Work to live or live to work?

youluckypanda

Hello

I currently work as a freelance set and costume designer, and whilst this is what I’ve wanted to do for years, did a degree in and what I have a passion for...Sometimes it is just so hard! As with everyone else that works freelance will know, most of the time you can’t say what your next job is, and when you’re not working you’re not earning. No holiday pay, no sick pay, no one that can fill in for you if you want a specific day off.



Sometimes I think to myself is it worth doing a job that you enjoy for little money and lots of worry, or would I be better off doing something that I’m not perhaps as passionate about, (or even that bothered about) and getting paid a decent wage, with regular hours, and the benefits of holiday pay etc?


Just wanted to ask people what their work is like, do you work for the love of it or do you work to live, and live for the weekends? What is more important?

Linda32

I'm unemployed at the moment due to redundancy. I work to live, its a means of getting money to pay the mortgage and to sit in a cafe at the weekend. Buy clothes when I need to, holidays, whatever, and to save money as well for a rainy day.

Where I used to work, the lady there, loves her job and would be destraught if she lost her job. I'll say these not alot of chance of that happening to her, but you never do know. She says she almost runs along the road to get to work and starts a good hour, at least, earlier than she needs too :eek: I think she is very fortunate to love her job that much.

kim107

Hi. For me it is a bit of both. I work in science, which I love, but it doesn't pay well. However I am not that interested in getting to the top (I like to do a good job but when work is finished I like to forget about it and spend time with my OH and family). I've often wondered about going self-employed but have not found a type of work that would motivate me enough if I was working on my own. I think you should be proud that you have gone out on your own and are doing a job you love. As for the money, I guess that is what this forum is for and why we are both here! :-)

youluckypanda

Thanks Linda, sorry to hear about your redundancy. Hope you find something soon. Please don't think that I'm not thankful for the work that I get, I really don't want to sound ungrateful.

I should probably add that I earn tiny amounts, I'll never get a morgage from this and the richest I've ever been was as a student (mind you that was all loans! :eek:) This is part of the reason why I've been thinking things over. In terms of having any proper income I'm kidding myself a bit if I want to do this for the rest of my life. But then I love what I'm doing 90% of the time. The only downside is being so broke all the time!

Reality kicking in I suppose! Maybe you can't have it all.

scooby088

I would say i work to live a lot better than when i was claiming benefits, i think that i have only ever liked one job i have had, it's a mean to an end really for me.

Linda32

youluckypanda wrote: »

Thanks Linda, sorry to hear about your redundancy. Hope you find something soon. Please don't think that I'm not thankful for the work that I get, I really don't want to sound ungrateful.

Gosh, No, never gave that a thought, honest, these no tone in type is there?

I just meant that I've never been career minded thats all, I don't want the responsibility of moving up the ladder. Nor would I want the worry of working for myself, so hats off to you there or employing staff.

youluckypanda

Linda32 wrote: »

Gosh, No, never gave that a thought, honest, these no tone in type is there?

I just meant that I've never been career minded thats all, I don't want the responsibility of moving up the ladder. Nor would I want the worry of working for myself, so hats off to you there or employing staff.

No no just had a sudden thought it might come off like that to someone else!

DCFC79

Well my job is ******* carp, the pay is carp as well, but plans are afoot in terms of finding sometihng else

chanie

I work to live as I knew that I wanted my own place and have some financial security for when I had a family.

Could you not get a job in a field which is related to your passion, like in the film industry or in a theatre? Even if it isn't the type of work you are passionate about, it could give you a 'fix'. I have an archaeology degree but I work in HR in a Museum. It gives me a decent living, but working in an area I'm interested in.

SueC_2

I used to live to work. Big career, big stress, fairly big money, no free time, no social life, no opportunity to spend my hard-earned cash.

In a moment of epiphany I down-sized. I now work to live. Little job, no hassle, just about enough money, reliable hours, plenty of me-time, no money free to enjoy myself with!

Neither option is perfect, but I can honestly say that each made me happy at the stage of my life I was in at the time.

spandangled

youluckypanda wrote: »

Thanks Linda, sorry to hear about your redundancy. Hope you find something soon. Please don't think that I'm not thankful for the work that I get, I really don't want to sound ungrateful.

I should probably add that I earn tiny amounts, I'll never get a morgage from this and the richest I've ever been was as a student (mind you that was all loans! :eek:) This is part of the reason why I've been thinking things over. In terms of having any proper income I'm kidding myself a bit if I want to do this for the rest of my life. But then I love what I'm doing 90% of the time. The only downside is being so broke all the time!

Reality kicking in I suppose! Maybe you can't have it all.

Have you thought about doing workshops relating to the items you make and skills you have and teaching them to others. If you're working in theatre you could also see if the theatre would consider it as a form of audience development and it's particularly attractive to 14-25 year olds of which there has been quite a bit of funding kicking about for developing skills with. Quite often workshop artists earn about £250 a day depending on skill level and who you're working for, so it might be worth considering.