Hi allThere has been much discussion on this forum regarding salaries, work-life balance etc.I am curious as to what people really want from life. I am mid thirties, work for a small private consultancy in the SE, work around 35 hours a week (excluding commuting), spend every evening at home and don't have to work weekends. I earn 60k plus benefits (car, pension, phone etc. etc.)Would you guys rather have my life, or earn 50% more with higher stress, weekend working etc. etc.As I said, I'm curious...

What does your missus look like?

100% home. Tbh, anything over £30k outside london is plenty for anyone, so anything over that is just a bonus. If i was home between 5-7pm every night then I'd be happy.My priorities are home life, interesting work and only then money.

See i think you guys are mad. I work in the city, average ending at 11 pm, 25, bring in 110k and prospects are good. 30k outside of london?maybe its just a difference in ambition

The trick has to be to maximise salary whilst minimising private life compromise. People will tolerate different levels I suppose, and age will also be a factor. Personally I'm happy in principle to let work encroach a few hours into 'my time' in exchange for cash rewards and better chances of progression. However once the number of extra hours being worked are substantial the financial reward has to be *significantly* higher. Too many people in this business work all the hours under the sun for very little in return.

So pos would you trade a chunk of your current salary and still eventually reach the big bucks - but take a bit longer over it - in exchange for a few hours of your life back each day and a chance to enjoy your 20s outside of work?

Pos - what prospects are you referring to? Of a heart attack? Of premature balding through stress? Of a damaged liver from drink? Of a lost 20's? Of an inability to forge meaningful and lasting social relationships during this stage of your life?Any/all of these are real prospects (and the real price of) if you are putting in 80+ hour work weeks. Not worth £110k in my book (less 40% + going to the government).

I'd say more people in their 20s would chase the money.People in their 30s either have kids and calm down or chase the partnership.I chose life.I'd also ask: How much is 'enough'?

Been thinking about this a lot - what to do when i get fed up with the crap that comes along with consulting. Change to industry? slower pace? less hours? less money?Personally i'm used to the money regardless of the hours i work and the fairly fast career ladder that consulting offers. That'smy benchmark and i don't know if i could come down from that.I work 8am-7pm and no weekends. Thats a reaosnable 55 hour week, i get paid well and have enough free time to say i have a life outside work. The problem i ocnsulting isn't the hours though, it's the travel!

excuse me.. why do you think consulting pays more than industry? i think this is a myth that people in tier 2 consulting firms like to perpetuate... consulting only pays more than industry if you are in MBBB or work as a contractor.

Wasn't aware of that Piro and I'm in a tier 1 firm. How embarassing.

also something thats playing on my mind. I know it may not the best place to get philosophical & that obviously its a personal thing as to where you stand on the work/life spectrum. However, think about this: ask anyone above the age of 40 what they would have if money was no object ( and it may not be if they have been working 100 hour weeks!). Invariably (and I have asked!), a lot of them will ask for their youth, a time when they may not have had the money, but they certainly had the energy, the zest and the enthusiasm to live life. If you spend your 20's and early 30's working hard, yes you'll be filthy rich but you will have missed out on the best years of your life. What is the point of travelling the world at the age of 60, when your bloody legs dont carry you around for the arthritis..Just a point - maybe we young'uns get too caught up in the here and now, thinking we'll never grow old (peter pan-like).But this debate will rage and rage -its a purely subjective thing. This country needs IBers to work their asses off - thats the choice they make. I just hope they dont regret it 20 years down the line, as the one thing they'll never be able to buy is time.

moot pointWhat I would say is when ypu work long hours you do value your time a lot more and become more productive with it. Anyone who goes home everyday at 5pm what do they do with thier time afterwards: watch east-enders, go to the pub or just surf the net.

Are we really choosing life with consulting though?If I could make good money in consulting and not have to travel the extent i do or work over 60hrs a week then it would offer a good alternative to the 9-5 thing. However, it's not the case and i'm starting to wonder, in the same way a lot of ib'ers do on a grander scale...is it worth it?

Rippr,Brilliant!I've read a few blinkered things on this forum, but this is above and beyond the call of duty!

What are you talking about martin? Rippr has a good point; I work a very relaxed 9-5, and though I do a lot on the weekends, I think I probably do waste at least 50% of my time in the evenings watching tv or surfing the net. If I were an intelligent child I would do something about it, and I guess I have to add that I’m not including pubbing in that wasted 50%…

rippr referred to "anyone" who leaves at 5pm. If you go home and waste that time, why bother? You might as well be at work.I don't want to be tarred with that brush, thanks.My evenings and weekends are filled with playing with my kids, improving my house, being a non-exec of a charity, running, golf, tennis.I rarely have time for tv (except My Name is Earl of course!) or what I consider to be "wasting" time. That sweeping generalisation doesn't apply to me.

Martin point taken..What I would say is those who leave at 5pm get home by 6, a major proportion of those people get home and decide: What should I do next? Which invariably leads to 'oh I'll just watch a bit of tv' or 'i'll surf the net to see if I can find a cheap flight to Europe' sort of thing. If you (speaking generally) are one of those people I would suggest you should do something rather more productive: like improving skills, understanding the business they work in and how thier company adds value.I promise you when you get into the day-to-day grind of work, most oeople lose sight of the forest for the trees. they don't understand why they are doing what they are doing other than that thier boss told them to do it.Rippr

Fair enough. I wasn’t suggesting that you do waste your time. However, since I am childless and don’t own my own house I have a fair bit more free time than most. I was just admitting that I’m not as productive with it as I could be, but to be honest, that doesn’t bother me that much. I know I’m going to be busy soon enough so I’m perfectly happy to spend 2 or 3 evenings a week doing nothing. I don’t waste much time watching tv either, but that’s more down to the rubbish selection we have on in the evenings than any personal choice!

I would choose £60k and a good life over any amount of extra money.

good for you. i chose half a mil and retire early - seeing my kids in good schools with a nice car a nd good medical. good wine, good travel and culture, enjoyment of life. i pay my secretary 60k.

May I ask how early you were able to retire?

Why does everyone believe what people write in every post on here?I earn just shy of a million every year and ain't killing myself doing it. Just find your niche.

To pos, who posted much futher up the chain...I'm 26, F, very pretty, fit and single. I'd look great hanging off your arm. Plus if you're working till 11 I'd never even have to see you...email me at hot.totty@yahoo.com

I really do feel sad for you. its obvious you havent achieved anything in life... and why are you so surprised at the salaries?why do you think prices for houses in london are so high? why do you think there are so many astons around? why do you think a three bed flat in knightsbridge can set you back upwards of 4 mil? its because people are MAKING MONEY. if youre not one of them, then YOU are the loser, not the other way around. working till 5 - wtf you lazt b$std. bet you like your pint and your belly

Wordage to pos!Get rich or die tryin. Word to your mother.

Haha what a prat!

pos what exacly is it you work as?

er..no.no-one else is a loser. if you have a flat in knightsbridge, an aston and six-pack (stomach), good for you. If this for you is achievement - you've achieved big time. And yes you'll be adored and have lots of attention from fit women. But...i still dont think you'll be happy. The acid test wont be now, it'll be in 20 yrs when you're still single, childless and without a friend in the world..oh, except your bank manager.Relationships make the world go round, not money. Realise now while you can...and this is not insane jealousy talking. You're obviously a go-getter so good on you. Just take stock of things now and again and put life into perspective.