Once you know what your skills are, it’s time to think about what you really want in life. You don’t want to take any old job; the sooner you plan for a career that you will like, the happier your future will look.
Everyone wants to be happy. But each person looks for happiness in a different way. The way you spend your time is called your lifestyle.
You’ll likely spend most of your life working, so it’s important to choose a career that supports the lifestyle you want.
Lifestyle
Factors that impact lifestyle
Many of these things may seem like materialistic questions. Remember, though: money’s not the most important thing to everyone, so it’s important to think about what you value and the kind of life you want to lead!
For example, some jobs offer a lot of money, but they may also offer a lot of stress. Every person will pursue happiness in a different way. What’s the perfect job for you?
Select A, B, or C in each category to choose the item that best describes the lifestyle you would like to have in your working future.
A) 1 bedroom, 900 sq. ft. $700 a month
B) 2 bedrooms, 1,300 sq. ft. $1,000 a month
C) 3+ bedrooms, 2,000+ sq. ft. $2,000 a month
A) 10+ year old car $150 a month
B) 3–5 year old car $300 a month
C) brand new car $500 a month
A) no cell phone — $0 a month
B) basic plan — $30 a month
C) unlimited minutes/options — $70 a month
A) no cable — $0 a month
B) basic cable — $50 a month
C) premium (movie channel) cable — $80 a month
A) no Internet — $0 a month
B) dial up — $20 a month
C) high speed — $40 a month
A) $300 a month
B) $700 a month
C) $900 a month
A) hardly ever — $20 a month
B) 2–4 times a week — $100 a month
C) 5–10 times a week — $200 a month
A) once a month — $10 a month
B) twice a month — $20 a month
C) once a week — $40 a month
A) once a month — $50 a month
B) twice a month — $100 a month
C) five or more times a month — $300 a month
A) $0–$29 a month
B) $30–$59 a month
C) $60+ a month
You will spend approximately 25% of your total salary on taxes. Do not forget you will have other expenses for car, property, and medical insurance which may total approximately 15% of your salary. When exploring occupations, you should look for those with salaries that match your desired lifestyle. Remember, you can always work up to the lifestyle you desire. Not everyone starts out earning top dollar when they begin working.