Why Do You Work?

[billisonboard]

Someone gave their reason on a different thread which got me thinking about it.

I work because my existence creates demands on the Earth and my fellow inhabitants of the planet/my nation/state/community/family. I feel better knowing that I am carrying my own weight and hope that at the end of my life that I have given more than I will have taken.

How about you?

[laterbloomer]

I need the money. I would still need to do something productive if I was independently wealthy but I'm not sure I would be doing the same thing.

[msventoux]

I want things. Stealing is abhorrent to me. I refuse to be able bodied and dependent on another. I don’t have sufficient beauty or powers of persuasion to convince others to give me things to support myself while asking nothing in return. So I work.

[Miss Tequila]

I work because I want a nice lifestyle. If I can have the same lifestyle I have now (I do not live extravagantly) without working, I would not be working.  I have a lot of interests outside of work that I would pursue that I just can't find the time for now.  

[bean29]

Aug 14, 2019 15:06:17 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I work because I want a nice lifestyle. If I can have the same lifestyle I have now (I do not live extravagantly) without working, I would not be working.  I have a lot of interests outside of work that I would pursue that I just can't find the time for now.  

[Tiny]

Aug 14, 2019 15:06:17 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

I work because I want a nice lifestyle. If I can have the same lifestyle I have now (I do not live extravagantly) without working, I would not be working.  I have a lot of interests outside of work that I would pursue that I just can't find the time for now.  

    and I also add that I "work" because I feel what I do at work is meaningful in the bigger picture (beyond my immediate family/friends) - I believe (or at least hope) that what I do on a daily basis makes a positive difference in other's lives beyond my own.  Maybe it effects a really lot of people.   It's not totally all about me.  

If I didn't have to go to work, i'd be pursuing my hobbies and would actively work to make a positive difference in my community and beyond.   I need that little extra beyond "it's all about me" to give my life meaning.      Which kinda does make it all about me   

[tallguy]

Why Do You Work?

I don't.      When I did, it was to be able to support the life I wanted on the way to creating a future where I didn't have to work.  Gave up some things, but..Mission Accomplished.  Retired early.  Couldn't be happier.  Don't regret it a bit. 

[mroped]

I’d be bored out of my mind. Working relaxes me!
i build things that make people happy and that makes me happy!

[swamp]

I like the financial security working provides me.    I've seen the life welfare recipients live.   While their necessities are covered, it doesn't look like much fun.  

I also need the structure work provides me, I don't do well with large blocks of unstructured time. 

I like making a difference. 

I want to show my kids what you can accomplish when you work for it.  

[andi9899]

I work because I want to be like Swamp.

[Deleted]

I don't work.

My work is done.

[Artemis Windsong]

I'm retired but when I did work, it was to maintain a living for my family and save money.  My goal was to have investments support me.  With Social Security, it's working.

At different times in my life, working meant different things.  The part time job I had to keep from going stir crazy turned into a nightmare of office politics.

edit:  When I was a young single mother, my Dad offered to support us. No way.  He would own me and my household with too much say in my comings and goings.

[Tennesseer]

At the age of 23, I began working for a company which was just two years old.  I thought I would stay for maybe a couple of years at most and then move on.  I stayed for thirty years.  

I stayed because in the beginning we were all flying by the seat of our pants.  There were plenty of like-minded co-workers.  There were not a lot of rules let alone policies.  But we knew what needed to be done and daily got the job done.

I thrived in that type of environment.  As the company matured, policies and rules were introduced and that was fine with me.  There needed to be structure.  

I worked because I needed some sort of regular income.  But I also worked because I liked the work I was doing and the company's culture.  I often tell others maybe six months of the thirty years was work, often unpleasant.  But the other twenty-nine and a half years was like being paid for participating in a hobby.  The various jobs were always interesting and a challenge.

[OldCoyote]

I work because I help a lot of business that need my skills. some I charge some I don't.

The work that do charge for means we don't touch any of the money in the accounts.. except required disbursements.

[steff]

I'll jump in even tho most would say that a housewife doesn't work.   I work within the home. I do it to not only take care of my family, but to contribute to our lives.  I don't make any money, but I find ways to save money & reduce costs to help save.  I do it to make my husband's life easier when he comes home because he works very hard & long hours.  I know I am lucky to have the luxury of staying home even when we did struggle on 1 income.  For our home & the industry my husband works in & the hours that meant, it was the best decision for us even if financially it wasn't always easy. 

my work didn't produce a monetary income, but it made life easier for the person who did. 

now I'm just a spoiled bitch because my son is an adult & my work load is easy. 

[plugginaway22]

At age 59, I work only for the money! So that it can be saved, so that we can travel, so that I don't have to worry about buying anything. We struggled on one income for many years with 3 small children at home, but it was the best decision at that time.  Now the goal is to QUIT working, not quite there yet.

[haapai]

I work because it beats the hell out of standing around listening to my coworkers slander and belittle absent coworkers.  That and I'm usually not permitted to go home until my work is done.  Does it irritate me to be working while others are contriving criticisms?  Well, yes it does.  But working beats being part of that dynamic and it also keeps slander and balderdash from lodging in my brain. 

I think it's fair to say that I work for the paycheck. 

[empress of self-improvement]

I work to get away from DH for a few hours a day. Well, that and what msventoux said.

[hopetoberich]

I work to pay Bill's, not be a burden on my husband and really try to pay my own way. I also have to put money in my IRA.

It's not full time. I am self employed now and just started a side hustle of pet sitting. Love it!

[dogmom]

Insurance benefits and money.  Otherwise, I wouldn't.

[countrygirl2]

Hubs worked and did well for us.  Since I had to quit early we were fortunate for him to have a really good job.  He worked to 69 partly because he wanted to partly because he wanted more SS.  It worked out well. He has remodeled rent houses as we had to move  here and are replacing what we had in Texas.  But he is worried about what he will do later so I think is dragging his feet on this last one.  It is looking nice though.  
We are ok, I would like to travel more but with my health issues the last couple years and DD's not sure it will happen.  But I did get to go for quite a few years so that was good.

The rentals give us a good income and when the last one goes online it will be really good. We worked to have a decent life and to have a good retirement.  Hubs is enjoying himself so that's good.  He sacrificed a lot to give us a good life so its his time.  I would rather be closer to town, but nothing will ever be perfect, so its ok.

[weltschmerz]

I don't work, as I'm retired. I worked like a dog for the last 50 years and now I'm enjoying the fruits of my labours.

[NoNamePerson]

I worked because I couldn't find anyone willing to "keep" me. I'm a "B" to live with and I know it. So made my own way and drug up from the job market at 60 and absolutely no regrets.

[spartan7886]

I work for the money and because I am not aware of any hobbies that allow me to enjoy giant machinery and the middle of the ocean at the same time. 

[OldCoyote]

I continue to work because it allows me to maintain a comfortable life style while not touching the money accounts except required disbursements!

That and it keeps me out of the house, where if I were to be there too much, ,, My wife would kill me!!

[Gardening Grandma]

I don’t. I’m retired.

I worked full time for about 35 years, then part time for another 10.
I worked because I had children to raise, bills to pay and because financial security was very important to me. I also enjoyed seeing a paycheck with my name on it. I took pride in being able to give my sons a financially secure (but not luxurious) upbringing.

[Value Buy]

Late to the thread and now retired.

1. For our children, and to hopefully supply them with monetary needs as well as soulful/moral needs because I made enough money to have the time to do it. Probably learne this from my parents.
2. because it was engrained in me from childhood, that I better take it seriously
3. and this helped, I actually enjoyed the work for the first 40 years. After that it pretty much sucked.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

1. Feed, house, raise my kids
2. Not be a burden to others--including my husband
3. Have a comfortable life style
4. Fully participate in our economy


Now, I have a specific job because I believe that job is valuable and integral to perpetuating our society in a productive way. I could make a lot more money than I do if I'd used my skill sets for profit. 

However, I'd have preferred to be a SAHM while raising my children. However, #1 & #2 could not have happened if I went that route. 

[flan327]

I started working for health insurance

I was a Children's librarian for 36 1/2 years

I've been a substitute teacher for almost 3 years now.

I love kids.

🍮