To ask WHY you work

[BeatriceAlbert]

Got in a discussion about retirement/early retirement and why people actually go to work in the first place. I know it seems obvious to answer ‘for money’ but this was off the back of the parody about a fisherman.

A businessman on holiday spots a fisherman lounging by his small boat after catching a few fish for the day.

Businessman:
“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?”

Fisherman:
“Why would I?”

Businessman:
“Well, with more fish, you could buy a bigger boat!”

Fisherman:
“And then?”

Businessman:
“With a bigger boat, you could hire a crew, catch even more fish, and eventually own a whole fleet!”

Fisherman:
“And then?”

Businessman:
“Then you could build a company, go public, and become a millionaire!”

Fisherman:
“And then?”

Businessman:
“Then you could retire, relax by the sea, and spend your days fishing!”

Fisherman:
“…Which is what I was already doing before you interrupted.”

money
pride
financial security
mental stimulation
contributing to society
setting an example to DC

For money.

I enjoy my job for the most part, or maybe “enjoy” is not the right word but I do find it interesting and stimulating. But I’d be lying if I said I was at work for any reason other than money. And there are probably jobs that are less pressure but pay less that I would prefer if money wasn’t a factor.

I’m not rich
I need money to live
I quite like work - when I get there. Getting up and faffing around at 6am is the piss take. Commute is quick

For money - no other way to pay a mortgage and bills.

I guess the second part to this question is why I work a stressful job with long hours for better pay.

The answer is financial security and being able to have a good quality lifestyle, and hopefully start to build generational wealth.

On just above NMW and part time, it's not for the money 😅

Sanity. Was a SAHM for 8 years. I couldn't take it anymore, needed something else.

I can’t wait to leave work. Only doing it for money now, the love for my job has well and truly gone.

Money, since my rent and bills won't pay themselves. I'd stop immediately if I would afford to and wouldn't give it a second thought - there are so many more worthwhile and constructive things I could be doing with my time.

Sanity, routine and structure, keeping mentally busy, providing a useful service to people in a tough situation. Having something for me, social interactions, challenging myself. Lots of reasons really.
The money is nice but I don’t really ‘need’ to work for money. Which is a nice position to be in because I stay because I actually genuinely like my job and colleagues.
I spent over 10 years as a SAHM and loved it but knew I wanted to go back to work when the youngest went to school.
I massively value my time off now and look forward to it.

Interesting question that I was only asking myself today…

DH is retired on a very good pension. I don’t have a private pension so I still work p/t, from home. He has said I can retire if I want to, he has enough to cover us both.

I don’t really enjoy my job, don’t really need the money, but it gives structure to my day/week. On days that I work, I’ll go to the gym/for a walk, come home and work for a few hours, do a few chores, and still have an hour or two spare to relax (and feel like I’ve earned it because I’ve done some work)

I think if I didn’t work I’d feel a bit pointless 🤷🏼‍♀️

Money, the intellectual challenge, the colleagues (they are all really lovely people and also really intelligent and interesting), the feeling that I am really making a difference.

When I retire, I will almost certainly spend time each week doing a volunteering role that brings me some of the same satisfaction.

Likewise if I won the lottery I would have to find a way to replace all the other elements of my job that I like

At present, I work because I have no other choice. I hate my position, I hate my boss, I hate the work I'm doing. If I could quit, I would.

I don't want to not work at all though. I'd be bored. And when I don't have stuff to do, I sit around, watching tv, doomscrolling, and essentially getting depressed.

But yeah. Not having a fun time right now.

same. Im there because i have to be.

Or, just because you don’t have kids, it doesn’t mean you don’t benefit from society. Those “handouts” you provide mean the people, stacking the shelves in Tesco can afford a roof over their heads because they aren’t paid enough by their employers, and their properties are so expensive because those employers and their mates buy up property as an investment so they can be even more rich. They also go to the people who provide the infrastructure you rely on, council workers who keep the place liveable. They also go to raising the kids of today who become the care workers who will wipe your arse when you’ve only got a couple of marbles rolling around upstairs.

If you want to be angry at the people who “waste” your taxes, try looking up the chain rather than down it.

For money but also dignity. I have had some short periods without work (planned with savings) and it wasn’t good. Work can be hard but not working is worse. I definitely want the option to retire by 60.

I work to mitigate risk.

I started as the higher earner, but working at a non-profit limits my earning power. DH has now lapped me multiple times.

I work in case he gets sick. I work in case he dies. I work in case he has a personality transplant and our relationship comes to an end.

I don’t want to have to struggle renter the workforce as an older woman without the seniority and experience I have developed with a significant gap in my cv.

so I work and my family benefits from the extra money, but mostly I benefit from the future security.

Literally just for money. There are an million other ways to find purpose and fulfilment than working.

Money and my sanity

Money.
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would stop working in a heartbeat.

Income, for food and rent and all that.

I work for money and for the company of my colleagues

@ForZanyAquaViewer oohh what’s your ‘very clever job’?

Money.

People who say they would be bored, lack purpose, miss the conversation etc without work are among the people I least understand in the world.

I don’t work, retired at 50. I have structure to my day . DH and I are creatures of habit.

Maybe we are just lucky to find the right job. There are plenty of jobs I would find mind numbingly dull