Honestly, there’s no downsides to having money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People with limited financial means final various creative ways to mentally come to terms with not having money. They justify their less than luxurious existence by claiming nobility in the struggle for survival in this world. They say that more money creates or what have you.

But truly, the rich live better lives than the rest of us. They get better life experiences whether it be living in a nicer neighborhood, mingling with more educated and cultured people, have access to the best the world has to offer, attain the best educational opportunities for their children and themselves, wear them best quality clothes and eat then eat food.

In addition, the casual confidence with which they roam the earth knowing that no matter the misfortune that befalls them, they have the resources and networks in place to rise to the occasion.

What can really be the downside?We are all just spinning out wheels trying to make our miserable existence bearable.

I agree with your premise in the subject, but not the bolded. True, there is no downside to having money and having it is a good thing.

But I wouldn't say that on the whole the rich live "better" lives. Depends on how you define "better." I've know people barely scraping by who were genuinely and deeply happy due to their connections with family, their hobbies, their community, etc. I've known rich people who were in terrible relationships, unfulfilled by much of anything, and angst ridden.

The examples you give of what supposedly make life "better" ("mingling with more educated and cultured people) is not what makes a good life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's plenty of rich people with screwed up kids, drug addictions, infidelity, depression, suicide, etc.

There's also plenty of poor people with screwed up kids, drug addictions, infidelity, depression, suicide, etc. Now back the topic of downsides of having money ...

A target on your back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People with limited financial means final various creative ways to mentally come to terms with not having money. They justify their less than luxurious existence by claiming nobility in the struggle for survival in this world. They say that more money creates or what have you.

But truly, the rich live better lives than the rest of us. They get better life experiences whether it be living in a nicer neighborhood, mingling with more educated and cultured people, have access to the best the world has to offer, attain the best educational opportunities for their children and themselves, wear them best quality clothes and eat then eat food.

In addition, the casual confidence with which they roam the earth knowing that no matter the misfortune that befalls them, they have the resources and networks in place to rise to the occasion.

What can really be the downside?We are all just spinning out wheels trying to make our miserable existence bearable.

I wasn’t aware that anyone needed to justify their existence? Yikes. I think loss of perspective on what really matters (family, friends, health) might be a downside.

[Anonymous]

Being rich AND famous sounds like hell, no thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People with limited financial means final various creative ways to mentally come to terms with not having money. They justify their less than luxurious existence by claiming nobility in the struggle for survival in this world. They say that more money creates or what have you.

But truly, the rich live better lives than the rest of us. They get better life experiences whether it be living in a nicer neighborhood, mingling with more educated and cultured people, have access to the best the world has to offer, attain the best educational opportunities for their children and themselves, wear them best quality clothes and eat then eat food.

In addition, the casual confidence with which they roam the earth knowing that no matter the misfortune that befalls them, they have the resources and networks in place to rise to the occasion.

What can really be the downside?We are all just spinning out wheels trying to make our miserable existence bearable.

I wasn’t aware that anyone needed to justify their existence? Yikes. I think loss of perspective on what really matters (family, friends, health) might be a downside.

+1

I am extremely not rich and I’ve never felt the need to justify my existence, nor do I look at people with less money than me and expect them to be able to explain why they exist.

I do sometimes wonder why we, as a society, allow the ultra rich to stay ultra rich when we could just take their excess money and use it to make the lives of the poor and working class infinitely more comfortable in just the ways you mention— better food, housing, and education. But I don’t expect the ultra rich to justify their existence, just their wealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the downsides to having money is that everyone all around is constantly begging for money. When you have a lot, you spend a huge amount of time blocking and fending off requests for money. Most people with a lot of money donate to charities at some level and once you do, you get on lists and many charities sell their lists and you get harrassed and hounded by every means possible for donations, support, etc. In addition, family and friends always think you are a source for "loans" which in reality are gifts. Sometimes it's hard to know who are friends for your money and who are not. How much do you spend on family? When is enough, enough?

Trying to balance your own life vs being the life preserver for everyone within 3 degrees of separation is time consuming and sometimes hard to navigate.

Nope. None of our friends would ever ask us for money or has asked us - never. I know who my true friends are, and they all have their own money. Both of our families have money, one more than the other, and neither needs any of ours. We exchange gifts of similar value for holidays and birthdays.

Charitable requests are considered and then accepted or rejected. We aren't harrassed or hounded by any stretch. It's as simple as deleting an email or recycling a solicitation by mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the downsides to having money is that everyone all around is constantly begging for money. When you have a lot, you spend a huge amount of time blocking and fending off requests for money. Most people with a lot of money donate to charities at some level and once you do, you get on lists and many charities sell their lists and you get harrassed and hounded by every means possible for donations, support, etc. In addition, family and friends always think you are a source for "loans" which in reality are gifts. Sometimes it's hard to know who are friends for your money and who are not. How much do you spend on family? When is enough, enough?

Trying to balance your own life vs being the life preserver for everyone within 3 degrees of separation is time consuming and sometimes hard to navigate.

Nope. None of our friends would ever ask us for money or has asked us - never. I know who my true friends are, and they all have their own money. Both of our families have money, one more than the other, and neither needs any of ours. We exchange gifts of similar value for holidays and birthdays.

Charitable requests are considered and then accepted or rejected. We aren't harrassed or hounded by any stretch. It's as simple as deleting an email or recycling a solicitation by mail.

You realize the bolded does not apply to everyone, right?

See the professional athletes who have multiple cousins and siblings on their Verizon plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the downsides to having money is that everyone all around is constantly begging for money. When you have a lot, you spend a huge amount of time blocking and fending off requests for money. Most people with a lot of money donate to charities at some level and once you do, you get on lists and many charities sell their lists and you get harrassed and hounded by every means possible for donations, support, etc. In addition, family and friends always think you are a source for "loans" which in reality are gifts. Sometimes it's hard to know who are friends for your money and who are not. How much do you spend on family? When is enough, enough?

Trying to balance your own life vs being the life preserver for everyone within 3 degrees of separation is time consuming and sometimes hard to navigate.

Nope. None of our friends would ever ask us for money or has asked us - never. I know who my true friends are, and they all have their own money. Both of our families have money, one more than the other, and neither needs any of ours. We exchange gifts of similar value for holidays and birthdays.

Charitable requests are considered and then accepted or rejected. We aren't harrassed or hounded by any stretch. It's as simple as deleting an email or recycling a solicitation by mail.

And? Of course you're not being harassed, everyone you already know is rich. Not so for those of us from poor families.

[Anonymous]

How much money are we talking?

> 5 million? 10 million? Or more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much money are we talking?

> 5 million? 10 million? Or more?

I am sure different posters have different numbers in mind. Based on other threads, I am guessing a number of posters are thinking HHI above $250,000. Don't know what number OP had in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People with limited financial means final various creative ways to mentally come to terms with not having money. They justify their less than luxurious existence by claiming nobility in the struggle for survival in this world. They say that more money creates or what have you.

But truly, the rich live better lives than the rest of us. They get better life experiences whether it be living in a nicer neighborhood, mingling with more educated and cultured people, have access to the best the world has to offer, attain the best educational opportunities for their children and themselves, wear them best quality clothes and eat then eat food.

In addition, the casual confidence with which they roam the earth knowing that no matter the misfortune that befalls them, they have the resources and networks in place to rise to the occasion.

What can really be the downside?We are all just spinning out wheels trying to make our miserable existence bearable.

I wasn’t aware that anyone needed to justify their existence? Yikes. I think loss of perspective on what really matters (family, friends, health) might be a downside.

Yeah… that’s the line that caught me, too. OP, some of us are actually content and don’t desire more than what we already have. I have a healthy perspective. Instead of looking at what I don’t have, I was raise to look at what I DO have. I don’t desire more wealth, nor do I look longingly at those who have it. If it makes you feel better to think that my comments are mere justifications, go ahead. It doesn’t affect me at all.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what "having money" means. When I was working in Biglaw I was making nearly $1 million a year. I retired 15 years early and now live off of $200k a year. I prefer my current life a helluva lot more, and I want for nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People with limited financial means final various creative ways to mentally come to terms with not having money. They justify their less than luxurious existence by claiming nobility in the struggle for survival in this world. They say that more money creates or what have you.

But truly, the rich live better lives than the rest of us. They get better life experiences whether it be living in a nicer neighborhood, mingling with more educated and cultured people, have access to the best the world has to offer, attain the best educational opportunities for their children and themselves, wear them best quality clothes and eat then eat food.

In addition, the casual confidence with which they roam the earth knowing that no matter the misfortune that befalls them, they have the resources and networks in place to rise to the occasion.

What can really be the downside?We are all just spinning out wheels trying to make our miserable existence bearable.

Who said there was one? While money doesn't get you everything in life, I can't see any downsides to having money. Better than not having it.

[Anonymous]

I disagree.
Creativity gets smothered.
Common sense somehow flies out of the window.
Superiority is a very ugly trait.
Greed galore.
You eat better but don't want to cook.
Your house is beautiful yet you spend time looking for bigger and better.
Gotta have this gotta have that.
You buy your way into popularity
You lose all your poor friends yet can't figure out why
FLAUNT
You become very judgmental of everyone but don't know or care about their circumstances
you set a poor example for your kids when you teach them by showing that being rich is all that matters
then you become the DCUM Sisterhood and throw out claws on every thread YOU don't think passes YOUR approval.
Shallow Hal meet Shallow Mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People with limited financial means final various creative ways to mentally come to terms with not having money. They justify their less than luxurious existence by claiming nobility in the struggle for survival in this world. They say that more money creates or what have you.

But truly, the rich live better lives than the rest of us. They get better life experiences whether it be living in a nicer neighborhood, mingling with more educated and cultured people, have access to the best the world has to offer, attain the best educational opportunities for their children and themselves, wear them best quality clothes and eat then eat food.

In addition, the casual confidence with which they roam the earth knowing that no matter the misfortune that befalls them, they have the resources and networks in place to rise to the occasion.

What can really be the downside?We are all just spinning out wheels trying to make our miserable existence bearable.

Who said there was one? While money doesn't get you everything in life, I can't see any downsides to having money. Better than not having it.

Depends on how you got it.