Does anybody work but not need to?

[coulditbeme2323]

Does anybody work that doesn't need to?

I haven't worked in 8 years, but had a very tentative conversation with an old colleague about there being a part time role.

Now the money I would earn would make no difference to our lives as it's a poorly paid role.

However, I did enjoy it.

Really torn.

There's no real moral dimension for me as I could be doing worthwhile unpaid things too including enjoying myself!

So you want to do it why?
You'd enjoy it
It would give you structure, and purpose.
You know it would be of benefit to someone else (that's why people volunteer, but it's also why people do relatively low paid jobs sometimes)
It would keep your CV current
You may not need the money now, but circumstances may change in the future.
It will stop you going doolally stuck at home with only the housework and the kids to think about
The question is really, why WOULDN'T you do it?

I work but only 2 short days a week. I don’t need the money but find it gives structure to my life , and I like the people I work with. It’s worthwhile too.

King Charles does need to work. Furthermore, he is unusual in that he never had a choice about what job he would have when he grew up.

There is NO WAY I would work if I did not need to. I have so many hobbies and interests that I could never fulfil them all even if I did not work.

I always feel if you undertake an activity that you don’t need to do financially and are doing purely because you love doing so I cannot relate to it as ‘work’.
It is something else.
Many people continue doing work but don’t need to financially and they clearly enjoy it eg. Those who are financially well off and famous eg. Celebrity chefs but they still do it. I think it stops being work at some point. And is so part of who they are it isn’t work in the sense work is for other people.

I assumed she was speaking for herself. But the spin you are putting on it I tend to agree. Not if you are genuinely unable to of course. People need to contribute to society in some way if they are able. Now the question is how long you need to do that for I suppose as that could mean you have to work til you drop dead! And that also assumes you aren’t taking from society irresponsibly and cancelling out the good.

when I worked in law I was surprised by the number of capable adults who did not work as that’s what had been modelled to them by parents or caregivers. Well no I wasn’t surprised.

Two, from home.

I work 5 days a week part time (school based role so holidays off). I don't need to work financially but do need to work for mental health and self esteem. I was a SAHM for years which I did enjoy, but I'm so much happier working. The structure and routine, the social aspect, the satisfaction of feeling I'm doing a decent job. What I do is hardly rocket science, but doing it well has a really positive impact, and I love that.

I could get away with not working (DH is retired with a good pension and would happily let me live off him) but I work P/T just because I prefer having some structure to my week. I don’t love the job tbh, but it also flexible so I can just pick it up and drop it when it suits.

I do, actually work FT, technically don’t need to. But I love what I do and the fact that I am more than just mum.

I have the dream job. Doesn’t pay great but I love it. I work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm so 12 hours a week.
Ive been there six years and am planning to work there until I’m 67, five more years. We do not use it to pay bills, but we did use it when I had to buy a new car, and it will fund half our son’s car since he got a job and will need one to get around.
Our organization is a non profit, we give food and clothing and hygiene items to students in our school system that our social workers flag as needing support. Everything is new for student dignity, many times it is the first new item a student has ever had. I work year round and I could work up to 20 hours a week but i would probably run out of my own work to do so I’d have to do heavier work (I.e. food) that I’m not really interested in. I feel they get a bargain for their money, so in turn that helps the kids too.

I work and don't need to but I need the routine and structure in my life. I work part time

If you cam afford not to then the only question is whether you want to.

Do you want to?

If the money makes absolutely no difference to your life, then you could donate it to charity.

You get to do something you enjoy and it benefits others too.

I work but don’t need to and I think you have to do something you actually enjoy otherwise it’s too hard to get up and go every day! I work in a pre school 3 days a week, term time only and it’s perfect. It’s not easy and I regularly come home exhausted but I enjoy it and it gives me my own money which I’ve missed while bringing up kids.

I work 2.5 days a week all year round (mostly from home so flexible in school hols)- two kids in primary. Don’t “need” to work financially but it obviously helps to have more fun money/holiday money and I got too lonely/bored when I tried not working at all! For me I like having something else to talk about, having colleagues- even to moan about, I love what I do and it gives my life more variety. I guess I could find that in other ways and people do, but I like being paid even though it’s not much!

I don’t need to work financially however I enjoy working! Love my job and even at 56, plan to continue for several years

I work full-time in a highly stressful and demanding role. I don’t need to work financially as DH earns more than enough for us to live comfortably and I also have a small other source of income. It’s a constant juggle with childcare and the fact that I have a chronic illness which causes pain and fatigue but it’s never occurred me not to work. I had a short break between roles at the end of last year and after a few weeks, I was itching to get back to work.

I love my job and would definitely continue with it if I won the lottery. I'd maybe go down to part time but that's it. I get very low without structure and challenge, and I'm not one of those people who can organise that for myself.

We all need working, even at home. I was home stay for 8 years, had 3 to 4 years part time work and just left one job which I am sorry I left because cannot find another...so far as usual, from day 1 of the marriage my husband pays for it all but I love making my savings plump

thanks for vocalising this...I am such type...without a challenge out of the home, I start day dreaming, scrolling too much, etc....there is not a big garden here to tend it, not a space for vegetables and the house is minimalist and already furnished ages ago - literally after washing 3 cups and 3 saucers there is not much going on....I already have all the possible courses, volunteerings and church goings I can possibly do in 3 lifetimes and am sick of all of it. Need a job with a paycheck however small

I don't 'need' to work but I do so I can fund my very expensive hobby.

It feels good for me to be paying for it out of my hard graft.

< ...no matter how small ...>

I have colleagues working 1 day per week who come in wearing Hobbs, Cos etc. I know they can’t be earning much more than £12k. I figure they’re just “keeping their hand in” while their husband pays 3 sets of private school fees and funds their 4 days a week shopping habit.