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My dad always said, "Son, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing for money."

I believe the equivalent quote for the OP would be more like "Son, if there is money in it, it must be worth doing." Quite a different thing.

That just sounds wrong somehow. Money is social. It's what you use with people you don't know, or people you want to bleed.

Except for short-term consulting gigs.

The key is to keep your expenses "normal".

Don't do it for the money, really

But when times get tough, it's nice to have something to pay the bills

Bottom line, pick what you like, but something that pays some money, and you're good at

Unless you're broke.

Absolutely :)

Except, you know, when you are $2 away from being thrown onto the street. Pride only goes so far.

or if its a lot of money -- you're probably under-valuing what you're learning (assuming a semi-rational labour market..)