what is more important: money or quality of life?

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I'm 28, and am currently working at the only good job I've ever had. I work in the construction trades, and make around $100K a year gross, with the possibility of more money in the future when I finish my trade ticket. The job pays well, and is more or less tolerable, the worst part is the quality of life. You work long hours (including weekends at times), have to travel, and can be away from home for long periods of time (or may have to move all together to go where the work is for mining and oilfields). Also it is hard on your body, and it is said that most tradesmen die earlier than the average population (late 60's-early 70's) because of all the harmful exposures on the job.

A few years ago I thought this was the best I could do, but now I find myself wishing I could have a better quality of life sometimes. I have a BA, but would be willing to go back to school to train more if I had to to get a desk job (hopefully one that pays well).

I am single with no children, so it doesn't really matter to anyone what I do, but it would be nice to get married one day and they say 80% of construction tradesmen are divorced (I don't want to imagine what the statistics of ones with AS are...). If I got out of the trades and had a desk job it might increase my chances of having a successful long term relationship.

Thoughts?

at $100k per year, you can save for school or early retirement, whichever you prefer. what are your areas of interest?

100 k per year is a huge income. I make around 12 k a year and i have a BA too. (I also own my own business, but have not started making good money at it yet.) not, jealousy or anything. I lose jobs because of Aspergers. i don't understand social Q's, so i get fired when i say or do the wrong thing. Be glad you have a good job. A desk job meaning management, could be what you need, but it takes 100% more dedication to the job-- lots of work at home, and when you think you are off duity. i would not do a management job on a dare.

Education is always a good thing. Going on to get more education is a great thing, and you are still young, so you have a lot of years left (hopefully).

Good luck!

Well considering pretty much the only purpose of money is to improve quality of life....(or give it away to improve the quality of life for others).

If you're making that much money you can save up a ton and retire pretty early, if you live frugally and manage your money well.

first of all don't care about statistics you are you and no number is able to change that. and quality of life is more important but you should wonder if doing another job for less pay will truely increase your quality of life.

Sounds like you have a good thing going. Plenty of office workers work long hours and get divorced too. Everybody dies. Like the others said if you save as much money as you can and you'll have options later.

Quality of life.

At the moment, I have neither.

Working in a job you hate to buy s**t you don't need to keep up with some BS, then add a couple of kids and you're getting them the best cellphone so they can get on the BS treadmill is a trap lots fall into. I know guys who don't even know who they are anymore.

I personally would keep the job for a few more years and save save save but also look online about what classes you may wana take and what you may like to do. Once you find something you wana do and where you wana go either go for it right away or wait to build up more funds then get it. quality over money anyday but in this messed up world you are gona need some money to get any quality.

quality of life. That $100k will buy you distractions but end up killing you.

However, there is nothing wrong with planning for and sacrificing a few years of quality of life to build up a cash buffer to start your own business and have a high quality for the rest of your life because of it.

I'd like to save up to either take engineering or start a business. I'm not sure what though. If I'm not married with a family to support then why not try a different career in a few years...

Hell why not do both? save up for a bit while looking around at what intrests you.. Maybe find someone who does what you wana do and follow them around on your off days. Be like an intern and have them teach you in return for working for them for free. This way you can work and learn at the same time. If you like it go for it if not then no harm no foul.

Quality of life. I earn enough money to survive, but I enjoy having time to myself.

Hey there, Space...

This is my 2nd time ever in posting a reply to a forum topic, so bear with me.
I'm 61 years old and I understand exactly what you are faced with. I learned I was AS at age 59, way too late to make that discovery a factor in my career plans. Some of the posts have reasonable advice, like save-save-save for a few years and strike out on your own.

I would have been happier in a manual labor job, as the "office environment" was often hell for me. Believe me, you can even be NT and suffer the wrath of psychopathic managers, real chicken-s__t employer policies, and losing your job for no good reason. Now just think how being AS complicates things!

Being self-employed has some major down-sides, but I think I might have gone that route had I only known how awful working for an employer could be. Perhaps you should become a craftsman in a particular specialty?

My 2-cents, anyway.

For me it's quality of life as long as you have enough money to survive on that is. Money is nice but I'd rather be able to function in life.

This is a very interesting question. I feel that below a certain threshold that money is all that matters. After all, ever try to enjoy life on welfare or on the streets? Not happening. But once you reach a level whereby you need not worry about your bills and you are able to afford a standard of living that makes you happy, additional money does not contribute to additional happiness. I would say the relationship between money and quality of life has an asymptotic peak, but where that peak is located varies person to person.