Money
 

Just waxing philosophically (aka had a few beers).

We were sitting around a fire talking about purchases related to having enough money to do whatever you want - within reason for middle class folks. New cars, TV's, boats, houses, whole house audio systems, etc.

I think it is a good quality to posess the drive to reach the point of reasonable middle class. But I am always curious about those that take the next step and work to reach the wealthy stage by devoting their entire existence to making more money. Some around the fire did well working 40 hours a week, some 50-60 hours, but there are always some who do the 80 hours, usually out of town and away from their families with small children.

Does this drive come from the thrill of the hunt for more dollars or is it an avoidance of dealing with daily family life which can get very mundane and stressful at times.

Probably a combo of both.

I hate to say it, but sometimes peoples 'drive' for more money is actually a way of avoiding their domestic lives.

Flying a kite with my kid is a hell of a lot more satisfying than my material possesions. I recently put my watches away, and I am wearing a $50 Timex sports watch. Things are changing in my life, moving towards a simplers existance, and yet I have more money than I ever had. I guess I could strive for getting a Ferrari, but why? Is anyone going to give a ***** you had a Ferrari when you are dead and gone? No. But your kids will certainly remember the time you spent with them, and hopefully, pass that parenting on to their kids.

Life is to be lived...narrow thinker don't...!

Money is worthless. Your health, both in body and mind is worth much more.

Unfortunately most do not realize it until you are a bit older, and health might be in question...

Take care of yourself and stop worrying about money. It usually works out.

Funny timing. I just asked myself if it was worth it this morning.
I had just woke up after sleeping for 24 hours straight, recovering from too much work and too many hours this week. The refinery I work at was shut down for much needed maintenance and I've been killing myself trying to get it alll done and back up and running.
I've made more in 4 1/2 months so far this year than I made all last year, and I wasn't doing so bad then.
Funny thing is, with all that money my lifestyle hasn't changed at all except I'm at work more than I used to be. I bought a new truck (to drive to work and back) and a new bicycle, big deal.
The wife and kids have already taken two vacations this year, and are going to Washington DC in two weeks and to Maui in June. Of course I won't be going with them, I have too many projects due to take weeks off at a time.

When I took this job a little over a year ago I negotiated 4 weeks a year vacation. What a joke that was.
They just gave me a check for the 2 1/2 weeks of unused vacation I carried over from last year, I haven't used any so far this year, and they are telling me I have to use it or I will loose it. But when I tell them I want to take some time off, they say "oh no, ths is not a good time".

So to answer your question, money is good, having a job is good, having free time is good, but too much of any of them is bad.

Re: Money
 

...it's a gas.

Re: Re: Money
 

No "Money, its a hit.
Dont give me that do goody good bullschit."

Re: Re: Re: Money
 

I'm just going to skip ahead just a little bit since I'm not in the high fidelty first class travelling set and...

"I think I need a Lear Jet"

Re: Re: Re: Money
 

Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.

I worked for myself for several years before I joined my current employer. I made lots more money, but I was killing myself, working 6 to 6-1/2 days per week. Monies tighter, especially with a daughter in college, but at least I have a life now. Looking back, I know I couldn't have kept that pace up much longer.

Whoever says money is worthless, I'd be more than happy to do you a favor and take it off your hands :)

Certainly your health, your family and friends are the most important. However, money is important in how you choose to live your life, whether you have to grind away at a 50 hr a week job or go sailing with peace and relaxation. that's a metaphor ;)

Been there and done that...and have a failed marriage to show. When my boys were very young worked 70 to 80 hours a week. on a plane 2 to 3 times a week. Home 2 weekends out of the month. Made awesome money but missed seeing my kids grow up. Now they are 12 and 13, divorced and only see them once a week and every other weekend. If i could do it over I would work for less than half and be with them all the time. Money can not buy peace of mind, contentment, and peace....

I force myself to leave work at 5:30 every day, so that I can be home in time to spend 1 hour with my 13 month old daughter, and my wife can go for a walk and take some rest. I feel a little bad that my boss stays there till 6:30 or 7, as well as some students. He makes a good 30% more money than me, he just got promoted full professor, but somehow, I would not trade my life for is. He is my age,has no kids, no boat, never takes any vacations. Yeah, if I did like him, I`d probably do as well. But I wont. It just does not seem worth it to me.

Aurel

Re: Money
 

Of course there are going to be exceptions, but in general, after having worked with relatively high income (say, $180K to $400K year range), relatively high work hour people, there's definately an aspect about avoiding whatever it is that is waiting for them at home. From what I observed for a decade or so.

I know it to be true, because despite having plenty of work to get done, most of these people would take unnecessarily long lunches, spend probably an hour reading the paper during work, and even during the slow times would "linger" in the office until 7:30 or 8, when it wasn't necessary at all.

I saw that over and over and over again.

There was one gal, she had 2 kids, she was in her 30s. At some boring meeting on a Monday morning, she turned to me and flat out said she often can't wait until Monday to come to work to get away from her kids. Nice.

addiction is addiction. For some people it is drugs, for some gambling, for some working and/or making money (the two do not necessarily track).

and +1 for people working to avoid real human relationships/interactions.

any amount can be earned if you sell you soul to get there.

The price is, personal relationships - who likes being around someone who does nothing but obsess over work all day? That mentality comes from the corporate climbers who don't have any other identity OTHER than their jobs.

All it really shows is that you have serious time management issues. I learned that lesson one day when I took my cell phone to a golf course - the old timers out there were razzing me:

"can't keep the office away?" Very unflattering, and true.

"what's good for the company is good for me!!!"

I think not.

What's more, the "work" is used as a tool or weapon in the relationship. To make the person look like a martyr. To relieve guilt. And to foist the responsibility for WORKING on the relationship all on the other person.

"Gee, look how hard I have to work for us." or "It's not my fault I'm not around." Which in many, many cases is dishonest.

It isn't an either/or decision. My net worth has benefited more from my real estate investments than from my job. So while I have no problem doing hard work, I don't see it as my primary path to wealth. In fact, if it detracted from my ability to handle my properties, then it would be a detriment.

But there are two issues in this thread. One is about work and the other is about money. IMO, the purpose of having money is so I don't have to think about money. When I was poor, I thought about money constantly because it was always the limiting factor in my life. Now? Not so much. It still eats up eight hours of every weekday. But at least it isn't the straight jacket it was before. And IMO, wealth has two stages. The first stage is when I don't have to work anymore. That is a significant financial and life goal. After that I'll decide if more would be better or if it would be a waste of time. Of course, YMMV.

Easiest way to become a slave to work is to be a slave to STUFF, especially on credit.

Before we got married, my wife cut down our discretionary spending by almost 3/4. Killed me at first because I tend to be pretty loose with money, but you get used to it. The upside was having no debt (outside of a mortgage).

It allowed my wife to walk away from her job and go back to school for 2 years with almost no debt. Being able to do THAT is a luxury

I love what I do, and I also am very good at it. It also invoves a lot of hours, which my Wife isn't real hip on, but it affords us a nice lifestyle. Not spendy folks (due more to the Wife, like Jake I'd find a toy or project to spend some "mad money" on) but our frugalness lets us go crazy on things that mean something to the both of us.

I've met and known people and friends who have made money at an accelerated pace, and watched it destroy marriages and relationships. You really have to keep it in perspective, a lot of them were happier and more pleasant when they were making less. Sometimes the "more stuff" invoved mistresses, drugs or both.