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Original poster

Would you rather be rich or happy

50 replies

Lardlizard · 01/12/2020 13:39

OP posts:

unmarkedbythat · 01/12/2020 13:40

Happy, but I am not going to be happy in dire poverty.

Palavah · 01/12/2020 13:40

Happiness is a process, which can be made easier or more difficult by circumstances.

How rich are we talking?

GertiMJN · 01/12/2020 13:48

Is it a straight 'either or' question? Because if the 2 are mutually exclusive, no one would choose to be be rich but unhappy, surely?

EyelinerRocks · 01/12/2020 13:50

At the moment I’d rather be rich.

Then at least I could sit unhappily in a warm toasty house all day not worrying about bills.

I could buy my kids all the fruit they want, not just cheap offer bananas and apples ( they love strawberries / nuts / melons ) all the stuff that’s extortionate this time of year.

If I was rich I would have a large house and each child would have their own room and a playroom etc so the kids would be happy.

We would have a larger car which we could fit scooters and bikes into to go do our daily exercise.

I could buy them and family anything they wanted / needed for Christmas instead of scrimping and scraping.

So yes I’d be fine being unhappy if I was rich and it helped everyone else out.

Mumblechum0 · 01/12/2020 13:52

You can be both you know!

Being poor is definitely stressful (been there, done that), but once you get past a certain level of financial comfort, anything over and above that doesn't actually make that much difference imo.

plumpootle · 01/12/2020 13:52

Rich but I feel guilty for feeling that way. Something about being able to insulate my loved ones. Also I don't think happiness is a state of mind that is achievable. I'm content but I enjoy things that you need money to do...

AIMD · 01/12/2020 13:53

Happy- but to be happy I would need a basic level of income to feel secure/safe etc.

mineandyours · 01/12/2020 14:00

Rich.

I've been dirt poor and that was the fucking pits I tell you.

cushioncovers · 01/12/2020 14:10

For me they're intertwined.

I spent 10 years as a single parent on a low income constantly worrying about not having enough money and having several credit cards with huge debts on. I missed out on so many simple things that others with spare cash took completely for granted. I couldn't even join in conversations with others about holidays, meals out, future trips etc as I had nothing to say, I couldn't even buy fish n chips from the chippy. It was so demoralising especially as it went on for so many years.

This year however I've moved house and been able to clear my debts and have some left over for a rainy day and the relief it's brought is unbelievable. I can pay my bills and not worry. My credit cards are unused and I can even think about having a modest holiday next year for the first time in many many years. This has brought me immense happiness and peace of mind, it's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

So to answer your question I'd rather be rich and then I can create my own happiness.

dinosforall · 01/12/2020 14:14

Well if being rich meant being unhappy it wouldn't be desirable...

BrokenBrit · 01/12/2020 14:17

It depends on the context of rich/ poor surely.

If I was so poor I couldn’t afford a safe, warm home for my family, clothes for our backs and good food to eat then, I would choose to be rich.
But in that situation I would never be happy anyway because our basic needs weren’t being met.

If it was a case of living in an small home, no luxuries but all the necessities for us to be healthy then I would choose happiness.

I have no desire for great or excessive wealth, just enough to get by without stress.

Maslow, innit .

TheQueef · 01/12/2020 14:17

I'd like to say happy.
But after a bad illness and break up I lost everything and couldn't do that again so it has to be wealthy.

WankPuffins · 01/12/2020 14:18

Rich.

I'm poor and unhappy, so rich and unhappy would be a wonderful change.

TheQueef · 01/12/2020 14:18

I will let you know if it's better when I'm rich

Xiaoxiong · 01/12/2020 14:55

If the choice is rich and unhappy, or poor and happy, then obviously poor and happy. Because if I was happy then clearly I wasn't minding being poor, which means the basics would be covered like food on the table and a roof over our heads.

I don't think it's possible to be poor and happy if your basic needs are not met and you are living a precarious life. It's too stressful.

Xiaoxiong · 01/12/2020 14:56

@BrokenBrit beat me to it

Dowser · 01/12/2020 15:03

Rich without a doubt.
The question doesn’t presume you would automatically be unhappy or downright miserable
You can use your wealth to buy happiness
Give a lot away , make someone else happy.
Those that say money doesn’t bring you happiness are t using it to their best ability

HotSince63 · 01/12/2020 15:05

Rich.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/12/2020 15:05

Rich!
I’d buy myself happy

Onedropbeat · 01/12/2020 15:06

I have never been financially rich but I feel rich in family, friends, love and happiness

I wouldn’t trade that for all the money in the world

Bluntness100 · 01/12/2020 15:06

Rich, then I’d buy therapy and get happy.

popshops · 01/12/2020 15:09

I've been both. Happier was better than rich.

OffredOfjune · 01/12/2020 15:10

Rich. Fail to see how I could really be happy if I was dirt poor

tigger001 · 01/12/2020 15:11

If you are already happy can you choose rich just as a nice bonus.

No, i think happiness is the most important thing, but obviously noone is happy when in poverty.

And i know a few very wealthy people and they are not all happy, one man very very far from it, so i dont really think you can choose.

Ghostlyglow · 01/12/2020 15:18

Rich. No question.

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