Would you take a pay cut for happiness?

I am torn right now on what I want to do with my life. I work in retail as an assistant manager. I am so burnt out on it. I have to work 44 hours a week minimum, have crazy customers more times than not, and I just don't feel it is what I want to do with my life. Everyday I wake up and do not look forward to going in. I'm tired of not getting off work until either 7 or 9:30pm and forget having any holidays off. I am supposed to be working towards taking over my own store, but that would require way more hours. I honestly don't want the responsibility. PLUS, I'm selling a product (Clarks Shoes, all leather) that I don't promote and feel bad about it now that I am living this lifestyle. I'm thinking about just working two part time jobs with better hours. I really want to work at the zoo and a garden center, haha. These would not pay me nearly as well and I would lose my benefits/health insurance. However, is it worth it to live a happier more fulfilled life? To have time to do things that I actually enjoy? What would you do??

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Permalink Reply by TryxNova on March 3, 2012 at 11:31am

Hahaha what? The welfare office called them crazy just because they said they can't work in jobs they hate? And they still get paid even though they live in another country? I have to say, that is pretty awesome.

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Permalink Reply by Raini Pachak on March 3, 2012 at 11:44am

Whaaaaaa?? Sign me up!

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Permalink Reply by TryxNova on March 3, 2012 at 10:56am

I say go for it if it's what you want!

I am currently unemployed, though not by choice, and my long term boyfriend who I live with pays for everything. He works full time, out of town at a job that makes him miserable. The company is run by a selfish jerk who does not care for any of his employees, and tries to pay them as little as possible. As a result, my boyfriend was "promoted" to a higher position, but with more difficult and dangerous manual labor - and no pay increase! So basically, he is overworked and underpaid... but it pays the bills.

However, my mom and step-dad are working on getting their little convenience store going full speed with a deli and a mini diner and they have asked us to work for them. They live an hour away and we are stuck here for another year, but once it gets going we will be staying with them a few nights out of the week to work there. Yes, my boyfriend will be getting paid less... but his job will be MUCH more stress-free, and you bet he is excited to start! Really the only downside is that my parents will be serving meat at the diner because they are unfortunately corpse-eaters, but we'd still be much happier helping them out than we are right now.