You’re Not ‘Settling’ by Taking a Stable Job

We’ve all heard it: “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
But what if doing what you love… doesn’t pay the bills? Or worse – sucks the joy right out of your passion? 😭

We’re revisiting a controversial opinion from Episode 40 of The Vault with Financielle – and we still stand by it:

Choosing a stable job over your passion isn’t ‘settling’. 

The Problem With “Do What You Love”

In your 20s, it can feel like the only right way to live is to turn your passion into your career.

But here’s what we rarely talk about:

• Not every hobby needs to be a hustle 🎨
• Not every passion makes a sustainable income 🧶
• And not every person wants to turn what they love into work 🧘‍♀️

In the podcast, Lydia chipped in with “Keep your hobbies as hobbies. Otherwise, they’re not hobbies anymore – they’re admin.” 

Loving something doesn’t mean you’d necessarily enjoy doing it for money.

Why? Because work comes with admin. Stress. Deadlines. Invoicing. Expectations.
Sometimes turning your hobby into a job is the fastest way to fall out of love with it.

Stability = Freedom (Yes, Really)

A stable job can give you:

• The headspace to explore your passions on your own terms ⚽️
• The income to fund the things you love 💸
• The routine that helps you stay grounded 💻
• And sometimes, the peace of not turning everything into a side hustle ☺️

You don’t need to love your job for it to work for you.

You’re Allowed to Do Things Just Because You Love Them

One of the biggest takeaways from the episode? Not everything has to be monetised.

You can have a passion – painting, singing, dancing, pottery, horse riding, macramé (yep, we’ve tried it all) – and just enjoy it. No business plan. No income stream. No pressure.

In fact, having something that’s just yours can help you feel more balanced, more fulfilled, and more you.

Want to make space for those passions in your budget? A sinking fund can help you set money aside for it (guilt free!). Here’s how to set one up.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a stable job isn’t “settling.” It’s deciding that your work can support your life, not become your whole identity.

So if you’re feeling behind because you’re not chasing a dream job or turning your hobby into a business… know this:

You’re not behind.

You’re allowed to love your life outside of work.
And you’re allowed to keep your hobbies as hobbies. 🎤🎶

P.S. If you’re choosing a stable job because it offers consistency – even if the income isn’t huge – here’s how to make the most of it with a simple, sustainable budget: How to Budget on a Low Income