Money or Happiness

[Fibonacci4u]

I love what I do. It pays me enough to provide anything my wife, four kids, and I could ever need. With that said, Happiness>Money. In the last four years I watched my wife go from a person with gastrointestinal issues, heart issues, migraine issues, and depression and the meds for each condition to prove it to a happy, unmedicated mom with a totally new career. Her 1st career was killing her, literally. She made the bold decision to end her 21-year career, go back to school, and get a new job that she loves. She will tell you that it was the best decision that she ever made except for marrying me, of course. With all of this said, it was “easy” for her to make that decision because I am able to provide more than enough for our family. I also helps that we intentionally paid down/off our debts at a very young age. Those early sacrifices are really paying off now. Any way you cut it, there are pluses and minuses. Lastly, I will say that prayer and discernment were very helpful for us. Good luck!

 

[Pony Soldier]

I'm still doing the same job I started in 1974. The first 14 years was for the federal govt. The next 24 years was for the state. The last 13 years has been for people and companies but under my terms.

I love the work and the learning but over the years have learned to hate bad management, egos, and prima donnas.

The dollars have varied from adequate to whoopy. None of it was more important than my lifestyle, hunting, and my freedom to do, think, and create.

I raised my kids who still prefer to come hunting with me as well as put up wood and hay as do my grandkids. One of the best memories I have is the look on my boss's face when he was paying me $130,000/year and I instructed him as to how to stuff the job up his ass. I don't like micromanagement.

 

[chasewild]

I left my private law firm to work as an AG and I don't regret it at all.

Could you lateral to a new company that would provide temporary relief? Buy yourself 5 more years?

How much do you want to set up your kids?

How soon could you get to a point where you are going to be comfortable later?

How is your health!??

But overall, if you aren't inspired, jump and never look back. You are not the sum of your 50 hours. There is more to you and your life than that.

Edit: went back to private practice. The road behind you doesn’t suddenly close if you make a change.


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[Oregon]

I didn’t read all the replies. I have a motto/creed whatever you want to call it.

I don’t judge my wealth by my bank account, I judge it be how full my 2 freezers are in my garage.

 

[Beagle1]

As I aged I realized happiness is a balance of time, money and good health. I think too many people do not understand once you lose time you never can get it back. Money lost can be made back, not so time. Good health is too often taken for granted. People who have time and money frequently act like their good health will last forever. It doesn’t. Most people run out of good health and die before they run out of money.

 

[nelsNcompany]

I'm still doing the same job I started in 1974. The first 14 years was for the federal govt. The next 24 years was for the state. The last 13 years has been for people and companies but under my terms.

I love the work and the learning but over the years have learned to hate bad management, egos, and prima donnas.

The dollars have varied from adequate to whoopy. None of it was more important than my lifestyle, hunting, and my freedom to do, think, and create.

I raised my kids who still prefer to come hunting with me as well as put up wood and hay as do my grandkids. One of the best memories I have is the look on my boss's face when he was paying me $130,000/year and I instructed him as to how to stuff the job up his ass. I don't like micromanagement.

So, after working for the feds and the state, you became a consultant for the last 13 years? Did you go back to school for that transition? Also, did a bank front you a big loan to start your own business?

Only asking because this is where I'm at in life as well. I've worked for the state 10 years now but I could go private tomorrow.

Thank you!

 

[Pony Soldier]

I didn't need money as I was getting retirement. My contacts were all the people I had worked with over the years. I have confined my work to Montana for the most part and limited it to projects I am intrigued by for people I enjoy. I tend to work for my personal interests in the morning and do the consulting in the afternoon. I charge for my knowledge but often do research on my own nickel.

I didn't have to go back to school as I had been teaching mining at the university as well as for the federal agencies. The struggle was always in having to get people to listen. The job is teaching all the tricks I have learned over the years from successful people. Sometimes just being able to recognize the paths of failure and being able to divert people off of their trend is the challenge. After that it is staying in the business to maintain enough of a profile to get people to hire you.

I don't depend on my work for income as much as to fill the financial gaps and challenge my mind. My frustration is often the ignorance and inexperience of federal and state regulators yet wild enthusism to just say no.

Where they could only tell operators what they couldn't do, my job was to provide them with options to consider and possible costs. A current one I am working on is projected long term costs of leasing vs buying heavy equipmment and at what sizes for a small mining project.

 

[Mike 338]

You're always the first one to know when your time is up at a place. If you're going to lose money, (and you will), you might as well replace it with both something you'd like more and with job security, like your own business. Less money but no one can fire you. Try something on the side for a couple years just to see if it has any legs. I wouldn't walk away from a decent job cold.

Oh, and pray. When it's the right time, things will fall into place for you.

 

[nelsNcompany]

You're always the first one to know when your time is up at a place. If you're going to lose money, (and you will), you might as well replace it with both something you'd like more and with job security, like your own business. Less money but no one can fire you. Try something on the side for a couple years just to see if it has any legs. I wouldn't walk away from a decent job cold.

Oh, and pray. When it's the right time, things will fall into place for you.

You're the first person to mention prayer! I lean on that pretty heavily. And you are totally right. Never leave a job without something else lined up. I've seen many people walk away and then it takes months or even a year to find a new job. I heard that inflation may rise 3 to 5% the next year or so.......

 

[Mike 338]

You're the first person to mention prayer! I lean on that pretty heavily. And you are totally right. Never leave a job without something else lined up. I've seen many people walk away and then it takes months or even a year to find a new job. I heard that inflation may rise 3 to 5% the next year or so.......

I have a little experience with your situation. I side gigged for about a year and a half but it seemed like I was fighting myself because not much was working out. It was exhausting. I just let go and gave it to God and accepted, what was my current situation at the time. Then, what seemed like "all at once", circumstances changed personally and within my company which made it smooth for me to leave and also a smooth transition for the company. It worked out reasonably well for all parties concerned. God's timing, not mine. You ask God to answer your prayers but be ready if he says "no or not now". That too is an answer.

Either way, best wishes.