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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask WHY you work

235 replies

BeatriceAlbert · 26/09/2025 21:42

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.”

OP posts:
OhNoNotSusan · 27/09/2025 06:18

because i cant get a job on the hours i want at the rate i want unless i do the specific hours i want.
i am hoping to at some point to reduce my hours but i am reliant on my employer allowing me to reduce my hours, needs of the service need to be taken into consideration and it doesnt look hopeful

PrioritisePleasure24 · 27/09/2025 06:23

For money to live. However i do work in a job i do enjoy that can be very rewarding. I’d still not work if i won the lottery though! I agree with others i had a little time off when i came back from travelling in my 20s and no routine just for a couple of weeks did me no favours at all. So yeah we do need structure.

Thepeopleversuswork · 27/09/2025 06:35

Money (am a single parent)
Purpose
Structure
The feeling of being connected to people
Fear of retirement - has never looked attractive to me

mjf981 · 27/09/2025 06:41

I don't currently.

Middle aged and recently had some health issues (lost some hearing suddenly, and now have tinnitus which has led to severe insomnia and couldn't function - I ended up quitting in a panic 3 months ago)

Not sure what to do. My old boss called yesterday to 'touch base' but I have no desire to go back that job or any job atm. Thankfully no dependents. I can afford to be off for the rest of the year but no idea what 2026 will bring. Can't afford to retire at 41 but have completely lost my spark :(

BubblyBath178 · 27/09/2025 06:46

I go to work for money. That’s it.

JetFlight · 27/09/2025 06:47

For the money but I do feel it’s important for humans to have a role in society and community.

RedSkyatNight25 · 27/09/2025 06:49

Money. I have a cushty job and earn good money so I am hugely fortunate not to be slogging my guts but I work because the fun things cost money.

luckylavender · 27/09/2025 06:49

NoSoupForU · 26/09/2025 21:44

Yes for money. But also for purpose. I wouldn't do well without having the mental challenge and structure that work gives me.

Me too. I actually hope to go on after retirement age

BreakfastOfChampignons · 27/09/2025 06:51

I was pondering this whilst driving home last night, the radio was on in the car and someone won something obscene like half a million pounds and i contemplated what i would do if that were me.

And the conclusion that I reached is that I would continue to work in my current role. It gives me a lot more than just a salary, it's a role I got in to through volunteering so there was already a drive and a passion there. It gives me a challenge, it gives me an additional purpose, and it's something I genuinely care about. Half a million would be life changing but not enough to retire on (we're in our 30s, kids, including one with disabilities)but if i won the euro millions, I'd probably continue my job on a voluntary basis if i didnt need the salary, albeit on less hours and with less responsibility/stress!

NuovaPilbeam · 27/09/2025 06:58

To support my family, provide the best life I can for my DC and afford hobbies that I'll never be skilled/talented enough at for them to be a means of supporting myself, but which bring me joy.

I work hard and earn well and i love being able to say "yes of course you can have oboe lessons" and to choose freely in the supermarket, to enjoy lovely holidays together, to never worry if we can afford the next size up in school uniform. Financial security really reduces my stress levels

Twodogsisbetterthanone · 27/09/2025 07:05

Self respect, a sense of purpose, showing my kids that you should work hard.
Id love to be at home crocheting and gardening, but it’s never going to happen. I will die before I can retire

JammieDodgerlover · 27/09/2025 07:08

1 Money

2 Mental challenge

3 Sense of satisfaction at doing something well

4 Enjoyment at doing something impactful for others

5 Mentoring and seeing junior staff develop

If I won the lottery I'd volunteer part time doing something to keep 2 -5 going.

user1471538275 · 27/09/2025 07:10

Money. I detest the job now, am dragging myself in whilst hunting for another - but they'll be the same as all the sector is asking more for less.

Whattodo121 · 27/09/2025 07:33

Money, human connection and a feeling of contributing to society. I’ve been a teacher for 20 years and I love the challenges of dealing with tricky students (most of the time!). My current role is very niche and specialised and what I do makes massive difference to student outcomes. There are kids out there who would not have got their qualifications and gone on to university or got a job without my direct intervention and that is something that I treasure. I’m also very well paid considering I have the holidays off and have an excellent pension and job security. If I won a million pounds I would outsource some of the domestic side of life (cleaner, Gardener, dog walker etc) so I could enjoy more of my time at home.

dudsville · 27/09/2025 07:40

I'm the low scale fisherman in your analogy. I save nearly half my income each month. In other words, I don't need to work as many hours to cover my needs, but I do this so that I can retire early. If I cut back my hours to relax now day to day then I wouldn't be able to stop early. It's either one or the other, for me I prefer to have some time that's without commitments. A couple of decades of busy following my nose and being in the moment.

BadgesforBadgers · 27/09/2025 07:42

The Fisherman in the parable is a bit of red herring, if you excuse the pun.

He's doing what most of us doing..working enough to be happy and comfortable.

For him, the income from his small boat is presumably enough to put a roof over his and families head, feed them and clothe them, pay bills and be happy.

Essentially, that is what we are all doing.

Yes some people..Medical professionals, emergency services are responding to some kind of calling and internal need to help others, but most of us are just slogging away to keep a standard of life that society has foisted upon us.

Butterflybum · 27/09/2025 07:43

I love my job. I worked hard to get it and I’m making a difference. Money is also nice.

The poster that described fishing as ‘Basically a hobby’ obviously didn’t grow up in a fishing village. 😂

Strumpetpumpet · 27/09/2025 07:43

For money - to live on and to top up my pension.
if I came into money tomorrow they wouldn’t see me for dust.
im late 50s and starting to suffer a bit of ill health though.

MagicLoop · 27/09/2025 07:57

Money, but also I do enjoy my job (though I'd much prefer to do it part-time if I didn't need a ft salary). I have done the same job for 30 years (in different workplaces) except when I took a break for a couple of years to be a SAHM. I also considered changing career, but realised that my job is a large part of my identity and I would actually miss it. It was pretty awful in some workplaces, but my current one is great and I plan to stay, go pt then retire.

Tamfs · 27/09/2025 07:59

Now in my mid-forties, it's for money and nothing else. I have so many other things I would like to be doing with my time.

Don't get me wrong, I worked for a long time in a job for purpose instead of money. And I even just spent a couple of years improving my skills towards a different career which again would be for purpose rather than money. But at the end of it all, I realised I could just get by in my well paying secure job and use that money as a tool for everything else I want in my life. I struggled against that concept because I thought work should have meaning, but I have let that go now. I'm much happier for it.

ClassicBBQ · 27/09/2025 08:02

For money. I have crippling anxiety and struggle to work even part time. After a shift, I panic all night about the things I might have done wrong and I'm usually exhausted the next day due to no sleep. I wish I could win the lottery so I never had to go through it again.

greengreyblue · 27/09/2025 08:05

We are in our 50s, mortgage repaid so now we are saving/ spending and putting towards our pensions. I think I’d like to work part time but have my pensions in my mind as I’m 54.
Love that analogy though. We’ve never been super ambitious around money but just want security and a comfortable le retirement.

greengreyblue · 27/09/2025 08:09

BadgesforBadgers · 27/09/2025 07:42

The Fisherman in the parable is a bit of red herring, if you excuse the pun.

He's doing what most of us doing..working enough to be happy and comfortable.

For him, the income from his small boat is presumably enough to put a roof over his and families head, feed them and clothe them, pay bills and be happy.

Essentially, that is what we are all doing.

Yes some people..Medical professionals, emergency services are responding to some kind of calling and internal need to help others, but most of us are just slogging away to keep a standard of life that society has foisted upon us.

Edited

Yes I agree but some work to get more than they need, always looking to be have more, bigger, better.

Summerhillsquare · 27/09/2025 08:14

Ha ha I love that joke. I do what I do because it needs doing and I am good at it. Not to polish my halo but it has a science/saving lives element to it. I don't always enjoy it but am motivated to keep going, so far.

Itsnottheheatitsthehumidity · 27/09/2025 08:24

Because I'm divorced with a child at university (just started). Also because if I didn't have a job I would be a couch potato watching telly all day. I need a reason to get out of the house! I have enough to sustain myself, but I'm not ambitious or entrepreneurial. I am a shy introvert so the human contact thing is annoying but necessary.