Why don't you earn enough?

save-a-lot

A rung up the ladder brings with it more responsibility (and stress), so, by not reaching for the next rung in my case is perfect. I earn enough and I can do the things I want to when I want to... I certainly do not want to be married to the job by chasing after the next rung on the ladder.

mizzy2

Im a student I have no choice but to scrimp and save haha!

hula-hoops

Climbing the ladder is not as easy as it sounds. And the higher you climb, the greater your fall.

I have been working in the same industry for 9 years. When I started I was on the lowest salary in the company with very little experience under my belt. I climbed up and up until eventually I reached management level, had a staff of 15 who reported directly to me, a salary close to 50k and life was good. Then I was made redundant as the jobs that my staff were doing were sent to India. No staff over here = no manager needed over here.

I had a month to find another job. One month in such finanacial times to find a job with a similar salary is as good as impossible. I had to take one with a severe cut in salary but has a lot more security.

jessicamb

I earn a decent wage and aspire to earn more - but while I am working on the grand plan MSE, Up your income etc helps me earn a bit of pocket money while I am sat in front of the tv.

vegankris

I tried climbing the ladder (into retail management) a few years back and found it far too stressful. I'd rather be poorer and at the bottom of the ladder because my happiness and mental health is worth far more to me than getting a good wage.

bigbloke45

I've really enjoyed reading this post.

It occurs to me that the biggest problem that posters seem to have is a lack of "Positive Self Image"; if you don't believe in yourself, then nor will anyone else.

This seems to be so British! It really grieves me that our education system doesn't include any emphasis on developing self esteem.

So maybe it's not so much about looking for another job, but more about changing how you feel about yourself! This is difficult and needs constant attention, but it CAN be done.

Here are a some ideas;

Investigate some motivational books/audio/visual material. You'll find out that what you thought was "personal" to you is just the same as everyone else feels. Your lack of self belief is pretty normal! But be aware that you will need to "top up" your motivation every day, but it will be worth it.

Set down some goals that you want to achieve over various time frames and map out how you are going to achieve them (if you don't know where you want to go, how will you know when you get there?) If you want these things, don't be deflected, look at everything else on this post.

Most importantly, learn to forgive yourself. You, no doubt, have forgiven others for their failures, but have you ever thought about forgiving yourself?
If you haven't DO IT, it is so important but so many people don't know that they can! You can say it out loud, you can write it down, whatever, it doesn't matter.

Create a "role model", it can be anyone you admire who you believe has prospered under adversity. When faced with a difficult situation, pause and imagine what your role model would have done in the same situation and then model your response on this.
This has some great benefits; it takes away the fear you have about your response because you know that a "Greater Being" is acting for you and, also, you can face criticism/aggression knowing that you are not alone.

Finally, back to the self image thing. There are very few really successful people financially; most of them them seem to have achieved this by being single minded, obsessional, thick skinned, self absorbed etc...

Most people aren't like them. Do you want to be?

After all this, please remember that happiness arrives from being content with your situation if you cannot/don't want to change. Envy is a cancer of the mind, you have the means to cure it in yourselves!

Keep on Keeping On!

One great motivational guru said that "motivation is making you feel good when you feel bad"

Butterfliesarepretty

I work full time and recently I was unemployed for six months. Before that I was earning £16,500 and travelled 16 miles to work and 16 miles home again. Now I earn £14,500 but five mins in car to work. But because I have had time off I now am thinking of looking into working from home as a typist or assistant. I really feel I should be at home more and trying to earn the same money as I am now.

Can I do it ? Well I have no idea but I am going to give it a damn good try and even if I struggle it may still be worth it in the long run rather than have to get a credit card next year or the year after just to make the money last longer.

If I fail at least I will have tried.:o

BridgetJones_2

Pound wrote: »

I think a lot of the threads in this forum seem to focus on ways of earning small amounts of money, such as filling in surveys for a few pence, doing mystery shopping assignments for less than minimum wage, etc.

The obvious way of getting more money is to get a better job! Even if you already earn a good wage there's always another rung on the ladder. I'm wondering what is stopping you from getting a better job?

For me I didn't enjoy my University course so I didn't complete it and started working instead but I'm now low on qualifications; something I'm working on now though. I also hate jobs interviews!

What about everyone else?

I have a university education and a well paid job so I am clever enough to take up any opportunities to make extra money especially when it's such little effort.

optimisery

vegankris wrote: »

I tried climbing the ladder (into retail management) a few years back and found it far too stressful. I'd rather be poorer and at the bottom of the ladder because my happiness and mental health is worth far more to me than getting a good wage.

Interesting post Kris, I to climbed the ladder to retail management but am far from happy - finding it way too stressful. Money is good though - thats the only thing that has kept me going so long but looking for something else which will probably mean a drop in salary - may i ask if you stayed with the same company and (for want of a better word) downgraded or did you move on? And if you stayed how was that accepted by staff/colleagues??

C

larmy16

I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love.

or

Peace of mind.

I have enough to get by, any more and you just get more STUFF or have to worry about it being pinched off you. I would far rather have more time than money.
Self employed and love it, though I don't earn a great deal. It's enough.