Work related question - quality of life or money?

Let me ask you all a question -

If you have a job that you are semi-happy in, and make great money, but you hate the hours that you work and you are starting to dislike what your job has become -

and you are offered a job with the perfect hours, a little less money, but the job is ideal and would be great for you...

Would you change your job if you thought you would be happier but make less money? Your quality of life would be much better though.

Your thoughts?

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

If it was just a little less money- i would take the better quality of life in a heartbeat.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Definitely better quality of life. There is a lot to say for being happy and a little poorer vs. miserable and a little bit richer.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

I am currently in that position right now.

Hate the hours, hate the boss, money is decent.

I need to leave for my own sanity....

So, yes, I would leave for less money. At some times, I would leave for NO money!!!!

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

It depends if the decrease in income would decrease my quality of life. If it wasn't a significant amount of $$ then I would definetly consider it. However if I would be strapped for money and not be able to do things like go out to dinner or on vacations then probably not.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

That's exactly what I did. I hate my job, so I started looking at other options. I was interviewing for a position with the federal government that traditionally offers less pay than working at a lawfirm, but no billable hours, no long days, no pressure to bring in clients, all the benefits of working for the government, 9-5 workday, flex time and lots of vaca/sick time.

I was also applying for other firm jobs, and had several interviews set up for firms that offer double my current salary, and double what I would make in a federal government job.

Ultimately, I picked the federal government job. The retirement benefits and quality of life issues far outweighed the salary at a large firm. In essence, I would be making the same amount per hour when you consider the extreme hours I would have to work at a large firm for that large salary.

I have to say, before I had my daughter, I probably would have chosen the large firm. But now, having a child, it makes a HUGE difference in the choices I make.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

as long as I could pay my bills with the less money I would take it

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

I would certainly work for less $ if the quality of my life could be better!! Why not!!? BUT.......as with all things, there is a but.........

........if obviously depends on if we can survive financially!

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

take the job w/less money

imo nothing is worth more than you being happy/comfortable

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

My DH did this. He was working in finance, 80 hours a week, and was miserable. So he quit, finished his PhD, and got a job teaching economics at the college level. HUGE pay cut, but he became so much happier. And he has a great schedule.

We are expecting a baby soon, and I feel very lucky that even though we don't have as much money as we otherwise would, the baby will have a dad who's around a lot and very involved in her life (and he's going on sabbatical, with pay, in the fall to stay home full time with her, another important perk). Some benefits to a job are not always monetary.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

it depends.

if I was at a job making $100K and was miserable but got an offer for my "dream job" at only $45K, I would either try and get more money out of them or stick it out at my current job and continue to look. a pay cut is ok and I have done it, but not if it is so significant!

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

OK - let's see if I can clairfy - my salary does not run the household - so my $ is mostly fun money - and the new job would be working for a friend's parents, which would be low pressure.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Thanks for the clarification. First, I would not work for my friend's parents. But that's my own hang up about working for friends and family. I wouldn't even work in a family owned biz. I've done that before and wouldn't do it again.

To answer your original questions, yes, I would. I have taken a job for less money and I was thrilled I did. It made me a happier person overall and improved my quality of lfie. I took a 20% pay cut. That was pretty significant since I was an equal breadwinner at the time. We managed.

I have that job now and I'm making more now than I ever did in my life. Great boss, great job, chance for advancement and great work environment. The hrs are a little long but the benefits outweigh the downside.

Good luck with your decision.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

depends on what i did


like my situation yesterday, $40,000 is ALOT to lose

some stress is at least worth that, imho.

(also im pulling alot of weight in my home so my income is very important right now)

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Less money, more regular hours.

While I do like money-- it's not the most important thing.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

but would yu be able to enjoy the same things in life i.e. shopping, going out etc if you had the lower paying job?

I ask this because I would be miserable without some of the things money can buy! Unless, I could not stand to live because of my job, I would keep the better paying one. I'll always find a problem we every job eventually. I'd rather get paid more and be miserable than paid less and miserable. JMHO!

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

It really depends how much less. I think after a while we become accustomed to a certain way of life and less of an income may affect it. If it was a little less than what I was being paid, and I was miserable at the job and hated the hours then I would do it.

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?

absolutely....

In my mid-twenties I was making excellent money- way too much money honestly for someone in their mid-20s and I thought I was hot poopoo.... and I went on major vacations and spent money all over the place like it didn't matter- and then 9/11 happened- and guess what, no more job.

fast forward to now- I STILL dont make as much money as I did in my mid-20s and I have an MBA to boot! But you know what- if I were to rate my happiness now vs. my happiness then- i am SO MUCH happier now.... would making more money now make my life easier- sure it would... but am I willing to make the effort that making that type of money requires? Heck no....

My job now is very lax- i have my DC with me today, for example and I dress down, and basically do whatever I want- and that to me is priceless...

Re: Work related question - quality of life or money?