your job. And by 'coasting' in your job you have more of yourself left to nurture and encourage your children to make what they widh to of themselves.

'Drive' and 'fulfilment' are different.

Same position as you beaniesteve. To earn more (and I could earn a great deal more) I'd have to commute a few hours a day and not be able to do school run or spend anytime with my DCs. Not much of an option.

er i didn't say that. i just said i was concerned about the widening pay gap.

I think its fine to coast if it makes you happy and you can afford to do it, your not harming anyone else by doing it and not everybody is madly ambitious. I'm coasting at the moment because i feel there is more to life than work so i do as little as poss in my job, take the money and spend it enjoying myself. It hasn't and won't always be like that though, so im just enjoying it while i can.

I mean coasting as in, just doing my job I guess.

I'd like to add that I'm coasting right now

I'm at work and finish a week on Friday (baby due the week after that!)

If it makes you happy, it's fine. In my job, I am very ambitious, although I am driven by success rather than money - my job is erratically and mainly badly paid at the moment! I see success in my job as inextricably linked with enjoyment though.

I think its about balance. If you earn enough for your needs and the job fits you, I don't think that there is anything wrong in "coasting".

Its important to be as happy in your work environment as you can be. 40 hours (or however many) a week being unhappy is a lot of your life.

YANBU. The money you and your OH are earning is a comfortable amount. If you and you're family are happy and content then that's how life should be. You should take pride in having a steady job. Its a real comfort when difficult times may lie ahead for other some.

I think everyone is aware that Xenia earns a substantial income and that's fine for her but its not always attainable for everyone.