Discussion: Job decisions: Happiness or Money?

[Agreeable Slick]

No decision to make, it was actually a convo with a friend. He lives in the big smoke, highly paid, but has to commute across london. Makes him grumpy and costs muchos money.

I live in the north, can get to work in 20mins, either walk, cycle, tram etc. Get paid less, but am happy.

Interested to see peoples responses to the question though.

[Jay]

In response to the questions:

1) Happy enough to not consider looking else where.
2) My salary is rising, but with a larger home now and another kiddie, I have yet to see if my raise is enough as all three have happened in the last 2 months.
3) f**k more commuting, up to 50mins to do 18 miles is plain ridiculous in the morning, I can do the return trip home in 20mins or under most days. Family time is more important.

[Toby]

I'm not happy where I am, and having spent £5000 on courses to change my career doing what I'm doing now, but on a larger scale and offshore because of the money I will earn, but that had been making me very depressed the last few months!!

But it's February and all of the offshore companies are hiring, but I can't start till I'm back off of holiday, just scared to apply ATM!

Out of all my friends at 22' I'm the highest paid and have our house etc no debt, nice holidays etc! There all at home with mummy!

But the money I'm on isn't helping when I'm doing 100-300 miles each day when I'm a plumber! Not a driver!!

Life..........

[Guy]

No decision to make, it was actually a convo with a friend. He lives in the big smoke, highly paid, but has to commute across london. Makes him grumpy and costs muchos money.

I live in the north, can get to work in 20mins, either walk, cycle, tram etc. Get paid less, but am happy.

Interested to see peoples responses to the question though.

london always has a weighting which puts salarys up... so take that into account

key is to find something that you enjoy.. preferably in an industry that you have an interest in

[Wayne]

Happiness

Been in the same job for 14 years in July and whilst I have considered looking for a new job I am happy with the job and wage at the moment.

Also living 1.1 miles from work is a bonus.

[Len]

If you were really happy in your job you wouldnt be looking.
However if you knew you could get paid more by going elsewhere would that not niggle at you?
Realise you are under selling yourself?
So would you still be happy?

I have moved for money and made a mistake. I have also moved for money and found the job I loved most in my life and was my longest employment (4.5 years)
So have seen both sides.

[Steve_PD]

Ill be happy once I get out on site and working (bored of inductions and training now..)
Ill be even more happier once I get paid!
Plus the sun is nice although it was 42c the other day and that wasn't nice... 

[Kerrse]

I think happiness is very important but earning crap money wouldn't bring my happiness either so i like a happy medium.

I don't dread going to work but i happy when the weekend arrives 

[kittie]

Happiness definitely. You spend too much of your life at work to not enjoy it if you possibly can.

I can't see anything that would make me leave my current position (internal promotion aside) other than winning the lottery and not needing to work at all!

[stealthwolf]

Happiness over money.

I have a mate who locums. He makes in a week what I make in a month. But he doesn't get to spend time with his family and works away at weekends.

I work essentially four days a week, have less stress, feel happier, fitter, and my insomnia has settled.