My friend continues to have a low-paying job. Here’s why

If you’re looking for a new job, now is a great time to look for one. The U.S. economy added 353,000 jobs in January. And given the low unemployment rate and hot labor market, it’s no surprise that 95% of workers are looking or planning to find a new job in 2024, according to recent Monster data.

Meanwhile, I have a friend who is underpaid at work and has been for years. Recently she asked me to take a look at her own resume and make suggestions to strengthen her resume so she can pursue new opportunities.

My friend’s initial goal was simply to increase his salary. But after a few interviews, she decided to stop looking for her new job and move on. Although a higher salary may improve her financial situation, my friend ultimately decided to keep her current job for one big reason.

When you can go to the coast

My friend has skills that could probably lead to a better paying job if he were to apply them. But at this point she prefers to stay put, as her own job isn’t particularly stressful or demanding.

She has the flexibility to work from home almost whenever she wants (she likes to commute to the office once a week for her own health). She is also flexible with her working hours.

Plus, as she said, it’s not that difficult. Even though she bases her pay on her 40-hour workweek, she admits she only really has to work about six hours. But her boss doesn’t insist on sitting in a chair for hours. She completes tasks according to schedule, so there is no hassle and no time is tracked.

To put it another way, my friend is working hard at work. But that’s not a bad thing. A friend of mine in her late 40s is trying to juggle two teenagers and a much younger sibling she had a little later. This means she values ​​the flexibility her job offers.

Her current schedule allows her to get her first-graders off the bus when they get home and attend the older kids’ after-school sporting events. She can also do things like cook for her family without having to worry about missing deadlines. It’s huge.

It’s okay to sacrifice salary for a better work-life balance.

A friend of mine has been going through a period of time where money has been tight in recent years. Typically, this is caused by something like home or car repairs. Because she and her family generally live pretty frugally.

A higher salary can help your friend’s finances. This will allow her to build up her savings account balance and finally do some of the things she’s been talking about for years, like finishing her basement or taking her dream trip to Hawaii.

Despite this, my friend continues to work a job she knows pays less because it allows her to focus on her family, avoid stress, and maintain work-life balance. So if you’re thinking about looking for a new job to take advantage of a hot market, think about your current situation before you do so.

Maybe you’ve done your research and realized you can make more money elsewhere. But if your current job is flexible, you like your coworkers, and you enjoy the work, you should recognize that there is value in that too. And giving it up for more money might not be worth it. Even if a higher salary means you can save or travel more.

So, if you’re feeling burnt out at work, you may want to consider a lower-paying job that will provide you with a better work-life balance and less stress. Taking a pay cut is never easy. And if you accept a lower-paying job offer, you may need to make some adjustments to your spending.

But remember, there is value in having free time and enjoying better mental and physical health. An overly demanding job can make all of this more difficult to achieve. So even if you tend to pursue the highest salary possible, know that in some cases it may make much more sense to earn less.

WARNING: The highest cash back card we’ve ever seen has a 0% introductory APR until 2025.

This credit card isn’t just good. It is very special as it is used personally by professionals. This card offers 0% APR for new signups for 15 months, up to 5% cashback, and no annual fee!

Click here to read the full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read reviews for free