Does Wealth equate Happiness to you?

[effee]

I am in my early 20s, going to start school soon, and with thoughts to make it big out there, i constantly ask myself if I can conquer the world, make it to the top and bring in the big bucks. I'm sure most ambitious young people like myself have the same thought.

To be a wealthy banker, lawyer, businessman etc etc. Now my question is, would you be satisfied with yourself if you were not successful financially? Most of my peers primary aim in life is to earn as much as they can upon graduation (like whose isnt?)

However, if you land a job earning you a moderate income, enough to live a normal life. Would you be happy and contented? Or would you always reach for more.

 

[Colt45]

I want enough to live a normal life without working. thats the dream.

 

[Farang]

Wealth for me is being able to afford what I want to do with as little strain as possible. Some people will make more than me but have a car payment of $400, rent of $800, a boat/dirtbike/jetski/toy payment of $200, a cable bill of $100, adding up to $1700 per month of things I have no interest in paying for (a good apartment for me will cost $250 overseas). So I'm spending about $1450 less per month on things I do not want that most people blow their paychecks on. That is $17,400 per year. So if I take other college grads as an example, who would be happy to land a $40k/year job, I can make $22,600/year and have the same day-to-day quality of life as they do, as far as how often I eat out, the quality of booze I drink, etc. Actually living overseas eating out is cheaper so my quality of life will be even better on that salary.

So wealth for me personally is making over $22,600 yearly in a foreign country, not too difficult really.

 

[Aharami]

i want more money, but i dont want to work more. i guess winning the lottery is the only way out for me.

 

[Chaotic42]

My aim in life is to be happy with my life. I used to be able to do that with my salary, but the cost of living here is going up. It's also *very* important (I can't stress this enough) to be happy with your job, even if it means making a little less money. I'd rather have a job that I love making $40K/yr than a job that I hate making $80K/yr.

 

[Jumpem]

To a point. I am happy right now with the wife and I working, for the most part, 40 hour weeks and making low six figures.

I would rather stay at this point then take promotions to management and end up working 60+ hours a week. the extra money wouldn't be worth it.

 

[SpunkyJones]

I was all about the money when I was younger, I'd work around the clock, do extra projects etc. Something needed to be done, I'd do it. I lived to work.

Now that I have a wife and kids, I'm more interested in spending time with family and friends. I decided that when I croak, I'd rather have people talking about what a great husband/dad/friend I was rather than about how no one could fix a broken widget like Spunky.

I'll take the moderate income, and enjoy life.

 

[Sqube]

Making money is not the be-all and end-all. It looks great on the outside, but the people who are close to you -- or would be close to you if you weren't working all the time -- would probably be better off with your actual presence, as opposed to your bankroll.

I want enough money to be able to invest, retire comfortably, and be able to do whatever I want between then and now. I'm materialistc, but not materialistic enough to sacrifice friends, family, and life at the altar of my job.

When I'm dead, my job is the last thing that I want people talking about. I want them talking about who I was as a person. If the only thing people can think to discuss when they're at my funeral is how good I was at my job, then I've gone wrong somewhere.

 

[effee]

I guess your perception of wealth changes as you age? When you're younger wealth is expensive dinners /cars/ flashy cars..

when you age wealth comes in the form of having a happy family, and good memories.

 

[dighn]

Nope. My real goals are not financial in nature. As long as I have enough for middle-class living I'm happy with the wealth aspect of life.

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: Colt45
I want enough to live a normal life without working. thats the dream.

well said

 

[tfcmasta97]

i want to make a decent amount working 9-5 without extra hours or work

 

[child of wonder]

My wife and I make enough where we can afford a nice house and put money into savings. We're pretty pleased with that.

Would more money make us happier? Sure, but there would come a point where too much money would change us into different people and I'm not comfortable with that.

If we could make $25,000 more per year than we do now, I think we'd be in great financial shape and more than happy with that.

 

[IGBT]

..wealth provides options and choice which can bring great joy or grief. choose wisely.

 

[Poulsonator]

Originally posted by: Colt45
I want enough to live a normal life without working. thats the dream.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

If I had wealth I could do more to help other people, and I think helping other people might make me happy.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: Poulsonator

Originally posted by: Colt45
I want enough to live a normal life without working. thats the dream.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

yea, i see so many ppl i know who work 6 days a week, 12 hrs day to pay for their house, car, kids, electronics, gambling habits. im cool - in @ 9 and out @ 5 and weekends and nights all to myself.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: Colt45
I want enough to live a normal life without working. thats the dream.

Two chicks at the same time.

 

[gamepad]

My life goal is to make low six figures in a job that I enjoy.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: effee
I am in my early 20s, going to start school soon, and with thoughts to make it big out there, i constantly ask myself if I can conquer the world, make it to the top and bring in the big bucks. I'm sure most ambitious young people like myself have the same thought.

To be a wealthy banker, lawyer, businessman etc etc. Now my question is, would you be satisfied with yourself if you were not successful financially? Most of my peers primary aim in life is to earn as much as they can upon graduation (like whose isnt?)

However, if you land a job earning you a moderate income, enough to live a normal life. Would you be happy and contented? Or would you always reach for more.

make big bucks out of school to pay off those school loans. sell your soul to the highest bidder.

sometimes i wish i had a job with only a moderate income, and not be so financially well off. so i can possibly avoid the situation i'm currently in

 

[DaveSimmons]

Watch American Psycho to see the kind of life you're aiming for effee

The main reason I sometimes wish for great wealth (as in a $100+ million lottery win) is to fund a couple of projects I won't ever do without it, and to help out my family.

Otherwise, no, having enough to be comfortable is good enough for me. I'm not keeping score and don't care that I buy $30 Land's End polos instead of $100 Ralph Lauren.

 

[Modular]

Originally posted by: effee
However, if you land a job earning you a moderate income, enough to live a normal life. Would you be happy and contented? Or would you always reach for more.

This is what separates those with millions from those with less.

It's relatively easy to get a job that makes you comfortable and will provide you will a happy, easy life. But you need the constant emotion and drive to never be satisfied in order to break out of that.

I think that the main reason for this is that you generally have to take some risks in order to become crazy-wealthy. That drive for more is the only thing that motivates a person to take a risk. No drive = no risk= moderate wealth (and a happy life, don't get me wrong).

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: effee
I am in my early 20s, going to start school soon, and with thoughts to make it big out there, i constantly ask myself if I can conquer the world, make it to the top and bring in the big bucks. I'm sure most ambitious young people like myself have the same thought.

To be a wealthy banker, lawyer, businessman etc etc. Now my question is, would you be satisfied with yourself if you were not successful financially? Most of my peers primary aim in life is to earn as much as they can upon graduation (like whose isnt?)

However, if you land a job earning you a moderate income, enough to live a normal life. Would you be happy and contented? Or would you always reach for more.

i'll be content if i make enough for myself (entertainment and family and all) and enough to give something back to the community and help others. sounds cheesy i know.

 

[RKS]

Yes, I am an attorney. This is ingrained during the first year. :laugh:

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: mrrman

Originally posted by: Colt45
I want enough to live a normal life without working. thats the dream.

well said

you'll get bored so fast its even funny. i can't imagine a life where i did not have to work. how could i enjoy myself.