What would you made enough extra money and you didn't "HAVE" to work?

Funny... I was just talking about this when I saw your question. First... 90 per cent of us can never make enough money to stop working... not if you want to maintain your living standards. In Australia... it is estimated that you need a million dollars to retire on if you want to maintain your living standards. You need your house... and $30.000 a year of spending money. Very few people have a million dollars when they retire at 60... and by 70... they are broke and need to live on the pension. Devoting your life to work is a human thing. No animal specie does it. They only work to get their food. We are encouraged to do it in order to acquire meaningless materialistic possessions. Those are not require for survival. It is sort of a catch 22. We get depress for having to work everyday. So we go and buy a new toy to make us feel better. Then we have to go back to work again because we are broke after buying the new toy. As much as I take pride in my work and love my job... I never did work because I was enjoying it... I worked because I needed the money to pay the bills. Why are people looking forward to their annual holiday? They cannot wait to get away from their work place. Some people in high positions regards their job as their hobby. It is their life... when in fact... they sacrifice their life and family for the job. It takes all sorts I guess. To answer your question... I know what I am worth... and I don't need a job to prove it. I am comfortable with who I am... and nobody can take this away from me. I have to admit that I have an advantage... there are people in Sydney who value me and boost my confidence... but at the same time... I worked hard for 30 years to establish that sort of relationship.

Hi Perspectives, There are at least four dimensions to this subject that I can see right off the bat. 1. The question of self-image and identity speaks to what a person thinks of themself and their place in the community. We are herding animals - that's an inescapable fact - so we are all hard-wired from birth to be worried about what we think that other people are thinking. And it takes concerted effort and self-education to break out of that organically programmed pattern and to start thinking independently according to our own priorities, capabilities and ambitions. 2. What a person needs to live, and what effort is reasonable to expend in order to get it, is critical to survival, even in the so-called "advanced" urban societies. It would be nice to think that the simple things that we do need to survive - food, clothing, shelter - can be gotten with an amount of effort that is in proportion to the energy needed to produce those things. It used to be that way, back when the world was less complicated, organized and regimented, and more rural in character. 3. Conversely, what the surrounding economic system demands from an individual in order to consent to supply that individual with the things that he/she needs or wants is another matter entirely. I believe that, in the main, the demands of the "system" are far more severe on non-conformists than on those lemmings who willingly just fall into line and "play the game". That is, the system enslaves people for a pittance, but it does its best to black-ban people who attempt to blaze a trail of their own. 4. It would be nice to be able to exchange the fruits of one's favorite activities for the things that we need to survive. There's a chicken & egg thing here, though, because a certain amount of economic independence is required in order to develop the schemes to translate one's favorite past-times into tradeable wealth - so for most people this is only a pipe-dream, best left to the adventurous or to those on a comfy pension with the time and resources to experiment. (P.S. The egg came first...) If I was able to extract myself from the labors needed to pay tithe to the capitalist regime, then there are about half a dozen projects that would fully occupy my time. In that sense, "retirement" would constitute liberation to pursue truly productive endeavours, unfettered by the burden of daily toil for the necessities of life. All truly great cultures which have risen in the past have provided sustenance and support to those few who made inroads to real science, learning and philosophy, without which those people would likely have been bogged down & tied to the grindstone just like all the other serfs. Being able to get into that happy situation is the unreachable dream for most of our population, despite feel-good political propaganda to the contrary. Were I to achieve that, I'd still never have enough time to do all the things that I need to accomplish.

do with my time as I do now be on puter answering posts like this one lol. When I was younger I felt bad that I couldnt get out and work to help the family money coming in I had the kids to bring up and thats what Hubby wanted me to do. I found out that later . Then when kids got grown I took any job that I could as I felt like I was contubuting to the house hold moneyand really felt goood about myself.But then I had to stop that as had to take care of hubby he wante d me home all the time. So I got puter thinking I could learn to make some money here . so far not making but what I make here lol. But am still looking for that one thing to do on the puter to put more money into the house. BUt then again I am pretty happy to do nothing let the others do it for a change! hugs

Hello Raia, another great topic from you that serves to challenge our mind. I can relate to this, as I am currently not working in the normal sense that society defines as “working”, but more on this later. Let’s first define what “work” is. Work involves physical as well as mental effort. When a person works, his activity is directed at a specific purpose or objective. So someone’s idea of working may be someone else’s idea of leisure, and it all depends on what the work involves. Work usually equates to pay, but there is also unpaid work such as voluntary work, or favors done for others. People work for a variety of reasons. The most prevalent one is financially-related. Many people will readily admit that they “work for the money”, so that they can be financially independent and have control over their lives. They feel good that they can be productive, and employ the skills to do the job they are good at. People set goals and ambitions for themselves, and strive in their work to try and achieve those goals. It increases their self-worth. When someone performs rewarding and meaningful activities, and derives companionship in the process, it equates to job satisfaction for them. Against these perspectives, let me declare that I very much embrace the virtues of hard work, setting ambitions for my life, being productive and striving for job satisfaction. I joined the workforce right after my university education, and for nearly 25 years, I had offered my best efforts in a job that I thoroughly enjoyed expounding my talent and skills in doing. Three years ago, I decided in consultation with my wife that I will voluntarily leave my job as a Senior Project Manager in an IT organization to pursue a different work life, that of working from home. One of the impetus for me taking this initiative was that I had re-examined my career and felt that my career was reaching a plateau, and work stresses would only continue to multiply and not diminish over time. My bosses supported my move, and the company gave me a payout to part amicably. I left happily on a high note. I remember when I was saying my goodbyes, one admin manager remarked that I was very brave to make such a decision. I had consciously done my sums before I initiated this early exit from my company. I didn’t “have” to work if I chose not to, because I have saved all my life, been prudent in my spending and I could live on my investments alone. That was the happy situation I was in, which allowed me to take the route of changing my work life. What I decided for myself was a departure from the usual norm of ‘working for a living’ that society has come to expect, where people would normally stay gainfully employed (as in working for an employer) till retirement. Fact is societal norms for working are changing with the proliferation of the internet, and a work-from-home industry that is gaining more prominence and acceptance. So how do I feel being in an unemployed or self-employed (from home) state? For sure, the day after I left my job, I felt strange because I didn’t have to dress up for work. But I felt like a whole burden of stress was taken off my shoulders. For once, I didn’t have a boss to report to, and I do not have to be accountable to anyone. The feeling was heaven. I must admit though that I sometimes question my sense of self-worth, because when you don’t work in a real job, you don’t feel the same motivation and sense of being productive as when you work. I am getting used to this after three years away from an office. At the end of the day, it is what suits my circumstances that matter to me for my financial well-being and for my future, and not what the society dictates. I have not regretted making this major decision in my life, because I am still making money in other ways. It is just that I am not doing this in an office.

This is a great subject for me right now as I sit bogged down with stuff to do- kids, school, etc..I haven't work in a couple of years-pretty much since I had my son and got sick after. Before that I had been working in the bar/restaurant business for 15 years. I have always had a job and for me being without one does affect my inner self. Everyone can say that being a mom is the most important job in the world and I don't disagree to a degree. For myself,frankly, it isn't enough. I'm not a stay at home person. I'm used to being in perpetual motion and like it that way, it makes me stronger and makes me who Iam. I do slow down everyday for awhile which is important. You know I'm in nursing school and for me it's about a career partly. Those who know me, know that it is also a very fitting profession for me because I do genuinely care for people and have this need to take care of them at their time of need. Sounds like?...Being a mom..These two things interconnected in life the way things should. It's funny sometimes what paths we take. I also want to show my kids the importance of a college education. How can you talk to your kids about college not having gone yourself? I want them to have a rolemodel and I have a need for it to be me. Balance is key and I'm proud to say that this job would define me in a positive way and not in an "I'm too busy kind of way". If that makes sense...Have a great day.

I agree that a person is so much more than their job title, yet we are often expected to define ourselves with the work we do. It is one of the first questions asked when meeting someone new, as a way of identifying wealth, status and personality. It is difficult, sometimes, when you are self employed to define what it is you do, unless you have a trade or a business that people recognize. Being self employed does suggest you are a brave and confident individual, and you do not need a job title to define your place in society.

I have ZERO guilt about not working LOL I grew up in a household where only my Dad worked and he looked forward to retirement. My parents live very nicely on his pension and have for a few years now. I believe people who do not have to work are lucky and should not feel as if they have to work. I will never understand why people feel the need to use their work to define themselves.

I doubt if I am qualified to answer this question because for one, I belong to that class of women who were conditioned to be housewives, learn to live within the income of their husbands, do not have great expectations from life [thereby tone down one's desires]learn to be happy as a homemaker, buy things if husband's budget permitted but never look at them even if there was a remote chance of that being perceived as unnecessary . There was a period when I felt like having extra money when my husband started on his independent venture[ though his superb planning could always see that the household ran without a hitch on a simple life style] and I started my independent ventures. Strictly speaking , I have limited desires and so it became easy for me to earn whatever pocket moneey I wanted and spend it as my impulse dictated. But having tasted a bit of limelight, pocket money, financial independence, I became addicted to it. Now it is not a question of 'having' to work because our savings will take care of our lifestyle which has never changed with the passage of 30 years.My husband believes in maintaining the same life style irrespective of whatever we earn and i always abide by his principles because I have found it rewarding.This came in handy during the ups and relative downs of our life.I do not need to work because my savings can take care of my limited desires.I have always had the habit of looking at something or wishing to buy it if and when i was sure that i could afford it-this habit and quality of mine has really helped me though I was never conscious about it. But, now it is for the sake of the ' activity' that I yearn for work and am successfully writing my freelance assignments. It is the satisfaction of engaging myself in an activity of my choice. Whatever money I earn is good enough-it has been less than what I did earlier but this does not bother me one bit. Men of our generation and age may think otherwise because I have heard of this 'self esteem ' crisis attacking retired men and changing their behaviour. I do not care about society or what people may think about me and our life style [where we do not own a house or a car ].I can live for myself and not for society.As long as my 'having' or 'not having' work has no impact on others how does it matter what anyone thinks?It is my business and not any one else's .I know my worth and I am grateful to God for what I am. No one can create self doubt in this sphere[there may be other areas where self doubt can be created but never in this]

Yes, the feeling of self worth comes from being able to sustain some form of employment for many people. Giving back to society, making oneself useful. Some people even fear retirement. It's not even a matter of money or being able to provide for self and family. It's a feeling of fulfillment through work. I think in a way we all have a bit of that inside us. Just a bit for me, please :) I will not be an hypocrite and say that even if I had enough money not to work I would feel better by still giving back to society:) I would certainly enjoy the fact that I didn't need to work very gracefully. There are many things that I would love to do. Study some more, learn new languages, take an art course, maybe finish my masters.... maybe I could do some counseling every once in a while - that wouldn't feel like work . I would have time to volunteer in many different areas that interest me. I would certainly have time to enjoy more things with my family, show my kids things that I experienced and wasn't able to offer them. THere would be time - and money hopefully :) - to finally enjoy again - and afford - a nice real play , a ballet even a nice opera every once in a while. I would love to join a choir again - if my voice was still usable - or maybe a drama class. And the books..........I could catch up on my reading LOL or take my watercolors and go find pretty places:) I could... ok , ok I'll stop here. You know, you started it LOL WOuld I feel bad for not working? Not at all. Do I feel bad because I have to work? Not at all:)

I'm one of the fortunate ones. I'm one of those people who live a life, managed early on, making it to the point that I don't have to work. It wasn't always that way.... I started young enough and put myself in positions (even then) that I knew would later help me live a life I wanted instead of needed. I never bought into the idea that I had to work my fingers to the bone just to get by. I always managed to work for myself or in a position where I was in control of my own destiny, making enough money to start saving for 'old age' when I was young. While growing up, watching my mom and dad struggle to raise a family, I could understand it what it was going to take to live a life that I didn't have to depend on much, except my own abilities. I realized early on that no one in this world was going to 'take care of me' the way I felt I could and no one was responsible for me, but me. I made sure that I could take care of myself if the need arose. I was always much wiser than my years, thanks to the wonderful wisdom of my mother who taught me the basics of good money management as well as other things. I never worried much what other people thought of me or how they viewed my choices, because they weren't the ones paying my bills. I was taught early of my value and what I thought of myself is what would get me through life, not what other people thought. As it is now, not having to work, I think my value level has risen because I can see the importance of being at home, taking care of our home and family. Not working (outside the home) has given me the time to have my home 'in order'. My home is comfortable and at any given moment is ready to receive whatever guest might come for whatever reason. I'm available to be of service to my family at any given moment for any reason. I have my 'routine', making and keeping my home presentable, dishes are always done, food is always ready, clothes are always clean, furniture is always dusted, yard is manicured and clean,,,etc. I am a true 'homemaker', which is a job in itself. I rarely just sit and do nothing. My leisure time is divided between being online (here at mylots) or anything else inparticular that I choose, once I complete my daily chores. While there's much to being said about the almighty dollar, there's equally as much can be said about being a stay at home mom or 'homemaker'.

I would probably do some volunteer work....maybe at a childrens hospital or a soup kitchen. I would have to feel that I am doing something good for the world. I would also spend more time with my family and friends as I'd have to feel that I was doing something good within my own little world. Last but not least, I'd take more time for me....do things I love to do but don't always have time for. If I had enough money to retire, I would not feel the least bit guilty at all for I'd know that I earned it. My job does not define me in the least.

Hi perspectives, Many people haven't been able to separate themselves from their work, and these people cannot handle retirement. Some die within a year or two of retiring, seemingly for from no other cause, than the fact that they lost interest in living. If I were a young man now and didn't have to work, what would I do and how would I feel about it? I feel sure that I would want to do the things that interested me and not having to worry about money would make it even better. I don't think it would affect my sense of self worth, even if I sat and wrote poetry all day, because I'd be doing what I loved. It's true that our society is geared to getting an education and being productive, and I still think I would want an education, hmm ... maybe I would become a perpetual student. It's a very interesting idea perspective and worthy of some thought. Blessings.