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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that deep down, everyone wants to be rich?

54 replies

AdeptEagle · 06/03/2025 22:16

People love to say that money isn’t everything, but let’s be real - who wouldn’t want financial freedom? Not necessarily yachts and private jets but just enough to never have to stress about bills or work in a job you hate.

Some people act like they wouldn’t want to be rich but I don’t buy it. AIBU to think that if given the chance, nearly everyone would choose wealth? Or do some people genuinely not care?

OP posts:
Catza · 06/03/2025 22:24

Depends. Being rich without changing anything about my lifestyle (profession, work-life balance etc ) -sure. Having to give up the job I love, my free time, my hobbies etc. to kill myself working 80h weeks - not so much.
My former boss is rich. When I was working for him, he had his business for 7 years. For 7 years he's not had a day off or gone on holiday with his family. He had two young kids who were brought up by a nanny and hardly ever saw him. He's retired at 58 with a property portfolio that is going to keep him and his family wealthy for life but he lost his health in the process of getting there. I wouldn't swap my life with him for all the money in the world.

TwirlyPineapple · 06/03/2025 22:23

I’ve never heard anyone say they don’t want to be rich.

People say being rich won’t make you happy if you lack things money can’t buy, which is true. Plenty of people wouldn’t trade a happy but poor life for a rich one involving infertility, poor health, no family or friends etc.

But that’s not the same as saying you don’t want to be rich. Even if you live the most miserable and lonely life imaginable, you’d rather live it with plenty of money.

Gnarab24 · 06/03/2025 22:21

No shit Sherlock

PlumFairies · 06/03/2025 22:21

I’m not wealthy and if someone offered me a couple of million I definitely wouldn’t turn it down, it may not make me happy but it would give myself and my children so many more opportunities in life.