For some reason I prefer low paying jobs

[KrillBee]

I've noticed that for whatever reason, I dont seek out high paying jobs as much. For example, most people in their early twenties try to find jobs that pay $40k+ per year, while meanwhile I'm looking at stuff that pays $20-30k. I have a psych degree, and probably could get a job that pays more, but I choose not to.

Here's why the low paying jobs tend to be the ones I prefer:

1) I hate competition, especially large amounts of it like if 5+ applicants are interviewing for a job. It makes me feel more like I'm an animal being picked from a litter or something. With jobs that pay less it feels like there is much less pressure involved in finding such a job.

2) I dislike the pressure that comes with higher paying jobs. If I'm being paid $20 per hour, I feel like I need to be one heck of a performer or else I feel like I'm not worth what they are paying me.

3) I'm not sure if I'm even worth the higher wages. Maybe this is a sign that my self esteem isn't the greatest, I don't know. But also I feel very bad that some people work very hard and only make $10 per hour, and others sit behind a desk and do nothing all day and make $50 an hour.

4) I like jobs where I get to do physical work. Manual labor jobs usually dont pay the greatest unless you have a skill to go with them, ex: automechanic, plumber, etc.


I'm sure no one will complain that this is the way I am, since that means that there are more higher paying jobs out there for them. This lifestyle isn't one I think I could make myself live with forever, since eventually I do want to move out of my parents house and into an apartment by myself, and have money to go out and do stuff. But for now, for whatever reason, this is how I feel. Anyone else share these same thoughts?

 

[KLin]

One less person to compete against for the high paying jobs :thumbsup:

 

[Goosemaster]

my 'situation':

For some reason I love my job, even though it pays ****

 

[dbk]

No.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: KLin
One less person to compete against for the high paying jobs :thumbsup:

hey, dude..you DID NOT JUST CUT IN FRONT OF ME IN THE INTERVIEWEE LINE?!:|


*pulls out a machete*

 

[simms]

BS Psych degree worth $20/hr? Yeaa.. I dunno.

But do what makes you happy. In the end we're dead regardless of 15.50/hr or 30/hr.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: KLin
One less person to compete against for the high paying jobs :thumbsup:

good luck, there is still like 200,000,000 more. thats why i stopped bothering

 

[yankeesfan]

McJobs FTW!

 

[Gunslinger08]

Sounds like you have no motivation. People often tell you to work where you feel the happiest, but I say work where you make the most money working the amount of hours that you can live with. More money means I can retire earlier and do what really makes me happy - nothing at all. All work is a suck level of about 80 out of 100. Working at a job that pays twice as much may be a suck level of 90, but lets me retire 10 years earlier. 10 years of my life doing what I actually want means a lot to me.. more than that extra 10 suckage points.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: simms
BS Psych degree worth $20/hr? Yeaa.. I dunno.

But do what makes you happy. In the end we're dead regardless of 15.50/hr or 30/hr.

I don't know about you but I plan to freeze myself.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: simms
BS Psych degree worth $20/hr? Yeaa.. I dunno.

But do what makes you happy. In the end we're dead regardless of 15.50/hr or 30/hr.

Yeah, I suppose. Right now I'm not happy, but I'm not sure if finding the high paying job would make me happier. I really hope that someday I can move out, because my parents cripple my social life, and i feel like when I move out thats when life will finally take off, but I just really can't deal with those 4 concerns I listed about trying to find big $ jobs.

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Sounds like you have no motivation. People often tell you to work where you feel the happiest, but I say work where you make the most money working the amount of hours that you can live with. More money means I can retire earlier and do what really makes me happy - nothing at all. All work is a suck level of about 80 out of 100. Working at a job that pays twice as much may be a suck level of 90, but lets me retire 10 years earlier. 10 years of my life doing what I actually want means a lot to me.. more than that extra 10 suckage points.

haha, interesting way to look at it. there is some truth to what you said.
I have lots of motivation and reasons to find a higher paying job and move out, but for some reason im not acting on them. I think its because of the 4 concerns I listed.

 

[richardycc]

dont try to kid yourself, noone 'prefer' low paying jobs, I am guessing you dont have a ph.d in psych, so with a BS in psych, and your low self esteem, if you dont have any other skills, how can you get a high paying job?

 

[wtfbbq]

so what you're saying is you're lazy?

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: richardycc
dont try to kid yourself, noone 'prefer' low paying jobs, I am guessing you dont have a ph.d in psych, so with a BS in psych, and your low self esteem, if you dont have any other skills, how can you get a high paying job?

Its not the fact that they are low paying that I prefer. I mean sure that was one of my reasons, but its more so that its the types of jobs that are high paying and low paying.

But you are right that with a BA in psych, low self esteem, and not many other skills (other than basic IT stuff, which doesnt pay well at all) it is tough to find a higher paying job.

Originally posted by: wtfbbq
so what you're saying is you're lazy?

maybe that's part of it too. interviewing at many jobs where the competition is intense, just to find a place to work, isnt fun.

 

[Slew Foot]

Work in general, sucks major ass. Its mainly used as a medium to obtain enough money to be able to retire. ANything that can help you retire earlier is good. Im aiming to retire between 45 and 50.

 

[TheGizmo]

yea, way to not make the best use of yourself. you dont score high in my book.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: TheGizmo
yea, way to not make the best use of yourself. you dont score high in my book.

what else could i do with myself? i have a ba in psych and no desire to go to grad school, or compete for a job, like monkeys over a banana. and i gotta do what makes me happy too.

 

[f4phantom2500]

if, as you say, you feel living with your parents is crippling your life, then getting outta there should be priority numero uno. the weird thing about this is that you feel you need more money to move out of your parents' house, but you don't want a higher-paying job. if you move out of your parents' house, then you'll be forced to get a job that makes the right amount of money for you. you may have to compromise between enjoying your job and making money, but if the real reason you are unhappy is because you're living with your parents then it shouldn't matter as much. i figure you have an unhappy home life but are ok with your current job (assuming you have a job?), why not switch? most people don't like their job, but you gotta leave the nest sometime, and in your situation i'd say that time should be sooner rather than later.

just my 2 cents.

 

[Tuktuk]

Personally I don't even consider salary when looking for a job. I pick a place I want to live, find a living wage there, and go for it. Salary means nothing but how shiny of a car you can lease and how many toys you can buy. I find a lot more substance in my life now than when I considered such things important.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: KrillBee

Originally posted by: TheGizmo
yea, way to not make the best use of yourself. you dont score high in my book.

what else could i do with myself? i have a ba in psych and no desire to go to grad school, or compete for a job, like monkeys over a banana. and i gotta do what makes me happy too.

what kind of jobs can u get w/a ba in psych besides social worker?

and do social workers pay $20/hr + benefits?!

as for whats makes u happy:
weigh low paying job vs living in your parents place. there's also a social stigma of a 24+ year old male living at home.

rich, unhappy living in your own place vs 40yr old virgin living w/mom. pick your poison

 

[Mermaidman]

Here's what I've foung to be a HUGE difference between low and high paying jobs:

-After finishing your day's work at a low-paying job, you no longer have to think about the work. Whereas with high paying jobs (at least mine), it's a constant presence in my mind.

 

[TecHNooB]

Well your boss will certainly like you!

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: f4phantom2500
if, as you say, you feel living with your parents is crippling your life, then getting outta there should be priority numero uno. the weird thing about this is that you feel you need more money to move out of your parents' house, but you don't want a higher-paying job. if you move out of your parents' house, then you'll be forced to get a job that makes the right amount of money for you. you may have to compromise between enjoying your job and making money, but if the real reason you are unhappy is because you're living with your parents then it shouldn't matter as much. i figure you have an unhappy home life but are ok with your current job (assuming you have a job?), why not switch? most people don't like their job, but you gotta leave the nest sometime, and in your situation i'd say that time should be sooner rather than later.

just my 2 cents.

I think it should probably be a pretty high priority too, but I hope to find a way to make it work. I've contemplated working more hours to compensate, but that would cripple my social life too. So maybe I will have to compromise a little, to find a better paying job.
living with my parents is just part of the reason why im unhappy, but i think moving out would help fix that. i have a current job, as an IT desktop support person (a tiny few week contract)

Originally posted by: Tuktuk
Personally I don't even consider salary when looking for a job. I pick a place I want to live, find a living wage there, and go for it. Salary means nothing but how shiny of a car you can lease and how many toys you can buy. I find a lot more substance in my life now than when I considered such things important.

this is how i feel too. tons of money is unnecessary. and then i feel like i have to be socially responsible when im making that much money.
the trick is, finding a 'living wage' really depends on where im living and how im living. some people consider cell phones a necessity, others dont. same with internet, a car, etc.
i know what i want, and im not sure if finding a job that would support it would be easy.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: JEDI
what kind of jobs can u get w/a ba in psych besides social worker?

good question i have no idea!

and do social workers pay $20/hr + benefits?!

probably not

as for whats makes u happy:
weigh low paying job vs living in your parents place. there's also a social stigma of a 24+ year old male living at home.

rich, unhappy living in your own place vs 40yr old virgin living w/mom. pick your poison

that last sentence pretty much sums it up, lol.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: KrillBee

Originally posted by: JEDI
what kind of jobs can u get w/a ba in psych besides social worker?

good question i have no idea!

and do social workers pay $20/hr + benefits?!

probably not

as for whats makes u happy:
weigh low paying job vs living in your parents place. there's also a social stigma of a 24+ year old male living at home.

rich, unhappy living in your own place vs 40yr old virgin living w/mom. pick your poison

that last sentence pretty much sums it up, lol.

as for living wage:
expenses + $14k to max out your 401k + $4k to max out your roth. add 30% taxes + 5% insurance (health/dental).

2500/month x 12 = 30k
14k 401k
4k roth
----
48k

35% more = 17k

48k+17k = $65k/yr

you need to max out 401k + roth early in your life if you want to
1) retire at age 60 w/o social security helping you.
2) get a job in midlife that will make you happy.

right now, if i dont put in another dollar into 401k/roth, i can retire at age 60. if i wanted to, i can quit my job, and take a job that makes me happy, even if it was only double minimum wage ($15/hr).