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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a large sum of money would give you life long happiness we can't even imagine

242 replies

SillyBud · 05/02/2022 16:05

Just pondering on the person who win the 109 million last night and think that yesterday they were just like us-stressed about so many things that could be eased/abolished by money-mortgages, rent, work,health and fitness,appearance...

Can you actually imagine waking up today to discover you are 109 million richer and free from so much the rest of us are prisoner to?

OP posts:
VladmirsPoutine · 05/02/2022 17:37

Marrying into royalty definitely requires a lot of chance, luck and razor sharp manoeuvring Grin

AlternativePerspective · 05/02/2022 17:44

If the only thing in life you have to worry about would be solved by money then you’re already living a privileged life.

Steve Jobbs never had to worry about money. Didn’t stop him dying from cancer though did it?

Money might mean I don’t have to worry about the mortgage and the bills, but it won’t buy me a new heart.

And far more relationships are destroyed by money than solved. Because if you have money you will never know who the genuine people are in your life. Those who really value you for you as opposed to those who are around you for your money.

Just look at most of the celebrities out there. Do you think they’re happy?

If happiness means you can buy whatever you want then you are clearly a very superficial person, but not likely a happy one.

BakewellGin1 · 05/02/2022 17:46

I think it would give me lifelong happiness because I imagine not worrying daily about how much petrol the car needs, how much the asda shop comes to and knowing I have a stable home and life for myself and children would be amazing.

It wouldn't take away the health worries for myself or others but I would be in a position to help them go private, pay bills whilst they can't work and so on.

It would provide a reliable car and at the moment that is what I need Grin

I'd share with those who have been around whilst I have no money regardless and nobody else. Family who we don't see now I wouldnt see if I had money so no worries there.

Teeeefs · 05/02/2022 17:46

Caramelvanillafudge, I think you’ve maybe misread then thread title and opening post?

The OP asked if casts sums of money brings lifelong happiness. It doesn’t.

bindud · 05/02/2022 17:46

Just look at most of the celebrities out there. Do you think they’re happy?

I think that's fame or the loss of it rather than money though.

Calmamongthechaos · 05/02/2022 17:47

I feel like I would end up living a double life. I’d never confess to how much we had won as unfortunately we have a number of family members who would squirrel out of the wood work wanting their share, people who currently don’t give a stuff about anyone but themselves.

Original poster
SillyBud · 05/02/2022 17:52

I think that's fame or the loss of it rather than money though

depending on the celebrity too, many are not near as rich as we are told they are. They are working professionals too just like the rest of us. The point of the lottery though is that it's a big sum given for having done nothing.

OP posts:
godmum56 · 05/02/2022 17:52

Yes I can imagine it and while it would remove some of my concerns, I don't think that it would bring me, or anybody, lifelong happiness.

AlternativePerspective · 05/02/2022 17:54

It wouldn't take away the health worries for myself or others but I would be in a position to help them go private, pay bills whilst they can't work and so on. private ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. For starters emergency health is all nhs based in this country.

If your private surgery goes wrong you’re sent back to the NHS.

There’s no a&e, no ICU, no amount of money is going to change that.

I won’t be able to pay to go private for a heart transplant, well I suppose I could use my wealth to buy one on the black market, but assuming I’m still a decent human being having won the lottery that’s not a road most of us would tread.

I think people who only have money to worry about now would find they had other worries once the money worries were gone. Such as who was bullying your child, who wanted you for your money, whether your child was going to be a target because you had money, etc etc.

You really can’t equate money with happiness.

Money doesn’t buy you happiness, but you can be miserable in comfort I suppose.

megletthesecond · 05/02/2022 17:55

We don't hear about the happy lottery winners as they're getting on with life.

I'd probably do OK. It would pay for masses of support for my DD for a start.

fishonabicycle · 05/02/2022 17:55

It might not bring happiness, but you can be miserable in comfort!

booplefloof · 05/02/2022 17:58

I have several (multi) millionaire friends. They are lovely, normal people.
Yes, they don't worry about the bills but they have other stresses.

They still accept our hand me downs and eat homemade pizzas with us.

Funnyfive · 05/02/2022 18:00

I think a large sum of money brings different stresses, so you just worry about different things. Sure £109 million would set me and my family up for life, but I’d worry that my kids wouldn’t have that need or purpose to get a job, work hard and achieve stuff - would they turn to drugs or drink to stave off the boredom? Would they turn into someone I don’t really like as they will have grown up ridiculously rich?

It wouldn’t bring back my 2 year old niece who died of sepsis, or my sister in law who died of cancer - that grief will always remain so yes it would make life easier in one way but would almost certainly bring with it other problems.

bindud · 05/02/2022 18:01

One of my family members needed an operation during covid. The problem was the waiting list was so long that it was very likely he would have deteriorated irreversibly by then. Fortunately he had the funds to go private.

There’s no a&e, no ICU, no amount of money is going to change that.

I thought so but some posters on here were adamant they had access to private a&e.

Original poster
SillyBud · 05/02/2022 18:05

*I have several (multi) millionaire friends. They are lovely, normal people.
Yes, they don't worry about the bills but they have other stresses.

They still accept our hand me downs and eat homemade pizzas with us*

multi millionaires still have to be careful though as say 5 million in a family of 3 kids is still not an astronomical amount. Even a couple with 5 million with no kids with 5 million need to be careful especially with property prices these days and how long we live.

109 brings people to a different level though.

OP posts:
irregularegular · 05/02/2022 18:09

One of my family members needed an operation during covid. The problem was the waiting list was so long that it was very likely he would have deteriorated irreversibly by then. Fortunately he had the funds to go private.

My son needed an operation during the pandemic. Nothing life threatening, but painful and stopping him doing things he enjoys. We were willing and able to pay but there was no capacity. As he was under 18 it needed to be done in an NHS hospital and it was not possible. You can't buy everything! And of course, some conditions are incurable regardless of how much you spend.

TyrannosaurusRegina · 05/02/2022 18:09

If the only thing in life you have to worry about would be solved by money then you’re already living a privileged life.

I very much disagree @AlternativePerspective. A friend of mine is pregnant and alone, having having dumped by a cheating husband 5 months into the pregnancy. He owns the home, she has nowhere else to go and is consumed daily about how to provide for her baby, roof over her head etc. She is on her mother's couch at the moment however due to family dynamics, this can't continue much longer. She doesn't have cancer, granted, however she does have the weight of the world on her shoulders and I definitely wouldn't call her privileged. A sum of money would be an absolute lifeline for her at the moment.

alltheseasons · 05/02/2022 18:09

@Teeeefs

I have money. Not £109m but enough for nice houses and cars and holiday and to never have to worry about the boiler breaking down t the car needing repairs.

I still have family with cancer, I’ve still had a shitty time medically, I still have a lovely husband whose life is dictated by his mental health.

Yeah, I don’t lie awake worrying about the heating bill, but money doesn’t absolve anyone of all the worries that many people endure.

Same here. None of my stresses are caused by lack of money.

I can see how a lottery win could cure a lot of people's problems though. I hope that whoever won does something good with that money - I often day dream about what I'd do with it and a lot of it would go to helping others.

bindud · 05/02/2022 18:10

You can't buy everything!

Who claimed you can?

And of course, some conditions are incurable regardless of how much you spend.

Again no one has said that.

However my family member has had his quality of life restored & that was because he could afford it.

Bumpy23 · 05/02/2022 18:13

I'd still have the same stresses, but being able to support my family and extended family would Definitely bring a lot of joy. I'd like to set up a trust that gives access to children and adults who can't afford music lessons/swim/loads of clubs etc, something all children should definitely get access to, but often can't.

WomblingWilma · 05/02/2022 18:15

Steve Jobbs never had to worry about money. Didn’t stop him dying from cancer though did it?

Money might mean I don’t have to worry about the mortgage and the bills, but it won’t buy me a new heart.

Well If I had cancer or a life limiting illness, I would be a lot happier knowing my DCs would be set up for life when I was gone, especially my disabled son who will never live independently.

Of course rich people lose loved ones or get illnesses but I’d rather be rich in that situation and have the money to prolong my life with better medical care and enjoy what’s left of my life doing amazing things. As opposed to being poor, living on a shitty council estate, not able to afford new medical treatments which would be available if I could pay for them, no money for experiencing doing something I’d always dreamed of doing, worrying about bills and what’s going to happen to my DC when I die.

I very much doubt rich people who aren’t happy would be happier if they were poor Hmm.

1forAll74 · 05/02/2022 18:15

Do you think any of the royals do the lottery., has to be all undercover stuff though I suppose.

Crikeyalmighty · 05/02/2022 18:16

It doesn’t buy happiness— but it can get rid of lots of miseries and give options— be that divorce, buying a house, helping adult children out, helping elderly non wealthy parents— starting a small business — running a charitable foundation. Usually goes to people though who blow it on lions round the gate and 27 cars - because call me a cynic but they are often the ones blowing £20 a week on the lottery

Bumpy23 · 05/02/2022 18:17

@CatWithARabbit

If you buy your ticket online and win a huge amount, does it just get paid into your account same as if you win £3.80? 😂. Or do you get a phone call?
We had this convo last night! I did check my account- 0.50p credit.....
lemongrasstea · 05/02/2022 18:17

Health of me and mine and enough to live modestly is all I could ever want for to be truly happy