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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask this ....

89 replies

ReallyWanttowinthelottery · 06/08/2017 17:31

If you are rich, and you believe money doesn't buy you happiness, can you please give me your money?

Specifically, if you are loaded and think you are no happier now than you were before you were loaded, I am more than happy to take some cash off you!!

I am fed up of hearing people say money doesn't buy u happiness!!! I have the best DH in the world, two fantastic children and I like my house. But .... I would be happier if I had more money!!! .... I could fix my stupid leaky tap, work less (or better still, b a stay at home mum to my wonderful kids till they r a bit older), I could take my children to the legoland hotel for a night, I could decorate my bedroom, I could pay off my massive credit card bill! And ... I could feel less stressed about money more generally! Sure ... maybe millions don't make you happier - but having enough not to be in debt, and to be comfortable - surely that does!!

OP posts:

ImperialBlether · 06/08/2017 18:08

Having enough money takes off the tremendous pressure that being broke brings. I think if someone's never experienced being poor, they really can't understand that pressure.

fishonabicycle · 06/08/2017 18:09

So exactly what problems does being rich bring then?

Penny4UrThoughts · 06/08/2017 18:12

There was a study that showed once you got to an income that was a comfortable living wage, money makes little difference to happiness. The figure was I think 75,000 dollars, so not nearly rich.

But being poor definitely impacts happiness in a negative way.

Flowersandfootballs · 06/08/2017 18:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sittingonthefence83 · 06/08/2017 18:14

It's a tough one.... I think money makes life easier if you are poor but I don't think money brings any more happiness when your basic life needs are met, like a roof over your head, food and access to healthcare and basic good health.

I think society puts pressure on people to think they need more when if fact they actually don't.

I personally don't think money buys happiness and I'm definitely not rich!!

Penny4UrThoughts · 06/08/2017 18:16

So exactly what problems does being rich bring then?

Beggars and charities chasing you for money. Friends and family anyways expecting you to foot the bill or back them out. Not knowing if your new friends like you or your money. If you aren't good with finance matters, you are open to being ripped off and defrauded by the people around you that are supposed to help with these things. Then you get the people that have always been in your life being jealous or treating you differently because they think you are a snob or have used advice your station. That's just off the top of my head. I'm not rich. Far from it, but hopeful lol!

LaurieFairyCake · 06/08/2017 18:16

Studies show that happiness in the UK levels off after £150k household income

And since that's 4 times the average household income lets not worry about happiness tailing off til we get there

Penny4UrThoughts · 06/08/2017 18:16

Bail them out*

alltouchedout · 06/08/2017 18:21

I wouldn't fancy being super rich but I regularly fantasise about winning £3-5 million on the lotto. Money would be no guarantee against illness or loss or tragic events, but if the ever present stress of needing to afford the rent and bills was permanently removed, and money aside for the dc's futures, and the fear that old age would mean poverty was gone, and I knew I could get by fine even if I didn't have a job... Life would be very very good.
I've been poor and it's shit. When we were poor money damn well would have brought me happiness. It would make me pretty bloody happy now!

SpottedGingham · 06/08/2017 18:22

Studies show that happiness in the UK levels off after £150k household income^

Our household income isn't even one tenth of that but we're happy 😊

hiphopcat · 06/08/2017 18:24

Money doesn't buy happiness, but the lack of it brings misery.

Many people who suffer stress suffer it because of financial problems.

They may be in a job they hate and a relationship they hate. They can't leave either one due to finances. Many a man stays in a job he doesn't much like to support his family, many a woman stays in a stale or dead marriage because she cannot afford to live without the man's money.

Money would make a huge difference to many peoples lives, and it's utter bollocks IMO to say it wouldn't improve many people lives, give them the life they want, and make them much happier. Imagine the freedom, being able to travel the world, never having to work again, being able to fulfill ambitions (write a book, open a recording studio, record an album, make a film, open a cat sanctuary, open your own art gallery, open you own fashion store, have a business and employ staff and not have to worry about the business failing because you're a multi millionaire.)

You could also buy a car outright, buy a home (detached and within 5 acres of land so no noisy neighbours,) buy a caravan, give regularly to a dozen charities of your choice, and buy whatever you want, when you want.

YANBU OP. Of COURSE having excess millions would make most people happier. And it's ridiculous to say it wouldn't.

hiphopcat · 06/08/2017 18:25

Wanted to add. As I said, money doesn't BUY HAPPINESS, but there is a strong possibility it will make you happier!

supermoon100 · 06/08/2017 18:26

You can google how to fix your leaky tap for the price of a washer.

Trb17 · 06/08/2017 18:32

Money can't buy happiness but it can get rid of the all encompassing constant chest tightening worry about how you're going to pay the bills, fear of the car breaking down because you've no money to fix it, terror of any emergency expense because you simply don't have a spare £10... and worst of all the fear that your child will have to go without or there won't be enough food on the table.

In the past I've skipped meals so that my child could eat.

Money makes sure that those are fears you never have to deal with... and to me that's a level of happiness that I dream of.

bigbluebus · 06/08/2017 18:33

But money can't buy you happiness. I consider myself fortunate that we have always had just enough money to live on - not a lavish lifestyle but comfortable. However, our lives have been affected by a family member having a life limiting condition which no amount of money could ever have fixed and the consequence was premature death bringing even more sadness. This has coincided with me receiving an inheritance (following a different bereavement) of the size which would make a difference to many people's lives but I can't get excited about spending it as there is so much sadness attached to it. Whilst I won't be sending it to you OP ( have put it away to hopefully make a difference to DS's life in the future) it certainly hasn't made me happy.

Glumglowworm · 06/08/2017 18:34

Yanbu

Money gives you choices and opportunities that you just don't have when you're poor. Those who always say poor people should retrain just don't get that funding training courses and surviving during them costs money that not everyone has.

And of course money lets you have wonderful holidays and travel and have nice things.

Being poor is constant worry and stress.

My heart just bleeds for rich people moaning about the problems of being rich.

Mynewballoon · 06/08/2017 18:43

It's all relative really. People will find something to moan about whether they're rich or poor. I've been poor and had the best of times. I'd rather be where I am now though and not have to worry about paying the bills. Rich people still face the same emotional worries though.

HazelBite · 06/08/2017 18:52

Without good health, you can't have happiness however rich you are, the older you appreciate the importance of good health.
Money can help with this, with immediate access to doctors, whereas those without have to wait.
If I suddenly won the lottery I would worry that my "wealth" would affect the attitude of my friends and family towards me.
I value my close relationships with these people above everything.
Yes money can buy you happiness, but only to certain extent.

abigcupoffuckyou · 06/08/2017 18:57

Wealth is relative

It's not really.

Anyone saying that money doesn't buy happiness is doing it wrong. It bloody does. And if things go bad it is a hell of a lot easier to deal with almost anything when you have money to throw at it.

Mumof56 · 06/08/2017 19:00

Wealth is relative

Having healthy children =wealth
Being healthy yourself =weaLtd

Would you swap your health for money?

Gingernaut · 06/08/2017 19:05

There's a joke

"They say money doesn't buy happiness.

That may be true but I'd love to be given the chance to find out for myself."

Oh yes. I would.

Mynewballoon · 06/08/2017 19:06

Mum - exactly this! Wealth will only make you truly happy if you only care about material things.

I've lost people close to me and I don't go home to my big house and think 'oh well, at least I've got this big house and I can pay the bills', I think, I'd give it all up in a second to have another minute with that person.

Yes, money makes life easier, but it doesn't bring eternal happiness!

RebootYourEngine · 06/08/2017 19:16

I dont know if money buys happiness but it sure would make life less stressful. Up to a point that is. A couple of million would be fine but more than that would bring different stresses like people begging for money.

petalsinthegarden · 06/08/2017 19:16

I will also accept any donations, OP!

JustHereForThePooStories · 06/08/2017 19:20

A friend of mine is a millionaire. She got her money as a result of a settlement after a crash killed her beloved DH, and left her DS severely disabled. She needs the money to care for him so won't be able to give it to you, unfortunately.

She's not happy.

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