Here's a topic starter: Has anyone or their spouse taken a pay cut in order to get a job that would make them happier? Is it better to make more money, or follow your passion?

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well before dh and i had kids i had a great career in the hair industry i ran a beauty whole sale store(for liscensed stylist only) i had previously worked and managed a major salon chain store. so i was moving up in my industry..after 4 years in the wholesale business we wanted to start a family but my job was not condusive to family life i traveled alot my dh worked 50 plus hours at his job in a factory...so i started applying for regular hour jobs. i ended up working in the banking industry as a customer service rep for $6.00 an hour less than i was making..i loved the job the treated me wonderfuly and i worked there until i became a sahm...in the end it was the best decision we ever made though thru the years at times it did not feel like....i feel our hapiness is at an all time high since we have simplified our lives and changed our visions and dreams not to include just materialistic things!

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The last time I contemplated a job move, I put a lot of thought into my priorities-- hours, money, environment, job tasks, happiness. Living pay check to pay check really causes me a lot of stress but I realized that no amount of money could keep me at a job I didn't enjoy. For me, the daily tasks, environment and hours were more important. Everyone will have a different answer for themselves on this one, so my best advice would be to think seriously about long term happiness for each scenario.

My DH did this back in March of this year. He'd finally had enough of the instability and disloyalty in the car business. He has taken a job as a delivery driver for a countertop company and absolutely loves it! It is a lot less money than he was making at the dealership for about the same hours, but he just seems much happier. He actually enjoys going to work! The amazing thing is that our home life and money situation seem to have improved with this job change. I think it has been the best decision for our family.

My step father took a 70% cut in pay to leave private industry to move into the ministry. Never seen him happier.

Granted he and my mother had to realine their priorities and some spending but they had been very good at investing so were not living paycheck to paycheck before they made that change.

It needs to be a personal choice and be able to look at what the other costs or savings will occur with that change, sometimes it's not just money but other considerations about qaulity time, down time, less or more costs in communting, etc.


My cousin used to be an accountant, he hated it. 6 months ago he took a job as a bus driver in the city, he LOVES his job now and he such a happier person.

Good luck

I think for us it has to be a balance. I have taken jobs that made much less, but then had less related expenses (daycare, clothing, etc)

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~Happiness is a large family~

My dh did this a year and a half ago. We really didn't take a pay cut but we had the same salary and moved to an area with a higher cost of living. It worked out for us though. With in 6 months he got a substantal raise one that was not planned on when he got hired. He loves his job now and all his migranes have gone away. Best move of our lives. Our family life is the best it's ever been being that DH is almost never in a bad mood b/c of work.

DH and I have both done this in the past 6 months. I think its good to have a job you like AND make money. Basically, DH and I took paycuts that were reasonable. If the difference in salary had made it impossible to live, I wouldn't have done it.

My DH did this in September of 2006 and he has never been happier. He was an executive chef and he left to become a general manager of a bowling alley. The hours are the same but there is a chance for him to move up within the company! He loves to bowl and this is his dream job!

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Arrica (30)
DH (37) - Larry (married 10/14/00)
DD - Emersyn (08/25/06)
Furbabies - Loti and Cooper

I took a HUGE paycut for the job I have now, SAHM. Haven't regretted it for a moment.

My bosses are very demanding, though, and they don't even let me get a lunch break - plus they have to follow me everywhere, even the bathroom. But they're the cutest bosses in the world and the love me! Plus, I get some great perks...hugs and kisses and more!

And no layoffs, and they can't fire me, no matter how badly I mess up!

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