That does not make me a fool. I may not have a family but those rules would still apply. As long as I could provide for my family I would take the more exciting job.

There is a lot more to life than money. And that lot more can be done, more fun can be had if there is more money.

Imagine a situation where you have steady source of Income for life. There are better, interesting, challenging and more fun things to do than sitting in a cubicle for 16 hours and slogging till your bones hurt.

What are you are saying is a typical of 'Enjoy the journey, forget the destination' kind of message.

However you can be happy with you misery. That makes you happy, but still that does mean you live in misery.Earning little, making sacrifices and then being happy about it doesn't quite actually mean you are happy, rich and comfortable.

It just means you have come to negotiation with your self that you are ok with that.

I took a pay cut a few years ago to take my current job. What I got in return for that cut was way less stress, a more fulfilling work life, more quality time at home, etc. When people say "There's more to life than money" they are talking about things you literally can't buy.

Don't trivialise other peoples motivations because they aren't your own.

So, even you admit, the money is the first thing that needs to make sense. Once the money motivation is satisfied, other things come into play.

You're right there is: freedom. The most important thing for me in life is freedom. To get this, you need money.

You may be able to take the $50K and just get by, but I would suggest finding an exciting project that pays $100K instead and save the money you don't need for your future. I did just this 5 years ago and it gave me enough runway to start my own business when I lost my job.

"As long as I could provide for my family I would take the more exciting job."

You never know when you will need money. Doctor bills? you lose your job and can't find another one? kid's college education?

Kids are really expensive.

You also only have one life. Your employer is getting the majority of it (and most likely getting rich in the process). You should get paid what you are worth.

Most developers don't do this (I used to be one of them).

Yes, and that includes more being to life than work.

So, why'd would you work your ass off for someone for less, when you could be paid more and have more income/time to pursuit those other "more things in life"?

I imagine that SmallCo pay gives you enough that you did not need to make a real sacrifice.

Basically, it met your minimum requirement for money. If it hadn't, you wouldn't have taken the job.

- Foreign country - Low cost of life - High quality of life - Learning interesting new things - Current position prepare me to execute vague World Domination plan - Heck, freedom!

Once done in my current position I'll even take a break for a couple of months working for free doing computer stuff with migrants.

I certainly made choices on the way but I don't regret not having a car, a house or a family.

How about you are the fool of your own decisions (mortgage loan, family expenses, etc..)?

I'm currently in Switzerland, but I plan to live in Mediterranean countries other than Italy and Spain for some time in the future. I only ever lived in rich European countries, so I would be interested in your experiences.

But if they're still making more than enough to pay their bills and their mortgages, feed their families, build up savings, and have a substantial amount of disposable income remaining then it seems like a perfectly fine decision to me.

Working a job you hate merely so that you have an excess of money to buy things you don't want or need is a foolish and self-defeating choice.