I share your view about enjoying life whilst you can. My best friend from university earned well but channeled most of his cash into his future. He wanted to ensure he had a nice later life but it came at the cost of not having a lot of spare cash in his 20s and early 30s. Sadly he died in his...
Very similar to my outlook. I make my work, work for me. I've found a level I'm happy with, and I have certain work terms and conditions* I need, and I that's it from now on. I found going freelance a bit help as well. Getting out of the trad 9-5, 4 weeks holiday, 2 weeks paid sick thing really...
No. I do not love my work but I do very much enjoy it. I took steps around 10 years ago to change things though. I was fed up with long commutes and the rigid 9-5 4 weeks annual holiday office thing. It's the same work but doing it in a different set-up really makes a difference.
The Oldfield and Tubular Bells money is a good story.
As an aside I remember reading an interview with Oldfield in a travel mag and he said he has limitless free first class travel on Virgin Airlines as a gift from Branson due to his album providing the initial funds for the Virgin empire.
It stands to reason if you pay people well, give them some job security and also give them more leisure time, ie give them the confidence and time to spend, the economy will benefit.