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

[Anonymous]

I would love to take 6 months to a year break from the workforce but we can’t afford it. I’m curious. If you can afford not to work, what’s your motivation for working? I mean it can’t be easy to deal with commuting, small kids and the constant rushing to get out of the house in the morning and at night the mad dash to set food on the table, bath, etc.

[Anonymous]

I like it better than not working.

[Anonymous]

I stayed home for five years and then went back to work purely for myself, no financial need. To be honest, I was bored out of my mind. I love my children and enjoyed being with them, but not all the time. There was no intellectual challenge, and I needed that. Going back to work has certainly had its own challenges (as you identified), but I think I’m overall a better parent for working because I’m really engaged and enjoying the time I’m with them rather than just killing time.

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

Similar to PP, I'm better working. I did 5 years of a Ph.D. program in my field of interest, and I enjoy using my brain in that way. When I'm home, I'm a better parent having had some time to work on my own interests and identity separate from being a parent.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Spouse and I like being equal partners in all things. We bring in equal income, contribute equally to household tasks, spend equal amounts of time with our children, etc. We didn't want to have one spouse focused on work with the other spouse focused on home/kids.

I like having a job and get personal satisfaction from working.

Although we'd be fine on one income, the second income brings a lot more options to reality: better vacations, more savings for an earlier retirement, expensive hobbies.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy having an identity separate from my family. I am good at my job and what I do helps people. The extra money is nice for fancier, more frequent vacations.

[Anonymous]

When I was home I had to do all the menial work we outsource like laundry, cleaning, cooking, shopping. I found it really demoralizing and it made me bitter and angry toward my husband.

[Anonymous]

I could afford to have retired at 52 but I still had kids living at home and I would have been bored plus I didn’t see it as setting a good example. So I went back to work for nine years and more than doubled my net worth at which point it was clearly time to retire.

[Anonymous]

I recently returned back to work part time once my youngest was in school full time. We don’t technically need the money but it does pay for some extra activities the kids are interested in and we can up our 529 contributions. Otherwise, I’m only back at work because I feel I need to. I don’t love it but I’ve seen too many women of my mom’s generation get stuck. Not stuck in bad marriages but bad financial situations because they didn’t maximize their earning and savings potential. So, it’s part time for now and full time in a few years with the end goal of a comfortable retirement.

[Anonymous]

I have about seven million dollars. I work because what if I get sued and lose all the money, or become a victim to someone like Bernie Madoff?

[Anonymous]

I just finished my first full year back (Kids are in elementary school) at work and hated every minute of it. I am trying to live the life all these people talk about - fulfilling, intellectual stimulation, etc. but the reality was just a Stupid job with stupid people and a total lack of flexibility! I ran out of sick days six months in because my kids were always sick! And forget a summer vacation!
I don’t need the money.
I Am quitting as soon as I get through our busy season. There are many reasons to work and an equal number to not work.

[Anonymous]

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!

So paid work = being a role model?

[Anonymous]

Using the education my parents paid for. Intellectual stimulation. Equality in my household (both work, both take care of kids, both cook and clean etc). Being a role model for my sons. Can’t imagine staying home all day. Wanting to contribute to society beyond my walls.