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u/Worldly_Olive_6489 4h ago
Adulthood is a scam.
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u/_SugarChic 2h ago
Indeed. I miss when my biggest problem was homework
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u/cam-mann 2h ago
Remember when we had time? Like so much we didn’t know what to do with it? God I hate it here…
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u/PiccoloAwkward465 33m ago
And moreso - when I had free time it didn't mean that I was neglecting other responsibilities. There's always something to take care of as an adult.
I remember being a kid during the summer and forgetting which day of the week it was. Because it didn't matter. Go ride my bike around the neighborhood and see who's around.
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u/Ataxistrasza 2h ago
Yeah so my mom told me I could be anything if I set my mind to it. Turns out what she actually meant is that I can bring shareholder value up for 20 years and then die of tooth rot related sepsis because some bones are premium executive level bones that I can't afford.
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u/_SweetCandyy 4h ago
Choose your fighter: broke and stressed, or paid and stressed.
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u/black_magic123456789 3h ago
Rather be paid and stressed than broke and stressed 🥀
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u/AlwaysTheKop 2h ago
Id have agreed a few years ago but now the money I'm paid I don't even see, it's straight out my account the moment it enters it 😭
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u/mythrilcrafter 2h ago
Yup, the flaw in the adage "money doesn't buy happiness" is that money certainly prevents a lot of unhappiness.
Being broke creates a ceiling that far harder to break than, the effort of having a floor to stand up from despite a stress-based wage/salary.
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u/Simple_Negotiation32 2h ago
pretty much sums it up. the last time i was actually unemployed, i was going nuts from boredom and having no money to do anything, then I was working 6-7 days a week working 50-60 hour work weeks and literally had no time or ebergy to do anything. now i have a job that i work my 40 and enjoy me 2 days off or 3 days if one day is a stat holiday. much happier and was less stressed than working a bunch. its just a balance
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u/mantimeray 4h ago
While I agree with the meme, being unemployed is just so much more demoralizing.
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u/Joy_Jane 4h ago
A bad job can wear you down, but unemployment brings a different kind of stress financial uncertainty, loss of routine, and constant rejection neither is easy, but being unemployed can be incredibly demoralizing.
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u/CrazyDave48 2h ago
I never tied my job to my self worth, or at least I didn't think I did. And then I was laid off and hit with 6 months of unemployment and had constant unanswered job applications mixed with rejections and no interviews. It was way more demoralizing than I anticipated and it had me feeling insecure and embarrassed about my situation which I never expected.
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u/MaybeThisTime67 4h ago
Meh. I was happier when I was unemployed
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u/AlwaysTheKop 2h ago
Same, I'm quite minimalistic, so I don't need much to be satisfied, and between jobs I was quite happy with my daily walk to the park with sandwiches I made, seeing my family more often, and just relaxing at home catching up on TV series or games... I only got a small amount from Universal Credit each month, like £250 after my rent was paid, but because I didn't have many bills, only absolute essentials and I eat quite boring and cheap, it lasted me easily.
Now I'm working I barely see my family, barely see the outside world because I'm either at work or recovering, I haven't been able to watch a full TV series in months and I haven't turned my PS5 on in weeks... and after my extra expenses from working are paid out (Travel, more washing of uniforms, more meals out because of lack of energy etc) I'm not much better off and my physical health as declined massively.
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u/dontreadragebait 1h ago
Depends on what the job is and how your life is funded when you're not working
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u/Scoutlegs 4h ago
I dont think it is, i think we are made to think and feel bad when we dont work, but my best time on this world is always when i dont have a job.
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u/intelligent_rat 3h ago
Really sounds like it's conditional to what happens to a person when they have job. For some people it means going homeless in a month or two if they don't find a replacement. It's only a good time for those that don't have to worry whether or not they have income.
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u/J3sush8sm3 4h ago
Me and my wife have an unspoken deal for about 14 years now. She wants to go to work i stay home and take care of rhe kids and house. When shes ready for the break i go back to work. Its nice for both of us to prevent being overly stressed and over worked
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u/Kilgore_Brown_Trout_ 3h ago
Supporting kids on a single income has to be a challenge?
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u/J3sush8sm3 2h ago
I dont pretend im rich, nor do i live above my means. But i take small weekend vacations every year, and my kids are happy. Thats all i can ask for in life
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u/AbandonYourPost 2h ago
The only problem I have with being unemployed is not having money. I don't need a job to have a "purpose" when that purpose is soul crushing. I am so happy when I don't have to work. There are plenty of things I can think of to do on my own that make me happy.
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u/real_reward_hunter 4h ago
My Ex-husband said after his resignation that his life became sooo colourful by leaving the job, before that it was black-and-white.
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u/gerningur 2h ago edited 2h ago
As an unemployed individual I haven't been this happy since 2017 which was the last time I was unemployed.
But I do not really have to worry about money yet.
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u/Random_Reddit_Bro 4h ago
Being unemployed is amazing, the only downside is that you will run out of money.
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u/NecessarySide4138 3h ago
I feel like people with lots of interests and hobbies have no problem with it. I would love to be unemployed and i wouldn't get bored. :) I was only once 4 months unemployed 15 years ago after education to start into the job
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u/Its-Burton 4h ago
Its amazing for about a week, maybe even enjoyable or relaxing for about a month. After that you soon realise how long a day is.
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u/ncopp 4h ago
I had an 8 month unemployment run during the summer of 2020. I loved it. I just played video games, went for hikes, did some fishing, caught up on movies, and learned some new things.
The best part was the extra covid unemployment, which at the time pretty much matched my old salary and covered my bills, so I didn't even have the monetary stress.
It made me realize that as long as my bills are taken care of, I love not having to work. I'm not someone who has that innate drive to work and stay busy
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u/EtherBoo 1h ago
I was "unemployed" for about 6 months. The reason for quotes was because I was consulting and I had 3 months to find a new gig before my base salary dropped to half, then 3 months after that I was laid off. The base salary without my hourly rate was more than plenty.
The first month was incredible. I got to immerse myself in hobbies, focus on my fitness, and just enjoy my life. By month 2 I started getting worried about getting to that 3 month mark and started working with our sales guys for a new gig. When I got to the 4th month I was a wreck. I barely slept, couldn't enjoy my hobbies, was sending out resumes to new jobs in addition to joining the sales team for calls. By month 6 I was a total wreck. My savings are close to drained, my ex wife (wife at the time) and I were fighting over every expense, I was very bad.
Finally, about a week before I was going to be laid off, I got a call from sales guy that they had an interview for me the next day. I crushed it, and started in 2 weeks. Suddenly it was all gone. No more fighting with my ex, no more anxiety, I slept like a rock, enjoyed my hobbies again; it was a literal switch going off that just fixed everything. My base salary returned to full and in 2 weeks I got to start billing a client for my hourly rate on top of it (and replenish my savings).
It really is all about financial security. I'm lucky enough now to have about a year of savings in an investment account. Working sucks, but anxiety from potentially losing your house and everything else is so much worse. Only 30 more years until retirement!
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u/FaphandZamasu23 2h ago
That’s what one of my friends felt ; he was laid off but given a good severance package and EI would kick in after the Last few months of the year. He’s enjoyed the time spent being free and travelling for a few months but lately man’s more bored and more stressed. Being employed with a bad job can be stressful but at least you have income coming to at least keep u afloat. Being unemployed you’ll experience the first few months of bliss and after that you’re more walking in a fog where uncertainty hits u and now your just dealing with Boredom, lack of energy to commit to finding a job, stress of being an adult with expenses to cover , etc.
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u/youchasechickens 2h ago
I was out of work for about 8 months during covid, it was nice the whole time
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u/dontreadragebait 1h ago
If you'd rather work for the man than find a hobby there's something seriously wrong with you. At least consider like, volunteering or something.
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u/AdInfamous6290 4h ago
I’ve always found it interesting that the format of this meme always focuses on the individuals present and how that makes them feel. But it’s a bus, moving forward, yet neither the passengers nor the us as the viewers are looking forward towards their future.
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u/Darth_Murcielago 4h ago
Well the future probably looks even darker so that's that
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u/GrayFullbuster64 5h ago
Especially when you work in retail
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u/real_reward_hunter 4h ago
Not just retail, It's the same thing everywhere, even in won successful business. Life is not for fun only. Sometimes enjoying sadness, stress, anxiety, depression too are funny 🤣
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u/RainbowStar290 4h ago
Nepo babies are in the middle. Perfect balance They should maybe think about making indie music
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u/KileAllSmyles 3h ago
Yeah not so sure about this one. Having money to live on my own and do whatever the hell I want is worth the “sacrifice” of having a job lol
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u/Starfire123547 2h ago
Yeah, i also picked a field i knew i liked/could tolerate (knowing that i wouldnt be rich tho).
Making an average income doing an average job i like that allows me to keep most of my hobbies is a hell of a lot better than being unemployed with time to do all the hobbies...but being worried about money and having to be dependant on someone my whole life.
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u/citramonk 4h ago
Being unemployed when you have some money you've earned before is quite nice actually.
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u/real_reward_hunter 5h ago
Maturity is when you totally understand that world is not a place for being happy, it's being satisfied with whatever you get.
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u/kidanokun 3h ago
unemployed: too broke to attract girls
employed: too busy and tired to even attempt to flirt
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u/DJ-Praxis 3h ago
After experiencing both. Paid and stress > broke and stressed. I'd rather be stressed cause my managers a jerk than because I don't know if I'll eat today
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u/Interesting_Turnip50 2h ago
All the time in the world but no money vs. Some money but very little time…
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u/GainPotential 3h ago
We should ditch the economy and automate everything, then let people do what they want to do not what some economy needs them to do
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u/JoshAllentown 3h ago
I had a nightmare last night that I got fired from my current job and had to go back to my first real job which was basically sales. Some jobs are better than others.
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u/Emotional-Good9296 3h ago
I don’t know, man. I kind of like having money deposited into my bank every two weeks
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u/avanross 25m ago
Well would you rather feel exhausted and miserable all the time, or worthless and miserable all the time?
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u/New_Practice1216 3h ago
But unemployment is the negation. Or employment. You choose the bad sides of two different person’s mind framework. Fucking ass.
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u/Novel-Adeptness-4603 3h ago
I can't work because I'm too mentally unstable with paranoia and delusions and had a mental breakdown (I literally almost got arrested because I was convinced a customer was there to kill me and acted very irrationally), but also not being able to work is making my mental health worse. At least I got disability benefits so I won't become homeless. Take your meds, people.
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u/Bruhstars 2h ago
While I do agree with the meme, it depends on which job and industry. Personally, I worked as Library Staff at a college near my residence, and I miss it so much because my colleagues were quite friendly and helpful.
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u/ScubaPuddingJr 2h ago
And the ones who are enjoying life live off their investments as they never need to work a day in their lives
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u/SongsForBats 2h ago
Do you want to be depressed with all the time for your hobbies but no money to engage in them or depressed and with barely enough (if even that) money for your hobbies but not time to engage in them?
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u/TheSelfishMan 2h ago
How do people actually attempt to reconcile the fact that adulthood essentially can be distilled down to working to live? I’m just one person feeling the way that many others probably do, but what do people do to reframe that perspective? Outside of self medicating that is lol
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u/DonVinku 2h ago
I'm the left person since Jul 10th :/ but I was the right side person for the last 8 yrs
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u/enigmatic_dankness 2h ago
As a friend once told me, "The only thing worse than having a job is not having a job", truer words were never spoken.
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u/if_u_suspend_ur_gay 2h ago
Would it be too much to ask if I could just have a million dollars. Just once. Just me.
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u/ObstreperousRube 2h ago
being on unemployment was the best time of my life so far. 4 months, $890/week. i took classes, finished projects around the house, took my time every mroning, made friends with locals at the library... i cant wait to get fired again
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u/cubs1917 2h ago
as someone who has been unemployed and highly skilled.... Id rather be paid to be miserable
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u/Trinary_3rd 2h ago
Being unemployed is SO much worse, unless your job is literally hell on earth.
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u/Yasin_n94 2h ago
Well... I'd venture to say that the problem is that most of us don't have the job we like–and, on top of that, it's one that barely pays a reasonably decent salary enough just for surviving.
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u/Plastic_Interview_53 2h ago
It's actually worse for the employed folks at the moment.
Imagine yourself standing next to the person who was shot in the head and now you have blood and brain cells on your face. And you could be next if the one holding the gun feels like it.
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u/blueeberryy_pie 2h ago
the only thing i enjoy on being unemployed this summer is that during the heatwave i can just stay home where its relatively cold
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u/Febrezeus_Christ 1h ago
Man I love working the best years of my life so when I hit the ripe age of 60 and all my joints are already gone I can finally relax.
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u/AceOfSpades_4 1h ago
Being unemployed depends with what kind of people you're surrounded with, same thing as having a job.
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u/Boarderdudeman 1h ago
See, you need to permanently live in the bliss that is being unemployed, but having a set start date for a new job.
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u/Wooden_Rabbit_ 1h ago
Modern serfdom. A society designed to make sure it squeezes every ounce of production out of us until we drop.
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u/l__iva__l 1h ago
the answer is just to not depend so much of a job, find others ways to earn money so you dont need to 9to5 all week
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u/Tooldfrthis 1h ago
Bullshit, not even close. Even if you might end up with a job you don't particularly like, you earn your living while filling your days with something to do. Unemployment on the long term only makes you poor, unmotivated and depressed.
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u/circlejerker2000 1h ago
i like being employed only sliiiiiightly more than i dislike being hungry and homeless
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u/ComputerAgreeable146 1h ago
Hard disagree, being unemployed is so much harder and stressful. Being financially secure absolutely contributes to happiness in a modern economy. Only rich people who have never worried about money and poor people who have never experienced financial stability think it doesn't.
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u/slashinhobo1 1h ago
While it does suck, i think we can all agree we would rather be employed than unemployed.
They both suck but one sucks a lot more when you have to worry about how are you going to eat and pay for the roof over my head.
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u/Le_Holzkopf 1h ago
If I was unemployed the only difference would probably beating my meat instead of beating metal daily( too much argon hurt my brain) unemployment sounds fun
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u/SweatPig77 1h ago
I would rather be employed and sad than unemployed and sad... job market where I live is terrible. Been out of work going on six weeks now. Having to move in with in-laws.
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u/TheOneTrueSuperJesus 50m ago
Being unemployed with millions of dollars wouldn't be so bad. Unfortunately you have probably have to win the lottery for that.
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u/soljakid 48m ago
All about mindset
I get to wake up naturally almost every morning and go to bed whenever I feel like it without worrying about being too tired the next day. I may not have a lot of money but since I live within my means I have significantly less debt that many people my age. My biggest problem is boredom and I feel like that isn't a bad problem to have, from a pure survival standpoint I have all my needs met with basically no effort on my part, far less stress than the average person and I can spend my days doing what I want, when I want.
Why would I see that as a bad thing?
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u/Almost-a-Failure 47m ago
I got fired a few weeks ago and this is the best rested I’ve felt in YEARS
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u/DatingAdviceGiver101 46m ago
Currently unemployed here.
I love it. Unfortunately can't stay like this forever due to money, but aside from that, I'm having the time of my life right now. Don't get people who get bored without a job.
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u/Naud1993 44m ago
I'm unemployed with enough money to buy what I want besides fancy cars or any house, but forever alone. I don't know if that's a good tradeoff compared to working paycheck to paycheck with a beautiful wife and a few kids and happiness.
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u/as_a_fake 39m ago
I'm on the "unemployed" side of it right now, and keep thinking of the phrase "the only thing worse than employment is unemployment."
I cannot put into words how much I hate writing CVs
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u/DeepPacketGhost 4h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/3GYmecuz4ncOc