And I'm not talking about the money needed in order to buy a car, a house, to feed your kids, to get a proper education or similar situations. I'm talking about the greed, the "I want a bigger house, a more powerful car, more expensive suits, be able to go to more expensive clubs,etc." attitude.

I enjoy the Internet, music, Tv, trendy clothes, movies, etc. as much as the next guy but I've always tried to draw a clear line between myself, who I am and what I really need, and the bullshit that many corporations and advertisements try to sell us.

Deep in my heart, I think that the real human needs are sex/love, food, and a good nap, and a house, of course . That's all folks. Life would be (is) easier that way.

Why so many people are so depressed because of their lack of "money" is beyond me. In the end, we'll be all dead, so who gives a fuck about money?

Thoughts?

[Edited 6/2/10 17:12pm]

Sure, I give a fuck about money. I'm not depressed that I am not loaded or anything but I definitely want more.

I don't let money rule me....if I worried all the time about what I didn't have....what kind of life would that be?

Everything is NOT free. That is the only reason why I care about money. Not to mention that I'm not making enough of it.

No. I really don't.

I think my husband wishes I would give more of a fuck about it, actually.

Buying expensive things doesn't appeal to me on any level.

And I walk that talk - I left an extremely well-paying job because I was unhappy. I now make less than ten dollars an hour, but I'm doing work that I love and is meaningful to me. One of the reasons Chris probably wishes I gave more of a fuck about money. I regularly got four-figure bonuses at that company, for doing very little.

PunkMistress said:

No. I really don't.

I think my husband wishes I would give more of a fuck about it, actually.

Buying expensive things doesn't appeal to me on any level.

And I walk that talk - I left an extremely well-paying job because I was unhappy. I now make less than ten dollars an hour, but I'm doing work that I love and is meaningful to me. One of the reasons Chris probably wishes I gave more of a fuck about money. I regularly got four-figure bonuses at that company, for doing very little.

what did you do? What do you do now,if you don't mind me asking?

noooo. people who do care a lot about it, or whose main drive is to obtain it, are really unattractive to me.

Overall No, I really don't

I ( & we ) have enough and if we want/need more we save up

I'm not really impressed by material "things" ~ sure they may be nice and sure I have a few

PEOPLE ~ love, laughter and life are far more important to me

JoeTyler said:

And I'm not talking about the money needed in order to buy a car, a house, to feed your kids, to get a proper education or similar situations. I'm talking about the greed, the "I want a bigger house, a more powerful car, more expensive suits, be able to go to more expensive clubs,etc." attitude.

I enjoy the Internet, music, Tv, trendy clothes, movies, etc. as much as the next guy but I've always tried to draw a clear line between myself, who I am and what I really need, and the bullshit that many corporations and advertisements try to sell us.

Deep in my heart, I think that the real human needs are sex/love, food, and a good nap, and a house, of course . That's all folks. Life would be (is) easier that way.

Why so many people are so depressed because of their lack of "money" is beyond me. In the end, we'll be all dead, so who gives a fuck about money?

Thoughts?

I went through a period where I was more about the mazuma. Now, I'm all about basic needs. But I don't count sex/love amongst those. You can lead a very happy life without those things.

No, I don't care about having a lot of money; as long as I can pay my bills and not struggle, I'm good.

Although I wish I didn't have to worry so much about working and could truly enjoy my job for the fulfillment it brings.

I can't watch shows like "Cribs" because I can't understand that kind of excess.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't be sockin' away as much of it as you can, for your retirement. Too many people leave that 'til it's way too late and regret it. Deeply.

It's all relative. To some people, an internet connection is excessive.

Not to say that everyone is wrong (as a matter of fact, everyone has the right positive attitude! ), but love & happiness does NOT put gas in the car, put a roof over your heads, put food on the table, OR put clothes on your back.

And it sure as hell does NOT keep the tax collectors OR the bill collectors off your backs neither.

Ace said:

That doesn't mean you shouldn't be sockin' away as much of it as you can, for your retirement. Too many people leave that 'til it's way too late and regret it. Deeply.

VERY true !!

It's something we have been doing for our entire marriage

crazydoctor said:

It's all relative. To some people, an internet connection is excessive.

Ironic that your name is "crazydoctor", as these people are obviously crazies who are in need of a doctor.

Ace said:

That doesn't mean you shouldn't be sockin' away as much of it as you can, for your retirement. Too many people leave that 'til it's way too late and regret it. Deeply.

Absolutely. Money is incredibly important to me, not because of anything I want to buy, but as a means to an end. You'd probably think I was a 7-11 clerk or a busboy if you were ever to see my mongrel stereo, bachelor apartment or my archaic computer. I could give a shit's dick-ass about those things. Money matters not for any transient possession I can pick up, but because it represents freedom; freedom from worry, and the freedom to (hopefully) retire at 50 & spend the rest of my days loafing on my couch reading the Saul Bellow novels & economics textbooks currently gathering dust on my shelf.

[Edited 6/2/10 18:22pm]

Ace said:

I don't count sex/love amongst those. You can lead a very happy life without those things.

Scratch that. You probably have a better chance of leading a happy life without those things.

TonyVanDam said:

Not to say that everyone is wrong (as a matter of fact, everyone has the right positive attitude! ), but love & happiness does NOT put gas in the car, put a roof over your heads, put food on the table, OR put clothes on your back.

And it sure as hell does NOT keep the tax collectors OR the bill collectors off your backs neither.

Yeah no kidding

I didn't say $ was not needed at all

I simply dont give a fuck about "EXCESS" like the OP asked

damosuzuki said:

Ace said:

That doesn't mean you shouldn't be sockin' away as much of it as you can, for your retirement. Too many people leave that 'til it's way too late and regret it. Deeply.

Absolutely. Money is incredibly important to me, not because of anything I want to buy, but as a means to an end. You'd probably think I was a 7-11 clerk or a busboy if you were ever to see my mongrel stereo, bachelor apartment or my archaic computer. I could give a shit's dick-ass about those things. Money matters not for any transient possession I can pick up, but because it represents freedom; freedom from worry, and the freedom to (hopefully) retire at 50 & spend the rest of my days loafing on my couch reading the Saul Bellow novels & economics textbooks currently gathering dust on my shelf.

A man after my own heart.

I look at it this way: I can be happy now without spending much money. But no one knows what's comin' down the pike. Better to be prepared, just in case.

Ace said:

crazydoctor said:

It's all relative. To some people, an internet connection is excessive.

Ironic that your name is "crazydoctor", as these people are obviously crazies who are in need of a doctor.

Crazy for thinking internet connections are excessive?

crazydoctor said:

Ace said:

Ironic that your name is "crazydoctor", as these people are obviously crazies who are in need of a doctor.

Crazy for thinking internet connections are excessive?

That's like saying "You know, I think we're being entirely wasteful here, sucking up all this oxygen."

You know, my first job I made $7.25hr. and with every paycheck I knew exactly what I was going to do with it. Fastforward 25 year later and I make almost 5-6 times more than I did then, and I am sometimes not as happy. As Biggie would say, "More money more problems".

shorttrini said:

You know, my first job I made $7.25hr. and with every paycheck I knew exactly what I was going to do with it. Fastforward 25 year later and I make almost 5-6 times more than I did then, and I am sometimes not as happy. As Biggie would say, "More money more problems".

Studies show that, once your basic needs are met, mo' cabbage doesn't increase your happiness, in the long run.

Hell yeah, I give a fuck about money! But not because I need a huge house, a fuckin' huge Lexus, Mercedes, SUV, etc., an 80 inch OLED TV, gold chains with a huge diamond pendant, and all of that crap. I like that it gives me a roof over my head, pays the bills, and pays for my cable and internet connection. Like someone else said earlier, money can buy freedom if you earn it and use it wisely.

As it is right now, I'm making around $40K a year and living in a small apartment. I have thought about maybe saving up some money to buy a house, but I'm wondering whether it's even worth my time considering that I am single. Now if I fall in love with a really hot babe and want to start a family, I will probably be thinking differently, but for now I'm fine. I may save up to buy an investment property, however.

What I'd like to do is find a way to replace my current income with some passive income (like that investment property I may want to buy, or an online business) so I have more time to pursue some hobbies I really enjoy, like traveling, or art. Trying to live off of an income flipping burgers is a bitch, but so is working a six figure Wall Street brokerage job or some other extremely high-paying position where one has to work 60 or more hours a week and not having any time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Having lots of money isn't worth much if you can't take time off to enjoy the simpler pleasures of life. But I do like the feeling of going into a restaurant and not worrying about the price of the entree on the menu.

Money is definitely the root of all evil! I think the worst thing that human beings have done is to tie survival into the ownership of money. I think it's awful that people starve, die, and live horrible existences due to the lack of money, and that we fight wars and kill each other over it, and that greed and love of money is the biggest reason why this world is the hot mess shithole it is now and I don't see it getting any better. I'm sure when future generations are living on a barren world with no resurces and oil coated water they will be so glad that at least they have little colored pieces of paper to trade with one another!

Hell 2 the YEAH I give a fuck about money!! Money represents FREEDOM to me.

And I don't have enough of it to do what I need to do, much less WANT to do.

I respect money but I don't attach myself to it.

If I lived like a hermit, I would have cash in the bank. But I enjoy eating out and going to the movies and vacationing and all those frivolous things that make life more enjoyable.

So I'm always broke. But I'm not miserable.

At this point in my life, money is important to me. Is it the most important thing in the world? No, but its certainly one of them. FICO scores are also important. Why? Because I never want to be denied anything that I need or want in life. Why would I be ok with being denied something because I couldnt afford it?

Having said that...

The key is striking a balance in your life. Really understanding need vs want and being frugal when you need to be and not purchasing something that you cannot afford. In other words "living within your means". If you truly know how to do this, you will be happy because I believe that happiness only comes when you have gratitude for the things that you already have. If you dont, you will be on a never ending quest, chasing that which you think will make you happy and that is unattainable.

yes, lets you live how u want to. I'm a low key chick- hate people buying physical things for me etc but if my necessaties r met i'm cool, atm they are being met but not on a comfortable level- who knows what is going to happen tomorrow and if i'll be living on the street and the bank takes all.

I'd also like to make a salary and atm- i don't. Just started my own business/online store and it is slow but also can't seem to get a steady job.

I wonder wtf, I'm doing wrong. I am talented and why no one wants to utilize that for their business i have no idea....i'm lost atm to be honest.

When I was 19, I was pregnant and working in a nursing home. I was fortunate enough to meet real wise women who lived long and prosperous lives.

Many of these older women were worldly, well traveled, and would share their fabulous memories with me, yet they ended up being very lonely facing their last years.

They told me they all wished they had more time.... with their loved ones.

In the end, their money didn't grant them happiness, so I took their advice.

So I use money as a vehicle, to help me to spend more time with my children.

I am broke and I left school, (I was working on my degree and I have 2 young children, now 9 and 7). I couldn't afford school, AND the expenses of raising 3 children alone with no support from family to watch them while I went to school at night.

So I took my lemons and made lemonaid, so to speak.

I gave up pursuing my dreams temporarily in order to spend my days raising my kids. I recieve heavy criticism over my choices everyday from my unsupportive family.

I refuse to have latch key kids, no one is there for them but me. So I work seasonally doing what I love, designing gardens. I make very little money from that, but my expenses are very low. I gave up many things and now live a very simple life with my 3 kids.

I have all the time with my children I want. I work when I want. I love the work I do. I love working in my community and I volunteer my time and talents in my neighborhood. I laugh and play with my children daily. I spend my days frolicking on the beach and the parks with them. Soon, my kids will be old enough to be left alone, so I can join the rat race again, back to the grind and competition. I have no regrets, zero stress and life is wonderful.

[Edited 6/2/10 20:20pm]