What HHI is "success" to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$500k + in passive income.

For me, success isn't being rich, it's being wealthy. It won't happen for me, but that's what I consider successful.

This is an interesting perspective to me. Many times ambitious people subconsciously set the bar for success at unattainably high levels. Unfortunately, they set themselves up for feelings of inadequacy, failure, and defeat. The interesting thing is that you aren't doing this subconsciously at all -- you are explicitly stating that you recognize that "success" is something that you will never attain. In part I admire the constant striving for more, as ambition is the fuel that powers people to do great things. On the other hand, I think we can sometimes drive ourselves crazy with unattainable goals, and we are happier when we're content with what we have. As the person who quote the Talmud above -- wealthy are those who are satisfied with their own lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've traveled a ton through Africa and sponsor a few kids education (it's not free in any African country ive visited). My standard for success is very different from most of you, as i have witnessed first had how brutal and fragile life is.

By virtue of being born inside the borders of the USA, I've hit the absolute jackpot in life. There is nothing i want for. For me, it is an absolute mind fuck that of all the horrendous places on this planet i could have been born to and how out of control my circumstances could have been, the fact that i was born here? Holy shit, what more could i possibly want? Its really remarkable, the odds that im here.

This is why i absolutely love 3rd world travel. It puts my entire life, every single aspect of it into perspective. This thread for instance, is the absolute most insane didplay od self indulgence and utter unawareness. I love being awake to the world around me.

Well you've just added condescension to the thread as well. Welcome!

NP here. That poster is spot on. One only gains perspective if you get out of your bubble. It is not condescending to be grateful for your blessings. Nobody is telling you, you are ungrateful. Everything does not revolve around you and your delicate ego. I personally try to work very hard to be grateful for the abundance that I've been given. Many people in our culture of consumerism and greed have a very hard time seeing how good they actually have it. Comparison is the thief of joy. I'd love to afford to travel like the said poster. These are valuable lessons one can get from seeing how other people live and manage to be happy with nothing. All i can do is watch Netflux documentaries to gain some perspective. You should too. Girl Rising would be great for you.

These.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$50000 I raise your kids, make sure they are safe and fed so you can go make your six figures. So sad !

--- nanny (former preschol teacher)

So sad! A teacher who can't spell preschool. I don't normally lecture people for spelling mistakes, but since you made a point to scold people who have careers and hire nannies, I made an exception for your dumb ass.

Have you heard about misspelling? And yes honey I did go to school (I bet I'm more educated than most of you on this forum!)

pp calls you out for a spelling mistake, and you reply "have you heard about misspelling?" uhhhhhhhh, that is what s/he specifically mentioned in the original post. i highly doubt you are more educated than the bottom 20% of people who post here. (also, "heard about misspelling" is awkward verbiage; should be "haven't you ever heard of misspelling?" imagine asking someone, "have you heard about our lord and savior misspelling?"

un-clench.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, success is not defined by money.

+100000
most people have their priorities wrong

[Anonymous]

I'd say 300k

[Anonymous]

About 100k

[Anonymous]

Success? Living a stress free life filled with activities, people, and beautiful things for me. I enjoy spending time on hobbies, of which I have many. Love my kids and like spending time with them, but it's also stressful. Like beautiful things, which bring me a lot of joy to look at and be around. That's everything from good landscaping, beautiful old trees, aesthetically pleasing furniture, etc. Would love to travel extensively with my husband.

What does this mean in terms of the money that is involved? Well north of $500k in this area. No doubt. You'd need a good piece of property, money to furnish it, money to account for the time that you're not working because you're doing other things you enjoy/with your kids, and hiring ample help to manage the day-to-day things. A full time housekeeper, for one.

No use being green with envy at those who have more than you, no use denying the obvious. Money buys you time. Money buys you opportunities. Jealous people claim that it's all to show off to others. Maybe for some, but not here. Our HHI is not anywhere close to $500k but I'd sure like to get there someday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Success? Living a stress free life filled with activities, people, and beautiful things for me. I enjoy spending time on hobbies, of which I have many. Love my kids and like spending time with them, but it's also stressful. Like beautiful things, which bring me a lot of joy to look at and be around. That's everything from good landscaping, beautiful old trees, aesthetically pleasing furniture, etc. Would love to travel extensively with my husband.

What does this mean in terms of the money that is involved? Well north of $500k in this area. No doubt. You'd need a good piece of property, money to furnish it, money to account for the time that you're not working because you're doing other things you enjoy/with your kids, and hiring ample help to manage the day-to-day things. A full time housekeeper, for one.

No use being green with envy at those who have more than you, no use denying the obvious. Money buys you time. Money buys you opportunities. Jealous people claim that it's all to show off to others. Maybe for some, but not here. Our HHI is not anywhere close to $500k but I'd sure like to get there someday.

I don't know. If anything, this thread kind of shows that the more money you get, the more you want. I see a lot of people on here who can't be content with what most Americans and certainly the rest of the world would consider a very high income and a very elite lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

I think we're successful. We are self sufficient, will be able to fund DS's college, and while we definitely have to make choices (do we redo a bathroom, or go on vacation?), they are superfluous, first world problem choices. We have never had a bill we couldn't pay.

We have a HHI of around $170. More importantly though, we both love what we do, are passionate about our jobs & volunteer work, have time for hobbies, and have a son who is shaping up to be a pretty decent individual who will likely contribute to society. Life is good.

The only thing I wish is that we had chosen careers that were more portable, so we could live closer to family. We are kind of stuck in DC.

[Anonymous]

The hhi that enables me to take care of myself and my DH and have a little fun without worrying about budget all the time. Here that might mean 150-200k, somewhere else 100k or less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Success? Living a stress free life filled with activities, people, and beautiful things for me. I enjoy spending time on hobbies, of which I have many. Love my kids and like spending time with them, but it's also stressful. Like beautiful things, which bring me a lot of joy to look at and be around. That's everything from good landscaping, beautiful old trees, aesthetically pleasing furniture, etc. Would love to travel extensively with my husband.

What does this mean in terms of the money that is involved? Well north of $500k in this area. No doubt. You'd need a good piece of property, money to furnish it, money to account for the time that you're not working because you're doing other things you enjoy/with your kids, and hiring ample help to manage the day-to-day things. A full time housekeeper, for one.

No use being green with envy at those who have more than you, no use denying the obvious. Money buys you time. Money buys you opportunities. Jealous people claim that it's all to show off to others. Maybe for some, but not here. Our HHI is not anywhere close to $500k but I'd sure like to get there someday.

I don't know. If anything, this thread kind of shows that the more money you get, the more you want. I see a lot of people on here who can't be content with what most Americans and certainly the rest of the world would consider a very high income and a very elite lifestyle.

My relatives from a developing world came to visit me recently. My uncle remarked that while we have literally everything we need and want, what I really need is more help around the house. And he is absolutely right. But that shiznit is expensive around here. The big thing that is different about the US (and I guess most of the developed West?) is the cost of hiring people to work for you. You can live a much, much more luxurious and stress free (but perhaps more materially poor) life somewhere in South America or Asia with a fraction of what you make in DC because you can afford to hire 2 housekeepers, a cook, and a nanny with very little money. People say once you've experienced that it makes such a huge difference you'd never want to go back. A lot of average Americans retire and move to a developing country for just this reason - and live like kings and queens. I have a rich relative down south with permanent full time help but that is $60k a year - so budget $100k off your HHI for help. How many people can afford that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Success? Living a stress free life filled with activities, people, and beautiful things for me. I enjoy spending time on hobbies, of which I have many. Love my kids and like spending time with them, but it's also stressful. Like beautiful things, which bring me a lot of joy to look at and be around. That's everything from good landscaping, beautiful old trees, aesthetically pleasing furniture, etc. Would love to travel extensively with my husband.

What does this mean in terms of the money that is involved? Well north of $500k in this area. No doubt. You'd need a good piece of property, money to furnish it, money to account for the time that you're not working because you're doing other things you enjoy/with your kids, and hiring ample help to manage the day-to-day things. A full time housekeeper, for one.

No use being green with envy at those who have more than you, no use denying the obvious. Money buys you time. Money buys you opportunities. Jealous people claim that it's all to show off to others. Maybe for some, but not here. Our HHI is not anywhere close to $500k but I'd sure like to get there someday.

I don't know. If anything, this thread kind of shows that the more money you get, the more you want. I see a lot of people on here who can't be content with what most Americans and certainly the rest of the world would consider a very high income and a very elite lifestyle.

My relatives from a developing world came to visit me recently. My uncle remarked that while we have literally everything we need and want, what I really need is more help around the house. And he is absolutely right. But that shiznit is expensive around here. The big thing that is different about the US (and I guess most of the developed West?) is the cost of hiring people to work for you. You can live a much, much more luxurious and stress free (but perhaps more materially poor) life somewhere in South America or Asia with a fraction of what you make in DC because you can afford to hire 2 housekeepers, a cook, and a nanny with very little money. People say once you've experienced that it makes such a huge difference you'd never want to go back. A lot of average Americans retire and move to a developing country for just this reason - and live like kings and queens. I have a rich relative down south with permanent full time help but that is $60k a year - so budget $100k off your HHI for help. How many people can afford that?

You realize you're lamenting the lack of an exploitable underclass, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Success? Living a stress free life filled with activities, people, and beautiful things for me. I enjoy spending time on hobbies, of which I have many. Love my kids and like spending time with them, but it's also stressful. Like beautiful things, which bring me a lot of joy to look at and be around. That's everything from good landscaping, beautiful old trees, aesthetically pleasing furniture, etc. Would love to travel extensively with my husband.

What does this mean in terms of the money that is involved? Well north of $500k in this area. No doubt. You'd need a good piece of property, money to furnish it, money to account for the time that you're not working because you're doing other things you enjoy/with your kids, and hiring ample help to manage the day-to-day things. A full time housekeeper, for one.

No use being green with envy at those who have more than you, no use denying the obvious. Money buys you time. Money buys you opportunities. Jealous people claim that it's all to show off to others. Maybe for some, but not here. Our HHI is not anywhere close to $500k but I'd sure like to get there someday.

I don't know. If anything, this thread kind of shows that the more money you get, the more you want. I see a lot of people on here who can't be content with what most Americans and certainly the rest of the world would consider a very high income and a very elite lifestyle.

My relatives from a developing world came to visit me recently. My uncle remarked that while we have literally everything we need and want, what I really need is more help around the house. And he is absolutely right. But that shiznit is expensive around here. The big thing that is different about the US (and I guess most of the developed West?) is the cost of hiring people to work for you. You can live a much, much more luxurious and stress free (but perhaps more materially poor) life somewhere in South America or Asia with a fraction of what you make in DC because you can afford to hire 2 housekeepers, a cook, and a nanny with very little money. People say once you've experienced that it makes such a huge difference you'd never want to go back. A lot of average Americans retire and move to a developing country for just this reason - and live like kings and queens. I have a rich relative down south with permanent full time help but that is $60k a year - so budget $100k off your HHI for help. How many people can afford that?

You realize you're lamenting the lack of an exploitable underclass, right?

But, without the ability to hire multiple servants for miniscule wages, I don't feel successful! It's not enough that I should succeed, others must fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Success? Living a stress free life filled with activities, people, and beautiful things for me. I enjoy spending time on hobbies, of which I have many. Love my kids and like spending time with them, but it's also stressful. Like beautiful things, which bring me a lot of joy to look at and be around. That's everything from good landscaping, beautiful old trees, aesthetically pleasing furniture, etc. Would love to travel extensively with my husband.

What does this mean in terms of the money that is involved? Well north of $500k in this area. No doubt. You'd need a good piece of property, money to furnish it, money to account for the time that you're not working because you're doing other things you enjoy/with your kids, and hiring ample help to manage the day-to-day things. A full time housekeeper, for one.

No use being green with envy at those who have more than you, no use denying the obvious. Money buys you time. Money buys you opportunities. Jealous people claim that it's all to show off to others. Maybe for some, but not here. Our HHI is not anywhere close to $500k but I'd sure like to get there someday.

I don't know. If anything, this thread kind of shows that the more money you get, the more you want. I see a lot of people on here who can't be content with what most Americans and certainly the rest of the world would consider a very high income and a very elite lifestyle.

My relatives from a developing world came to visit me recently. My uncle remarked that while we have literally everything we need and want, what I really need is more help around the house. And he is absolutely right. But that shiznit is expensive around here. The big thing that is different about the US (and I guess most of the developed West?) is the cost of hiring people to work for you. You can live a much, much more luxurious and stress free (but perhaps more materially poor) life somewhere in South America or Asia with a fraction of what you make in DC because you can afford to hire 2 housekeepers, a cook, and a nanny with very little money. People say once you've experienced that it makes such a huge difference you'd never want to go back. A lot of average Americans retire and move to a developing country for just this reason - and live like kings and queens. I have a rich relative down south with permanent full time help but that is $60k a year - so budget $100k off your HHI for help. How many people can afford that?

You realize you're lamenting the lack of an exploitable underclass, right?

Seriously. That post made me feel depressed. The way people treat this "help" in these countries is dreadful. I know a lot of people that have been posted to Singapore. A lot of the nannies and housekeepers live in rooms the size of cupboards. Many are away from their own young children for very long stretches to look after expats children.

[Anonymous]

Public housing on every block in Ward 3.