If not for the responsibility I feel towards being a safety net for my SO, I wouldn't care much if at all.
Well I'm certainly glad I'm not working at Famous Footwear anymore and living in ****ty 600 square foot apartments. It's also nice not being stressed out of my mind with money problems.
I'm so lost on caltex's "I don't want to be rich but want rich family/friends to buy me stuff. If I were rich everyone would want my money/stuff" argument.
Most research suggests there's a threshold of money you need to make to be happy, but above that point there are diminishing returns to happiness. You need to be able to cover the basics such as rent/mortgage, food, a car, etc. The threshold varies for different people, depending on their age, whether or not they're married, have kids, geographic location (e.g., NYC vs. Beaumont), etc. The threshold numbers I've seen actually surprised me a lot by how low they were -- close to $75K for many people. I guess it makes sense if you consider the average household income in the US is around $50K.
I missed that one .. . . If he said that one . .. he is completely and totally full of it Cause that is basically saying . . . I want all the benefits of being rich but none of the responsibilities which is . . . kind of piss poor sorry [no disrespect] Rocket River "E'ry body want go heaven No one want die."
ever watch a documentary called Happy (available on netflix)? obviously, there's a huge gap in "happiness" between those who make $5000/year and $50,000/year. amongst those who make $50,000 and $500,000, the happiness level is almost negligible. once your basic needs are met, buying superfluous wants won't increase your overall happiness. it's the freedom to do stimulating activities that that extra money affords that really jumpstarts your happiness level.
I would also state . . that the more cut off a person is from TV/RADIO/Etc the happier they are when you realize that *EVERYTHING* on TV and Radio is geared to make you dissatisfied with your life then you can take the appropriate measures to change it. Rocket River
i agree. that's why i try to live a minimalist lifestyle. i don't let advertisements affect me. just buy what i need and will use. i remember going through the "buying stuff just because it was discounted" phase. my last big wasteful purchase was a 36 inch flat screen TV. i put it in the spare bedroom. i asked myself why the hell did i buy this? i never use it. at that point i made a conscious decision to not accumulate a bunch of crap.
By saying I'd rather have others get those luxuries, I'm not saying I want to live the lifestyle without earning it. I'm more saying the blessings will come my way because of the way I treat people. They'll think of me more and be thankful for what I've done for them (because I may have been there when they needed someone to talk to, do favors for, picked up their family member routinely, etc...) For example, someone who is greatful for how I've treated and helped them in the past may buy me a new high quality (and possibly expensive) car as a token of their appreciation. Or they may see me going through a rough financial time and help me with some expenses (and as I've said, I'd prefer to avoid this, I'm not a deadbeat). I wouldn't ask for that stuff but would be glad that someone would look out for me like that. I don't know how it's coming across but I'm not saying I want all of that stuff and a rich lifestyle without earning it more than saying if those luxuries, which I know I don't necessarily need, come into my life then others would be glad to get them for me because of how I treated them. And then when it's all said and done I may still give it away because I don't value material thngs like the average person.
In the scope of history and in the scope of the world's population.... if you own a car if you're able to save anything at all if you never worry about whether you'll eat that day ...then you are rich. My guess is that everyone on this board is rich by that measure.
"I ain't got a dime, but what I've got is time. I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free." - George Strait - Amarillo by Morning
What is wrong with it? It's not like she threw $20,000 away. She paid a local business $20,000 for a product. That business will be able to use that money to sustain themselves, pay their employees, buy product, etc.
I think you are living in a fantasy world if you think someone may buy you a high quality car because you have been nice to them. I assume you are nice to people now and help them out with your time at the drop of a hat. Has anyone ever offered you an expensive item based on your help to them?
The problem is . . . you still want to be rich except rich is based on a different value system Based on Good Deeds instead of money . While you going through pains to not say it You feel that good deeds should be rewarded and in this particular instance. . . rewarded through material things Your good deed has been demeaned to a transactional exchange basically .. . A TIP You do a good deed. . .someone TIPS you an expensive car Basically you are going off the GOLD STANDARD [which we not on but as an example] to a Morality Standard. i.e. transactions of good deeds would translate into material items. . . this would make the world a better place because then everyone would be doing good deeds. Sounds good. Wish it were so. But highly unrealistic I think. . . not with the current attitudes Your acquirement of material needs based on things you already doing Would be like me saying I wouldn't ask anyone for a car for breathing . . but it would be aweful nice if they did. I Agree. Rocket River
Yeah my thoughts too. I'm kind of confused about why he thinks the world works that way, or even why it should.
I desire being rightfully compensated for my hardwork and personal efforts. I also desire to not hand over to those not willing to do the same for themselves. There is a difference between charity and dependence. It's scary how undefined that definition is today.
