I'm an aid worker married to a journalist. We just both value other stuff over money. Money just doesn't really turn me on, you know? I'm not opposed to it, mind you, and one needs to have enough of it to not care much about it. But as long as I'm not poor I really don't care about not being rich. I would have a really hard time going to the office every day if I didn't think what I did made a difference in the world. I'm motivated by mission (as corny as that sounds) rather than money, and I always have been. So no, I don't regret in the slightest not going into a higher paying career. I love my life.

I work in community nonprofit because I want to make a difference and earlier in my career when I was entry level I didn't mind working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet, pay down my student loans, and buy what I wanted. Now that I'm older with barely enough energy for the 1 job I have that doesn't pay super well, sometimes I do wish I'd gone the soul-sucking (no shade-for me, it would have been) corporate route. But I do like what I do and I can't imagine "selling out" for more money.

It's pretty odd that people on DCUM seem to judge others for not making a shit ton of money (e.g. teachers) but they're the first to throw a tantrum when the schools aren't good enough for their precious offspring.

Anonymous wrote:

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

I wish.

teacher married to a teacher
HHI slightly over $200K

That isn't too shabby for a teacher couple.

I tried chasing money. Got an undergrad degree in something business-y, went into consulting, and worked nasty hours with no great purpose. I was miserable.

After just 3 years I went back to grad school for education, took a 50% pay cut to teach, and would only go back kicking and screaming.

There is more to life than money. I will never be wealthy, but I genuinely love my job.

I was a dumb, shortsighted kid with uninvolved, financially irresponsible parents. I didn't know any better.

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.

Same here, except I was 20 when I picked a career out of love that is among the lowest paid white collar jobs.

THEN I doubled down, went to law school, and veered into public interest law. WTH is wrong with me.

and to answer your question, op, I would not make the exact same choices again. I'd pick a middle ground between private equities manager on the one hand and social worker on the other.

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

I wish.

teacher married to a teacher
HHI slightly over $200K

Anonymous wrote: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.

And if he has taken the same now path, you would have lived childless?

For me it was the 23 thing and coming from rural south. Making $50k? That's how much my parents house cost... Today. Completely out of water and wonder if I would have been happier never leaving there and living comfortable. But you can never go hone again and I did loathe it there.

I've just done what I liked, and let money follow, or find me. Most of the time is has. There have been slumps when it hasn't, but I didn't care because money wasn't the most important thing.