Quote:
Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce
Your example doesn't sound like the most typical scenario, at least in my experience.
I find the trade off is generally between working 50 hours a week in a demanding, high stress career that pays you well, versus working less hours in a less demanding environment for less pay.
It boils down to where you get greatest satisfaction from your life, career or outside career - and the tradeoff between the benefits that more money provides versus more opportunity to enjoy it.
Few of us have the opportunity for less working hours and more pay.
I prefer to think of it as career purchasing freedom. As I get later in my working career, I choose opportunities that provide me the greatest freedom regarding when/where/how I work, understanding that the tradeoff for that freedom is likely less financial freedom.
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This is it for me. When I was younger and had no kids I was willing to work more to earn more (gaining experience didn't hurt). However, I knew it wouldn't be sustainable so I decided to stay in it as long as I could before "getting out" and putting some of my priorities elsewhere. Having kids certainly played a role in that.
Lower salary aside, I'm much happier now, and if I had to do it all over again I probably wouldn't change a thing.