How important is money to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But, it is also nice now that we are a bit older to be largely free of money worries. We go out to dinner (or don't) depending on what we feel like. We go to Europe (or we don't) depending on our mood. Our roof leaks, we get a new one without worrying about the cost. We decide we don't like the public school experience our kids are having, we pay for private without letting our decision be driven by money.

Trust me, you would like having money.

I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is nicer.

I do not know if I would like all the fake friends that come along with the money thing, or the worries money would brng

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But, it is also nice now that we are a bit older to be largely free of money worries. We go out to dinner (or don't) depending on what we feel like. We go to Europe (or we don't) depending on our mood. Our roof leaks, we get a new one without worrying about the cost. We decide we don't like the public school experience our kids are having, we pay for private without letting our decision be driven by money.

Trust me, you would like having money.

I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is nicer.

I do not know if I would like all the fake friends that come along with the money thing, or the worries money would brng

You can think this if it makes you feel better, but the reality is that having money doesn't automatically come with having fake friends and the worries are not just different, there are fewer of them. I have also been on both sides of the coin, and the money side is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But, it is also nice now that we are a bit older to be largely free of money worries. We go out to dinner (or don't) depending on what we feel like. We go to Europe (or we don't) depending on our mood. Our roof leaks, we get a new one without worrying about the cost. We decide we don't like the public school experience our kids are having, we pay for private without letting our decision be driven by money.

Trust me, you would like having money.

I've been poor and I've been rich, and rich is nicer.

I do not know if I would like all the fake friends that come along with the money thing, or the worries money would brng

Um, all of our friends also have money, as in $300,000 or more annual household income. Why would I have fake friends? Unless you're truly poor, why would you hang out with people who can afford events that are beyond your budget? In our circle, everyone pays for dinner, the theater, etc. for themselves. Money doesn't bring any worries to me at all - that's why there are lifecycle mutual funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, what a celebration of materialism.
Money is your God

It is amazing how blind people are to this.

Nope, but it sure feels good being able to give $20,000 a year to our church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"It's not pseudo-wealth if you actually have money. Why do you think it makes you a better person to spend your money on whatever it is you spend your money on? If too different people have lots of leftover money and one chooses to spend the money on a home decorator and one chooses to buy a partial stake in a llama farm or leave it in a checking account or invest it in gold bullion, why is the one who decorates her house the lesser person. If you are giving all of your money to charity - sure, but otherwise get off your high horse. "

Lots of people with nicely decorated houses, fancy cars and trips and private school educations for their kids have high income, not money. Money is high net worth. I don't think it makes me a better person. I was responding to the poster who said she or he was "kinda surprised" that everyone doesn't want these things. Perhaps one reason not everyone wants them is that some of us have been successful in America for over 100 years and we feel no need to act nouveau riche.

While I agree with you the whole old money thing really rubs me the wrong way. Sorry, but you have not been successful for 100 years. I'm guessing you are in your 30s or 40s so likely an adult earning money for about 20-30. Other folks before you were successful, and just because you are related to them, doesn't really mean a thing. I don't see the honor on spending someone else's hard earned money. Nothing against it, but it's a not a sign of success. It really just reminds me of trust fund babies. Let's face it, Paris Hilton's great grandfather built that fortune.

I don't need the luxury car or the expensive house because my great greatgrandfather was successful in the 1850s in the US. I am not a trust fund baby - my family's success did not result in $$$$ being handed down from generation to generation - but because I come from success, I don't need to spend money to prove "I've arrived."

So you've "arrived" (whatever that means) by virtue of what your great great grandfather did 160 years ago? WTH?

What does his financial success have to do with your current status or more accurate, your achievement?

[Anonymous]

It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

So you are "not insecure" by virtue of your bloodline? Whereas others, whose wealth is not via their bloodline, need (?) to spend their money on these things?

This is the stupidest thing I've read on the Internet in awhile (which is saying a lot).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

If your ancestor was that successful, that money should have made its way down the line to you.

So I guess he wasn't as successful as you think, not that it matters in terms of your achievement (or lack thereof).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

Actually, you sound very insecure. You may not need to spend your money on expensive houses and cars, but you certainly DO need to brag about it here to strangers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

So you are "not insecure" by virtue of your bloodline? Whereas others, whose wealth is not via their bloodline, need (?) to spend their money on these things?

This is the stupidest thing I've read on the Internet in awhile (which is saying a lot).

Not necessarily. But why does my friend whose father was a compulsive gambler need the $2.5 million house, huge luxury car, etc.? She grew up financially insecure and it's important for her to show that now she has money. I don't need anyone to know how much money I have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

If your ancestor was that successful, that money should have made its way down the line to you.

So I guess he wasn't as successful as you think, not that it matters in terms of your achievement (or lack thereof).

Successful in terms of upward mobility. My great great grandfather had 9 sons, so the money was diluted as it passed down the generations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

Actually, you sound very insecure. You may not need to spend your money on expensive houses and cars, but you certainly DO need to brag about it here to strangers!

Bragging anonymously? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

Come on now! That's not a fair statement to others that have accomplished a lot & who have no wealthy great grandfather! They should be prouder, yes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

Come on now! That's not a fair statement to others that have accomplished a lot & who have no wealthy great grandfather! They should be prouder, yes?

Prouder? Sure. I just don't like conspicuous consumption - must be my New England roots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means I'm not insecure about my accomplishments or my wealth, so I don't need to spend my money on expensive house, cars, vacations, and other physical manifestations of money.

If your ancestor was that successful, that money should have made its way down the line to you.

So I guess he wasn't as successful as you think, not that it matters in terms of your achievement (or lack thereof).

Successful in terms of upward mobility. My great great grandfather had 9 sons, so the money was diluted as it passed down the generations.

And this is something for *you* to be proud of ... why? What did you (YOU) do, specifically, that constitutes an achievement here?