Money...

[sc_rufctr]

The longer I live the more I realise how important having enough is.

People often say money won't buy you happiness but in my experience I think that is complete bull $h/t.
I'm never more depressed than when I don't have enough to do the things I want to do and that is the biggest motivation for working as hard as I do.

I now a guy in his mid 50s who hasn't worked full time in more than 20 years. He's always broke and doesn't seem to want to do anything about it. He's more than capable and his health is good but he's depressed and spends most of his day in bed.
I just don't understand people like that.

[944Larry]

money will buy more happiness than poverty will purchase!!!

[masraum]

money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes being miserable a lot easier.

I think the saying is more about attitude than anything else. You can be getting by with your necessities covered and still have a rich life.

[Oh Haha]

Money can't buy happiness is probably a true statement but...



not having to worry about how your bills are going to get paid relieves a lot of stress and that can make you a happy.

We are not rich by any means but we contribute to our retirement plan(s) and life insurance each month so that one day, hopefully, we can live comfortably without NEEDING to work.

Even through my layoffs and now my wife's we have paid ourselves first.

[notfarnow]

Money won't buy happiness, but I've found it's a lot more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than in a LeCar

[Hugo930]

Your 50 year old friend seems clinically depressed, what's there to understand beyond that he is sick. If he had been in a car accident with broken legs, arms, etc. Would you ask the same question?

As to money, yes. Money is absolutely necessary.

[Hugh R]

I've been trying to save for my retirement for 30+ years. You think you've put enough away and then you look and think, well.....I could have put more away. Wait until we turn into Greece and the gubmit starts cutting SS and requiring "means testing".

[dan88911]

Yes.. money isn't the only thing, there just aren't many substitutes for it.

[dewolf]

"Money can't buy you happiness but it sure as hell can buy your choice of misery". So said my dear departed father.
Unfortunalety so many people get caught up in the chase for that all important dollar they forget to live. Work to live, not live to work. I work for myself and in the last few years I have chosen lifestyle over money. Going for a walk along the beach with the wife, having a mid morning coffee or just going for a cruise in the car or on the bike now makes more sense that busting my arse for money.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I've been trying to save for my retirement for 30+ years. You think you've put enough away and then you look and think, well.....I could have put more away. Wait until we turn into Greece and the gubmit starts cutting SS and requiring "means testing".

PARF it up Hughbert!

[TheMentat]

Very few people can afford to do ALL the things they want to... Most peoples tastes grow more expensive with their wealth. There will always be something that seems "out of reach" from where you stand.

The problem is when people start whining about it, rather than doing something about it.

[dewolf]

My dad also used to say, "you spend the first 25 years getting educated, then the next 40 years working and the last ten to relax. Try not to do that son".

[widgeon13]

You will never have enough if you aren't thankful for what you do have.

[on2wheels52]

I've been running a pawn shop for 25 years, so all day long I see people without money. Most of them don't seem unhappy, perhaps because they know I'm going to give (loan) them some money.
But being broke seems to be a way of life with some people/families. I'm happy to be on my side of the counter.
Jim

[VINMAN]

I wouldnt say it buys happiness, just less stress.

[dmcummins]

Having put back enough to tell my boss that I was retiring sure made me happy. And I liked my job and was paid well, but now my time is my own. And much less stress in my life.

But I do think about the money I gave up by retiring at 50. I could have saved and invested another six figures a year, starting in 2007. But I wouldn't go back to work, and I have been asked. And my net worth is higher now than it ever has been, so I have enough.

[uncle_scott]

I need to stop starting sentences with, "I want..." and start being happy with what I have. (My wife's biggest pet peeve with me, lol)

I make plenty of money for a 27 year old as a staff level government urban planner, and I am contributing a healthy amount to my retirement so that feels good. On the other hand I decided to go back to Grad School last year because I saw the writing on the wall that I won't be competitive in 5-10 years without an advanced degree. I want to reach the Community Development Director's seat someday...I don't need to make millions to be happy, but I would like to be able to afford a few toys and still see all of the bills paid at the end of the month.

Money does not equal happiness for me, but it certainly has brought me a level of comfort and enjoyment that many others of my friends, and people my age don't seem to have currently.

[strupgolf]

I'm happy and not rich. But I'm not living paycheck to paycheck, so to speak. Money could buy me more of what I want, but I don't need it, so I guess money does not buy happiness. It just makes what little time we have on earth a bit easier.

[vash]

i wish i had "eff u" money.

[fintstone]

I had a guy that worked for me who thought he had FU money. He had started day trading in the stock market and accidentally made an online trade on margin and made about $300k. I suggested he take the bulk if the money out and invest it more safely. He assumed he was a genius and could do it again any time he chose. He quit a few days later after giving me the big "FU" to be a full time day trader from home. A couple of weeks later he had lost all of the $300k (he left his money in that one penny stock and rode it all the way down to nothing). I told him "FU".

I had another guy that sold his very nice house (his wife owned it outright from a previous marriage). They rented a smaller, cheaper home. BHe was making a few bucks day trading at night with money from his $100k job but thought the $409k would give him enough capital to trade and make big bucks. I convinced him to take a leave of absence in case it did nit work out. He thought it silly but indulged me. He was back at work six weeks later,