We work to make money to live and enjoy life.

At times we are at work and have to work longer, but also staying longer makes us more money.

The thing is that sometimes you just want to go home regardless of the money. So when do you decide when is enough?

For instance in my line of work you "eat what you kill" so if you are not working you are not earning. There are times though I turn down work so I can go home and play. The thing is that the work would bring in big bucks and I have a mortgage and kids etc.

Factually I don't turn down extra work often, but at times I do and then I feel guilty because I could have used the money earned to buy something for my kids or wife.

What is the nobler thing to do?

 

To thine own self be true. . . n' shit.

 

 

we very quickly lose sight of what we work for. making money becomes an end into itself cuz we think we can use it easily to bring in happiness. the question u need to ask is this:

if u had the extra money, what EXACTLY would u do with it and would it really make u or ur wife/kids happier in the lasting fashion. most of the time, the answer is no, money will not do squat and will actually bring a negative return. would u buy them gifts? short term stuff. paying off mortage faster, wouldn't really matter if ur wife died tmrw and u could have spent the day with her instead. extreme example, but has value nonetheless. there's that study that says people's happiness flattens after 50k a yr.

so im still curious though, u feeling guilty for not making the extra money, etc, what would u have used it for?

 

I used to work 25 hours of OT every week. I got to the point where I was so used to seeing those types of paychecks that when I didn't work OT I was like WTF when I got my check. My girl would never see me due to spending most of my time at work or sleeping.

Had to find a happy medium... Sometimes I'd only work OT on Mon-Wed. or maybe for an entire week, every other week...

 

I agree with the happy balance thing. I just have to pick a balance and live with it. At one time I reduced my hours because I felt I missed my family. My paycheck suffered immensely because of it. We just bought a house and need to buy another car and so I need to make sure I have a lot of income to furnish the house buy the vehicle and still maintain lifestyle while putting away for education and retirement. IT's no easy task with Uncle Sam and Uncle Arnold taking almost half my income for the greater good.

 

I grew up on poor and have this nagging sense of uncertainty. Even though I make good money, I almost never turn down extra work unless the extra work affects my future work (e.g. 2am emergencies that makes me tired the next day). I think it's so wasteful turning down a couple of hundred bucks for an hour's work.
I don't think I'll turn down work very often until I have a sizable networth.

 

in CA that figure is prob $100K/year

 

This could easily be interpreted as money=happiness. Although I do believe this is true to a certain extent, it does bring a lot of stress with it. People with this mindset tend to put a much greater value on money because it is their source of happiness (pleasing the wife, buying their kids whatever they want, materialism, etc..). "Working jobs you hate to buy shit you don't need" comes to mind.

Also, why would you complain about working a couple of extra shifts at work? If you like your job and it's not interfering with any plans you've made, then why not make some extra cash. If your job feels like your biggest obligation, then you may want to consider a "happier" lifestyle. You spend 40hrs a week of your life at your job. You better like what your doing. So many ppl these days neglect this fact and end up frustrated, raged, and "in a bad mood" and they don't even know why. I always hear ppl say they are unhappy or whatever, and they don't even know why. I believe this country is getting worse because of how we put everyone in an "assembly line" and everyone does the same thing. I bet a robot can do your job. Basically referring to the typical 9-5 cubicle job, the investor, the capitalist. We are a capitalistic country and it's time ppl started acknowledging the negative affect it has on us. I'm not saying capitalism is bad, but understand it's consequences at least.

I bet if your job was to sleep with women or something like that all day you wouldn't dare complain about working extra hours. Live your life, be free, f#!K your job!

 

well, we work for money, and leisure time is valuable, too.

the more you work (and thus the less leisure time you have), the opportunity cost of working more is less leisure time.

when you get past a certain point, leisure time becomes more and more valuable, and thus the compensation for working "a little extra" keeps growing and growing.

eventually, the leisure time becomes so valuable that you won't work more even if the pay is considerably more.

I majored in labor economics so this stuff is my bread and butter.