Would you work if you didn't have to?

[Nanananananagigglebiz]

What it says in the title really

No. I have to so I do, and I have a good job but if I didn't have to I wouldn't.

Yes and I do. We could comfortably live on DHs salary, but I chose to work.

If I won the lottery and could be financially independent for ever, I'd think differently, but I don't ever want to not have a possibility to earn money independently.

There is always the "what if ....." and also the saving for the future / retirement which I figure we can do more easily with more earnings than we need at the moment.

If money was no object, and I could afford more childcare, I might even go to work more.

You're having a giraffe.

No no no.

Define 'didn't have to'.
If i were made redundant tomorrow, we would mange, but my salary means we can save more, and spend more on what would become 'luxuries' if I didn't work.
I choose to work paft time however, which gives me the best of both worlds IMO.

If we had some considerable windfall from somewhere (say 1/2 million), then I'd retire.

My answer was different when I was young though. At that point, with a similar windfall, I'd have carried on working and paid a housekeeper and gardener. I like my work but am not that keen on housework or gardening.
Now I closer to retirement, my answer would be different from when i was in my 20s or 30s.

I was a SAHM for many years. We would have been fine financially if I had not returned to work. But I wanted to work, so I got a job as soon as my youngest started school. I work part time (3 days) and I have a good work-life balance.

I'd have more babies and be on permanent mat leave!

I'm retiring next year, at 56.
At least I'm leaving my current job and may or may not do something else.
I haven't decided yet.

bluesky you are right.

Nothing gets done around this house, or if it is then half arsed, so I have to do it again.

I never realised in myself that I offer something being at home, like me having to mop up when something goes wrong elsewhere.

That being said, being at home made me incredibly dull!

No.

I don't and so I don't.

I am lucky that I am in a position to earn enough to fund my lifestyle and pension without really working.

I don't get working if you don't have to - particularly if like me to actually aren't that amazing at anything - but I am lazy.

Yes, I would and I do. DH earns 15 times what I do but I work for my own money, for the challenge, the stimulation and the enjoyment of it. I am not cut out to be at home. Having said that, I wouldn't work full time, that's not for our family

No if I knew I was independently financially secure for life.

Yes if it involved being reliant on someone else to provide for me.

I wouldn't rely on someone else for income unless I genuinely had no other option, but if we were lottery winners I'd quit. However, I'd have to do something - voluntary work, retrain etc. I'd be ninety three stone and welded to the sofa within about a week otherwise.

I am a single mum, and a childminder. I love my job, and was a playworker / youth worker / teaching assistant before I had my own children and my marriage went wrong.

Even if I won the lottery (not likely as I don't buy tickets), I would carry on doing what I am doing. That said, I would be more choosy about the hours I work (currently 7 days a week) and would be picking combinations of children that worked better with my own family - I currently accept absolutely anybody who pays, regardless of whether or not I can manage their needs while still getting some sleep and down time myself.

Yes, I don't actually have to work to keep a roof over our heads etc but I really, really love my job.
It's tiring, stressful and I don't like having to get up at 3.45 am to get there but once I'm there I can't imagine not doing it. I do realise I'm incredibly lucky plus my Dc's are grown up so haven't got the added stress of little ones.

No, I would love to not work. I find my job very stressful and don't need it as part of my identity or self worth. Once my dcs are all at school, I would do some part time voluntary work of some sort.

Yes absolutely. Because I'm building a career in a profession I love and am climbing a progressive career track. And because I just cannot imagine not being part of the workforce and depending financially on someone else.

I've just been off sick for almost a month and a half. Been back in work properly for a few shifts and I'm so so happy to be back. I love my job. Ive also worked my arse off to get here - I got my consultant job 6 months ago having wanted to be a doctor since I was 14 so I've been working to get where I am for over 20 years and I'm now working at my dream job which I never imagined I'd be good enough to do (I work in a tiny tiny sub-speciality, there aren't all that many of us!). If I won the lottery I would still come to work and, as and when I have babies the bloke will be a stay at home dad

I don't need to and as an expat am surrounded by friends who fill their days with coffee, shopping, lunch, manicures and yoga so it should feel easy to join that crowd.

However there is no way I could not work. I adore my job, I need my mind to be active, to feel appreciated in a role other than someone who washes and cooks dinner. I need to feel independent and fulfilled, to keep learning and developing, to be creative and network. Spent a year not working and found it incredibly flat.

Yes, my mental health goes down the drain when I'm not in work. I work primarily for my sanity. And because I quite like this expensive house I live in

Yes I would - it's sad and scary to read all those threads about how women want to leave their husbands but can't afford to. And I like my job, couldn't wait to go back after maternity leave

I wouldn't trade my financial independence and I would want to know that I could always financially provide for my family. So if I could do that without working, sure. I'd go back to university, probably, since I couldn't travel extensively whilst ds is still at school.

I would never want to be financially dependent.

Nope. I would give up my day job but I'd still keep my cake making on.

I'd have a really clean house, do all the decorating I want, meet friends..

I'm a SAHP, so don't work, but if I had the opportunity to do whatever I wanted to, I would spend my time studying and volunteering.