Money is not worth anything if you hate every working day. All I want is a decent living which I can enjoy every day. So, interesting problems come first.

I agree with you at some point money looses it’s value as a motivation factor that’s where the interesting problems becomes a motivational factor basically pushes people like why are they doing what they are doing. Like if you are making good money but doing nothing interesting you’ll get bored unless money is only your goal

I want to achieve financial freedom as soon as possible to focus on interesting problems freely without needing to worry about money.

Those who HAVE money can AFFORD to work on solving interesting problems. So yes, as a plebeian, money comes first for me.

I’ve worked as a developer since 1985 and been very happy at every job. Finding a tiny company where you can work on interesting problems will put more “happiness under the curve” than trying to suffer now so you can retire early.

“Do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

But working on interesting problems can also be seen as providing the value into society which can help you make money