Reply to The divide gets bigger as you get older...

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As long as you're happy and have a fulfilling career, so what?[/quote]

That's exactly what I thought at 25, but I didn't realize how much of a difference income makes on every area of your life.  Where you can live, where your kids go to school, when or if you can ever retire, if you can travel, if you can afford certain types of healthcare, how you live, the security you feel, the security you can offer your family (parents or children), etc.

It never ends.[/quote]

Nonprofit attorney here. Agree. In my twenties I totally didn’t get that I needed to save for retirement, etc.

[b]I think my friends who government attorney for the financial regulators etc hit the sweet spot. [/b]200k or so income plus another income if they are married  but decent hours.[/quote]

+1 I learned this interning for a financial regulator before law school. I had also worked as a paralegal, and saw that law firm life was horrible. My dream was to not have to worry about money, but to not have to work hard for it either.[/quote]

Another +1. Business school and public policy grad here.

- Among my business school friends: almost none of them loves their jobs, some got stuck in middle management and have jobs they dislike and are not particularily well paid; others climbed the ladder, are very well paid and enjoy the lifestyle but still dislike their actual job. 
- Among my public policy friends : they are more fulfilled, have more purpose, are less bored. The ones that have the hard conditions are starting to feel cheated once they have families. NGO field workers getting worried about the retirement and paying for college etc...But the ones working in Africa for the big NGOs are still happier though then middle management peeps. 
- Bottom of happiness: NGO staff based in US, low pay but without the fulfillement of field job and without the perks of expat life (cheaper houses, cooks and nannies, a pool etc...).
- happier mix in my group: not the richest but public policy grads who moved on to big International NGOs or, USAID, foreign service, United Nations/World Bank and get to have purpose + enough $$ to not be worried about money (250KHHI type), or the business school grads who became entrepreneurs after years in consulting or big law, or who moved on to a more socially minded/ethical field (for ex.  insurance director who became director of habitat for humanity in Europe)

You need enough monet to feel safe and secure. but money is still not enough to make you happy. You need purpose in life. [/quote]

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