i got taken to the heads office today

[jamesb]

If one is happy with ones lot in life then all is greener this side of the fence but I do understand that young people need to move on occasionally as they get bogged down with the lifestyle and money aspect of life instead of life itself.

 

Sorry, can't agree with you there at all. Yes, some young (and older) people do get bogged down with the lifestyle and money aspect of life. Others don't. I know many who will not take a job simply for financial gain (once they are earning enough to be independent), but will happily take a job if it offers them something interesting.

 

I do think that young people today are manipulated by the media and the social aspects of life i.e. glamour and glitz rather than the realities of life and how much more one can get out of life without the trappings of money, I agree money makes the world go round but I feel there is far more out there in the world than just monetary gain.

 

And you're right on the last bit, might be right on the first few as well but I really don't know many people who are completely brainwashed by the media. A lot of people, particularly the young who don't have the responsibilities and dependents that older people might have, work for idealism rather than wealth. Even among those who do want money many will still take an enjoyable job over a painful one which pays more.

 

Every job move I've made has involved increases in salary, but that has not been the principal reason behind them. I have been offered jobs with larger amounts than I am currently earning, but conditions which I would not enjoy.

 

As was drilled into me when I was a child, "The most important thing in life is to be happy, everything else is secondary."

[Hightower]

If one is happy with ones lot in life then all is greener this side of the fence but I do understand that young people need to move on occasionally as they get bogged down with the lifestyle and money aspect of life instead of life itself.

 

I do think that young people today are manipulated by the media and the social aspects of life i.e. glamour and glitz rather than the realities of life and how much more one can get out of life without the trappings of money, I agree money makes the world go round but I feel there is far more out there in the world than just monetary gain.

 

Be happy people don't worry

 

Lifestyles (mainly) improve with income. For instance, when my pops was a miner we ate the parts of the animal that were normally left. Now, he eats pretty good, and has even moved from shopping at Asda to shopping as Sainsbury's (upper class supermarket lol). Likewise, he now runs a 51 plate car instead of having to worry about whether his 20 year old Nissan Blackbird will start on a cold winters morning.

 

I agree that there may be a cut off when more money means nothing (I don't know, I'm not at that point yet) but for the majority of us here, who (I'm assuming) are on 'average' wages money does mean a lot.

 

Do I like my lot? Sure, on the main. Would I jump ship to improve my lot? Sure, why should I hang around watching people improve their lifestyles while mine remains unchanged. I too have aspirations for a bigger house, a bigger car, and a family. If the school can't fulfill those aspirations then it's bye bye Mr Hightower.

 

[ICT_GUY]

I earn half what I did 10 years ago and I am way more than twice as happy.

[Hightower]

I earn half what I did 10 years ago and I am way more than twice as happy.

 

But I'm guessing you have enough to cover the bills and still live the lifestyle you want?

[elsiegee40]

I earn half what I did 10 years ago and I am way more than twice as happy.

 

But I'm guessing you have enough to cover the bills and still live the lifestyle you want?

 

I'm actually on a quarter of what I was 11 years ago when I left the rat race and a hundred times happier, but Hightower is right... our household income covers the bills comfortably... I didn't feel quite so happy when OH was under threat of redundancy a year or so back.

[Hightower]

See, personally, money means nothing to me neither. As long as I have enough to cover the bills for our massive 7 bedroom house, the villa in spain, the Audi R8 Spyder, the Evo VIII, the Mini Cooper Sport, the speedboat, holiday abroad 9 times per year, and pay for the mistress, I'll be happy. Other than those necessities money means nothing to me.

[bossman]

Life for me when i was younger was a series of misplaced aspirations which I feel had been put in my head by people who I looked up to and to quote them "You can be anybody you want to be it just takes gut's and determination" well like Hightower's father and his father before him, they all had gut's and determination but they were probably a lot happier in their time with their lot as most of our fathers were.

 

As each generation comes to the fore it is increasingly difficult for some people to adapt to the ever increasing demands placed upon them and they feel they should be earning more money or have a better lifestyle than others simply because they see other people much like themselves depicted on the greatest brainwashing media device ever to be invented and that is the TV albeit surpassed by the internet now.

 

I do not say that everyone should be happy with their lot but maybe reflective of what they have (all the good stuff in their life) rather than what they want (all the things which people dream about) yes it is good to dream and have aspirations but they have to be achievable in the first place.

[Hightower]

but they have to be achievable in the first place.

 

Everything is possible

[witch]

Those of you who are happy on very little are very lucky. I enjoy my jobs very much but am earning far less than I was when I left work to have children in 1988 (about half!). This isnt an issue, other than my belief that all techs like us are worth more (and at LEAST should be on Dorset's Senior Systems Tech payscale).

Of course job satisfaction is important, and I would never say it wasn't, but you also have to factor in other things: I have three children to help through uni (the loans arent nearly enough), and we also have to start thinking about retirement. Not being teachers, we dont have a nice pension coming our way, and so we are desperately trying to top up our pathetic pension pots now. mrwITch's job is also very insecure ATM which is concentrating the mind a bit.

 

Currently we have enough to cover the bills but at this rate we will have to work until we are at least 70 to get a decent income in retirement. SO...for us, money matters a great deal.

We still wouldnt take mindless jobs for more money though.

[jamesb]

...they feel they should be earning more money or have a better lifestyle than others simply because they see other people much like themselves depicted on the greatest brainwashing media device ever to be invented and that is the TV albeit surpassed by the internet now...

 

Now that I agree with you on. I grew up without television, as did my sister and a few others I know. It seems that those I know who grew up without the ever-present brain-washing idiot box tend to be much happier with what they are doing and how their life is going than those who were exposed to it non-stop.

 

What's sad is that my sister, because of her husband, does now watch a lot of television. My nephew and niece are also exposed to it. I have actually seen her attitudes about what is important changing as time goes by.

[bossman]

I wonder if this is why the bee population of the world is decreasing?

 

Suddenly the worker bees have started to believe they can be queen bees eh! and so have stopped working and ran off to try and create their own hive (maybee hehe!)

[HMCTech]

I once spoke to my head about a pay increase, he said in no uncertain terms it was not possible. I looked for other jobs and when I handed my notice in I got called into his office and he asked me why I was leaving. I said more money and he offered me 1k more than what my new job was offering which would be 3k over what I originally asked for. My response was to ask if I could be released before my notice period. We never spoke again.

[ICT_GUY]

But I'm guessing you have enough to cover the bills and still live the lifestyle you want?

 

I married a teacher, they earn lots more than us, I recommend this as a great way to improve your standard of living.

[ICT_GUY]

I am happy with my lot.

I must admit that I would like not to be overdrawn every month.

 

I have resprayed the civic matt black and serviced and under sealed it it. this has cost me £45. If I had a new car I would be paying £200+ a month for years. This brings a certain amount of smug satisfaction. Even more so when I remember that I bought it 5 years ago for £500 and have never had a major bill for it.

[CAM]

I quite like my current employer but...am I being paid enough? Answer is hard as I am more then getting by but I want to get a place of my own, so I need more money to do that. But so far I'm spending too much on being happy and not enough to adding to the pot to get out and feel like I am living my own life instead of that wanted by my family and everywhere is too expensive to rent or get a mortgage for. But if I save for a new place I get bored as I am not spending much on doing stuff so the circle goes round and round.

[aerospacemango]

I guess I'm lucky..........

 

I love where I work....but that doesn't stop me from looking at different jobs as and when they come up. (Missed out on a new job on friday, after an excellent interview!). My boss is aware of this, and knows that I'm looking for other jobs....and for one reason only....More responsibility!!

 

Money isn't as important as it once was. I'm on HALF what I earned 2 years ago, before the big move to the sticks. However, we are in a fortunate position of covering our bills and still having some cash over, so we're not short. That's what makes us lucky. (Although the OH is perilously close to losing her job with the County Council).

 

My boss tells me all the time that he doesn't want me to leave, but understands that for the good of my career/wage packet, that is what I must do!

 

Yes, i TOO would like more money!!!

 

I

[fawkers]

I sopose it does all come down to how you live your life and what you do on the 'outside'. For me i've been very luck a while back they gave me a rase when the then NM left rather rappidly I didn't get the job but I kept the pay as a 'Thank you'. Now ever since i have cursed them for that as I only live 5 minutes from work and a move to any other post would actualy result in a drop in pay; but then I look at the other things I do both in school and out, An Archery club, DofE and a Scout Leader and in a strange way i'm glad that i'm still here as these things that I get to do make life a lot more intresting than if i spent an aditional hour or two (or even three) commuting every day.

 

I married a teacher, they earn lots more than us, I recommend this as a great way to improve your standard of living.

LOL (i might be forced to agree )

[aerospacemango]

............. I look at the other things I do both in school and out, An Archery club, DofE and a Scout Leader and in a strange way i'm glad that i'm still here as these things that I get to do make life a lot more intresting than if i spent an aditional hour or two (or even three) commuting every day.

 

Myself and 'er indoors are about to take a part share in a horse, which means more and more riding during the evenings and weekends. Off to see my football team play Ipswich tonight, courtesy of a free ticket from a friend who works at the club. Going back down to London at the weekend to see some old friends.

 

All of this is made possible because of where I work, and it would pain me to actually leave.

 

In my last job, it felt more like work, work, work and no life, but for twice as much money.....

 

 

Am I happier now? You can bet your life on it!!!! Money isn't the route to happiness, although it does make the road less bumpy!