Would you work if you didn't have to?

[Nanananananagigglebiz]

What it says in the title really

Define 'didn't have to'. If I was lottery win millions rich then no I wouldn't work. But even if DH earnt more so we could afford a decent standard of living from his salary alone then I'd still want to work a bit. Guess it's the sense of purpose it gives you, and the independence of not being totally reliant on someone else.

Yes I would continue working but in a job I love and where I don't feel anxious every day

No. Fucking. Way.

I'd potter about doing voluntary stuff and spend more time with DD, but I'm by far the highest earner so we need the salary even though I piss it away by being shite with money

Ha Ha, no way.
I've just started pt because I need the money due to cash flow problem.
Hadn't worked for 25 years before this, and I'll leave as soon as finances sorted.
Surely, nobody in their right mind would work if they didn't need to.

thenewaverage same here.

I hate not contributing and having to rely on DH for money (he is very forthcoming though ).

I just need to see it through until 2018 then I'll go back to work. But probably not what I was doing before.

Topical for me. I go back to work soon, after third maternity leave and am thinking about giving up. We can comfortably afford it.

However my concerns are:

• have earned money since I was 14 and can't imagine the feeling of not
• that 'what if'... someone gets ill, made redundant etc etc
• will I go mad?! My job is very demanding and I guess I wonder if some part of me actually needs the stress
• a big part of my identity is my job. Rightly or wrongly I wonder if I will feel a bit worthless without it
• will my husband resent me? Must be quite stressful carrying whole family, even if his comp is multiples of mine (and mine is 6 figures so not like what I earn is insignificant, but obv if you factor in childcare that reduces it somewhat).

I am very lucky but I am struggling with this decision.

No no no no
I hate my job and would love to stay at home with my son. Plus I'm stressed and angry which I never was when I was on maternity leave.
I would like DH not to have to work either though, I couldn't imagine being a kept woman.

Reader 77 what do you do?

Orange bird i feel the same as you

Yep
It's part of my identity and I actually enjoy it even though it's stressful.
I love my children loads but I need the challenge of work. If.my mind isn't busy with work I start to go a bit crazy ..... My anxiety tends to go through the roof during maternity leave for example. I work 2 days per week at the moment and I'm looking forward to increasing to 4 when youngest starts nursery class in September.

I guess if I won££££ on the lottery (unlikely as I don't do it) I might do work for free as a volunteer but I plan to work into my 70's I my health allows.

Oh and I never want to be fully financially dependent on anyone else.

Bracy brace girl what do you do? It must feel good to love your job

Heck no! But only if both me and DH could afford not to I'd hate to be stuck at home with him at work all day.

Nope and I don't.

Spent my earlier years working in senior level marketing and never want to do that or anything else again. Haven't worked for 6 years now and won't be working again.

Yes, unless we were so filthy rich that money was no object & I could spend as I desired doing various expensive hobbies.

No. I'm dreading returning to work in a few weeks after a wonderful years maternity leave.

Yes,

No, but only if I had my own independent income of other means, eg big inheritance or lotto win. I would never put myself in the vulnerable position of relying on another person for everything.
I would not be bored, I would volunteer in a rewarding role and pursue hobbies.

YES!!
Wo a doubt and in some ways this is already the case.
Not that we are that wealthy but we could live from one wage and stopping work would allow me to recover health wise much more quickly.

However, I LOVE my job, then purpose it's giving me, the relationship with people and the feeling I am making a positive difference for those people.
I would be depressed wo it and would have little to look forward to, to make me want to get up in the am.

Not a chance!

I would keep myself occupied by training to do something I actually want to do without having to worry about it not working out, and also take the opportunity to do voluntary work, as others have said.

I wouldn't work if I won the lottery. But I wouldn't give up work to live off a man (or woman!)

I don't need to work so I don't work. I do some volunteering type work related to my job which keeps me in touch professionally and allows me to do training courses. I could return if I wanted to but really I am happy not working. I am also going to start a part time uni degree next year in a totally unrelated subject. I love my life and contribute a lot to my family other than financially.

I recently returned to regular work after having my children.
I didn't have to work but wanted after 6 years money for myself. I found being at home without the children extremely sad and lonely.

I have returned to work and now work 3 days which when my contract arrived said 4.
Now I work too much!

Having more money doesn't make me happier, in fact working has made me more miserable.

So I'd rather not work, and volunteer. I thought having to buy things for myself and my children not my husband but I'm just fucking tired and angry now.
I know I'm lucky to have this privilege though of not having to work

I'spd do something but on a voluntary basis. I love my job but would do it for a charity perhaps, but working from home and part time.

Marjorie Simpson what's your job?

Probably just enough to retain my registration (nurse) so if I did need / want to go back full time I could - that's assuming I had a concrete assurance that I could allow my pension contributions to lapse and still be set up for my golden years.