How much money do you need to be happy?

stephen163

I choose to have faith in capitalism and free market economics, after all, it's brough our living standards today to unprecedented levels. Even the poorest of citizens in the 'first world' should step back and develop a sense of perspective before they bemoan their lots in life.

The fundamental principles responsible for our prosperity is the fact that wealth tends to increase exponentially in a society where the aspirations of human wants can be achieved by successful innovation and hard work. Wealth creates wealth and its ultimate source is the human mind. Destroy the incentive, destroy the wealth creation!

JayScottGreenspan

bendix wrote: »

You remind me of the Christian missionaries, trying to save the uneducated natives. They were patronising too, yet oh so full of good intentions (by their own standards)

Two questions:
1) Is Christianity the only true religion and the path to salvation?
2) Is £300 on a persionalised number plate £300 that could do more for the individual or indeed society if spent elsewhere?

Now, I'd rather stay away from 1. Question 2 I'm happy to answer. I would defend anyone's liberty to spend their money in such a way, but I certainly wouldn't do that myself, and I'd freely advise against it.

What sort of a world would it be if we weren't free to pass comment on such matters?

stephen163

The thing is, that £300 doesn't just disappear into thin air after you purchase the number plate, in fact it circulates around the economy. So a rich person, or perhaps someone who really likes number plates has what they perceive to be greater than £300 of happiness and £300 cash is freed up to circulate through the rest of the economy. Where's the problem?

JayScottGreenspan

Troubled_Joe wrote: »

What qualifies you to define the true happiness of others?

Hey, dude, I'm not saying I know what true happiness would constitute for anyone, or indeed how they might attain it.

I'm merely saying that status symbols are unlikely to help. This isn't exactly a new idea.

Your argument is equivalent to:
Bill: "Poking cigarettes in your eyes is bad for them."
George: "Oh, so you claim to know exactly how to acheive perfect ocular health do you?"

mewbie_2

JayScottGreenspan wrote: »

Your argument is equivalent to:
Bill: "Poking cigarettes in your eyes is bad for them."
George: "Oh, so you claim to know exactly how to acheive perfect ocular health do you?"

Or..
Cleaver: That influenza joke of yours is rubbish.
Mewbie: OK, so you know all about perfect jocular health do you?

mewbie_2

...and on the subject of status symbols. Some would say my Bentley is a bit OTT, but then I'd look silly being chaffeured in a Ford Fiesta. Same argument for having maids and a butler - we have a big house, it would be empty if it weren't for the servants. Not status symbols, neccessities really. And as for giving, well last year I gave nearly three hundred pounds to the tax man, I have now sacked that particular accountant of course. He wouldn't know how to off shore a rubber dinghy. Time to learn matey I said. How we laughed back at Mewbie Towers.

edit: typos, damn secretary. Claims to have good dictation skills. If she thinks I'm going to fast track her visa now, she's got another think coming.

JayScottGreenspan

mewbie wrote: »

Or..
Cleaver: That influenza joke of yours is rubbish.
Mewbie: OK, so you know all about perfect jocular health do you?

This joke?
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=18073647&postcount=11

As bad jokes go, I saw this one recently which made me chuckle:
Q: Why does Rupert the Bear wear yellow and black chequered trousers?
A: Because he's a f&cking [EMAIL="tw@t"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].

wymondham

People who have lots of money usually say you don't need money to be happy!

silvercar

bendix wrote: »

Similarly, half of Notting Hill where I live sit around at dinner parties boasting about how they sponsor a 'little black boy' in Botswana. They wave their faux-humanitarian goodwill as a status symbol too . . .(rather like you do, in fact).

Charity doesn't begin at home.

Overheard recently. Showy parents planning OTT party for kid of about 8.
Parent says they are planning on twinning the birthday party with the birthday party of a sponsored child overseas. I presume twinning a birthday party means sending an equivalent cash amount for the child, as opposed to sending entertainer, cake and going home bags abroad. Their child comes home from school to ask parents if he can twin his party with school friend, days apart in age, whose parents can't afford a party. Parents response is in the negative followed by a string of expeltives. Then parents discuss how best they can explain charity to their children.

lostinrates

wymondham wrote: »

People who have lots of money usually say you don't need money to be happy!

But do they opt to give it all away and be poor?;)