A job that brings the bacon or happiness?

I agree. While there are always going to be cases where you won't be able to reconcile your love for something with your career, in most situations there is always some sort of occupation that will pay a fair amount as well as make you decently happy.

If you love something to the point where you are willing to give up financial security to pursue it, then more power to you - and good luck. Personally, I couldn't ever do that. I guess that's what hobbies are for, right? Plus you can always pursue the path of becoming fabulously wealthy by working hard at a job that is so-so for a while and then retire early and do absolutely whatever the heck you want!

You don't have to choose from just two extremes of love and money.

If you absolutely hate math, you don't have to major in something so centered around it just because the field pays well. There are a ton of other career options out there that pay fairly well.

I don't think you have to absolutely love your job with no regard to how much it pays. What if someone really really loves standing on a street corner and playing the sax all day for spare change, but they have a family of eight at home? As passionate as the sax player is, if he/she has the ability to take on a more practical job in order to support their family, I think they should do so. That's why people take up hobbies, isn't it? He/she can play on weekends or at home.

As long as you don't dread waking up in the morning and going to work, I think you're in a good place.

i agree. one idea i've been having is to set up a lucrative business, have others to manage it, then go find a job where you would be happy. if you succeed in doing this, you don't need to have a high-earning job because your business would be giving you the financial support you want.

does money bring you happiness? Does that happiness outweigh a crappy job setting?

to what extent are humans propelled by money? Most lawyers take cases that may go against their morals or personal beliefs on the matter... for example, in a murder trial, a lawyer is actually representing a murderer and is advocating the criminal to get a less harsh sentence... that should go against a person's beliefs, shouldn't it? Most lawyers use the defense that their client is mentally ill to get the criminal off the hook, even though it's obviously difficult to prove that the criminal was in his/her right mind when the murder took place... so, the lawyer must be propelled by money to a great extent!

What about physicians? It's pretty evident that a lot of physicians do an exorbitant amount of tests sometimes in order to get more profit. Some surgeons even advocate doing unnecessary surgical procedures sometimes for the mere profit of it, and a lot of families have sued for that sort of behavior, including mine.

Like it or not, we are all propelled by money. Some more than others, but most of us will go against our beliefs or morals to get that money we want... so Yes, money brings happiness.

My major is economics and actuarial math. Honestly, I don't particularly LIKE math, but I was told that a math major is very pragmatic and lucrative, and it should open up a lot of doors to success. I have a feeling that when I actually get a job, i'm gonna have to drag myself out of bed everyday, and make myself go to work. However, I'm hoping that I'll get a good amount of money with my degree... But I'll be happier if I do something else for a living, ya know?
So, which is better? Doing something that'll make you happy, even if you're not get enough $$$$$ or will money automatically bring you happiness even with an annoying job?

You don't always have to either make money and hate life or enjoy life and live paycheck to paycheck. There are jobs out there that people can enjoy and if they have the will power to take it as far as they can then they'll make money while they're at it.

For example:
A lawyer, obviously after years of work and establishment, should be able to choose their work as they please and enjoy life when they would like to.
I'm sure there are plenty of other jobs this applies too. Just not coming to mind right now.

It is unfair that most of the jobs that seem to be a good bet fiscally tend to be ones that are hard to get passionate about. Were that liberal arts majors well paid as a rule.

I'm trying to figure out how to solve this problem, too. No answers present themselves readily.

As much as I would like to have a job that makes ridiculous amounts of money, I know I wouldn't be happy in it. I think it depends on the person, of course, but you should do what you love, not what makes the cash.
I really love teaching, and I plan to become an university professor. A job, which, once you get it, entails not too much money a year, lots of work and consistent effort, and ridiculous amounts of stress to even finish a PhD and get an interview at the university of choice.
Crazy? Yes. Happy? Hell yes.