10 reasons you're not rich

esbm

I agree with all these. The one I really notice in my peers (professional 20-30s) is the living for today attitude. They have reasonable jobs and pay but spend so much of if on partying, clothes etc, then want to get married, buy houses etc but have no savings to do so, so take on debt

Ilona

I am rich. Time rich and cash poor as the saying goes. I have enough money to buy everything I need. I don't need a lot. I don't need new stuff, second hand is fine. I don't need to eat out, I make lovely meals in my kitchen. I don't need to buy new dresses, I have lots of old ones. I don't need to go abroad on holiday, we have a lovely country right here on our doorstep. I don't need to keep up with the Jones's, they can please themselves, nothing to do with me.

I cut my working hours down to part time when I was in my mid fifties. It suddenly hit me, if I don't spend any money I don't have to earn it. Wish I'd discovered that earlier.

Time and good health is more important than money, and I have both, so I am rich.
:beer:
Toodle pip.
Ilona

Delia_Cardei

I spend money like I'm already rich. Always do such suck things.

quantic

Not everyone but a good chunk of modern society rely heavily on the approval of others and I think one of the main reasons that saving isn't widely adopted is that its kind of stealth and nobody knows your doing it.

One guy/girl gets a new car, new watch, holiday etc and everyone around him is saying how well they must be doing, this makes them feel special so encourages the behavior.

Meanwhile another guy/girl is living a modest life, saving, accumulating wealth and everyone around them thinks that they must not be doing so well. I mean they couldn't possibly choose to live modestly if they could afford not to. Who would choose that?

Obviously what others think shouldn't matter but in the years when you need to begin this habit (late teens/early twenties) people generally do care about what others think so the habit is rarely formed - ironically, you can have both if you do it right earlier on but that's not obvious.

Muhren

Isn't life about more than just money though? Shouldn't it be about experiences and happiness?


I had my own place, savings and shares at work and was in a comfortable position in my late 20's but wasn't happy. Even though I am still in debt I am trying to push myself to spend money, not on material things but enjoying myself and broadening my horizons. I have always been good with money and don't enjoy spending it, obviously I don't want to blow it but what is the point of being rich if you aren't happy?


There will be plenty of people on here that disagree with my view but that is how I feel and hopefully this approach will help with my depression as well.

Baby_Angel

I have family who constantly need bailing out. They live over their means and expect us to help them financially. We did for years and now have said enough is enough. They make us look horrible but we don't care. I want to make hay while the sun shines (this time for my own family ).

rockm87

I found this on the MMM blog, so alot of other posters on that forum agree that once your debt is gone happyness comes from experiences and being with your family rather than just being 'rich' financially.

some great points!

ReadingTim

Deleted User wrote: »

Sure being rich must be great, but it's not the most important thing when compared to the health and happiness of your family. Think about Steve Jobs; unbelievably wealthy but died of cancer in his mid 50's. All his money couldn't help him.

Sure, money won't bring you health and happiness; but the lack of it can certainly bring illness and misery to you and your family.

Marktheshark

I would have thought :
Honesty + Empathy are the two main reasons most people are not rich.

Most "rich" people who got rich are very dishonest, deceptive, manipulative, crocodile smiles.
Most have no Emptahy, they have to drive over you and your family to get rich, you are going under the bus, hence why most are involved in some kind of hunting or shooting things, the two go together.
Dog eat Dog makes people rich, honesty and hard work makes people poor.

Muhren

ReadingTim wrote: »

Sure, money won't bring you health and happiness; but the lack of it can certainly bring illness and misery to you and your family.

Whilst I agree with that, this thread is about not being rich, and not about being poor.