Page 6 | to think a large sum of money would give you life long happiness we can't even imagine

RitaJosephina · 05/02/2022 23:55

@SillyBud

But my mum was very resourceful and never let us feel that we lacked something

how did she do this though? Poverty can't be hidden by parents generally so if you felt you lacked nothing then you never lived in actual poverty.
As for holidays you say you never got as a kid; I don't know your age but I am 36 and generally like 1/2 of my friends went on foreign holidays as kids, it generally wasn't a big thing back in the day. Any holidays we got were far and few between and were a a few nights somewhere down the country.

I also never had designer clothes, very basic ones and hand downs but kids clothes at basic level are never that expensive. As for expensive food,again in my day this too was the norm. Every house I went into had the same styles of dinner, and breakfasts.

She grew up in extreme poverty, so learned early how to make ends meet with little money (plus she was working as a cook, so knew how to create something out of nothing). And I'm not talking about designer clothes - I only ever had second hand clothes or clothes 'inherited' from my older siblings/cousins. Same with food - expensive was anything other than very basic supermarket own brand (and on very strict budget). I only learned that we struggled when I was an adult and had some heart-to-heart conversation with my mum. I understand that for people who live in absolute poverty that amount of money would be life changing (or even much less - like £100,000), but for a vast majority of people that have basic needs met and are generally happy and healthy, it would only improve their life a bit. Let's be honest, no one needs to have that much money.

Original poster

SillyBud · 06/02/2022 00:02

for a vast majority of people that have basic needs met and are generally happy and healthy, it would only improve their life a bit

I don't agree with this at all especially today when so many under 40 can't afford a house and look how many have nothing for pension. Also mn is full of threads with mums hating having to work as their kids are young etc. Full of threads with people saying they can't afford to buy and hate renting and have no inheritance coming and are worried over nothing to leave for their kids....These are all people whose basic needs are being met but could still be much happier with a cash injection.

To say it would only improve life a bit for the majority is bollox. It would greatly improve it.

OP posts:

toomuchlaundry · 06/02/2022 00:04

@bloodywhitecat

RitaJosephina · 06/02/2022 00:20

@SillyBud

for a vast majority of people that have basic needs met and are generally happy and healthy, it would only improve their life a bit

I don't agree with this at all especially today when so many under 40 can't afford a house and look how many have nothing for pension. Also mn is full of threads with mums hating having to work as their kids are young etc. Full of threads with people saying they can't afford to buy and hate renting and have no inheritance coming and are worried over nothing to leave for their kids....These are all people whose basic needs are being met but could still be much happier with a cash injection.

To say it would only improve life a bit for the majority is bollox. It would greatly improve it.

But you don't need 100 million for that, that's what I'm saying. Of course being able to have your own house instead of renting would make you happier (or less stressed probably), but there wouldn't be much difference between owning a house for a million and 10 millions. You would get used to your new life after a while and would treat it as something 'normal'. Human beings are very good at adapting to new situations.

Original poster

SillyBud · 06/02/2022 00:30

But you don't need 100 million for that, that's what I'm saying

I never said you need 100 million but nether less would bring massive improvements to most people in most aspects of their life. And no you are also saying that 100 million would only make a modest/miner improvement to the vast majority, that's beyond deluded. You have an over Romantic view of life and you might think you struggled but you didn't really clearly. Many of us here who faced hardships that money could have absolved agree with me that money would make untold difference for the better.

Human beings are very good at adapting to new situations

then why are there so many unhappy people feeling stuck in their lives? It comes down to having to put up with things but it can still make you unhappy, it's called grinning and bearing it.

OP posts:

RitaJosephina · 06/02/2022 01:09

@SillyBud

But you don't need 100 million for that, that's what I'm saying

I never said you need 100 million but nether less would bring massive improvements to most people in most aspects of their life. And no you are also saying that 100 million would only make a modest/miner improvement to the vast majority, that's beyond deluded. You have an over Romantic view of life and you might think you struggled but you didn't really clearly. Many of us here who faced hardships that money could have absolved agree with me that money would make untold difference for the better.

Human beings are very good at adapting to new situations

then why are there so many unhappy people feeling stuck in their lives? It comes down to having to put up with things but it can still make you unhappy, it's called grinning and bearing it.

I have no idea why you're so confrontational and think that you know more about my life than me (and imply that I'm lying) when I simply have disagreed with you. I never said that money doesn't bring happiness, I'm not naive. I just said that beyond a certain threshold it just marginally improves it. I guess it depends what you consider a 'massive improvement' in your life - private jet, expensive cars, houses in 10 different countries? It may very well be the epitome of your dreams, but I'd argue that for most of the people it would quickly become a part of their 'normal' life. Once you get used to something you don't necessarily look back and think - oh, how blessed I am. Humans are inherently greedy and materialistic, and we are rarely content, we always want more. Obviously we both have our own views on that so I'm just going to leave that here: www.wbs.ac.uk/news/does-winning-the-lottery-make-you-happy/

Original poster

SillyBud · 06/02/2022 01:13

I have no idea why you're so confrontational and think that you know more about my life than me (and imply that I'm lying) when I simply have disagreed with you

I'm not and I have no idea why think the overwhelming majority wouldn't
be much happier with the wealth just because you feel you don't need it. If that's the truth then why do so many people play the lotto?

OP posts:

Willyoujustbequiet · 06/02/2022 01:17

All the money in the world wouldn't make me happy. It can't get rid of grief.

It would make things far easier but not happier.

Hawkins001 · 06/02/2022 01:23

@SillyBud

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?

For me, first to prevent the family or friends doing the remember that time , ect, then yes for my many projects I can begin progress on them, which would bring different situational stresses, but worth it, due to being able to begin progress on them.

Hawkins001 · 06/02/2022 01:24

*I would keep the win a secret, and just use the excuse of savings or a bank loan to cover the £

RitaJosephina · 06/02/2022 01:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Namaste6 · 06/02/2022 03:52

Not happiness directly, but more options and more control, which can bring an increased sense of happiness.

mrssunshinexxx · 06/02/2022 04:15

Yes that amount of money would be life changing but it can't fix health issues for example if you get terminal cancer that's it and if you have a massive stroke and die having 100 mil in the bank won't do shit

RobertSmithsLipstick · 06/02/2022 04:16

It would certainly make my life more comfortable.
I want comfortable shoes, warm clothes for the winter, and my walls skimmed over.
I want enough storage in my home and the means to dry washing.
I want to be able to pay people to do some decent work on my home, and to have blinds up at my windows.
I don't want my child to be overlooked in a mediocre school, and I want to treat people.
I'd like a new bed, with a decent mattress, and a garden to sit in.
I'd like to try at least one weeks shopping from M & S, and I'd like a pedicure at some point.
I want a cat, my own washing line, and all manner of things to make life a bit more pleasurable.

shilohh · 06/02/2022 04:29

There's 3 types of problems.

problems which can be solved by throwing money at it.

problems that can't be solved with money but can be eased / reduced / make life a bit more easier.

problems where no amount of money in the world can solve.

Where do most of your problems lie? Get rid of problem no.1s and ease all probs in category no.2. You're left with dealing with no.3 problems which is part of human life anyway.

BustedCanOfBiscuits · 06/02/2022 06:23

@PermanentTemporary

I've thought about it, haven't we all. In the end I'd still have the same personality and a lot of my problems are due to my substandard self. If anything I'd have fewer worthwhile distractions because I can't imagine forcing myself to work every day if I didn't have to. I'd also worry about the effect on my ds because kids who grow up rich are often not very edifying people (there are many honorable exceptions of course).

So obviously I wouldn't turn it down and there would be some really nice things about it, but I doubt I'd be that much happier overall.

This post makes me ache Permanent. Every single one of us is trying to do our best with the skill set we have. Otherwise we wouldn't be on here musing about it. There's plenty of parents out there who've not given their behaviour a second thought. Please be nicer to yourself.

I know it's trite, but if you wouldn't say it to someone you love, please don't say it to yourself

BustedCanOfBiscuits · 06/02/2022 06:36

@bindud

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.

You couldn't pay me enough to be famous. It's a deal with the devil

mogsrus · 06/02/2022 07:49

I’m never going to win it as I don’t gamble

Lampshading · 06/02/2022 07:53

I think the biggest thing would be that'd you'd know you could always pay your bills. The security of knowing you aren't one job, one illness, one twist of bad fate away from losing your home and worrying about how to put food on the table; I think that's one of the greatest privileges in life. It also means you aren't tied to having commit precious time to earning money, or be restricted by finances. Time really is the most precious gift we get, so having freedom to genuinely spend it as you please is great.

Lampzade · 06/02/2022 07:53

I think that 109 million is just too much.New problems would just crop up.
I think winning a few million pounds would be life changing as long as you don’t tell a soul.

SquirrelG · 06/02/2022 08:12

I would hate to win that amount of money, I'm sure it would be a burden more than a joy. Of course I would like to win money, but a far more modest amount.

As to bringing life long happiness, in the most wealthy family I know the father is in a home with severe dementia, and he isn't that old. Nothing their money can do to fix that.

curlii103 · 06/02/2022 08:36

I mean i wouldnt say no! 250k would make me happy though. You dont need millions to be financially stable enough to not worry about bills and shit still happens yo people with millions! But yes it would be a nice thing to wake up to!

SausageSoupSaturday · 06/02/2022 10:04

It wouldn't buy total happiness no, but it would bring some happiness because my life choices would not be dictated by the need to make and save money. Which would mean more time with my children, and myself being less stressed, so I think we would be happier in general.

BraveGoldie · 06/02/2022 10:06

@MasterBeth

£109 million would be beyond life-changing for you or your family. Your personal prosperity would be guaranteed for generations, with money to spare.

So now you’d have tens of millions of pounds in a world where many people are in need. I couldn’t feel happy knowing that. So suddenly your “job” becomes using your wealth for good, or else you’re a pretty terrible person.

I’m sure it’s not nearly as stressful as being poor, but I don’t think you could spend the rest of your life sipping cocktails by your Caribbean pool without feeling like a total shit.

I think I would tag about 90 million immediately, and spend the first year identifying the right high impact places to donate it to.

Then I would give 500k each to my 10 closest loved ones.

Then I'd buy a beautiful house in Africa, where I could live part time. along with paying off my mortgage here. I don't think I'd move house here - I love my home.

I'd go on some bloody nice holidays, and I would stop my 'compulsory' work and take VP a couple of years totally off, because so am tired!!! I'd then build back doing only what I really wanted to on a freelance basis. I would spend most of my time writing or doing some form of development work.

The biggest joy for me wouldn't be the luxury, but the knowledge that I'd been able to give away enough money to make a real difference.

Otherwise, for me, I agree that kind of wealth would not feel morally acceptable to me.

NameChangeNameShange · 06/02/2022 10:17

This threads always remind me of At Home with the Braithwaites. I always thought the mum has the right idea, pretend you have a new job managing a big foundation as opposed to it being your money. (And of course as that TV series proved money doesn't necessarily fix relationships or family issues, usually makes any fracture much worse.)