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Correlation between income and happiness
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People will argue that having a low-paying job and freedom is better than a high-paying job and a 60-hour workweek. However many including myself, don’t share the views of Hal Niedzviecki’s essay’s “Stupid Jobs Are Good to Relax With”. Having a higher paying and longer hours provides much more income and allows for a lot more financial freedom. This freedom can help bring much more happiness into your life compared to the lower paying workweek. Hal Niedzviecki mentions many benefits to the easy jobs with low-paying workweeks in the following statement
For several years now, I have relied on stupid jobs to pay my way through the world. This isn’t because I am a stupid person. On the contrary, stupid jobs are a way to avoid the brain numbing idiocy of full-time employment. They are the next best thing to having no job at all. They will keep you sane, and smart. (Niedzviecki 1971 p. 5)
With this in mind having a nice amount of money saved away bring peace of mind through financial security. As well as being able to indulge yourself in many more activities and costly items. With a higher paying job and longer hours you can also afford a much better retirement and have more money to spend on family. Both types of jobs have a distinct difference from the income, hours and to the future of your career and life.
First let us talk about a notable difference between these workweeks their income. Having the high-paying job earns you much more money per hour giving you much greater financial freedom. This allows you to help pay for the important things in life such as your kids, better house, and much more. Then with a low-paying workweek your restricted more on what you can spend your money. Hal Niedzviecki stated “Despite his decad...
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...y it? Also in most low paying jobs there isn’t much room for promotion. In the end the low paying job leaves you small savings and little spending cash as well as poor retirement funds, were as the high paying job secures your future and leaves room for improvement.
In conclusion the having a low-paying job and freedom won’t get you anything luxuries and won’t guarantee a higher quality life experience outside of work. Whereas the High-paying job and 60-hour workweek you’re garneted financial security which brings peace of mind and luxuries to your life. In the future you’re able to move up though the job and secure a future for not only yourself but your loved ones to. Therefore taking the High-paying 60-hour workweek job is the best choice in every case.
References
Hal Niedzviecki (1998). Effective Reading and Writing: Stupid Jobs Are Good to Relax With
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