Deciding on a career-Money or job satisfaction?

You wouldn't be permanently unhappy, but the money won't help you make your own decisions to make yourself happier. You'll still need to decide where you want to go, the job you do, the people you meet. In reality, if you were alone and you were hopping into your Bentley on your way to a private jet, how would you actually feel?

I'd imagine the initial satisfaction of the money would be totally worn out by real life: finding the time to go on holiday, working long hours, dealing with incompetent people (more money means more responsibility) and after all that, you're going alone on a holiday. What's the point of all the money?

There's a reason why fables and children's movies are based around the concept that money itself doesn't buy you happiness. It's because it's an ultimate truth. Money does not buy you happiness. The lack of money can certainly make someone unhappy, but that is simply what it is. When people focus on their own needs (stable home environment, friends, a job you enjoy), that's when they'll be a lot happier for themselves, rather than chasing money and fortune.

Maybe not as much poor grades as they are grades that close doors for entry into professions that I find desirable. :L I know they are certainly not the worst, just not the best... For entry onto a school leavers program into accountancy the requirements are generally BBB-ABB, the competition is generally fierce though, so hopefully they're good enough! Serious decision making needs to take place. A gap year is seeming even more attractive a time goes by!

My brother only got BBBB at A-level, but due to his excellent work experience, working in both the chambers and the courts as a barristers clerk with my father, and marshalling with my Mother, he went on to a top 5 university and got a first. He was predicted a first from the beginning, and as my parents are in the industry it was very easy for him to get work experience during his studies. I know that I can do it, just don't know whether or not I want to. I'm in the same position as you were, I can't imagine not being able to live a fairly extravagant lifestyle, going on holiday twice a year, having a shiny BMW on the drive and having NO worries about money. I just don't know whether I'm willing to sell myself short and enjoy my job, but hate my lifestyle. I know exactly what you're saying, and completely take it on board. I know that only I can make the decision, I'm just hoping that seeing the opinions of others will help me to decide.

Yes, there is a possibility for a nurse to advance to higher salaries within the career. But the salary that you mentioned as the highest is only £4000 above what my brother earned after he qualified as a barrister. After around 3-4 years he is now a self-employed practitioner earning in the region of £80000. After upwards of 10 years of practise, one can expect to be earning up to £1000000, which is what can be expected for many.

The boyfriend and I have significantly less money but still have a BMW on the driveway and we recently booked our third holiday this year, we don't have children admittedly though so it's cheaper for us to go away than if it was a family trip. Looking at your options I'd go with job satisfaction since the jobs that would satisfy you would probably offer you a balance. Good luck in whichever you choose and remember that if you go for one and don't like it you'll still have the option to change!

ETA: Can I be a bit cheeky and ask if 96 was the year you were born?

Definitely have a gap year!

It gives you time to enjoy yourself and go travelling (which by the sounds of things you would have no trouble paying for lol), and also gives you time to think about if what you've applied to do at university is really for you. Getting some more experience and going travelling may make you realize what you find more important which can only be a good thing! The worst that can happen is you have an amazing year travelling, decide that what you originally applied to do at uni isn't for you, so then reapply to do something you do want to do! And in the mean time you could always get some more relevant work experience before uni.

Hope this helps

The only reason we don't go on holiday more than twice a year is because my parents are both saving up holidays to be able to take a year sabbatical, so that they are able to do some travelling for a long period of time. Also, we want to make them 2 weeks count so we generally go to a fairly large villa so we can share it with family and friends... They currently both have 38 weeks holiday saved up and they've only been saving for 8 years, so shouldn't be too long for them! Yeah, I don't know where my parents would be without getting a new showroom car every year. Even if my Father gets the same 6 series convertible every year, and my Mother gets virtually the same Mercedes SLK AMG...:L

Yes, I was born in June 1996, making me 16. I really need to make my mind up soon, or decide on a gap year!

You seem to have a mature head on your shoulders for 16, my little brother just went 18 and he is completely lackadaisical when it comes to his future. You're asking the right questions and questioning what is expected of you and with that in mind I'm sure that you'll be able to do well in what you do.

I'd love to take a sabbatical, when I'm about 70 I should have just about enough saved up to take one as long as I spend it wisely.

Well thank you! Oh god I couldn't be like that, I've always had to be very organised, and know exactly what I want to do. I started planning my career when I was 14, but due to illness it is unlikely that I will get the grades I should. I honestly can't stand being in this position! Oh god yes, and that's exactly why I think taking a gap year's such an amazing idea. Giving me the chance to do what most people want to, but get too settled and don't feel as though they can, even though financing it would be very easy if planned well.

Well my brother wanted to go into the RAF, found out it would be hard so changed his mind, ie gave up. Is there anyway you could spend some time volunteering with your father to see how you found the work?

Oh god...That sounds somewhat similar to me to be honest. I have been going on work experience with either my Father or my Mother during school holidays. It has given me an insight, and I have been enjoying it. I just don't know whether me enjoying it is a novelty, and whether the enjoyment will wear off quickly. I do however think this could likely be the case in many jobs. it's not so much the hard work involved that's putting me off, it's the fact that getting a place to take part in a pupillage is almost like a lottery. Meaning I will have spent 3 years struggling to get a first, a year struggling during my bar exams, and not getting what I wanted to at the end of it. I could then turn to a career as a solicitor, and possibly take postgraduate courses, to get a specialism within a section of law, in the hope I can then become a barrister in that area. So yeah, basically, the hard work scares me off.

My parents don't hand money to me on a plate, hence why I'm working to fund my driving lessons etc. They do give me rewards if I do particularly well in something, like when I do pass my test they will be buying me a car and paying for half of the insurance.
If I decide to take a gap year it won't be a particularly extravagant ordeal, as they will want me to pay towards the majority of it, which is why I'm earing towards spending 6 months as an Au-Pair abroad, 3 months work experience and 3 months volunteering in Asia.

Nurse and police wages don't fall into the really poor category, try living on 12K pa. What you have to remember is that growing up in the household you did about 80% of salaries out there are going to seem poor.

I think you need to look for a balance. If you go for a job that you both hate and may struggle with you are less likely reach the top of that career path and even if you do aren't going to have the time and energy to enjoy it.

One of the keys ime is to avoid getting into unnecessary debt so live frugally in the early years so that you can build up savings and get a secure roof over your head.