To ask if you work because you want to or because you have to?

[fromthbottomofmyheart]

Is your job is just a necessary evil to fund your life, or are you truly passionate about what you do? In other words, are you grinding away just for the paycheck, or are you the type of person who wakes up every day thinking, "I can’t wait to tackle that spreadsheet!"?

Do you live to work or work to live, in other words?

Technically one of us could give up our job now, but we wouldn’t be able to live the life we have become accustomed to! It would have to be a lottery win for us to stop working, but we probably do something similar to our jobs, maybe start up something new together (and probably end up working more hours than we do now!).

If we didn’t have children then we would travel the world! But seems a bit unfair to do that without them and we’d be rubbish at homeschooling whilst on our travels (or in general actually)!

You might find it easier doing something like retail work temporarily to get a recent reference. 10 years is a big risk for employers without any recent reference as there's the risk of you regularly not being in due to the commitments you were off work for.

I do love my job, if i won the lottery i'd still do it but i'd be more choosy about which bits/go part time. I do need the money.

Both. I absolutely love my job . I would probably do it part time if I won the lottery.

Sure, we know people have different experiences, but given what we now know about how profoundly some people suffered as a result of the lockdowns, it’s still crass to say how ‘gorgeous’ it was because you were being paid by the taxpayer to not work.

Not illegal, people can say what they like, but definitely crass.

I think my work is highly tied with my identity and there are parts that I absolutely love and couldn't live without. It is creative and highly skilled, and has a direct impact on people's lives that I can see, plus will help mitigate the long term impacts of climate change in the UK, so I can feel somewhat proactive when I see the miserable global news. There are all sorts of projects that I'm doing that are so undeniably cool and so much more I wish I could do if I had the time and resources. If I could, I would do those fun parts and skip the annoying admin-related tasks. I think I probably spend 1-2 days a week doing boring stuff, like dealing with budgets, paperwork, management tasks, etc instead of actually doing my job, and I'd happily cut that if I could!

Honestly, out of choice. My DH's bonus is sometimes more than what I earn in a year, though I am part time. I wouldn't want to feel like I wasn't contributing to the household financially at all though, and I think it's good for my self esteem/mental health.

I hate my job so much. Sadly I work because I have to put a roof over my head and food on the table but I fantasise every day about winning Euromillions. I’d love to be a lady of leisure!

I work because I have to.
I tried to find my dream career but have ultimately realised it's all just a life draining and time sucking waste. I'd be far happier not working.

I'm content at my job, but I would absolutely be out of the door if I had a life changing lottery win.
I'd visit often though and support them by spending there on stays/meals etc because I do love the people I work with and the building/area, but it'd be a relief not having to deal with the general public tbh.

I wouldn't be bored, I'd do all the things that finances and work stop me from doing now. I definitely work to live, I don't hate my job, but I wouldn't be staying if I didn't need to!

It’s not either or though. You can love your job but still need it for the money.

I just want to know what these jobs are on here that some posters really love.

Same!

Because I have to... I have a spreadsheet plotting out when I can retire and I look at it obsessively willing the date closer.

I don't even hate my job but I just have about 1 million things I would rather do with my time.

For the cash

What do you do?

I work largely to mitigate risk. We don’t really need the money I earn. It’s nice to have and it certainly makes our lifestyle nicer, but so would me having more free time. I work because tomorrow my husband could get hit by a bus. Right now I have a fantastic job that pays well and is incredibly convenient. The thought of re-entering the workforce with whatever job I could find after a career gap is horrifying.

I'm finally in a good job where I get paid OK with decent benefits, low workload, flexible working from home.

I enjoy my job and think I'd be so bored if I didn't have to work. I hated maternity leave, went back at 8m because I needed to exercise my brain. My ego also likes feeling important, despite obviously being replaceable ( although my previous 2 roles went through a number of staff before they could replace me) I like that I'm helping a business grow and thrive.

If I was independently wealthy, I'd still like to work to keep my mind active, even if it was from a laptop on a tropical beach.

Work to live. Very sad about it!

I certainly wouldn't work if I didn't need money.
I have done volunteering before but I felt they were taking the piss as they were a profit making business masquerading as a 'training provider' for mentally ill people. Not saying all volunteering is like that. But I feel ripped off even when I'm getting paid, as the amount of money I generate for my employer is massive compared to the pittance they paid me.

I work because I have to. Actually, I bitterly resent having to work. I never wanted a job, not even as a kid. When people asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I'd mumble something polite, but I'd be thinking "to be left alone." I work so I have some choice over where I live. I don't want to live in a depressing area around noisy, violent people. If it wasn't for that, I'd try and get by on a bare minimum. I could survive without nice clothes or holidays or cars, but I would sink into depression if I had to live somewhere horrible.

If I had a nice house in the countryside, surrounded by fields and silence, with enough garden to grow my own food, I'd be happy forever. I'd spend my days reading, learning Russian, gardening, watching the seasons change and wandering the countryside (what is left of it). I'd never be bored for a second. Having to listen to colleagues drone on about themselves and their kids, now that's boring.

I don’t mind my job at all however it is really highly paid so it would be tough to justify not doing it.

I often think how hard it will be to retire if I’m
in the same role as one more year will always be tempting particularly with RSUs etc.

Those who would still work though? What do you do that you would not give up even for a lottery win?

For the money. I’d give it up without hesitation if I won the lottery.

Both.

I don’t want to go to work everyday but I am fanatically independent and need to earn my own money.

I work because I want to!
It’s a wonderful position to be in. Not every day is brilliant obviously and I don’t think I could say it’s a job I love but it both challenges and satisfies my brain, is flexible, really good leave allowance, a lot of paid carers leave (I’ve only used 5 days in 3 years and I think we are allowed 15 per year and then managers discretion can permit you more if necessary) and pays very well for what it is. I also like having something that’s just for me and I get on really well with my colleagues.
It’s handy to have the money don’t get me wrong but we’d financially be absolutely fine without me working. I went back to work after a long break when the kids were little, I knew I needed a routine and structure as I’m not disciplined without deadlines.
Every now and then I look at other jobs wondering if I’m just plodding along but then I remember I’m in a very fortunate position, it’s pretty low stress compared to being in a classroom (former job) and I don’t take work home with me at the end of the day.