“Quite a few people quit academia for these reasons.”

Count me as one of them. I even had a full ride PhD fellowship. Even now, I went back to school instead of keeping a good steady job, thanks again to the support of my wife. I’d have done it anyways I think, but she definitely made it easier.

Short version: Money isn’t everything.

The biggest downside in academia, is limited ability to choose a location to live in, especially in the more competitive academic job markets like the US and at the higher ranks of institutions. A lot of US universities are also in rural locations where it is either hard to find a spouse if you don’t have one or for a spouse to find a job. Quite a few people quit academia for these reasons. And there is little turnover in tenured positions so little job mobility beyond the assistant professor level. This has certainly affected me and the major reason that I may quit academia when I figure out how to make enough money by other means (and once I get my green card).

Now that I got serious about saving. I love it! I’m really happy that I put a lot of focus on it this year.

I believe it’s possible to make money doing something that you’re really passionate about.

I think saving and investing are the way to go. Then maybe you can have it all: the crafts, the money and the blogs.

Just a thought. I’m struggling myself.

By the way. I’ve put you on my blogroll.

ciao
shr