A decade ago a middle class family had no more than a two wheeler, a rented house, aspirations to get their children educated enough to afford the same. Today, a car, an apartment , a foreign vacation every five years with aspirations of a foreign education for kids describes a typical middle- class family these days. People are earning more, spending more and perhaps aiming higher. Respectability has been substituted for status. People are willing to sacrifice minor principles in view of the bigger picture.
No one asks you whether you are happy in the job. They only ask you how much you make. You are typecast accordingly. A classical example in our country would be the matrimonial advertisements . Almost each one Specifies the the income bracket with the hope of attracting more proposals. But I am yet to come across one which states, "low income but very happy in life" .
I do agree that money is a major factor while deciding on a career. No matter how much job satisfaction a person claims to have, if it doesn't pay your bills at the end of the month, the happiness wont last long. Moreover as we age our family also grows in size, the economics of the world changes, our own demands and the expectations of those around us also rise. Nothing except money can overcome this.
However I do believe that money should not be the one all deciding factor. Your own job interests, your beliefs, aptitude, future standing are all factors that must be considered as well. Imagine earning lakhs of money but working 24 hrs for it. It defeats the very purpose. If you cant enjoy it, then whats the use? A career choice is a decision that stays with you throughout your life. A wrong choice can affect us in more ways than imaginable. More than Half of the day is spent at work and if we don't like what we do, then it can lead to frustration and even depression.
A lucky few are born with gifts of arts, singing and other such creative fields. However the fear of lack of opportunity, society and financial instability often makes the parents of these people force them into more stable and "accepted" jobs. The result being poor job performance , lack of interest and ultimately a growing resentment towards not only their parents but also themselves. A classical example of a wrong choice.
Therefore, while agreeing that money is an important factor to consider while choosing a career, I do not believe that it is the only one.
