Topic: Is Money.................

[24/7]

Thank you! That was the line I was trying to remember. Read the book, by the way, it's so much better than the film and a much more damning indictment on the materialism-obsessed society.....

[jaybeezay]

I think it's terrible that when you do have a bit of money it's almost as though you should be ashamed by it and have to play things down. Jealousy is a horrible thing and puts people off working for their goals. I am not saying you should brag but there is no shame in having a nice house / car etc.

 I used to live in America and if someone had something nice people would comment on how good it was and congratulate them. Here, if you have a nice car you will be accused of being a drug dealer / thief and some prick will scratch it at the earliest opportunity.

So no, money isn't everything but everyone needs some. Saw a quote that goes something like "life is like a shit sandwich, the more bread you've got the less shit you eat"

[Surprise me.]

And do you reckon that making buckloads of cash is a piece of cake and hard work isn't involved? Let's say you make a million a year, how much time do you spend making it and how much time do you spend enjoying it?

That's what I said, the one stressful thing you will have is the one stressful job you've always had, however getting rid of mundane tasks and being able to afford staff eases that.

Let me take a family member as an example since I know what he gets up to, I presume others do the same. He makes a boatload of money, so he got a house close to work, walks to work, doesn't cook, someone cooks for him, doesn't clean, someone else does it. Doesn't have to impress anyone at work so just turns up in a scruffy shirt and pair of trousers, turns up whenever he feels like. On one day it'll be 12pm on another day it'll be 9am. Once he's at work he makes sure to work hard but he runs it with his wife so she works one or two days. They have an office full of people that they can leave to it which is why turning up whenever you want is something you can allow for. He spends all his downtime going to Chelsea matches and sitting around doing nothing, listening to music, watching TV. That sort of stuff. People like Alan Sugar spend most of their time trying to get famous. Their business run themselves, people report to him once a week or something but it seems he is only interested in getting famous.

I personally wouldn't do that, I would take on all the stress, work my arse off and yeah I'd definitely make myself more stressful then I am now but all that work may mean your wages increase every year by a big amount. There's different ways to go about. Some people decide to delegate and let someone else worry about it, others want to be hands on. Depends what you do as well. One day I'll find out for myself.. I hope!

[jason42]

We were skint when I was a youngster. Lived on council estates and worse. I earn money and I spend it but I wouldn't say it was important really.

If you haven't got any then you get by. I know some insanely rich people that have never been happy.

Same here....The Miner's Strike was a particularly tough time especially when a)my father refused to take any of the food parcels that were donated to miners' families and b) he crossed the picket line and was branded a scab.
I didn't have much as a kid and I sure enough appreciated everything I ever got and I resolved that my kids would never have to go through what I did. Managed to sort most of that but in some ways that has made them less appreciative than maybe I think they should be....

Part of me would love to win the Lottery because I have so many good ideas about how I would spend it helping people and giving money to charity but having that much money would bring its own problems as everyone would expect things from me.

Jess has a friend who lives in a big £1Million mansion but rarely sees her father as he is working so hard at his business to provide for his family. On the other hand we sit down and eat dinner together almost every night of the week...

[jaffod]

Over the last 20 years I've been through periods where I've had money and periods where I haven't. I've been in a position where I could go and buy a new car without giving it a second thought and a year later I've been in a position where every penny that came into the house went towards credit card bills and paying off debt because the money I was earning was barely enough to make ends meet.
 I can tell you without any shadow of a doubt which scenario I prefer. Money wont buy you happiness but it certainly keeps the stress levels down.

[Cusamano]

I live in central London.

Unfortunately I need money, and lots of it!

[Grobbelrevell]

No amount of money in the world can buy you health and happiness and I would trade neither given the chance.

Having all three would be great, but personally, i'd always be wondering whether people liked me for me, or for the money. At least skint I know it's not the money 

That said right or wrong, money and happiness are intrinsically linked in a number of ways so whilst I wouldn't want excessive amounts, just enough to be comfortable and remove the worry would be enough for me.

[givemekaliber]

For me it's a personal balance. You need money, end of. Basic survival. The more you have I can see how fixated you could get and how it can be negative, but I know a few people who are pretty well off and have their feet planted well on the ground. Maybe it's a fear of losing that makes some miserable but you couldn't say to me that if you won a fair few bob on the lottery that you wouldn't be happy?
I'm in a decent job and I work hard for what I get, and I have the love, care and compassion from my family and loved ones.

[Surprise me.]

No amount of money in the world can buy you health

I don't actually believe that. It seems like money does relate to a better life expectancy. There must be reasons to it, less to worry about, happier outlook on life, just having a more relaxed demeanour.  Obviously this is only one part of your health and the only part where I think it helps. Other problems can't be changed with money.

Another thing I want to mention. Money has a lot of value in this day and age. Money relates to power, whether that is good or bad is irrelevant, you could buy your way to a knighthood, buy your way to paying less tax. God knows what else. All those corrupt higher ups who already get paid plenty but become greedy and look for more pay-offs.

[Sir Harvest Fields]

Hold on, let me get this straight. Have i actually started a thread thats got people thinking. Fuck me, today is an official holiday in view of such a wonderous occasion. RAWK , take a day off and get to the pub to celebrate I am the 8th wonder of the world.


On the note of a lottery win, it wouldnt make me happy. Id get some fit bird no doubt but that would make me paranoid as i know its the money. No my amazingly attractive visog. Also, i could go into the guitar/motorbike/car shop and say ' that one. In every colour scheme and have my butler arrange delivery ' wheres the fun in that. Ive got a little bit of money now, and its nice to have it sit there, just for urgent things. Bike repairs , upkeep of the bike, spares etc. It eases my worries but its not enough to allow me to splurge. Its not made me ' happy '

[stevedo]

And do you reckon that making buckloads of cash is a piece of cake and hard work isn't involved? Let's say you make a million a year, how much time do you spend making it and how much time do you spend enjoying it?

A lot of wealth is inherited tbf.

Not having "enough" (as opposed to having "what you want") is unhealthy. For all the talk of it doesn't matter, its family and friends that make you, when a family cut their outgoings to the bone and still can't buy adequate food, clothing, heating etc there's a problem. Trust funds presumably have their own associated "problems", but I'm sure those spiralling into debt and payday loan territory would gladly trade places.

[Roady]

I can honestly say ive never once been driven by money.I know plenty who are though. I have a job, earn decent money, nothing exceptional, but i love my job.It gives me enough to support myself and have a ball of a weekend if i want to.As long as ive got the love of my family and see my mates and mrs regularly im happy. I work a standard 40 hr week.If i worked more i wouldnt have the lifestyle that i like.I know many people who get up at 6 are in the office for 7 and arrive home at 8pm or so.Yes they earn a decent wedge and they chase the money. I had such mate who was working a 60hr week for no extra money and was made up that he was earning a good wage.When i pointed out to him that he wasnt getting any extra cash for his hard work and was in theory working an extra 2 months for every month he worked, he looked at me like i was some kind of tit.Fact is he has maybe three times the amount of disposable income i have but im without question much happier.He lives for his weekend s but when they come about he is knackered and often leaves the pub early on a friday night because he can barely function.He is single,goes home every night has food, sleeps gets up and goes to work.Boring existance really, and all for cash.HE complains he meets no women mainly due to the fact all he does is work and its a shame because he could offer a good life for a missus.Nah sod that thanks very much.Give me love, family,friends,hapiness etc above cash any day of the week.Too many people are hung up on what they earn...Theyll regret it in the long run too.They didnt live life,see much of their kids family etc and all for what? a bigger house and car etc? great well done! how about seeing more of your family?..couldnt be arsed myself.

[Cusamano]

The main three things for me are health, family and friends. 

After that it would be nice to have money and not because I want a Ferrari or a beach house but because it would be great to live life completely free, and that is essentially what money buys you - freedom.

Freedom to do what you want when you want.

[givemekaliber]

On the note of a lottery win, it wouldnt make me happy. Id get some fit bird no doubt but that would make me paranoid as i know its the money. No my amazingly attractive visog. Also, i could go into the guitar/motorbike/car shop and say ' that one. In every colour scheme and have my butler arrange delivery ' wheres the fun in that. Ive got a little bit of money now, and its nice to have it sit there, just for urgent things. Bike repairs , upkeep of the bike, spares etc. It eases my worries but its not enough to allow me to splurge. Its not made me ' happy '

I could safely say that if you won the lottery you would be happier. I'd sort everyone who is deserving of being relieved of the stresses of mortgages, debt etc. This would undoubtedly make that person(s) happy.
you don't have to have the numerous cars, women etc - it depends on your personality. I'd happily sit on a fortune and spend it when needed - of course you'd buy big (houses. holidays) but i'd  more than happy to pass it on when i died.

[SMD]

I could safely say that if you won the lottery you would be happier. I'd sort everyone who is deserving of being relieved of the stresses of mortgages, debt etc. This would undoubtedly make that person(s) happy.
you don't have to have the numerous cars, women etc - it depends on your personality. I'd happily sit on a fortune and spend it when needed - of course you'd buy big (houses. holidays) but i'd  more than happy to pass it on when i died.

A lot of people hate winning the lottery, it ruins their social circles and many of their friends, the pressure on them is immense and quite a few wish they never had any of it.

[givemekaliber]

A lot of people hate winning the lottery, it ruins their social circles and many of their friends, the pressure on them is immense and quite a few wish they never had any of it.

That's a good point but if you know, deep down that you wouldn't change and would'nt flaunt it - then "you know who your friends really are" if they decide to change toward you.

[vagabond]

Spent the first week after marriage homeless. We ran away at 20 because neither of our families accepted us. This is Winnipeg, Canada, in January where the average temperature was -25c. Once, in the university library, a warm a place as any, we managed to scrape enough together to buy a coffeecake. Watched the last morsel go stale because neither of us could bear to eat it without the other having it. I'd take that every time over the white dress and the tux.

[givemekaliber]

Spent the first week after marriage homeless. We ran away at 20 because neither of our families accepted us. This is Winnipeg, Canada, in January where the average temperature was -25c. Once, in the university library, a warm a place as any, we managed to scrape enough together to buy a coffeecake. Watched the last morsel go stale because neither of us could bear to eat it without the other having it. I'd take that every time over the white dress and the tux.

You want another coffeecake?

Ha

Mate that's some story, hope you are both doing well

[bleedsred1978]

If money was a driving factor in my life, I wouldn't be living the life I live. I'd be making a lot more money, doing a job I hate, with a lot less freedom. But right now I live at home, get paid like shit, but actually enjoy what I do and the benefits it gives me in terms of how I work and the lifestyle I can live (i.e. work like mad over the summer to save enough to go travelling in the winter down-time, while being able to go to enough football matches to keep me happy).

I wouldn't change it right now. Sure I wish I could afford a mortgage and my own place. But on the other hand, I'm happy, healthy, get to spend time with my family, and enjoy my life. Why ask for more than that?

My friends tell me I need to look long-term, but I figure I'll deal with whatever comes when I need to. That could backfire spectacularly, but at least I'll have enjoyed my life up until then

Im not picking on you Rhi but do your parents have money as that choice is not available to many. Maybe money would matter more to you if you didnt have them to fall back on if you get me?

[jaffod]

 Also, i could go into the guitar/motorbike/car shop and say ' that one. In every colour scheme and have my butler arrange delivery ' wheres the fun in that.

I often wonder about that HF. If I had so much money I could just buy whatever I wanted then would I get the same enjoyment out of it? Don't suppose I'll ever know but it's an interesting point.

[vagabond]

You want another coffeecake?

Ha

Mate that's some story, hope you are both doing well

thanks, and we are

[bleedsred1978]

Same here....The Miner's Strike was a particularly tough time especially when a)my father refused to take any of the food parcels that were donated to miners' families and b) he crossed the picket line and was branded a scab.
I didn't have much as a kid and I sure enough appreciated everything I ever got and I resolved that my kids would never have to go through what I did. Managed to sort most of that but in some ways that has made them less appreciative than maybe I think they should be....

Part of me would love to win the Lottery because I have so many good ideas about how I would spend it helping people and giving money to charity but having that much money would bring its own problems as everyone would expect things from me.

Jess has a friend who lives in a big £1Million mansion but rarely sees her father as he is working so hard at his business to provide for his family. On the other hand we sit down and eat dinner together almost every night of the week...

That's very true and it grates on me a bit with my own son. In my haste to make sure he wanted for little i fear I have failed to instill the value of things to him. Its his whole generation though that have never struggled for anything. He saw nothing but the boom here in Ireland ( he's 14) and would struggle to understand the 80's Ireland i grew up in let alone the fact that when i was his age we were getting a "Hamper" from the vincent de paul at Xmas.

[Crosby Nick]

Jess has a friend who lives in a big £1Million mansion but rarely sees her father as he is working so hard at his business to provide for his family. On the other hand we sit down and eat dinner together almost every night of the week...

That’s a good point too Jason. My kids are younger than yours but 4 out of 5 days a week I know I’ll be home to see them at bath/bedtime and down the line will be there to have meals with them. My brother in law is a lawyer in the city. Probably earns a shedload (so maybe he’s perfectly happy!) but from day to day he doesn’t know if he’ll be home at a normal time or working til all hours. I know the perks are good for him but equally there must be plenty of downsides with family life.

[jaffod]

That's very true and it grates on me a bit with my own son. In my haste to make sure he wanted for little i fear I have failed to instill the value of things to him. Its his whole generation though that have never struggled for anything. He saw nothing but the boom here in Ireland ( he's 14) and would struggle to understand the 80's Ireland i grew up in let alone the fact that when i was his age we were getting a "Hamper" from the vincent de paul at Xmas.

My lad is 13 and I could have written the same post. Right now he is sitting in his bed-sit playing his X-Box on his 32" LED tv. He couldn't give a shit about the revision he needs to do and doesn't seem to comprehend or care that he will struggle to find work without any qualifications. Why should he when he's been handed everything on a plate?

[bleedsred1978]

No mate. I run the family business with my Dad. Virtually every penny he has is invested in the business. He owns our house, but that's pretty much it. If our business fails, we are both in the shit. No fallbacks here. Hence why my friends are always telling me about the long-term , because in all honesty, there's very little money to be made in manufacturing - we break even just about. But we get by, and we both enjoy what we do, so why change it? Obviously the aspiration is that we can build a business which eventually profits, but I don't know how likely that is with all the other issues that face small businesses. Sometimes I think it's not worth the stress and the hours I work. Most of the time I love the freedom more.

Nice one. I had an image of the big house, Rolls outside in the gravel driveway,  just beside the fountain and Rhi giving it the auld, money, pah, means nothing to me, what what.

I'd like that too, working for myself i mean. I think that is the key really to happiness at work. You put in the work you get the rewards and are not bound by anything but your own willingness to succeed. I think i could take earning less to work for myself but im afraid of failure and what it would do to my wife and kids, with the size of my morgage that is. That and the fact that i dont know what business i would start up.

[Sir Harvest Fields]

Fair point Jaffod. I do think that true values are lacking somewhat, thats no disrespect to you. I see it though as a ' i had fuck all as a kid , i wont let the same happen to mine ' thing but mine backfired yesterday quite spectacularly lol. Bloody kids

[bleedsred1978]

My lad is 13 and I could have written the same post. Right now he is sitting in his bed-sit playing his X-Box on his 32" LED tv. He couldn't give a shit about the revision he needs to do and doesn't seem to comprehend or care that he will struggle to find work without any qualifications. Why should he when he's been handed everything on a plate?

My fella just finished his summer exams, i say finished but id say when i see the results its more like he barely started any of the papers. They are just so infuriating at this age.

His Playstation 3 is broken as is his xbox 360. (Im not replacing either) but now he is glued to his ipad all the time. I would get the internet switched off if it wasnt for the fact that i am clinging to the hope he will use it for something other than fifa 12 manager or ebay, dreaming about things he wants to buy, with what money i dont know?

He is a great kid, good heart, but christ i could strangle him at times. No really.

[And Could He Play]

i fucking love it, queens head.....

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

The only stress you would have is the stress from whatever made you the money. For example if you own a business, but that stress was already there and as the money comes in you can hire someone else to worry about it. Simple things, allowing yourself to wake up later, have a long breakfast, work less hours. Take a week off on a whim just because you can.

Think you're underestimating this aspect of money-making. The responsibility increases the more money you make. There's far less room for 'switching off' after work, which is something you can on a lower paygrade with routine job specs.

[Enemy]

Money isn't very important but it does enable you to do certain things which would otherwise be either impossible or a fuck load of work. I would like to go on holiday sometime in the not too distant future but only money would allow me to do that in a way that I would like. Sure I could hitch down to Dover, get a pedestrian ticket on the ferry and then cycle round France and sleep in a tent because that would be cheap as, but it's not the kind of trip that would afford me personally much happiness. Now chilling out in Spain for a week eating shit loads of crap food and staying in a nice hotel, that would be a pretty nice break. But you can't do that without some money in your bank.

[And Could He Play]

It is the root of all evil though, well that and Religion

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

You can live in a commune in the woods in France, away from money, eating what you plant sure.

I'll use the definition of money as your fundamental resource, ie you're living a lifestyle that requires it for food and shelter. That's the life most of us are living. In that sense, questioning the importance of money is like questioning the necessity for air.

I go through the responses in here, and what anywhichwayoucan, nick crosby and jaffod have posted is accurate. The question isn't about money, it's about you really. If you're the sort that deeply cares about people and family, money is through which you can make a difference: ie whether what you feel for them remains just that, an emotion without any practical manifestation, or whether you can help pay for an education / a better medical treatment.

If you're the sort that isn't arsed about these things, then it'll show in the things you waste your money on.

On its own, there's very little to discuss about it imo, it overrides everything, assuming you use the definition where without it, you're liable to starve to death. 

[WavertreeRed]

All I got in this world is my balls and my word and I don't break either of 'em

[And Could He Play]

All I got in this world is my balls and my word and I don't break either of 'em

you could always Shakeabush


i'll get me coat.

[jason42]

That’s a good point too Jason. My kids are younger than yours but 4 out of 5 days a week I know I’ll be home to see them at bath/bedtime and down the line will be there to have meals with them. My brother in law is a lawyer in the city. Probably earns a shedload (so maybe he’s perfectly happy!) but from day to day he doesn’t know if he’ll be home at a normal time or working til all hours. I know the perks are good for him but equally there must be plenty of downsides with family life.

There are sacrifices to be made foe either lifestyle.

If I won the Lottery, I would still expect my kids to go to Uni and get their Degrees and get a job (or in James' case play for the Ospreys). I would support them all the way and ensure they didn't have student debts but I certainly wouldn't want to set them up so they wouldn't have to work for a living (or at least work like a dog in a job they hated).

[BIGdavalad]

So long as I have a roof over my head, clothes (non fashionable/branded/however you want to put it) on my family's back, food on our table and all the bills paid then I've got enough money.

I'd like more because having a bit of luxury in your life would always be preferable to not having it but I can live without it.

If I won the lottery then I'd buy the bigger house (because I'd love to have room to get my son a train set and have a room of my own as a library/study/watching football with the lads room) and a couple of nice cars (a big one like a Range Rover or something for moving the family and something sporty as my treat).

If I won silly money (one of the big Euromillions roll overs type cash) then I'd have a really big house (for the same reasons as the bigger house above) and a small collection of really nice cars (say the Range Rover, a Veyron and a couple of others for me, an SLK for the missus because she's always wanted one). Outside of keeping enough in the bank to keep us comfortable for the rest of our lives the rest I'd probably rather spend/invest on improving people's lives than keep in the bank. No idea what I'd actually do with it aside from a few big charitable donations but I'd think of something. I'd spoil the boy (and any subsequent kids) a bit but never to the extent that the Beckhams (as an example) do with their kids. I'd hate for him to grow up not understanding the value of money and how hard some people work for it.

[Dowling10]

My lad is 13 and I could have written the same post. Right now he is sitting in his bed-sit playing his X-Box on his 32" LED tv. He couldn't give a shit about the revision he needs to do and doesn't seem to comprehend or care that he will struggle to find work without any qualifications. Why should he when he's been handed everything on a plate?

The way our countries going at the minute, he will go through a struggle when he reaches 18/19/20 so I wouldn't worry about that.

[And Could He Play]

all depends on what your happy with isnt it, its one of my major factors in life to make money, sometimes put it before my health and my family. Which is not good really. Also the amount of people that has ruined lives over debt is unreal. Its a powerful weapon for rich and poor. Shame.


Edit, reading that back it makes absolutely no sense.

[Sir Harvest Fields]

We dont ' Need ' money though.

[And Could He Play]

We dont ' Need ' money though.

This isn't "into the wild" mate, you do need money, we all do. Now i'm not for one second saying we need loads, but everyone needs some for of cash to survive