It’s not a secret that the world today is run by money. Most of the problems that we experience in our lives are in some ways related to money. Either because of a lack of it, or because of too much of it.
Yes, too much money is also detrimental, contrary to popular belief. We always tend to think that if we have huge amounts of it, somehow, all our troubles will be sorted out. But we fail to realise that sometimes, the presence of that much money can actually bring more problems with it.
But it cannot be denied that having a sufficient amount of money is necessary for a feeling of fulfilment and general happiness in life. That’s obvious given how our very survival now depends on money.
We have all heard a famous saying, “Money can’t buy happiness” and though that may be true for many, it certainly isn’t the case for most. So, what is the amount that everyone seeks? How much money would be enough money?
The Magic Number
I can’t stress enough that everyone is unique in some or the other way and so the answer to that question will vary vastly. Some could want a million dollars to be completely satisfied and for some, even a billion might not cut it.
I read an article recently which stated that around $100,000 a year should be enough to make everyone feel content. Of course, even this number will vary from one country to another. There are countries where this much money would qualify you as filthy rich.
But I think there is a number that everyone has in their minds that they want to achieve so that they can provide for themselves and their family.
In today’s world, that includes basic survival, as well as all the things that are expected of an average household. This alone makes that number very large, given how many services have become necessities in today’s world.
What’s A Person Gotta Do!!
There is no end to greed. So, you could literally spend your entire life accumulating as much money as you possibly could and one day, you would just disappear off of the face of the planet, leaving everything behind.
What’s the point if you can’t even enjoy the money you make? What’s the point if you work hard to earn money to live a stress free life, but you spend your life living in stress anyways?!
I think what we should do instead, is try to get to a level of satisfaction after weighing everything in our lives and coming to a number that is not insanely large.
I mean, the whole point of earning enough is to live a happy life. If we are already doing it without having all them zeros, is there any need to accumulate them anyways?? Think about it.
I'm 24 now. Until the age of 16, ie major part of my life, I lived in a single-roomed hut having no access to electricity. We were using kerosene lamps to study even when the world had already started using internet. We were glad. We didn't have any debts to pay. We didn't have any expectation. I crave for that life now!
And now, I'm an engineering graduate whose meagre salary doesn't fetch enough even to repay the education loan that I obliged to. Now we have electricity in our home. But missing something that we had when we were in that hut!
It is expectations that determine the limits. I believe that money can never bring us ecstacy. It is no secret that people from many places sell everything they have to achieve their passion. It might be a travel, a new job... Whatever it may be, they indulge with those activities. Money cannot bring us happiness. In the end of the day we will die naked!
Yeah, there is something wrong in the world that some of the people live the utmost technology filled lives and some live totally deprived of it. There are humans living in different eras at the same time.
Anyways, I totally get your point that a simple life can be much happier and satisfying that the kind of life that the average human lives in the cities.
I think the best way to describe money would be 'a necessary evil'.
If you have too little of it, you won't be able to sustain your life and your family.
If you have too much of it, it will consume you more than you can consume it.
there is no such a thing as a necessary evil, I have often noticed that people thinking this way do not have enough data to see beyond the necessary evil. I blog about it quite much
It sure is a necessary evil!
That is exactly how it works. Enough money for me would be that I dont have to reconsider my choices for financial reasons. That does not mean I need 5 vacation homes. It means that I can buy a ticket to somewhere without having to save up for months for it.
Ive seen recently how people are blinded by money and how they are loosing the whole bigger picture of it and even letting their family down for it. That is for sure not how it should be, Family should come first when you also talk about finances
Yeah, I would say that is enough for lots of people, where they don't have to reconsider their choices and can live a life where they don't have to stress out or save up for a long time to fulfil their simplest desires.
Exactly. And I wouldnt stop working as well. Im unemployed these two months and I have to say: doing nothing gets old really fast ;)
Let me spend my time meaningfull, and have a buck on the side to do nice stuff next to it!
I totally agree with what you said about greed...hence why many western countries are in so much debt and general population is unhappy and suffering.
We're conditioned to consume, consume, consume, work, work, work...but, like you said? What about enjoying life?
It's not about having LOTS of money!
as long as people fail to understand that life itself is of a metaphysical nature, they will continue to fall for the short lived and enslaving materialism. I blog a lot about it
Interesting! I'll check it out!
That is one of the biggest side effects of a capitalist world. So many products and services that you start to think you are supposed to be using them. Of course to use (consume) them, you need the money and so the rat race begins.
Indeed. And unfortunately many people don't realise this and every time a new iPhone or whatever is released, they clamber over one another to get it, even though the older moderl they already have is perfectly fine!
I was just thinking about this subject today. Thinking about how to give more money to charitable causes.
Yeah, if we are able, then we should definitely give money for charity. People need it and they need it badly.
make sure you donate locally... big charities whose CEOs make 1million salaries are a scam... charities must be run by volunteers
Thanks for the tip!
True this!!
I always struggled with money...my father made it an obsession...he stressed to his sons constantly how important it was to have...after my parent's divorce...he lived like a pauper and complained about every nickel spent....as a blue collar workaholic...he saw it as a security blanket and proof of status...he was and still is miserable...
So I had to learn the hard way that if managed properly...it isn't the root of all evil...it certainly can be...unfortunately for me the lesson came late in my life...since I mismanaged it for many early adult years...and frankly...wasn't good at making it...I now pay that price in my later years unable to slow down as much as I would like due to financial responsibilities....
It scares me what the cost of living is and how difficult it will be...and already is to for my kids to provide the necessities to their children...its become a vicious cycle and does lead to a lot of stressed out human relationships...
We need to learn its value and how to manage it when we are still young and that's what we should teach to our kids as well. Only then can we take good decisions regarding money, how to make it, how to spend it, how to invest it, and how to set the limit to which we are willing to sacrifice the other parts of our lives for it.
I liked how you stressed that everyone is unique regarding how much money will make them happy. It is very important that we understand ourselves and our needs rather than comparing ourselves to others when it comes to money.
Yup! That's exactly what we should do. Many people are unhappy because they simply spend on things because the other person is spending on them too!
Today I had an interview in which the lady asked me: "What are your salary expectations?" To which, honestly, I didn't have an answer for.
Basically, I just want to pay my bills, buy what I want to buy (clothes, gadgets etc.) and go out every now and then for food and drinks.
I don't need a massive number to do so (ofcourse, that would be amazing), but I just want to be able to live my life to be satisfied and do the things I wanna do.
THIS!!
This is what, I think, 90% of the people in the world would want to be honest. To be able to pay the bills, and enjoy life without stress. There is no need to accumulate an insane amount of money that we would never be able to use anyways!
Yes, I guess everybody does. The only problem here is that the more people get used to their money, their habits also get more expensive which leads to desire more money to satisfy people's newer, expensive habits.
the only way to put an end to greed is to quit seeing each others as commodities, or be treated as such
So true. Totally agreed :)
:) thanks
The only problem is that we somehow believe that money is happiness, but the fact is that money is one( among many) way to gain happiness.
I can't agree more! :)
Enough money is when you don't have to think about it anymore.
True that! haha
You don't own things....they own you...."treasures for heaven vs treasures on earth"....has a ring of truth to it...