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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
   
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | If you had the chance at a) making killer money but long hours, no real life/time for hobbies or b) 9-5 job, making a decent living but having time for hobbies/life, what would you choose? Hobbies are horses/barrel racing in this question. |
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| That's a tough one. Depending on your age, priorities and goals in life, either one would be an appropriate choice. If you're younger, you could choose A, work for a few years, pay down your debts (if you have any), and save a bunch of money so then you will be ready to make the best of your free time when you switch to career B. Or with B, you could have that free time now, but not as much money that could potentially help you along the way. I would write down your goals, priorities and what you hope to accomplish in 5, 10 and 15 years, and see where your career and hobbies fit into that.
My husband worked at a TB breeding farm for 11 years, which enabled him to pay off his student loans, but he worked 7 days a week for 8 months of the year, and 6 days a week for the rest. Now he is self employed and owns his own equine vet practice, which means a lot more free time, but basically no income for the first few years. It has been a trade off, because he was supporting me when I was making next to nothing, but now my career keeps us afloat!
Edited by madredepeanut 2018-01-09 10:44 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Northern Ontario | I would go with option b. You said you would make a decent living which would be enough to support your hobbies...there is more to life than work and money imo, but then again, I was raised simply and am really good at managing money. I chose a career that I enjoy that pays the bills and gives me lots of free time. I dont have super fancy things, but I am happy to be able to do the things I love |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| madredepeanut - 2018-01-09 9:36 PM
That's a tough one. Depending on your age, priorities and goals in life, either one would be an appropriate choice. If you're younger, you could choose A, work for a few years, pay down your debts (if you have any), and save a bunch of money so then you will be ready to make the best of your free time when you switch to career B. Or with B, you could have that free time now, but not as much money that could potentially help you along the way. I would write down your goals, priorities and what you hope to accomplish in 5, 10 and 15 years, and see where your career and hobbies fit into that.
My husband worked at a TB breeding farm for 11 years, which enabled him to pay off his student loans, but he worked 7 days a week for 8 months of the year, and 6 days a week for the rest. Now he is self employed and owns his own equine vet practice, which means a lot more free time, but basically no income for the first few years. It has been a trade off, because he was supporting me when I was making next to nothing, but now my career keeps us afloat!
I agree with this! If you are younger, I might consider taking the job that pays very well for a few years, and save, save, save! Putting all the money you can away for a rainy day/retirement.
I hear a lot of people say they don't care about money, but money is important. Having a nest egg is important. You never know what tomorrow can bring and I think it's wise to be as prepared as possible. And if you take the job that pays really well for a few years, you might be able to not stress about money all the time like a lot of us do. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
 
| Depends on your current situation and resume.
What debt do you have? Access to health care and 401k? What does your resume look like? Would a few years at A open doors to a schedule more like B with money closer to A? |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I'm not in to long hours even if I didn't have a horse hobby. There's more to life than work - UNLESS I was drowning in debt. I work to live, not live to work. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | bccanchaser16 - 2018-01-09 9:23 PM
If you had the chance at a) making killer money but long hours, no real life/time for hobbies or b) 9-5 job, making a decent living but having time for hobbies/life, what would you choose? Hobbies are horses/barrel racing in this question.
Personally, I'd choose B...unless choice A was absolutely my dream job that I ENJOYED spending most of my time at.
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| The money will not matter eventually if you can't live your life. Option B. I make pretty good salary and still struggle with my 8-5 life cuz I'd rather be riding! |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | Are you young? single? lol
I would choose A. I've been there and I still found a way to ride my own and compete. I worked 3 jobs. A 9-5 making good money, 2 nights plus Saturdays as a waitress, and on the nights I didn't waitress I rode horses for a farm. 60-70hr work weeks. I didn't get to my own horse until sometimes 9 or 10 at night. But, I had Sundays off plus the occasional weekend to barrel race.
Now that I'm old, married, and starting a family I'm making great money at my 9-5 job (11 years in) and have all the free time and money to ride/race. |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | I tried just doing the horse thing but it just didn't financially work. Not a guaranteed paycheck. So I found a part time job and it's not a whole lot but it helps support the horse habit. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Pshhhhhh....I'm working a minimum of 70 hours a week, and mobilizing to various parts of the country on no particular schedule or pattern but the oilfields'. Trust me, you learn to get up early and stay up late. I'm currently loping horses at night after working out with one of those yellowish yard lights in a community where I know absolutely no one. I clean stalls in the headlights. A lot of the time I'm up early to feed, work out and shower before I have to be to work, and that's at 5:30. Dark thirty to darker thirty.
Take the money, honey. If you can't handle something, you can ALWAYS dumb it down. Otherwise, you're always going to be sitting on your skinny checkbook wondering, "What if?"
For me, I'm endeavoring for the time to come when I'm sitting on my skinny checkbook with my 30 hr week, in my paid for house, on my paid for land, feeding horses in my paid for barn, and riding in my paid for arena, and smile about how 'poor' I am.
No, money isn't everything, but there's been a heck of a lot of dreams and a whole lot of talent wasted by the lack of it.
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | classicpotatochip - 2018-01-10 11:50 PM
Pshhhhhh....I'm working a minimum of 70 hours a week, and mobilizing to various parts of the country on no particular schedule or pattern but the oilfields'. Trust me, you learn to get up early and stay up late. I'm currently loping horses at night after working out with one of those yellowish yard lights in a community where I know absolutely no one. I clean stalls in the headlights. A lot of the time I'm up early to feed, work out and shower before I have to be to work, and that's at 5:30. Dark thirty to darker thirty.
Take the money, honey. If you can't handle something, you can ALWAYS dumb it down. Otherwise, you're always going to be sitting on your skinny checkbook wondering, "What if?"
For me, I'm endeavoring for the time to come when I'm sitting on my skinny checkbook with my 30 hr week, in my paid for house, on my paid for land, feeding horses in my paid for barn, and riding in my paid for arena, and smile about how 'poor' I am.
No, money isn't everything, but there's been a heck of a lot of dreams and a whole lot of talent wasted by the lack of it.
Sometimes I wish I could just lay it out there for myself and others much like you do!! Straight and to the point, lady!  |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | A,A,A.make lots of it while you can.nothing is a sure thing.times are hard, and the world has gone crazy.only you can make yourself comfortable.success has lots of PERKs.you may not have time for that hobby to start with ,but that is only temporary. |
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 The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
Location: Arizona | bccanchaser16 - 2018-01-09 8:23 PM
If you had the chance at a) making killer money but long hours, no real life/time for hobbies or b) 9-5 job, making a decent living but having time for hobbies/life, what would you choose? Hobbies are horses/barrel racing in this question.
I have had both, and I choose the lesser paid one....when I don't have time for my horses I become quite grouchy. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I would rather work for more to save than to scrape by for more to spend.  |
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | You are young, I would take A right now and get me a good nest egg going.
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I would hustle while you don't have obligations that require your time, that way if you ever want to slow down and start a family you have some debts paid off.
Financially speaking I probably didn't pick the right job... huge student loan burden, long hours, and 1/3 the pay my medical doctor counterparts get for the same level of education. But I love what I'm doing and down the road I have opportunities to make more if I buy in. |
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Location: Washington State | I am currently doing option A... and I absolutely hate it. This isn't my dream job by any means, and I dread spending so much time at work. I resent work because I hardly have time to ride or compete anymore, and my young mare has not been seasoned at races and she's only getting older... I am young and about two years out of college, and this job will look great on my resume but I am definitely looking for a new job that only has me working 40 hours a week. Right now I'm working 60-70 (and I'm salaried!)
I would definitely take a pay cut in order to enjoy more time with my friends, family and horses. I'm very passionate about horses and barrel racing so you just have to see what your values align with the best. No one can tell you what is right or wrong for you, opinions are great but they don't work for every situation. I see a lot of people recommending to save, save, save and take Option A which is part of the reason I took this job in the first place, but I have come to the point where my happiness is not worth sacrificing for more money.
I've been applying for jobs that are my dream career and would consist of 40 hours a week, but with experience and training would become a lifetime career that would also allow me to ride and spend time with friends and family. I'm hoping I get a call soon...
Edited by smatty 2018-01-16 1:23 PM
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | Can I work A and save money then find a B when I have like $50k?
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Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | I am young and I am single with no debts beside student loans. I do really appreciate the advice. I am going with B. If A was an oilfield job, I'd take it in a freakin' heartbeat with no looking back, make some cold hard cash and leave, but it's not. I ultimately realized that I just had my third major knee surgery at the age of 24 and being physically fit is part of A, and my lifestyle choices were not going to compatable with A. |
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