Complete this: "People who say 'money isn't everything' are......."

...are speaking from personal experience. I uttered those words about 13 years. I found myself at a job, making great money - more than I ever thought I would. I sacrificed relationships, my time, my health, etc. After several years, I quit that job without having another one lined up. I would get a pit in my stomach Sunday night, as I knew I would wake up and have to go to that job. As I've gotten older, I still stand by, "Money isn't everything."

trite

Captain Oblivious wrote:

You do not need money to survive.

You need to watch Castaway again.

Pretty sure Castaway was fiction.

Also pretty sure that 99.8% of all American adults finding themselves in such a predicament would have been dead in less than 2 months. Most in a LOT less than 2 months.

making excuses for NOT having any ... or enough.

Look, what's better being a little happy family in a two bedroom apartment barley getting by, or being that same little happy family riding yachts and traveling to fantastic places?

Money is great. Now, I'd rather be a healthy pauper than someone with Bill Gates money but a nasty case of lymphoma. But all things being equal, life is much better with money than without.

happier than you.

"Run for your life from any man who tells you that money is evil. That sentence is the leper's bell of an approaching looter."

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/money.html

Money isn't everything. Obviously. If I were promised enormous riches, I wouldn't sacrifice a loved one, which means there's something out there that holds value over money.

However, money, if managed correctly, can buy a whole lot of happiness. Spend less than you make, and you won't ever worry about a bill again. You will have freedom to do things on a whim, act on impulses. I purposely live way below my means. I haven't budgeted since college. I don't stress about unexpected losses, and I get to be more generous than most people. For example, this past week, I paid my friend's son $100 to work for 2 hours in my yard. I overtipped my waitress by $20. I got a speeding ticket for $150 and shrugged my shoulders. And I lost $80 playing poker with friends and went home happy for the time spent with good company. Money, well managed, is way undervalued. Money itself, is probably overvalued.

living on the dole

deluded

rojo wrote:

Raey wrote:

Complete it.

Well off.

I always say, "Money isn't important unless you don't have it and then it's VERY important."

Our species evolved figuring out a way to survive. You need money to survive. Once you have that, ehhh...

Maybe it depends how you define "isn't everything", but I don't agree. To me "isn't everything" means that you don't let money be the defining criteria for decision making. Clearly, some level of basic needs should be met, but if you turn down a higher paying transfer, drive a used car, don't eat out every day, spend time with family vs. work, in my mind you've confirmed that "money isn't everything" and that other ideals outweigh it.

I'm paid on commission, if I believed money was everything I'd spend 15+ hours a day working. For me, "family is everything" and after I meet basic needs (including some recreation/vacation and savings), while I'm still all for making a lot of money, it becomes second to family time and relationships.

People who say money isn't everything are 100% correct.

You just confirmed through your example that you do indeed agree with rojo. Money is not as important, or as you put it, "the defining criteria for decision making," because you HAVE money. You may not be wealthy, but you have enough to support a family, vacation and pursue your hobbies. I guarantee if you did not have any money and struggled to make it month to month, money would suddenly become VERY important, or "everything."

Full of shite

Perspective wrote:

Full of shite

Would you mind responding to my argument above, then? If money is everything, why are you willing to trade it for other things?

If you pay $10 for lunch today, you are showing that lunch is worth at least $10 to you. In other words, the food you are eating is more valuable than the money you paid for it. So how is money everything when you're willing to trade it?

It enables me to purchase things I want or need. It provides security. It keeps me happliy entertained and relatively worry free.

Perspective wrote:

It enables me to purchase things I want or need. It provides security. It keeps me happliy entertained and relatively worry free.

So then the things you want and need, security, entertainment, and freedom from worry are all together at least as valuable to you as money. I.e. if you could work to receive all of these items directly instead of earning money, you would probably be willing to do so.

but, you agree... wrote:

You just confirmed through your example that you do indeed agree with rojo. Money is not as important, or as you put it, "the defining criteria for decision making," because you HAVE money. You may not be wealthy, but you have enough to support a family, vacation and pursue your hobbies. I guarantee if you did not have any money and struggled to make it month to month, money would suddenly become VERY important, or "everything."

I think we may just be approaching this differently, but Rojo used the term "well off". If by that you mean someone that can meet the absolute basics for existence then I see your point. When I hear "well off" I usually think at least middle class.

Meeting basic needs is defined differently. I have friends that have adopted 5 children, live on probably $45k per year, but prior to having kids saved up and have a small home paid off, cut out any excess, cut corners anywhere they can, etc. but are not on government aide programs. They value money differently than others who wouldn't be satisfied with the material things their lifestyle allows. For some meeting basic needs means living in a tiny house or studio apartment. For others it means something else.

The fact that people prioritize the value of money and their "required" needs shows that money can't be everything to most people because they place other items ahead and prioritize money differently.

Missing the point.

Its not an either or situation.

Captain Oblivious wrote:

You do not need money to survive.

You need to watch Castaway again.

I totally remember that documentary!

Airm wrote:

FormerRunnerSameProblem wrote:

Either extremely wealthy or extremely poor (so much so that they've given up)

Actually I would argue that they are more likely to be middle class. To the rich and poor, money is a very defining part of their lives. The middle class use the expression to justify their mediocrity.

My theory behind it is that the middle class always strive to reach high class and therefore money motivates a very large aspect of their life.