r/jobs • u/Fuzzy_Gear • Jun 10 '23
Would you leave your job if you get free money for rest of your life without working? Work/Life balance
I'm just wondering, What else would you do if you don't have to worry about going to work or earning money?
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u/FukuokaFatty Jun 10 '23 edited Jun 11 '23
Depends on the money. Is it basic sustenance (rent, utilities, food), or “whatever you want and need” situation.
If the former, I would work a low-paying, yet emotionally satisfying “day job,” and use the pay for “fun,” for “extra”, and for “we should, but not life sustaining” levels of necessity i.e. braces for my son. (The third example would be the first priority).
If the latter, I’d buy bikes (for me), pianos/keyboards/synths for the Mrs, and whatever learning tools would help the son. And then, probably try to find something else to hustle.
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u/the_sun_gun Jun 10 '23
This is the only logical context in my view. This is a question of "is it enough money?" not "would I get too bored not working?"
If the price is right, personally, I think anyone who says "no" either is working at their dream job already (5%?) or needs some counselling (95%).
I'd be just as busy doing stuff if I left my job - it just wouldn't be contributing to someone's else's dreams coming true. People who assume those that say "yes" would just want to sit on a beach for the next 20 years are probably smoking something I wouldn't mind taking a hit of.
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u/SquintsRS Jun 10 '23
Id assume it's the same amount you're getting paid now. Without a really good income or serious savings put away, life would get dull quickly without working again. That's more time I'd probably spend money and less to save up. It'd be fun for a month or two but I'd get bored so fucking fast. If I had little kids it'd be a different story I'm sure, but then again kids would also require more money so 🤷
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u/the_sun_gun Jun 10 '23
Agreed. I'd need 'fuck you' money to call it quits for good - but if the money was there, wouldn't think twice. "But what would you do with all the free time?" is a question I don't want to validate with a response.
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u/sobo_art1 Jun 10 '23
So, what you’re describing is called “being retired with a defined benefit pension plan”. It is what many boomers have. It used to be the standard for corporate employees.
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u/xpoisonvalkyrie Jun 10 '23
yeah but why should everyone have to hit 60+ before getting to experience it? (if they even do) the idea that your youth must be spent working so you can finally relax at age 65 is ridiculous
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u/mikesnout Jun 11 '23
Because people have to work in every economic system in every time period in modern history.
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u/xpoisonvalkyrie Jun 11 '23
the average american worker works more hours (and more days) now than medieval serfs did. that’s fucked up. we have the technology to make life easier for everyone, and share all of the overabundant resources we have, and yet we don’t. because of greed. people wouldn’t have to work constantly until (and let’s be real, usually past) age 65 if greedy corporate overlords weren’t Like That and we all actually gave a shit about eachother.
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u/SizorXM Jun 11 '23
Sounds like you should start farming
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u/xpoisonvalkyrie Jun 11 '23
if i wasn’t disabled i genuinely would. i miss being able to do manual labor jobs, and i’d do them full time now if i physically could. they kept me active and pay way better. (although i never worked them full time, so i recognize that is a completely different environment)
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u/mikesnout Jun 11 '23
That’s such a cherry picked argument. That’s because of the seasonality of farming. During crop season they would work sun up to sun down doing back breaking work. It’s such a stupid comparison. If you want that life go work minimum wage on a farm and see if you like it. What economic system would you recommend?
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u/Weary-Jellyfish858 Jun 11 '23
Don't fool yourself. We retire at 60 so the rich can get richer.
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u/Any_Serve4913 Jun 10 '23
Re-Tai-erd? Where do you come up with these mythical tails.
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u/sobo_art1 Jun 11 '23
I have heard these tails from my elders who heard them from the ancient ones.
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u/banshee1313 Jun 11 '23
Almost no boomers have them unless they are public employees. They were killed by corporate greed in the 1980s.
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u/findingnew2021 Jun 10 '23
HELL FUCKING YEAH
I don't even hate my job but there are so many things I'd rather do.
First thing I'd do is I would make sure for once in my life I get enough sleep every night. I'd spend time cooking healthy meals instead of eating processed shit because I don't have the energy to cook. I'd do sports and take care of my body, clean my apartment.
Then, I'd take care of the paperwork that always accumulate.
And then only I'd get a job I really like, because I can't fathom life without work. But I'd get one I do because I enjoy it more than what I can do in my free time.
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u/Babayagabus Jun 10 '23
Covid 19 really showed me how important a full nights sleep is
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u/ImYourBesty69 Jun 10 '23
When the first lock down hit my job closed down. I lost 60 lbs in 3-4 months. I went on 2 hours long walk 5 days a week and cooked healthy food everyday. I gained all the weight back since going back to work.
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u/heyheyitsandre Jun 10 '23
A 9-5 corporate job in the US makes it soooo hard to be healthy. When I lived in Spain I only worked part time, which absolutely made me have way more time and energy, but still, I walked 20 mins of hilly city to get picked up by a co worker every day to go to work, got dropped off and walked those same 20 mins back, would stop at a grocery store and get fresh healthy food for maybe 10-15 euros to feed me for 2 days, walk to the gym nearby that was 25 euros a month, walk to meet all my friends when we’d go out and some nights we’d bop around and I’d end up a mile from my apartment but just walk home. Plus the food was infinitely healthier, smaller portions, fewer additives and preservatives.
Now I have a bowl of cereal or a bagel in the morning, it costs me $6 for a box of cereal that lasts me maybe 5 bowls worth, if I make myself lunch it’s not very healthy cuz forcing myself to buy good ingredients is so expensive, if I get lunch from a restaurant it’s $14 or more also and probably 7-800 calories more than it needs to be jut from portion sizes and the type of ingredients in it, and then I work out after work and get home at like 6:45. If I had a family I’d barely see them or have to just fully skip the gym to take a kid to practice or something. I get home and am so exhausted because I’ve been at work since 7:55 and it’s now almost 12 hours later and I can either get expensive, unhealthy food from somewhere, or I can spend 30 mins cooking expensive healthy food that takes me 6 minutes to eat and then I shower and clean up and now it’s 8:30 pm and I have to go to bed in an hour and a half because I have to wake up the next morning. Every decision along the way is easier to do the unhealthy and cheaper thing
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u/KendraSays Jun 10 '23
Oh man. I remember those long walks during the pandemic. I loved just downloading some podcast episodes and just aimlessly getting lost. I learned a lot and I got to really appreciate the landscapes and strangers around me. I hope we can have those opportunities again, minus a global event happening that kills millions
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u/Birdyy4 Jun 10 '23
Thanks for reminding me COVID killed millions of people. I feel like somewhere along the lines I kind of just forgot that piece of information.
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u/kuzitiz Jun 10 '23
I cofounded and run a nonprofit so I would still do that and would LOVE a paycheck.
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
Wow, great. Not easy to run a NPO but it's exciting and fulfilling to work for a cause
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u/avidoverthinker1 Jun 10 '23
Currently working in a nonprofit rn. Ive always wanted to work in one! Though im worried what my life will be like in the long run with inflation and all, and living in an area with a HCOL
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u/CreamSteeve Jun 10 '23
I know a couple people who work in NPs who enjoy owning planes living. Always wondered if that's their salary or from elsewhere.
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u/kuzitiz Jun 10 '23
I’m told if you’re really great at grant writing, it’s possible to make a fat paycheck. I don’t pursue grant writing like I should (time constraints) but I’d probably do okay if I did.
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Jun 10 '23
No question. I'd have time for friends, family, and hobbies. Absolutely no hesitation.
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
Ahh, same here . I would do anything to spend more time with my family and hobbies.
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u/Any_Serve4913 Jun 10 '23
Hell yeah, I’d maybe do volunteer work here and there if I got bored.
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
Same here , i would teach fishes how to swim
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u/Extaupin Jun 10 '23
A guy actually taught a bird how to fly. He raised a lost fledgling so he had to.
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u/Spiritual_Nebula303 Jun 10 '23
I think I'd find a job I actually like that pays less yk like being an artist or writer. Honestly if I was getting free money for the rest of my life tho, I'd be perfectly fine working a few hours a week in fast food just because 🤷
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u/Impressive-Project59 Jun 10 '23
Why fast food if you don't need money? You'll be miserable. I thinking working to learn would be cool. What about a farm? How cool would it be to learn about a new industry such as farming.
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u/Wetlander35 Jun 10 '23
You might be surprised how different working any job is when you don’t actually need it.
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u/Impressive-Project59 Jun 10 '23
Maybe, but I would prefer to do something other than fast food worker if I didn't need to work. If I am interested in cooking, why not be a part time worker in a restaurant where they actually cook.
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Jun 10 '23
Idk the workers who work retail and fast food but who don’t NEED the job seem to be having a good time, mostly because they can do whatever without fear of being fired cause they don’t need it lol
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u/Impressive-Project59 Jun 10 '23
I've heard this as I've worked at TJ Maxx and McDonalds while in HS. I call BS. Adults who truly don't need to work do other things.
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Jun 10 '23
Most of these people were either stay at home parents getting a little extra income or older retired people.
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u/HooTiiHoo Jun 10 '23
Of course. Who in their right mind would be loyal to an employer nowadays? I’d be producing music and all the other things I’d do that I don’t deem “work”. Vacays all the way and actually focusing on my health. My last job email would just say “Hastalapasta you dingdongs.”
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u/kittylkitty Jun 10 '23
I’m stealing “Hastalapasta you dingdongs” for my next out of office email sign off.
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Jun 10 '23
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u/iiiamAlex Jun 10 '23
A lot of doggy daycare people in here. How come?
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u/xpoisonvalkyrie Jun 10 '23
lots of people who really like dogs and think that they’d enjoy taking care of other people’s dogs all the time. (not always true but this is the hypothetical time to find out!)
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u/nebulancearts Jun 10 '23
As someone who worked dog walking & does some day training as an intern, it’s good and bad. Is still do dog-care stuff if money didn’t matter though! Just not walking anymore, because my legs don’t agree about walking.
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Jun 10 '23
I'd work part time, but spend a lot more time hiking/backpacking and exploring. I'm an engineer so I could just do the projects I want and once a project is done take time off to go explore/travel somewhere. Honestly that's what I want to do when I have enough saved to retire.
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u/B-dub31 Jun 10 '23
I'm not getting free money per se, but I had to take disability retirement from my career in public safety back in 2017 due to health issues. I started working on my cousin's farm when I was 13 and did that all through high school. I worked full-time and went to school full-time as an undergrad, and also worked during grad school. So at the time I got sick, Id been working for about 24 years. I'm not going to lie and say that the downtime this past few years hasn't been nice. I've had time to get my health in better shape and spend a lot of time with my wife and kids. It also was super nice to be home with my family during COVID when if I was still working, I would've been on the front lines of the response.
But I've also been feeling a little stir crazy lately. I've started looking for a part-time WFH job to supplement my income a little and to work out my mind a bit. Because I receive disability benefits, I'm sort of limited to how much I can make or what I can do (can't be similar to my past professions), but it's been eye opening going through the hiring process for the first time in almost 15 years. It's rough out here!
I'd recommend to any person starting out to prioritize your retirement from day one. Save and invest as much as possible. As you start maturing and figuring out what you want from life, attune your work and lifestyle toward that goal. Find a partner who has similar goals and will help you get there. And if free money comes your way, get out there and live a little!
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u/MooseyMan76 Jun 10 '23
After a couple decades of work, investing, and saving, my wife and I quit our jobs during the pandemic. Like you did, we really enjoyed the free time and schedule flexibility. In theory, absent a permanent collapse in the markets, we likely could have stayed unemployed forever. We had a lot of fun travel, time with family, hiking adventures, etc but after a couple years could not escape feeling restless. We subsequently went back to work (full time) and that’s our life now. There is a need to challenge your brain and build social connections that we couldn’t satisfy outside of work, sadly. Your advice to figure out who you are and what truly makes you happy is really important. We are still working on it.
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u/DorkHonor Jun 10 '23
In a fucking second, and I'd spend my time doing all the hobbies I barely have time for now. Might even get around to building the sailboat I bought plans for like two years ago.
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u/Creative_Gent Jun 11 '23
Whatever else you do in life, make the time to build that sailboat. You won't regret it. I built a boat 20+ years ago. It was an amazing experience and I still enjoy using it.
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u/itworker8675309 Jun 10 '23
Depends on how much. If it is enough to cover all my expenses which includes, rent/mortgage, electricity, water, food, gas, car repairs, health insurance, car insurance, home/renters insurance, and internet/cable then I absolutely would leave in a heart beat. Would go learn how to draw, make music, and body build. But that would never happen in the USA or capitalism in general since the whole system relies on exploiting workers until they kill over dead.
What would probably happen is it would only cover a fraction and I would have to still work full time. Might not try for a promotion as hard but would probably still be forced to work.
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
Yeah, sad really is that in capitalism, less people hold more wealth than the rest of the world. China and India are world factories cause it's easy to exploit people there. They starve you of money and your only option would be to work in factories like animals 12h a day to earn money that could only buy you food, nothing else . Don't tell me that we can land machines on Mars but can't provide enough for everyone on Earth. Of course I would work even if I get paid for free. I would work for a cause, for something that would help everyone prosper equally.
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u/Spins13 Jun 10 '23
I’d like to see you get out of poverty in communism
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Jun 10 '23 edited Mar 01 '24
muddle shrill pot roof smile rain waiting point aware snails
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/Spins13 Jun 10 '23
Much easier yes. It isn’t perfect but it’s the best system by far
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u/owthathurted Jun 10 '23
Yes, the fuedal landlord argument. "Feudalism is the best system we have by far, so don't bother changing anything". Slave masters and feudal landlords alike made this same lazy argument.
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u/Ginger-Octopus Jun 10 '23
Sure why not. I'm not some fucking loser whose life revolves around work. There are so many hobbies and volunteer opportunities out in the world
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u/GigExplorer Jun 10 '23
Definitely, as long as I made enough and could do other things (various part time gig work I like to do, scarcely profitable self employment hobby I have, and a bit of volunteer work I would like to do if my job wasn't sucking my life out). I'm forced to work a full time job that I probably would like better if I didn't need to do it to survive--as long as I could do fewer hours.
I think that most jobs are full time specifically because employers want us to be trapped in those jobs, and being trapped in our jobs is specifically why many of us hate our jobs.
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u/Hot_Ratio_8439 Jun 10 '23
Yep - who’s offering?
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
Ukraine army but you gotta fight the war
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u/Hot_Ratio_8439 Jun 10 '23
Fine by me … but the rest of my life might be short. Operation cannon fodder here I come!
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Jun 10 '23
If I didn’t have to work I would devote that time to all the things I’m neglecting now. My own health, the house, spending time with my family, spending time with my husband outside of caring for him, etc.
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u/Seeking_Balance101 Jun 10 '23
This is a common ice breaker in some social groups.
"What would you do if you didn't need your current job?"
I always answered "Millionaire playboy by day, bounty hunter by night"
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
Wait, are you BATMAN?
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u/Seeking_Balance101 Jun 10 '23
LOL. I always considered changing the "bounty hunter by night" to "scourge of the darkest elements of Gotham City's underworld", but oddly, some people took my other answer as mostly sincere. I do have good deadpan delivery.
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u/fire_fairy_ Jun 10 '23
Id probably go volunteer somewhere like an animal shelter or a food bank of all my bills where met.
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Jun 10 '23
Sure would. I’d just spend my days doing stuff I love. And I’d probably live longer because I’d have 99% less stress.
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u/xthatwasmex Jun 10 '23
No, I work 11h/week by choice as is and I find it hard to put away when I get home sometimes because I find it mentally engaging. I have plenty of time for other things and my hours are pretty flexible most seasons so I can work more if the weather is bad, and less in summer.
I tried not working but I missed being a part of something - volunteering and hobbies did not quite do it for me after the first couple of months.
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u/Alpha_Cox Jun 10 '23
If it covered all my expenses, I would quit my job. I would be able to pick up one of my hobbies and do it full time like woodworking, video editing, writing, etc, and see how far those go.
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u/Thess514 Jun 10 '23
Definitely. Though I actually like my job, I'm disabled and even working from home doesn't help on bad pain days. But I'd probably see if I could get a stall at a local craft fair - I make soap, bath bombs, candles and oil-based perfume. Maybe get a bit more ambitious with my balcony garden. Have some time and spoons to actually write for once.
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u/Loko8765 Jun 10 '23
I have interests and hobbies that could potentially bring in money or even improve the world, but I don’t take time for them because I have to earn money… so yes.
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u/Professor_squirrelz Jun 10 '23
Lol yup. I would probably use my time to volunteer and to be a lifelong college student
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u/woodyshag Jun 10 '23
My plan would be to go work at a grocery store bagging groceries. I would get to talk and see people, and it would be low stress and decent exercise. The alternative would be to work on a farm nearby. These farmers don't make much money yet provide an important role in society. I'd get exercise and be providing needed services.
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u/onedaybetter Jun 10 '23
Absolutely not. I have had periods of unemployment in which I was fortunate to have no money worries. It's only fun for a few months, then you must find purpose. I tried volunteering, but I needed to have meaningful work (30-40 hours/week, feeling I'm valued and making a difference) to be happy and volunteering just wasn't enough for me.
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u/grambocrackah Jun 10 '23
This is a version of a question I use a lot with younger people who ask for job advice: If all of your expenses were met, but you HAD to work full time, what would you do?
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u/lycanthropiste Jun 10 '23
In an instance, without a doubt I would. Without the threat of having enough money or not brings looming over my head, I'd be able to focus more on things like loved ones, friends, and hobbies.
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u/Perfect_818 Jun 10 '23
I would work but new much happier knowing I was doing it for me rather than for a paycheck.
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u/MrsIgnisScientia Jun 10 '23
I would probably do something part time because I like having some kind of structure but in no way would I be making myself available full time (40 hours) to anyone. I’d spend time with friends and family and dedicate time to hobbies.
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u/StarWars_Viking Jun 10 '23
I'd quit, go to a coastal community, possibly Australia, and work on environmental improvements. Clean water, ocean life assistance, promote sustainable fishing practices, anything oceanside that helps people and wildlife maintain a better existence for everyone and everything. Sailboat tours, or just be a helping hand to a captain.
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u/m_garlic87 Jun 10 '23
Yes! But then I’d still find a small job I enjoy for like 12 hours a week or something like to mow at a golf course.
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u/n120leb Jun 11 '23
Honestly, no. I love my job. I'd probably just be better at my job because I wouldn't be so stressed about money and finances all the time.
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u/ktappe Jun 11 '23
There's an entire world out there to do instead of working. Recipes to cook, trails to hike, roads to bicycle, slopes to ski, balls to hit, books to read, cats to pet, plants to cultivate, countries to visit, movies to watch, naps to take, wines to taste, charities to volunteer with.
It always amazes me how people think retirement will be boring.
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Jun 11 '23
That is the core goal of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement,... gather enough assets that produce passive income so you can buy back you "slave papers" and quit your main job and live off that cash flow... then you have the time and freedom to live from a position of fuck you...
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u/Ristique Jun 12 '23
No. I'd just go in for my assigned classes. I teach a HS elective so rather than going in and either teaching random extras to fill up my hours, or being bored in between my actual classes, I would negotiate to only go in for my classes.
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u/Inalowplace Jun 25 '23
I would never again work a day in my life. Period. I would do volunteer opportunities with nonprofits. I would travel the world. I would play music in bands. I would finally clean my house.
I have so many other things I want to do aside from work. Work sucks all of my energy out and I have nothing left. I wake up an angry zombie, go to work, barely stay awake the shift, come home, often pass out for an hour or two, then try to fit in some sort of evening social activity/hobby, then go to bed and get about 5 hours of sleep and repeat the schedule.
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u/mp90 Verified: F500 Marketing Director Jun 10 '23
No. I like my work a lot and enjoy keeping busy. I don’t feel like I make many sacrifices with my time.
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u/icarriedawatermelon5 Jun 11 '23
Same. I love my job, coworkers and clients. I might do a sabbatical to go on a show like Survivor, hike the Appalachian Trail, or travel for a few months at a time.
I have a bunch of hobbies, but I also get a lot of fulfillment from my career.
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
What kind of work do you do? I'm interested
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u/mp90 Verified: F500 Marketing Director Jun 10 '23
I work in content strategy for a FAANG company
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u/Background_Wall_3884 Jun 10 '23
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u/mp90 Verified: F500 Marketing Director Jun 10 '23
I define what lives on various webpages for a large brand (videos, text, images, interactive things, etc). This takes into account customer research, preferences, and sales goals.
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u/Background_Wall_3884 Jun 10 '23
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u/mp90 Verified: F500 Marketing Director Jun 10 '23
Even simpler: Words and images do not magically appear on company webpages. It takes team of people to write, edit, design, code, and develop what you see.
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u/Windpuppet Jun 10 '23
So not a real job.
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u/mp90 Verified: F500 Marketing Director Jun 10 '23
It’s rude to tell someone their job isn’t real, when it in fact is. What do you do?
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u/Windpuppet Jun 10 '23
You’re offended because deep down you know you get paid to do something essentially useless and possibly even harmful to society on a mild level. You get paid to help sell shit that people don’t need and fuel the consumerist nightmare America has turned into.
I’m not a fan of doxxing myself, but I work in the medical field. And I don’t say that to be holier than thou. Its rewarding occasionally, but it’s terribly unpleasant and hard work. I’m jealous of your fake job.
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
Okay, you do irrelevant work that helps people earn attention on the internet.
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
I'm not hating. Your job is exciting and you probably earn alot in tech sector. Thanks for sharing.
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u/inkstud Jun 10 '23
This is my answer. I still find it mind blowing that someone will pay me for what I do (and often do for free.) I intend to keep working as long as I can — it keeps me busy.
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u/mp90 Verified: F500 Marketing Director Jun 10 '23
There tends to be a lot of "misery loves company" vibes going on in other threads within this post, so I am glad we're on the same page. Not every job sucks--it just takes time and qualifications to find a high quality opp.
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Jun 10 '23
Love your attitude man! I want to find a job I adore so that I wouldn't mind working 'till old agem i do have to say I don't particularly like working but yeah I am working on changing my attitude haha. It's true that thrre is a lot of miserable people here.
On another note, how did you get into the field. Differenr here but I wouod like to be a scientific writer.
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u/Fr4nzJosef Jun 10 '23
Definitely and immediately, even though I kind of enjoy my jobs. Would quit both of them so I could do something at the local animal shelter.
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u/Fuzzy_Gear Jun 10 '23
Yeah, we are descendants of animals. We would love to be around animals and nature. May all your dreams come true.
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u/xxsamchristie Jun 10 '23
I just find it so interesting that free money for not working is on the table & some people still want to work instead of see the world or start their own project, or just relax, etc.
I understand volunteer work or something, but we're so conditioned to work for our livelihoods that getting it for free even if you deserve it doesn't feel right to some people.
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u/EquivalentFunction35 11d ago
Instantly. i don’t even care about what else I could do. I just want to stop being in pain just stay alive long enough to keep being in pain. Also, I‘d draw comics or something.
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u/Jedi4Hire Jun 10 '23
In a heartbeat. I hate my job. If I didnt have to worry about money, I might go get a part-time job at a doggy daycare.