Is it better to do your passion as a career if it pays less or do something else that pays more if it means you can reach your financial goals sooner while pursuing and funding your passion on the side? Which did/would you choose and why?

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Depends on how much less. I’m spent most of my 20s doing low paid work in the nonprofit field and ended up constantly broke and feeling resentful of being underpaid and overworked.

Is accounting a passion for me? No. But I do think it’s interesting and I still work with with nonprofits, just in a different capacity. Plus, now I make a living wage and have a 401k. My quality of life is better (even with busy season) because I’m not constantly anxious about money and have the funds to travel and pay for my hobbies.

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Hmmm very insightful. What if it’s ~35k less in the first year. Then upwards of 50k after year 3 etc?

Do something to maximize income, invest aggressively, and semi-retire in 10 years to pursue passion projects

likeuplifting

Makes sense to me!

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Switched like two months ago from trying to be creatively fulfilled at work to using work to fund creative fulfillment outside of work and I feel much better

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I am doing the latter. I have a job that pays decent with good wlb, and I’m pursuing a music career on the side for fun with no intention of making any money. That being said, I’m trying to make the best music I can.

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It depends on whether being paid less means constantly struggling to make ends meet/living paycheck to paycheck, or just means fewer luxuries but still financially secure. In my experience, lack of financial security can wear on you and can mean a constant baseline of anxiety. If you can do something you’re passionate about and comfortably support yourself (pay for necessities, build savings, plan for retirement) then I think that’s the dream (even if you’re less well-off than you could be in another profession)

Doing something that provides more financial support can be good for a feeling of stability and can give you the freedom to do what you want to outside of work. I’d just say to be careful to choose something you like well enough that you won’t be miserable and to keep an eye on your work life balance - it’s easy to lose sight of that and end up not doing the things you love during or outside of work

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There are so many ways to approach this.
I think one really great way is the mini sabbatical. Working hard being paid well in something that challenges you (and hopefully you enjoy!) then taking a year off every 5 to 7 years.

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I vote for passion! If you do something you enjoy you won’t mind putting the hours towards it and you’ll end up being better than most people in your field, as a result!

Are you able to be creative whilst under financial pressure?
I have bounced between making art and marketing- even marketing in the arts! Currently I’m making $$ and painting on saturdays. Not perfect but honestly I can’t get creative when I’m scared about the bills

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