Million.to.1 Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 My boyfriend and I are now both self-employed, and working freelance. My BF was working a 40hr week in retail until recently but he hated it and the pay was pretty crap. But he needed a regular salary job because of his visa restrictions until a few months ago. Now we are both earning "just enough" to cover our basic bills and living. We've both got a bit of savings so it's not like a living week to week thing. I personally love having time to actually work on my own creative endeavours, work on my business (which is creative and I'm building a portfolio) even just a few solid hours a week, but when i'm working full time... I can never find the time with all the usual stuff the fills in weekends/evenings. For me, I would rather have time to live and do what I want to do than have more money. I traveled extensively for long periods during my life and had wonderful experiences and meet amazing people. But I don't own a house or have much in the way of assets. Seems to me though that more people are interested in earning money working 40-60 hr weeks and having very little time to really enjoy their lives. If you absolutely LOVE your job, it's different. I do love mine... but it's all on then all off. Intense short bursts. I couldn't imagine working a 50 hr week with 2 weeks off a year for 5 years straight. I'd seriously want to kill myself. Aren't people going to regret getting to 65 and suddenly have all this free time but no energy or desire to get grubby anymore? Just lot's of money to "enjoy retirement?"
acrosstheuniverse Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 It very much depends on whether you enjoy your job or not. I've always wanted a job that I enjoy and love so much, I'd do it for free if I had the financial means to do so. And I'm close to getting my wish, after I went back to school for a two year Masters. I'm training for a profession I've spent many years volunteering for... the thought that I will be able to actually do this work and get paid a decent amount blows my mind! I've worked 60-70 hours per week for the past almost two years and although I've been really tired, it's been for a bigger goal so I appreciated every minute of it for its ability to get me closer to my desired career. I'd quite happily work 50 hours per week permanently, I'll be doing near 60 when you take into account my voluntary work. When you love what you're doing, it's not work. You can't wait to get up in the morning and go in. But I've had plenty of jobs (retail, waitressing, finance, you name it) that I've hated with a passion soooooo badly, that 15 hours a week were almost intolerable because of the immense boredom (I always had two jobs at once when the only ones I could get were part time). Personally I'd rather have a grafter, a proper hard worker, than somebody who wanted to take it easy. I've had exes who wanted to just work enough to live and enjoy their free time and were happy to stop there, always with really lowly paid menial jobs. And over time they all showed themselves up to be drifters with no prospect of a solid future. I'd rather somebody who works 60 hours per week at a career as it shows hard work, dedication, and an ability to provide. All qualities which make a good partner. Not that I'm saying you're a drifter, just that that attitude of preferring the easier life doesn't mesh with me too well, not at this stage of my life anyway. 2
DKT3 Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 Phew, I was at one point working 70-80/wk and away from home 3/wks a month. It was in part the reason my wife had an affair which lead to her being my ex wife. Man did I make a lot of money, super nice home fancy Europen cars, swimming pool and no time to enjoy any of it. Worse of all my kids barely knew how the hell I was. I took a less demanding job (time wise, still fairly stressful), got back with my wife and even have time to not only go to my sons ball games, but I coach the team. Now this is what life is suppose to be about. For me, I finally got it right. I don't need validation thru a job. My legecy is in my children 3
Author Million.to.1 Posted June 2, 2014 Author Posted June 2, 2014 It very much depends on whether you enjoy your job or not. totally. But are there many people who actually do? I've had exes who wanted to just work enough to live and enjoy their free time and were happy to stop there, always with really lowly paid menial jobs. And over time they all showed themselves up to be drifters with no prospect of a solid future. I'd rather somebody who works 60 hours per week at a career as it shows hard work, dedication, and an ability to provide. All qualities which make a good partner. Not that I'm saying you're a drifter, just that that attitude of preferring the easier life doesn't mesh with me too well, not at this stage of my life anyway. not at all....certainly not a drifter... I work 60-70 hr weeks when I have film work on.. and I work on my own business projects in any down time... alot like your time volunteering. it's not wasted time to me. I don't consider it work to be making my art. But it could make me a living if i have the time to invest in it...get better at it.... you know what I'm saying? I just mean about people selling their life. Giving up the time they have on the planet for someone else. Working for the man in exchange for $$. I'm not talking about being lazy and scraping by in crap jobs, I'm talking about people giving themselves the time to really pursue their OWN dreams even if that means being less financially "comfortable" for a while. 1
Emilia Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 It's not an either/or. I worked hard in my 20s to buy properties with my then husband. We had amazing holidays as I worked in travel and had free or very cheap tickets but we also put the base down to set up some comfort at least. By the time I decided to go away for almost 2 years to Africa, I had a couple of places I could rent out so I didn't dip into my savings much. You can have both, you just have to be smart about it. Though admittedly getting on the property ladder is much harder in the UK today, having said that the flats we bought then people were turning their noses up at and now the same people - my peers - can't afford them
Author Million.to.1 Posted June 2, 2014 Author Posted June 2, 2014 It's not an either/or. I worked hard in my 20s to buy properties with my then husband. We had amazing holidays as I worked in travel and had free or very cheap tickets but we also put the base down to set up some comfort at least. By the time I decided to go away for almost 2 years to Africa, I had a couple of places I could rent out so I didn't dip into my savings much. You can have both, you just have to be smart about it. Though admittedly getting on the property ladder is much harder in the UK today, having said that the flats we bought then people were turning their noses up at and now the same people - my peers - can't afford them Nice one. It's now practically impossible to get property where I live. I'd need half a million for a hole in the ground covered with a sheet of tarpaulin. We live in a family (estate) home we rent. Pretty lucky in that department. All the benefits of owning, without, actually... owning.
Emilia Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 Nice one. It's now practically impossible to get property where I live. I'd need half a million for a hole in the ground covered with a sheet of tarpaulin. We live in a family (estate) home we rent. Pretty lucky in that department. All the benefits of owning, without, actually... owning. I couldn't buy them today. Though there are other up and coming areas that people aren't thinking of.
Els Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 Even if I loved my job (and I kind of do), I wouldn't want to spend the entirety of my life working. I'd want to be able to have time for a variety of interests, my relationship, friends, personal time, just relaxing and smelling the coffee. I don't covet much in terms of money and possessions - I do need security but not lavish wealth. So I aim for a balanced lifestyle, which definitely rules out 60-hour weeks. Everyone will decide differently, I think. It also depends on the safety net in which you can fall back upon. In some countries (yours and mine), you will be taken care of if a severe and chronic illness or disability unexpectedly befalls you. In undeveloped countries you will die if that happens to you and you don't have significant savings (or family willing to bail you out with their savings). So that affects how much of a security blanket you need. 1
ASG Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 I love what I do. But if I won the lottery I wouldn't work ever again. Despite loving what I do, I love my free time even more. The job I am doing at the moment pays really well, but I only work a few days a month. It's more than enough for my needs. If they were to ask me to work 5 days a week, every week, I might do it for a month or two, to build a nice nest egg, but then I'd have to recuse myself. I would be too tired to enjoy all my earnings. 1
Els Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 The job I am doing at the moment pays really well, but I only work a few days a month. It's more than enough for my needs. Sounds swell. What do you do? (If you don't mind me asking. )
Eternal Sunshine Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 It depends on so many factors. I love my job. I don't want kids. To me, working vs taking a kid to a ball game (zzzz) is a no brainer. I work.
acrosstheuniverse Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 Even if I loved my job (and I kind of do), I wouldn't want to spend the entirety of my life working. I'd want to be able to have time for a variety of interests, my relationship, friends, personal time, just relaxing and smelling the coffee. I don't covet much in terms of money and possessions - I do need security but not lavish wealth. So I aim for a balanced lifestyle, which definitely rules out 60-hour weeks. I'm not sure, I thought that weeks that long would rule out the other stuff, but they really didn't in the end. On a 70hr/week schedule I was usually doing 14-15 hour shifts three or four weekdays and then eight hours per day for the other weekdays, sometimes a little less. It was a seven day schedule so I had to basically accept I would be at work every day in one capacity or another, but then again my work was spread out across my MA placement, and part time pizza delivery work... so really, one was stressful and enjoyable (placement) one was easy money and enjoyable (I loved driving around listening to music all night). I have found that it's SOOO much easier putting in those hours with two jobs rather than at just one, just that break of going from one job to another shift half an hour later at the second job was enough to feel as though it wasn't all work. I usually got both weekend nights free, one or two weekday nights, a little lie in both weekend days. So I still did plenty of socialising and building a relationship... admittedly, there wasn't much time to just be alone doing nothing. In fact that didn't happen for months on end. And I ended up exhausted and getting sick every couple of weeks. Now I do 60hrs rather than 70-80 and it's so much easier, I feel like I'm slacking. I guess it's all perspective haha! Funnily enough because the MA was unpaid I was working these ridiculous hours and still earning only just enough to live, if working that hard and for those many hours was also amassing me some cash, I'd have powered on even harder.
iiiii Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 I love my job, but if I won the lottery I'd do it 3 days a week, and stay home the rest of the time. I'm hoping to at least scale back to 4 days a week in the next few years, despite my mediocre salary. Few of us are going to look back on our lives when we are old and wish we spent more time at work. We'll wish we spent more time with our kids, partner, parents, travelling, working on our hobbies and our creative projects. On a related note, I'm also appalled that you poor Americans apparently only get 1 week of holiday annually - I just learned that a few weeks ago. Is it true? How do you guys live like that? 2
Els Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 I'm not sure, I thought that weeks that long would rule out the other stuff, but they really didn't in the end. ... Now I do 60hrs rather than 70-80 and it's so much easier, I feel like I'm slacking. I guess it's all perspective haha! Funnily enough because the MA was unpaid I was working these ridiculous hours and still earning only just enough to live, if working that hard and for those many hours was also amassing me some cash, I'd have powered on even harder. All a matter of personal perspective, I guess. I mean, I've seen my SO do 60-80 hour weeks. He does still have interests and friends outside work (and a relationship, obviously) and is fairly happy because he's working towards his dream career, but I've also seen him sacrifice a lot for it. There were things that he used to enjoy that he can't do any longer, because some things realistically had to go to make time for the additional working hours. I suppose it's possible to get used to it, especially if you've been doing it for a long time (and if you're happy then that's all that matters), but I know I wouldn't be happy doing that.
DKT3 Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 I love my job, but if I won the lottery I'd do it 3 days a week, and stay home the rest of the time. I'm hoping to at least scale back to 4 days a week in the next few years, despite my mediocre salary. Few of us are going to look back on our lives when we are old and wish we spent more time at work. We'll wish we spent more time with our kids, partner, parents, travelling, working on our hobbies and our creative projects. On a related note, I'm also appalled that you poor Americans apparently only get 1 week of holiday annually - I just learned that a few weeks ago. Is it true? How do you guys live like that? Yeah I spent some time working in France and it seems like a lot of down time. I have six weeks off a year, until a few years ago I would have four left and got paid for it. Not any more, I use every hour now.
acrosstheuniverse Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 All a matter of personal perspective, I guess. I mean, I've seen my SO do 60-80 hour weeks. He does still have interests and friends outside work (and a relationship, obviously) and is fairly happy because he's working towards his dream career, but I've also seen him sacrifice a lot for it. There were things that he used to enjoy that he can't do any longer, because some things realistically had to go to make time for the additional working hours. I suppose it's possible to get used to it, especially if you've been doing it for a long time (and if you're happy then that's all that matters), but I know I wouldn't be happy doing that. Ah I couldn't do it longterm either. Two years, for my MA, and then I'm done and into a regular career with 40 hour weeks and maybe four volunteering. It's genuinely going to be crazy working so little and earning more than I've ever earned before... I'll be able to do so many things I've not had time for for ages! Stupid stuff like meetup groups in my area, free lectures at the uni, book clubs, weekends away, festivals. All things that for the past two years I've forgone because I'm at work most of the time. 1
carhill Posted June 2, 2014 Posted June 2, 2014 As a young man with all the time in the world, or so I believed, money. As an older man going to funerals and facing mortality, time! My 'simplify' goal, post-divorce, is live life, enjoy the simple things, work to live and die broke. I've watched the vultures circling enough estates to definitely want to die broke. 3
ASG Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 Sounds swell. What do you do? (If you don't mind me asking. ) I'm a sound engineer. Recently got a regular corporate gig. Those always pay a pretty good day rate, since they're casual. Just finished working 3 days this weekend, now have the rest of the week off, until Saturday, when I'm working. Right now, I could do with a few more days of work a month. Trying to stabilise my finances after being unemployed for a few months. But I do enjoy my free time! Some people get bored at home doing nothing, but I don't. There are so many TV shows to watch, games to play and books to read, I can entertain myself for weeks! (well... I would leave the house occasionally to socialise!) Debating taking the whole of September off. Will mean I won't earn any money, but have a couple of holidays planned that month, so I wouldn't be available most weekends anyway (which is when my job takes place), so might as well. Being a freelancer has good and bad points: Good one is you can take time off whenever you feel like it and as much as you want... The bad is that you won't make any money during that time and will have to dip into your savings, specially if work doesn't pick up straight after... 2
Under The Radar Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 Time: it's the most priceless commodity we have as human beings. I can always make more money ...... I cannot get back time. 4
thefooloftheyear Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 Ive made more money than I probably deserve, but now, time is flying like an F-16...Days become years in the blink of an eye... I long for the days now, when I was a little kid and waited forever for Christmas to come, or watched the clock in the classroom as it seemed to be going in reverse.. Because I am so busy all the time with business matters, I never seem to get a free moment where I am doing absolutely nothing... I have this running joke when it pertains to this topic...If you really hate how time is flying by, its simple. Get yourself thrown in jail...No better way to slow down time than sitting in a jail cell.. TFY
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