‘There's more to life than money’: Overworked employee accepts job offer that is $70K lower than current salary, leading to a heated discussion about work-life balance

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 21, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

We all know the famous phrase - "Money can't buy happiness", and we all surely felt like this statement could not be far from the truth. Many things that make a person happy require money, so it's hard not to look at money as the source of one's happiness and contentment in life.

But there still is more to life than just making money. For example, if all you do is make money, and you have no free time to actually spend that money in ways that make you happy, then what is the point of all your hard work? The employee in this Reddit story has been asking himself that very same question, after overworking himself for years. Finally, he realized that he could not keep it going, and decided to look for a job that was less demanding. The offers he got through, were $70K lower than his current salary, which led to a heated family discussion about whether or not he should accept them.

Scroll down to read the full story. After you are done, click here for a story of a boss who refused to fix the office AC. 

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  • 01
    A 27418 "I'm going to take a $70K pay cut to be happier" TAX+ TAX- 7 85 9 5 6 M Ма M- STATES GF 2262 VITED
    via Canva
  • 02
    I think I'm going to take a 70k pay cut to be happier.
    via u/Flight6324
  • 03
    Currently working as a senior engineer in the aerospace industry at a small company. The only aspect of the job I like is the pay and the health insurance. Otherwise, it's a stressful and
    via u/Flight6324
  • 04
    chaotic job with a long commute (at least 1 hour each way) and long hours. I basically don't get to see my family during the week unless I work from home - which I'm able to do a few times per
    via u/Flight6324
  • 05
    month. Hobbies have fallen by the wayside. I enjoy being an engineer and an engineering leader, so I don't completely loathe every day, but I certainly loathe more days than I can say I
    via u/Flight6324
  • 06
    enjoy. I also don't feel like I can set any sort of boundaries and need to be 200% committed to the job because the company has been known to let people go for perceived poor performance with
    via u/Flight6324
  • 07
    no warning. I've been with the company for a year and have seen it multiple times. I have connections at larger/more established aerospace companies (Northrop, Lockheed, etc.) and have taken multiple interviews. I
    via u/Flight6324
  • 08
    have a couple outstanding offers. Current salary is about 200k and my two offers are 120k and 130k. Both are jobs that I feel I would thoroughly enjoy, and both are jobs that are solid 40 hour a week
    via u/Flight6324
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    jobs rarely demanding more - than that. My commute would also go from 1 hr each way to 20 min each way. Wife is stressing about the financials because we would have to make some serious
    via u/Flight6324
  • 10
    changes and things would be tight, but I think it's worth readjusting our lifestyle for the sake of my long-term mental/physical health. The men in my family seem to d . young (50s, 60s) when stress is not under control.
    via u/Flight6324
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    Anyway - thanks for listening. Helps me to type stuff out and get other opinions.
    via u/Flight6324
  • 12
    • Hulk_Crowgan · 12 hr. ago It's not like you're going from 200k to 50k, you'll be alright. Enjoy your life
    via u/Hulk_Crowgan
  • 13
    Juice By You 13 hr. ago There's more to life than money. 458 Reply Share Flight6324 OP. 13 hr. ago 100%
    via u/JuiceByYou
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    EQ_Moreno_1775 · 11 hr. ago . edited 11 hr. ago I don't know who told you that at Northrop/ LM they only work 40 hours a week because they are lying to you.
    via u/EQ_Moreno_1775
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    You also need to do a better job of negotiating your salary. They have the money to pay you more sounds like you are interviewing for a level 3 position when you should be at a Level 5 position. You may not
    via u/EQ_Moreno_1775
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    have the 5 but you should easily be able to come in as a 4. Question are you currently cleared and if not are these jobs coming with a clearance?
    via u/EQ_Moreno_1775
  • 17
    Infinite-Noodle. 12 hr. ago Make those financial changes before switching jobs. This puts you in a better position when the time comes and allows you to build up savings before making the change.
    via u/Infinite-Noodle
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    I took a huge pay cut about a year ago because I needed a change. It can be the right move. You just really need to be ready to lower your standards of living, which is very hard to do. But money isn't worth working yourself into an early grave.
    via u/Infinite-Noodle
  • 19
    • Saephon 10 hr. ago Yep. Do the budget work now - ask yourself if some of your needs are really just "important wants" you've gotten accustomed to. If the bills are getting paid and you're enjoying life, you make enough.
    via u/Saephon
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    • Sure_Grapefruit5820 · 11 hr. ago I get you. My husband earns 6 figures and declined a 60k pay increase that didn't even include bonus and those other add on.
    via u/Sure_Grapefruit5820
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    He said the job responsibilities was too much and the increase salary just wasn't worth it for him. I supported him fully. I don't want him to be drained and unhappy.
    via u/Sure_Grapefruit5820
  • 22
    Tired TrashPanda7384 13 hr. ago • Id do it if its ruining your mental health, that'll likely cause you more lost money in the long run than quitting and taking a paycut would
    via u/Tired TrashPanda7384
  • 23
    thisoneistoben ked 10 hr. ago Can you have a conversation with your manager about workload and hybrid work? I'd at least raise this before jumping straight to a $70k cut
    via u/thisoneistoben*ked

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family employee job drama job offer money Reddit salary work workplace paycheck reddit story workplace-stories overworked-employees
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