When I was reading this I thought to myself that this guy sounds like an economist...sure enough i was right.

 

The time you spend with your kids when they are young, you NEVER get that back...

 

like everything else in life. "Balance" is the answer. Can't say I have it. I work way too damn much. fortunatley, I'm doing it while I'm young and single.

 

Yesterday, my wife said, "You're either making money or spending money at any given time." Pretty true, in general. It's just a question of how much you spend!

Right now, our income is right around six figures (ie, it's barely over five figures). We live well - two cars (one newer, one older), decent house, no real debt, and we can afford to help people out and do general things in life without really having to think about it.

I am not required to work overtime in my job. I get there at 7:55am and leave at 5:01pm every day. In my first fifteen months, I've only stayed late three times, I think, and never more than two hours. I've spent a few hours on one Saturday there - that's it.

I'd spend a bit more time there (if needed), especially if I got paid overtime (I don't). However, I'm not willing to give up much more time. Ultimately, my happiness in being with my family is not just in what we HAVE as much as it is what we DO and who we are. Yeah, lots of money is nice and I'd love to have more than I do but I'm just happy going as I am. It'd take a lot more money to make me give up another 20 hours of my week.

Where's the line? I'd say it's when your family is doing more things without you than with you. If you're missing major events in your family (or even a lot of minor ones), you're missing out on something fulfilling and rewarding. You can't replace the younger years with your kids, especially. Those are the best, I think. If you're too busy working towards being able to do one BIG family thing (and missing all the little things), I'd say you're going too far.

 

[QUOTE=S2020,May 19 2007, 08:39 AM] I grew up on poor and have this nagging sense of uncertainty.

 

if you've made enough for the day, then go home

 

When I was working I worked to fulfill my needs with a little extra to play.

 

Same here.

However, since I've started to dislike my current position, I haven't put in more that a couple hours of OT in probably 2 months. I've just reached a point where it isn't worth it to sacrifice my sanity for a few bucks.

 

My record for over time hours was 73 when i worked 153 hours in two weeks. (140, 138, 135, 142, 125, that range of hours.)

i jusr recently realized that money doesnt really make me as happy as i thought it would be.

relax kick back with your kids, so what if you dont have a 52 inch plasma screen or you dont have a supercharger in your S. when it comes down to the wire, whats really more important? to be rich and taken forgranted by your kids and wife because of lack of quality time or be medioker(financially) with a loving fullfilling family.

i have had a lot of friends who had workaholic parents, and i can see how a kid wouldnt be able to understand why he doesnt see hes father in a daily basis.

im just glad my parents put the effort to always make sure that everybody would be in the dinnertable and talk about how the day went.

 

Wow, that's great advice and so correct. I remember the exact scenario you talked about where I have friends who were wealthy, but their Dad's werent' around much. The kids were mal adjusted and screwed up. I don't think I'll ever get to working that much (as much as those people did).