Better Pay/Crappy Job or Less pay/Great job.. that is the question..
 

Ok. Here's my problem. I work for a company called AdvanePCS... great company, great pay, great benefits... I hate my job, and I can't move to another dept or be promoted unless I am there a year... But I really hate my job.

My previous employment was with MotoPhoto.. just a mom n' pop owned part of the franchise. I enjoyed working there but the pay was a little less than I'm making now and the benefits are crap... but they will work with my school schedule and help me out when I need it in any way.

I really want to go back to MotoPhoto.. and they have given me a job offer to start in late June.. but I'm just confused. I think the cut in pay will effect me... but the decreased amount of stress would be nice too.

Any Advice? Thanks!!!!

what ultimately makes you happy? Can you delay gratification?

One thing to keep in mind is if the decrease in wages will affect your day-to-day living, then perhaps staying at AdvanePCS should be considered.

However, if that isn't the case, returning to your old job would be ideal since it is a job that you would enjoy plus (from the irc chat) the flexible schedule that they offered, would allow you to concentrate on your studies without having to be under the constant pressure of stress derived from the workplace.

All the best.

Money is a trap. If you hate where you are no amount of money is going to make it worth while. If you got a chance to be happy take it that is what life is all about remember.

Life is too short to not be happy...Take the job that makes you happy...There is nothing worse than waking up each morning and knowing you have to go be unhappy all day.

You mentioned you are in school. If this isn't going to be a full time job after you graduate school, take the job that pays less. You will be happier and will get a better paying job with your degree afterwards. If you plan on keeping this job after school, stay with the better paying one until you get a job that you like and pays well.

Thanks for the advice.. I think I will go back to my old job.. mainly because photography is a big part of my life I have let go of lately. So hennways... Thanks for the advice again!

Y'all are great... :)

You have to go in EVERYDAY.

I would take something you would be happier in.
You will naturally adjust for the income.

And sooner or later, with luck & effort, a decent income will come to you.

When I was in school full time I had a job where they would practically bend over backwards to help with my school schedule. I rarely miss work but once, during finals I called in a told them I couldn't show up the next day becuase I needed the time to study for a final. "No Problem, don't worry we'll get along was their reply." Dealing with a company like that really really helped limit the stress from school. I consider that a huge benefit. Just my two cents.

Weigh it all up, sounds like most have already spoken what I was goin to say :)

Just wanna say good luck to ya! I recently had almost that same scenario. But went with teh training and work instead of school, hopefulyl school later on stil though. Enjoying my job right now and thats what i think is most iimportant. If you are able to get along with the pay from the lesser job that you really enjoy, and go through with school thats great. BUT
When I was in school I worked at a llittle cafe... I loved the job, but little pay and alomst no beifts (just a local guys small friendly cafe(sounds like ur photo place)) but they were flexible (gave me time off for exams etc. and great ppl. Don't regret it at all
Good luck mate!

personally, i'm all for you going back to the old gig... the money problems won't seem so much, i'll make sure of that. i like seeing you happy better than seeing you stressed over a shite job with terribel hours and asshole bosses and management. you have someone who will support you through whatever desicion you make. :)

Take this from someone who is there:

In no way, shape or form does money make up for happiness at your place of work. I currently make more money than I ever thought I would in my entire life (only 28 right now) and I absolutely hate my place of work. I am constantly looking for a new job and dread going to work everyday. I am contemplating employment elsewhere for significantly less pay, just so I can get out of the situation I find myself in now.

Sum it up:
Money is cool, but sanity is better

fro, thanks for the advice. I completely understand. i will be switching jobs in a month. ... Gotta get in the dr's and get all my meds so that I don't have to worry once my bene's are gone.

I am kind of in the same situation, only its actually my career I am thinking of changing which makes it quite a bit more... terrifying! However, after some of the advice I got off the board members before, I have been living on about 1/4 of my salary to see if I could bear it.

My conclusion is that money (when you are single anyway) is like a tube of toothpaste. When the tube is new and the toothpaste is plentiful, you squeeze it out with reckless abandon, never paying any thought to how much you are using... but when you get down to the last few drops, it is amazing how far you can make it go! ;)

Go with been happy, it will benefit your college work so much more if you feel more positive.

I am a very firm believer that being happy in your job and the people you work with is so important. You spend such a huge portion of your life at your workplace so you had better enjoy it. To me, money doesn't equate happiness. I would far far prefer to enjoy going to work each day and making a little less than making more but hating every moment.
I have had jobs that pay more than what I am making right now (and have had people try to lure me away with the promise of more money) but I would not trade it for anything in the world.

tragic and wasteful. you can always win the lottery. But unhappy is everyday just sucks. In spades.

Glad to hear you're switching back.

I think this kind of thing really depends on whether you're talking about a temporary job or a career. If it's just some money while you're in school, staying with the higher pay can make sense. But I can't imagine staying with a job I hated long term if I had any other option.

I'm sort of in the middle right now. I don't love my job like I used to (maybe that's why I'm typing this from work), but I don't hate it and the pay is really good. Anything I can think of that I'd enjoy better would only pay a fraction, at least for a number of years. That makes the thought of moving much harder, especially since I'm the sole breadwinner in the family.