What’s your motivation for working if you can afford not to?

[Anonymous]

I work because I make decent money ($200k) in a job that is stimulating and that I am good at (inhouse lawyer). I work strictly 9-5, have 5 weeks vacation time, and a 15 minute commute.

DH makes about the same as I do and we can certainly live comfortably on his income, but my working affords us a lot more options as another poster said: better vacations, more savings for an earlier retirement, expensive hobbies. Right now, my entire paycheck goes into savings, so we are able to spend and enjoy all of DH's income (except he maxes out 401(k)). If I wasn't working, we would need to devote a large chunk of DH's paycheck to saving (emergency, college funds, investment, etc.).

If things continue as they do with our savings rate and ROI, we will be on track to be able to replace my income with income from our passive investments in 5 years.

I debate between staying home with our young kids (4 and 2) or continuing to work so DH and I can both retire in the next 10 years (if we want, though health insurance will make that tough).

[Anonymous]

I could have retired in my early 50s but with kids still at home and all of my friends working what was I going to do? Hang around with 70 year olds? No way. I worked another ten years and retired when I realized that the mental and physical grind was catching up to me and I hated early Monday morning flights to visit customers I didn’t like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work because I make decent money ($200k) in a job that is stimulating and that I am good at (inhouse lawyer). I work strictly 9-5, have 5 weeks vacation time, and a 15 minute commute.

DH makes about the same as I do and we can certainly live comfortably on his income, but my working affords us a lot more options as another poster said: better vacations, more savings for an earlier retirement, expensive hobbies. Right now, my entire paycheck goes into savings, so we are able to spend and enjoy all of DH's income (except he maxes out 401(k)). If I wasn't working, we would need to devote a large chunk of DH's paycheck to saving (emergency, college funds, investment, etc.).

If things continue as they do with our savings rate and ROI, we will be on track to be able to replace my income with income from our passive investments in 5 years.

I debate between staying home with our young kids (4 and 2) or continuing to work so DH and I can both retire in the next 10 years (if we want, though health insurance will make that tough).

I'm PP from above, and would add that if I could work part-time for half the pay, I would totally do that. I think part-time in a job that is intellectually stimulating is the sweet spot, but that is hard to come by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago I watched a friend of the family heartlessly dump his wife of 20 years for his mistress. Wife had never worked, married him straight out of college. Now she's having to work as a secretary somewhere and solo parent 4 kids while he jetsets with his girlfriend. It was a huge shock - he seemed like such an upstanding guy, they were a very affectionate, lovey-dovey couple, and she was and still is very attractive and well maintained.

I'm not going to let myself depend on someone, ever. Of course we all think our husbands would NEVER... But on the off chance he does bail, I know I'm going to land on my feet.

OP here. I think it all depends on situations and individuals. I have worked the past 13 years and have some savings. Staying at home for a few years will not do a huge harm on my otherwise lackluster career. I believe I can get a job even if I take a break. I’m not advocating for all women to stay home just because they can afford it but I wish I can afford to take a few years off for my small kids, esp since one of them has special needs.

[Anonymous]

The only reason I can afford not to work is because of husband’s inherited wealth and it just feels wrong to depend on money neither of us did anything to earn. Trying to set a good example for kids, who will in turn inherit a lot one day. It did allow me to be a SAHM for 7 years, for which I’m grateful, but I was pretty depressed being at home all day. I’m often tempted to throw in the towel and quit because it would make summers and sicknesses so much easier, but overall I think my kids benefit from a slightly more fulfilled mom who works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work because I make decent money ($200k) in a job that is stimulating and that I am good at (inhouse lawyer). I work strictly 9-5, have 5 weeks vacation time, and a 15 minute commute.

DH makes about the same as I do and we can certainly live comfortably on his income, but my working affords us a lot more options as another poster said: better vacations, more savings for an earlier retirement, expensive hobbies. Right now, my entire paycheck goes into savings, so we are able to spend and enjoy all of DH's income (except he maxes out 401(k)). If I wasn't working, we would need to devote a large chunk of DH's paycheck to saving (emergency, college funds, investment, etc.).

If things continue as they do with our savings rate and ROI, we will be on track to be able to replace my income with income from our passive investments in 5 years.

I debate between staying home with our young kids (4 and 2) or continuing to work so DH and I can both retire in the next 10 years (if we want, though health insurance will make that tough).

I'm PP from above, and would add that if I could work part-time for half the pay, I would totally do that. I think part-time in a job that is intellectually stimulating is the sweet spot, but that is hard to come by.

Ditto to all this, plus the part where I would go part time. Wish there was a way to job share!

[Anonymous]

A lot of people posting on this thread are former SAHMs who were home with young kids, and now have school-aged kids. But the real question is why do some women work with young kids (and miss spending time with them) even if they can afford not to? For me, it was because I had an extremely flexible job, an involved DH, and a ton of family help, which enabled me to reduce childcare hours to 25-30 hours a week (of which 10+ hours was spent in naps). If I hadn't had this, I would have quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people posting on this thread are former SAHMs who were home with young kids, and now have school-aged kids. But the real question is why do some women work with young kids (and miss spending time with them) even if they can afford not to? For me, it was because I had an extremely flexible job, an involved DH, and a ton of family help, which enabled me to reduce childcare hours to 25-30 hours a week (of which 10+ hours was spent in naps). If I hadn't had this, I would have quit.

I am the other side to this coin. I would love to go back to work, even though we have a one year old and another baby on the way, because even though we don't need my salary I prefer to work for all the reasons people listed here. However, it's not possible with in our current situation and will have to wait until the kids are in school full time.

[Anonymous]

What does “can afford to” mean?

The reality is it means different things to different people. Candidly, only very wealthy people seem to feel like they “can afford to.” Most people want a certain lifestyle they can sustain through retirement, and that typically means two incomes.

I would love to be a SAHM. But that would mean no travel/vacations, no college savings, and no real security. No thanks.

If you could afford a break, take it. Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people posting on this thread are former SAHMs who were home with young kids, and now have school-aged kids. But the real question is why do some women work with young kids (and miss spending time with them) even if they can afford not to? For me, it was because I had an extremely flexible job, an involved DH, and a ton of family help, which enabled me to reduce childcare hours to 25-30 hours a week (of which 10+ hours was spent in naps). If I hadn't had this, I would have quit.

I don’t enjoy taking care of kids under 2! I still get 3.5 hours per weekday with them and am a hands on loving mom, but the nanny is much better suited to fill the other 6 awake hours of the day. After 2 it’s a blast but then they’re not far from preschool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Intellectual stimulation, social interaction, serving an underprivileged population and using an education that took many years to complete. Oh and being a role model to my daughters!

All this and my financial independence. From what I’ve seen from others, s—- happens. Even to people like me.

+1.

Long-term we need my income but we have enough of a cushion to afford a 6mo-1year break like OP wants. Would have loved to do that after each of my babies but I would have lost my job. I didn't want the stress of having to find a new job.

[Anonymous]

Like many other PPs I was essentially a SAHM for 7-8 yrs (altho I did contract work sporadically to keep my resume alive, I earned negligible income). I then did one year of FT WO job & have for 7 years done PT work, 6 years in an office & the past year WAH. I really enjoy having a job even though it provides negligible $ for our household. Many of the reasons already stated: keep my ability to work in case bad things happen; provide role model for my children; contribute to society; intellectual/social stimulation I don't otherwise find. I did make a sacrifice to my career to SAHM & do these flex jobs but it was worth the trade to me for the flexibility & hands on time.

If you do figure out how to take time off, my rec would be to work in some capacity to ease your path back into the workforce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work because I make decent money ($200k) in a job that is stimulating and that I am good at (inhouse lawyer). I work strictly 9-5, have 5 weeks vacation time, and a 15 minute commute.

DH makes about the same as I do and we can certainly live comfortably on his income, but my working affords us a lot more options as another poster said: better vacations, more savings for an earlier retirement, expensive hobbies. Right now, my entire paycheck goes into savings, so we are able to spend and enjoy all of DH's income (except he maxes out 401(k)). If I wasn't working, we would need to devote a large chunk of DH's paycheck to saving (emergency, college funds, investment, etc.).

If things continue as they do with our savings rate and ROI, we will be on track to be able to replace my income with income from our passive investments in 5 years.

I debate between staying home with our young kids (4 and 2) or continuing to work so DH and I can both retire in the next 10 years (if we want, though health insurance will make that tough).

I'm PP from above, and would add that if I could work part-time for half the pay, I would totally do that. I think part-time in a job that is intellectually stimulating is the sweet spot, but that is hard to come by.

Ditto to all this, plus the part where I would go part time. Wish there was a way to job share!

Ditto to all of this (including the job description and pay), but I used to do it part-time.

I would never leave the professional workforce and rely on my husband as the sole source of the HHI. Way too risky.

[Anonymous]

I am a better mom when I get a break from my kids. I enjoy my work - it's intellectually stimulating (and if I am being honest, I like the status of it). I like knowing that we basically never have to worry about money in our two income household. Want to take a 20K Europe Disney cruise this summer? Let's do it. Don't have to think twice about it. We would on one salary.

[Anonymous]

I took 3.5yrs off (and didn't do any out of home, for pay, work during that time), jumped back into the workforce when we were both ready to get out of the house (DC into pre-school around other kids, me back into an office around other adults) and I'm happy. My commute SUCKS and I plan to change that but otherwise, I'm fine working. I do wish I could find an ideal part-time job so I could be home right after school etc. vs. pulling up as dinner is being put on the table, for sick days etc. but I like working better than not.