amyr57•1mo ago

Took the lower paying job and it saved my sanity

I had two offers after college last summer. One was a corporate gig paying $52k with a 45 minute commute, the other was a small nonprofit offering $38k but a 10 minute bike ride. I picked the nonprofit because I figured less stress was worth it. Three months in, my corporate buddies are all burning out and I'm actually learning useful skills from my boss instead of getting ignored. Has anyone else picked a smaller company over money and found it worked out better?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade_butler1mo ago

Honestly I used to think you were crazy for taking less money. I was all about chasing the biggest paycheck right out of college because that's what everyone told me to do. But watching my friends crash and burn in those corporate jobs while you actually have a life and learn stuff made me rethink everything. There's something to be said for not hating your life for 40 hours a week just to afford a slightly nicer apartment you're never home to enjoy. You'll probably end up way ahead in the long run anyway because burnout is a real career killer.

jenny_fox1mo ago

Made that mistake myself early on, took a higher paying job and was miserable within 6 months. Found out the hard way that extra money means nothing when you're too drained to enjoy any of it. Learning to value your time and sanity over a few extra bucks is a lesson most people don't get until they've already burned out once.