Salary VS Lifestyle: Striking the Right Balance

We have all heard the phrase ‘ Money can’t buy you happiness’, but it can certainly buy a lot of other things!

Each and every one of us has a totally individual notion of what an ideal lifestyle would be, but the one common factor linking us all, is that somehow, that lifestyle requires funding. Usually by ourselves and our salary will invariably dictate that to some extent.

For some, the ideal lifestyle may be quite simple- a nice little house in a decent area with a garden to potter about in. For others, a huge home, designer clothes, luxurious holidays and a flashy car are a must.

But how can we attain this?

There are many ways but here are just a few.

Try to do a job that you love (or at least like!), otherwise it’s a long time to remain unhappy. The happier you are, the more productive you will be. Increased productivity and an upbeat attitude  will get you noticed and elevate chances for promotions which in turn means more money.

Often but not always, the higher paid we are, the longer hours and more focus we must put in. This is something we must prepare for and weigh up any sacrifices that may need to be made in the short term, especially if we have a young family or plan to start one.

How well can we deal with stress? Longer hours and more responsibility can lead to fatigue and stress so it’s vital we learn early how to switch off more readily from work.

Do we feel a need to keep up with the Jones’s? Often the more we have, the more we want so try to be your own person and not be swayed by what others have. This is where debts may creep in. Only buy what you can afford or are certain without a shadow of doubt that you can comfortably repay.

Another couple of factors that need to be carefully considered are pension and retirement. For some people who prefer to live in the moment and don’t want to worry about the future then that is their personal choice and won’t affect them too much, but for others it may be most imperative to start building a hefty pension, and to continue to do so until you can start your much anticipated retirement. Different jobs offer different retirement options so it is worth looking in to this in some detail to ensure it fits in with our future plans.

Remember that money can not buy your health, your peace of mind, your friends and acquaintances, give us true purpose to our lives or even that perfect relationship.

The late author,  Henry Miller once said ‘ I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive!’.

If we can strive to do our best in a job that gives us satisfaction and pays enough to live the life that makes us happy then we can’t go far wrong.