Whats more important, money or work life balance?

[Jimmy]

How are you buddy, glad to see you again. Hope all is going well with the family, how's the boat running

Haha yeah do well.
2 Kids now, first ones at school this year.
Boats sitting in the shed not getting much use.
Between reno's on the house and family the toys have taken a back seat.

Rewiring the chevelle this week, gauges and harness have been in the mail for about 6 weeks, they're sitting in customes in Melbourne.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

I had similar thoughts in my head when a coworker passed away way too young. What's hard is that none of us know when it's going to be our turn, if I know that I'm going to die in the next 5-10 years then I would choose to spend as much time with my family as possible. However, I'm planning on living for at least another 50 years (I'm still south of 30, for another 2 months) so I know that I'll have to make some sacrifices to set my family up with the lifestyle that I want to deliver to them.

 

[cofooter]

 

[gqchris]

I struggle with this like most everyone here.

Its easy to say "spend time with your loved ones" , when you have money and your bills are paid. Lets face it. When you are hustling to keep the lights on, none of that matters. You do what you have to.

Its noticing those moments when you may be in hyper work mode more than you need to be, that's where you can have self reflection and tell yourself "Calm the fuck down, this can wait".

Its a daily battle.

 

[YeahYeah01]

I struggle with this like most everyone here.

Its easy to say "spend time with your loved ones" , when you have money and your bills are paid. Lets face it. When you are hustling to keep the lights on, none of that matters. You do what you have to.

Its noticing those moments when you may be in hyper work mode more than you need to be, that's where you can have self reflection and tell yourself "Calm the fuck down, this can wait".

Its a daily battle.

Yup. To me there a difference depending on pay range. If your pay check to pay check making 40k a year and you get a chance to make 80k a year that might be a reason to screw up a work life balance. If you are comfortable a pay rate range, say 100k and someone offers 140k but you have to work way more and lose the balance then I don't see the point.

 

[Tooms22]

I have no kids and enjoy the DINK lifestyle. We like expensive things and I sure as hell don’t come from money, so I have to make it. I’ll continue to do this until we are comfortable and then retire early. My brain won’t always be this sharp and my body will eventually break down. Even at a desk job. I chose to get it while the getting is good and over insure myself should something catastrophic happen.

Yup, same here. Waiting on a license plate to get approved

I'm almost always available via phone, email, text, slack or whatever. Make the money now while I have the energy.

Young enough to put in the time and hope to slowly start throttling back 45-50. And then, if we've done it right, 55+ will be less hours and really just working to keep the brain exercised and cover the bills.

But I might end up pushing hard with work until 65-70. Who knows.

With kids, I'd view it much differently. That would take constant reassessment of my situation. I don't think you can ever make work/life decisions and just stick with them for a long time when you have kids. Needs change and you have to try and change with them.

 

[lbhsbz]

Yup. To me there a difference depending on pay range. If your pay check to pay check making 40k a year and you get a chance to make 80k a year that might be a reason to screw up a work life balance. If you are comfortable a pay rate range, say 100k and someone offers 140k but you have to work way more and lose the balance then I don't see the point.

Yore numbers are skewed.

Between my mortgage and property taxes…(not including utilities), I’m at about $32K/year. Utilities, another $5K/year…that’s $37K right there. Add insurance (medical is $15K/year, auto another $7K, homeowners 1K)…that’s $60K/year right there. Have a car payment? Want to eat? Gas? Kid stuff? The wife puts $3-4K/ month on the card every month. Call that $36K/year. We’re at $100K real quick and I haven’t even went out to lunch yet.

I’d say unless someone bought you all your shit, or you bought it all years ago…family time kinda had to take a back seat until you’re clearing $130+ after taxes (if you live in CA).

Honestly, I see these guys with new 80K trucks, $100K toy haulers, wake boats, sand cars, dirt bikes…it doesn’t look like they have time to rob banks, and they’re clearly not doctors or lawyers…I don’t know how they do it. I wouldn’t feel comfortable starting down that road without pulling in 250K + in todays financial environment.

Maybe they’re smarter than me (probably), maybe they like living on the edge…dunno. Anyone who’s met me knows I don’t live large by any means…hell, I buy my cloths at that used work clothes place (dickies jeans for $7 btw)…

What am I missing?

 

[YeahYeah01]

Yore numbers are skewed.

Between my mortgage and property taxes…(not including utilities), I’m at about $32K/year. Utilities, another $5K/year…that’s $37K right there. Add insurance (medical is $15K/year, auto another $7K, homeowners 1K)…that’s $60K/year right there. Have a car payment? Want to eat? Gas? Kid stuff? The wife puts $3-4K/ month on the card every month. Call that $36K/year. We’re at $100K real quick and I haven’t even went out to lunch yet.

I’d say unless someone bought you all your shit, or you bought it all years ago…family time kinda had to take a back seat until you’re clearing $130+ after taxes (if you live in CA).

Honestly, I see these guys with new 80K trucks, $100K toy haulers, wake boats, sand cars, dirt bikes…it doesn’t look like they have time to rob banks, and they’re clearly not doctors or lawyers…I don’t know how they do it. I wouldn’t feel comfortable starting down that road without pulling in 250K + in todays financial environment.

For sure! but the numbers are just place holders for the what I was saying. To me it comes down to your personal situation and what will really make a difference in your life. And you are the one that knows your own situation.

 

[sirbob]

I don’t think there’s any such thing as worklife balance. People do what they are motivated to do by intrinsic motivation.

A workaholic that works his whole life late at night and on weekends is doing so for some reason intrinsically. It could be money, fear of failure, trying to live up to expectations that were set by parents, who knows what?

But I really do believe that people are motivated to work just as hard as they do simply tied to what they want.

I’ve always felt that my work was only to support my pleasure.

Sure some will tell me that they are in eternal happiness, and bless with their work and fulfilled by it. And while I absolutely was fulfilled by my work, the work didn’t motivate me, the pay to do what I wanted to do after work motivated me. And when I got enough money to not have to work as much as I did when I was younger, I stopped working as much as I did when I was younger.