How To Be Happy With A Lower Salary

Good news: you don't have to make six figures to live a happy, fulfilling life. Past research has shown that after $75,000/year your sense of satisfaction and happiness kinda plateaus. This year, a new study is looking at debunking that study. However, no matter what your salary may be, it's important that you can create a sense of security and happiness. That way, you're also not chasing the almighty dollar, yen, pound, euro or whatever other currency you may be using. In this contributed post, the author also writes that you might need a little time to get used to the changes you have to make, but once you do, your life will be better, and you'll be able to enjoy it more...

Track Your Spending

When you make less money, you'll need to keep track of every penny that comes out of your bank account. If you keep track of what you spend, you'll not only find places to save money, but you'll also learn more about what you want out of life, which will help you save for bigger and better things. 

When you keep track of what you spend, not just in stores but also online and on your bills, you can see where you can save money. Cut back on things that you don't have to do or don't want. This is especially important if you are saving for something important; perhaps you want to save for a vacation or a new car, for example. You can put the money you save into a savings account. Because you were spending it, you won't miss it, so it won't hurt, and your savings will grow. 

Spend Time With Loved Ones

When you start a family, your priorities will change in a lot of ways. You and your partner may decide that instead of paying for childcare, it would be better for one of you to stay home with the kids when they are young. If that's the case, it may be nearly impossible to do this if you have two full-time jobs. Getting a job that pays less but lets you spend less time away from home could be the answer, at least for now.  

You Could Find A New Career

Even though you may have made a lot of progress in a certain field, you may have reached a point where switching to a new career or at least going in a different direction is more appealing to you. To do this, you might have to take a job that pays less but gives you more chances to grow in this new direction. You might also want to go back to school full- or part-time or even start your own business, like William Montgomery Cerf suggests. No matter why you want to switch jobs, giving up a bigger paycheck for a job that gives you more satisfaction might be the best career move you can make. 

Look For The Perks

Although not every career can lead to financial success, there are opportunities to reap benefits in other ways as well. Health insurance, a pension plan, paid time off, and a positive work atmosphere and culture can all be considered perks, as can the ability to work from home if necessary. You should consider not just salary but also other factors, such as commute time and required clothing, while choosing between multiple job offers. Not considering other factors, such as benefits, may cause you to pass up the perfect job opportunity.