If you sacrificed financial security for you career - why?

[Anonymous]

Meaning if you went into a low paying profession (without a trust fund or highly paid spouse), why did you do it? Was it bc you loved it so much that you couldn't see yourself doing anything else? Or did you not fully grasp at 23 how it would be to live on that income? Would you make the same choice again? I'm just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meaning if you went into a low paying profession (without a trust fund or highly paid spouse), why did you do it? Was it bc you loved it so much that you couldn't see yourself doing anything else? Or did you not fully grasp at 23 how it would be to live on that income? Would you make the same choice again? I'm just curious.

Not quite like the examples, but I gave up a big law career to start my own business. So, unlike the examples you give, the new position had upside income potential (though there was certainly a potential for abject failure).

I did it for autonomy--I decided that life was too short to live under someone else's thumb. I now make my own business and personal decisions and am not answerable to anyone except my customers and my conscience.

I have no regrets whatsoever. There were certainly hard/scary moments financially and professionally, particularly in the early days, but I had the advantage of knowing that I could fall back on a legal career if necessary.

All that said, I probably would NOT have committed to a profession without upside income potential down the road unless (a) it had huge quality of life perks, and (b) I could live in a low-COL area.

[Anonymous]

I am a bit similar to PP: I quit my job in finance to start my own business to do what I have passion for. I did it 2 years ago at the age of 32 and no regrets so far. I do have a DH who is the major breadwinner , if I wouldn't have his full support to do so I would never have guts to quit my job.

[Anonymous]

I've never had a high paying job. Criminal justice field and in my early 40's and I make about what I did five or so years ago (recently took a pay cut for a better overall career move). That being said I absolutely love my job and everything about it. I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing.

There's more to life than money and I work to live, I don't live to work. I'm frugal and do things myself that most people contract out for (no cleaning person, just installed new flooring, mow my own lawn, etc).

I also have a second, weekend home (spouse works too but isn't a high earner either). I don't want for anything...

[Anonymous]

I have never had an interest in soul-crushing, soul-sucking work in exchange for a high salary or prestige. I'm a yoga teacher. I'm not rich, but I'm happy and do not fear for my future. I enjoy living frugally and accepting the gifts the universe has to offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meaning if you went into a low paying profession (without a trust fund or highly paid spouse), why did you do it? Was it bc you loved it so much that you couldn't see yourself doing anything else? Or did you not fully grasp at 23 how it would be to live on that income? Would you make the same choice again? I'm just curious.

Money isn't everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meaning if you went into a low paying profession (without a trust fund or highly paid spouse), why did you do it? Was it bc you loved it so much that you couldn't see yourself doing anything else? Or did you not fully grasp at 23 how it would be to live on that income? Would you make the same choice again? I'm just curious.

Money isn't everything.

It's not? Isn't this the same website where people lament being "paycheck to paycheck" because they ONLY make 350k? So how are all the teachers -- yoga or academic, social workers, and non management regular corporate employees getting by?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meaning if you went into a low paying profession (without a trust fund or highly paid spouse), why did you do it? Was it bc you loved it so much that you couldn't see yourself doing anything else? Or did you not fully grasp at 23 how it would be to live on that income? Would you make the same choice again? I'm just curious.

Money isn't everything.

It's not? Isn't this the same website where people lament being "paycheck to paycheck" because they ONLY make 350k? So how are all the teachers -- yoga or academic, social workers, and non management regular corporate employees getting by?

The have rich husbands!hahaaaa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meaning if you went into a low paying profession (without a trust fund or highly paid spouse), why did you do it? Was it bc you loved it so much that you couldn't see yourself doing anything else? Or did you not fully grasp at 23 how it would be to live on that income? Would you make the same choice again? I'm just curious.

Money isn't everything.

It's not? Isn't this the same website where people lament being "paycheck to paycheck" because they ONLY make 350k? So how are all the teachers -- yoga or academic, social workers, and non management regular corporate employees getting by?

The have rich husbands!hahaaaa

Ain't no shame in my game!

[Anonymous]

The age 23 thing. Never been materialistic but didn't understand how important it is to save for retirement and health care issues. That's really what terrifies me. Old age and health care. I regret not earning more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The age 23 thing. Never been materialistic but didn't understand how important it is to save for retirement and health care issues. That's really what terrifies me. Old age and health care. I regret not earning more money.

This. At age 23, it's easy to think -- this job maxes out 65k, I and any family I have will be fine on that. And honestly 65k in the 90s wasn't bad money. But now raising a family on that amount is tough, but when you've been in one industry for 2 decades, it's hard to go back and do something else without going to b-school, getting some other training etc. -- and frankly who can afford that.

[Anonymous]

I mommy-tracked myself when I had a kid. I wasn't thrilled to do it, and it's annoying sometimes. My income and career path are pretty stalled out, and it's frustrating to watch child-free friends (and friends with kids and supportive spouses) move forward while I'm stalled.

I don't have the family support to do it all, though. I really do have to decide between a great career and being very involved in my kid's life and activities, and I'm not ready to give up the involved parent stuff. A lot of folks I know made this choice.

[Anonymous]

Worked a summer in biglaw and saw immediately that it wasn't for me. When I graduated I took a public interest job instead. It wasn't always easy, esp with student loans - my friends always had nicer apartments and stuff, ate out more. When the market crashed in 2009 I lost like 50% of my total $15k retirement savings, which was so huge to me at the time. I almost threw in the towel then and looked for something higher paying.

But now, 8 years out, I'm so glad to have the quality of life I do now. My biglaw friends still work soul-crushing hours and are postponing having kids because they can't envision it on their schedules. It's not all about work. It's not even that I traded financial security for a career per se, as I'm part time now with a kid. But I always prioritized the ability to leave work at work (at a reasonable hour) and to do what felt meaningful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Worked a summer in biglaw and saw immediately that it wasn't for me. When I graduated I took a public interest job instead. It wasn't always easy, esp with student loans - my friends always had nicer apartments and stuff, ate out more. When the market crashed in 2009 I lost like 50% of my total $15k retirement savings, which was so huge to me at the time. I almost threw in the towel then and looked for something higher paying.

But now, 8 years out, I'm so glad to have the quality of life I do now. My biglaw friends still work soul-crushing hours and are postponing having kids because they can't envision it on their schedules. It's not all about work. It's not even that I traded financial security for a career per se, as I'm part time now with a kid. But I always prioritized the ability to leave work at work (at a reasonable hour) and to do what felt meaningful.

So a man supports you and your noble lifestyle choices.

[Anonymous]

Well I'd have opted not to increase expenses with a kid had I not married him and I'd still be totally fine alone in my public interest job. Working f/t instead of p/t, sharing an apt with a roommate, etc. but in this type of job.

You don't need a high income partner to make a lower-income career work for you.