Is a career really important?

want2bmortgage3

Hi all,

Due to buying a property young (21) , I've long had it in mind that I could pay the mortgage off early and eventually not have to work.

10 years on I am probably about half way there, but my whole perspective on life has changed in those years.

I am no longer content with looking to the future and a point in time years ahead where I won't have to work. I have become more interested in living in the moment, day by day.

This leads me to asking the above question. I have been working in jobs which are low paid, don't go anywhere and give little satisfaction.

Seeing as I'm 31 now should I seriously consider the next 10 years and whether I want to work in a low paid unskilled job for those 10 years because it's easy and I can carry on knocking down the mortgage?

Or should I make a change and go back to college/uni to try and aim for a more satisfying job and day to day life, and forget about this dream I had of not having to work, which I think might ultimately be unsatisfying?

dawyldthing

Its a difficult question and no fixed answer.

I'm in a similar boat, a bit younger than you but at 25 and the mortgage will be paid within the next 10 years if not sooner. I've decided to go down your second route alongside the job i'm doing now, not necessarily for long term prospects but to learn something and broaden my mind as my job isn't taxing really, is fairly well paid and I live well within my wage. As even if you retire early you'll need something to do or you'll get bored. I work 30 hours a week (give or take if the boss is short) and have never been happier than I am now as I feel like I have a life whereas 3 months ago I felt work was life, and theres no point wishing your life away

VfM4meplse

As someone who's been there and done that I would suggest that you pay off your mortgage and then make your dreams happen.

And then realise they weren't all they are cracked up to be! If you're used to working hard, you're going to miss having that focus in your life.

1940sGal

I can't say anything about a mortgage as I don't have one. 5 years ago (i was 25) i was in the position of going from one dead end job to another. Going nowhere fast. It plunged me in to a pit of depression because i was never getting to use my creative talents. Thankfully by that time i was free of the financial restraints I'd had previously (such as a motorbike on HP) so i decided enough was enough and packed my FT job in and went to college.

I took on a P/T job and two years later went to uni. Best decision I ever made despite some regrets over course choice. I've had an amazing 5 years doing what I love, met some really incredible people, done things i could only have dreamed of 5 years ago and been places I never would have. My knowledge base has expanded beyond all expectations and I surprised myself with how well i did in areas i never thought i would have.

I'm unemployed now and it's getting me down a bit BUT i still have faith that i will find a job that I love and that enables me to put everything I've learned to the test. Quite a few of us are unemployed but it's as much down to the times as anything.

Don't settle for something that makes you unhappy just because it's money. I've been there and don't wish to go back.

clausbrown

Money makes the world spin. Everyone needs to earn money in life, But you also need to have a balance on the things you enjoy.. Plan ahead but remember to enjoy every day untill that point you get to it.

DKLS

I found it to be a total revelation to move from brain dead jobs to a career that fascinates me, challenges me on a daily basis and most of all actually interests me.

Uncertain

It is important to have something interesting and challenging to occupy your time. Most, but not all, such things cost money so you will generally speaking need more money coming in if you opt not to work than if you have a job.

Also, salaries generally speaking keep pace with inflation whereas savings (as opposed to riskier investments) do not. Don't underestimate just how much money you need to retire very early.

I have worked with many people in a academic field who simply lived for their work. Pretty much everything else was secondary. Equally I know several people who live for their hobby / leisure activity. To them work is just one of those evil necessities to feed them and pay for their recreation.

InsideInsurance

Careers however are also not always what you thought they would be. There are plenty of people that have invested a lot of time and effort to get into well paid jobs but then find that they are utterly bored by them and whilst they have money they have little time to spend it.

They are often also thinking of jacking it all in and trying to find something different that they also find more interesting.

It is certainly good to consider your options and I wouldnt want to be considered a defeatist but do make sure your not just being trapped into thinking that the grass is always greener on the other side.

want2bmortgage3

Thanks for the replies, which are tending towards going down the satisfying career route, I'd be interested to know what jobs people here went from doing to doing. Also was it something you had in mind from an early age and finally did it? Or was it something you never thought of before but soon got used to and loved.

People often say 'Decide what you want to do', this isn't an easy question. I think a lot of things we want to do wouldn't earn us a living. What will make money won't often excite us, so I guess it's a compromise in a way.

As mentioned above, there's also the 'work is just money' group, probably the majority of people who spend their working days performing a role/routine they don't really care much for. How long can you do this for, I'm realising there comes a point where you cant just write off days and weeks in the name of money, life is too short?

PlutoinCapricorn

The ideal is when you get paid for doing something that you would happily do for nothing.

A lot depends on your age and inheritance of course, but finding your strengths and weaknesses is very important. Have you read "The Gods of Management" by Charles Handy?

I think that it is older people settle for less money and more time/freedom if possible. They also think more about making a contribution than getting things for themselves.

getmore4less

Some careers have a set time line there are other where you can have broad choice of work places.

I did Mechanical engineering but have spent most of my career in product based quality control which is a very portable skillset from manufacturing, building, software and elecronic products etc. hands on upto senior management opportunities.

Find an area of interest?

hospitality is a very broad area and for those that want to get on and have the ability there are opportinities because a lot of people employed don't have the drive or only want to work part time.

Rather than redeploy using education what about sectors that take on trainee and educate on the job.

here is an example in the pub/hotel trade.
http://www.wetherspoonjobs.co.uk/