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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

for 5 million quid today would you take 5 years off your life?

227 replies

voiceofmarion · 22/10/2022 19:58

In a supernatural hypothetical situation if you were told you died 5 years younger than you are going to/destined to by the Gods/creator (whatever) and you get 5 million quid would you take it?

OP posts:
Applesandcarrots · 22/10/2022 23:18

MadelineUsher · 22/10/2022 23:12

Judging by many of the posts on diet here, many are happy to lop 20-40 years off their healthspan and/or life for the sake of some highly processed foods they love.

Wow

So unnecessary, so shitty, so...
5* for twattiness there. Quite some achievement

MemorableName · 22/10/2022 23:22

Yes. I have a pen. Where do I sign?

BaconCabbage · 22/10/2022 23:24

No, there would definitely be a catch like 'haha! You were due to die in 4 years, so you're already 1 year dead! You'll never get to spend your riches! Muhahahaha!'

formulatingAresponse · 22/10/2022 23:33

Yes

Metabigot · 22/10/2022 23:34

Sign me up!

FourTeaFallOut · 22/10/2022 23:35

No. I'm good. Life's short enough as it is.

RichardOsmansXraySpecs · 22/10/2022 23:37

RaininSummer · 22/10/2022 21:44

Yep why not? Even if it meant I died tomorrow at least my kids would be well provided for.

You don't think they'd prefer to have you?

So sad the amount of people taking the money. I want to see my teens grow up and hopefully my grandkids too (if I'm lucky enough to have any). Life is precious, money is not.

Avidreader69 · 22/10/2022 23:40

No.

kitcat15 · 22/10/2022 23:47

No way..... life is way too precious...hav8ng had chemo has already shaved a good few years from me more than likely.....having had primary cancer 3 times and coming out the other side intact ( almost ) i feel blessed to be alive and having a future at all....no amount of money could make me give up even a day of my life

TheGirlWhoLived · 22/10/2022 23:50

Applesandcarrots · 22/10/2022 21:26

They might also remember the trauma of seeing you waste away and lose yourself and any memory of them like we did.
🤷🏻
Living longer does not necessarily mean living well

Show quote history

I think perhaps I am too used to the other side of the scale. Maybe that’s where the divide lies, with people that have seen some living 5 years too long and some where living 5 years extra would have given them a whole heap of extra quality time

MadelineUsher · 22/10/2022 23:53

Applesandcarrots · 22/10/2022 23:18

Wow

So unnecessary, so shitty, so...
5* for twattiness there. Quite some achievement

Show quote history

You find facts shitty? How odd. It is well-known that diet and lifestyle play a huge role in health and lifespan, and that upward of 60% of the what we call the diseases of ageing, including many forms dementia, are in fact caused by diet and lifestyle choices.

1982mommaof4 · 22/10/2022 23:53

No!!!

XenoBitch · 22/10/2022 23:56

MadelineUsher · 22/10/2022 23:53

You find facts shitty? How odd. It is well-known that diet and lifestyle play a huge role in health and lifespan, and that upward of 60% of the what we call the diseases of ageing, including many forms dementia, are in fact caused by diet and lifestyle choices.

Show quote history

I think it is more that your response was nothing to do with the OP, and was just a snipe at people making poor diet choices.

Did your comment actually answer the OP?

FrenchOnionShoeBox · 22/10/2022 23:56

Yes

EmeraldShamrock1 · 23/10/2022 00:00

I'm not sure.

I'd take it in a heartbeat if I knew I'd 20 years left. (I'm 41).

But I'd worry I'd only 6 years left, that would leave my DC without a parent at a critical time.

I'd only take it to better my DC life.

Gruffling · 23/10/2022 00:03

No, I think an extra 5 years of mummy is worth more to my daughter than what the money could do for her.

StapFooterin · 23/10/2022 00:07

No. When I think of how minuscule our chance of existing is in the first place, life is too precious to throw away. Not unless I knew my final five years would have been without joy/full of suffering - but that information isn't available in this fictional scenario.

LBFseBrom · 23/10/2022 00:09

No but I am in my seventies. I'm content with what I have and my home.

MadelineUsher · 23/10/2022 00:11

Did your comment actually answer the OP?

It answered the OP in that I stated, as facts bear out, that people don't need to be offered 5 million quid or any amount of money - in fact they will pay to lessen their lives and ruin their health in the years of older age they might have left.

Anyway, back to the thread and its casual ageism.

Newmumatlast · 23/10/2022 00:16

voiceofmarion · 22/10/2022 20:04

By the way you aren't told anything about the future by the Gods, just that 5 years is shaved off so whether you die at 98 or 28 is irrelevant here because you aren't allowed to know.

In which case it's a hard no. It took too long for me to conceive and I'll already be nearly mid 50s by the time my children just reach adulthood. My husband will be in his 60s. I value time with my family way more than money.

and actually this has made me realise, on that same basis, I should not work as much like a dog as I do and should make sure I take lots of holiday time with them

Zipps · 23/10/2022 00:18

Only if for those five years I had dementia, otherwise no, we have more than enough money and dc doing well and provided for in our will.
We have ancient Dp's all still holidaying and getting enjoyment out of life.

doyouwanticewiththat · 23/10/2022 00:23

No way !

Vecna · 23/10/2022 00:31

Fuck no. What if I'm destined to die in 10 years time? I have small children. I hope I'm always lucky enough to have people I don't want to leave.

Forfrigz · 23/10/2022 00:35

I like to think that I wouldn't as although the money would go a long way and arguably make the years left much better than the extra years, I believe that time is worth more. I know it can be difficult towards the end also. But I think if actually given the chance I'd be too tempted and take the money. The ideal situation would be knowing that the last 5 years were very late (so I'd live a long life anyway) and maybe not so great so I could avoid them. It would be scary taking the money without knowing how long you'd have left as many people don't live to old age anyway.
I'm 30 and from a very poor background.

Forfrigz · 23/10/2022 00:42

I'd be interested to know from those who were sure they'd prefer the money, what if the option was £5 million or bring a loved one back for 5 years.