I just want to be rich

[Champagneandricecakes]

I just do.

I was never materialistic, never really thought like this, looking back I never thought about a career to make money or to look for a partner with ambition/good career/ability to make money. I know so many women/friends who did…I didn’t think of any of it.
I’m 45 now, I’ve had a good career (teacher) and it’s been fulfilling, but hard work and is clearly not a high paid job.
When I had Dd, it kicked in more..this feeling of wanting to have more money, I’d love her to go to private school, have horseriding and piano lessons etc. She has a wonderful life and I work hard for her to have so many lovely things and a lovely lifestyle, but it leaves nothing for me.
I live abroad in a very wealthy area-multimillion euro villas, international schools, nice cars etc and I suppose being around it so much, really highlights it.
I nevet thought this way when younger, but wish I’d done things differently. I now see the difference in being able to afford private healthcare, dental care, great education, flexibility in working, time and freedom in your life etc etc

And I am teaching Dd how to negotiate her salary, how to challenge a company who offered her £x and then reduced her salary in her contract - she has retained the initial offer but she felt rude challenging them. Time to feel less rude and go after the best deal you can get. It makes a difference.

I agree with this.

I think it's kind of frowned on to admit to caring about money. It's all about doing something you're passionate about or something of service.

I've always been a free spirit but the older I get the more I value money simply because money equals a type of freedom that appeals to me.

Just remember something important... money doesn't buy you good health. I had a head injury and post concussion syndrome before being injured by an antipsychotic medication given off label for severe anxiety and insomnia. It left me with a permanent neurological involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia that is a bit like Tourette's and Parkinson's disease combined.

I would say I'd rather have my health back than all the money in the world. It can buy me a new brain or stop me from having bad reactions now to medication and its side effects.

If someone offered me my health or all the money in the world, I'd take my health back, any day.

*can't buy me a new brain (I wish it could 😥)

I understand what you're saying.

I just think I'd feel guilty if I couldn't make what I consider to be better choices for them.

I dont have kids but it's stuff that bothers me about having them.

But someone with poor health and wealth is still better off than someone with poor health and poverty.

I'm sorry for your injury 🌼🌼

Thank you, I agree with you in some ways but having poor health and being wealthy won't buy you any more time for enjoying life, it might just give you an opportunity to be ill in comfort. Which I guess is better than being ill in poverty.😥

OP, I just wanted to respond to this ‘better’ comment. People who make money are clearly ‘better’ at something or they wouldn’t have made money, but they aren’t ‘better’ overall. My profession brings me into close contact with a range of people from wealthy to eye-watering wealthy. I’m not saying they’re all weird but honestly the ones who have made multi millions are a bit, erm, different in one way or another. To make that kind of money something really does have to give, whether it’s your laser focus means you don’t have time for empathy, or whatever. If you’re talking comfortable professional class it is different. Not sure which you were thinking of. But wealthier people are not ‘better’, I promise

No need for this

Same - I have older half brothers and sisters who live in million pound property's. Brother was a hedge fund manager on 6 figures who has basically retired early 50s and just manages a property portfolio now. Other sister married someone who she knew would provide a good living and they have a lot of money on the surface but part of me thinks it's a bit keeping up with the joneses and they might not have as much as it looks like. They all bought property at the right time and sadly our dad died when I was 16 and that kind of messed my life up a bit. No excuses but our lives have been very different. I knew I was never destined for the same as them and have never chosen my relationships for their potential to provide a certain lifestyle, I work in admin and my partner is a utilities engineer. We own our own house and have a nice life but can't afford holidays or to do the things I want to do to improve the house etc. I try not to feel envious as at the end of the day I am happy with my lot. I think we would all love to win the lottery though! I would just like enough to be able to have the things I want which aren't extravagant without having to get a pen and pad out to work out if we can afford it!

It's funny that some people just can't comprehend that people can earn such high salaries.

My relative is a senior account manager, she earns 100k
Friends of mine are for example
IT Director £100k
Broker £350k
Headhunter £200k
IT account manager over £200k
Hedge Fund Manager huge, over a million.
Headteacher £120k

In the City graduate starting salaries are £50k

I have never earned more than £35k. I would not have been successful.in any of my friends jobs, I wouldn't have been capable of sticking at them because I wouldn't have been interested. However I will say yes I am jealous of their lifestyles and beautiful houses.

One never gets a mention is tech business development executive..

I know people making half a million to a million in this kind of role. I feel like people don't know much about that kind of work on MN.

Worth a career change if you ask me..

@Movinghouseatlast I'm so dumb sorry, you covered it with IT account manager. That's similar to the kind to role I'm talking about. Amazing money in this industry. High pressure, high risk but high reward.

I too wish I was rich. I naively thought that bring a SAHM with high earner and then PT as DCs got older would protect me. Now , STBXH has totally messed up financially and I am left with no real earning potential due to my age. I see my contemporaries now retiring with no mortgages, good pensions and enjoying life . Money would make all the difference to my lack of security and the anxiety it produces

I know exactly how you feel. It was never my priority when I chose my career, planned my life, when to have children etc, but now it just seems so much more important!

i think the fact that the country and the economy have gone the way they have - favouring the wealthy so much and screw the rest of us - probably hasn’t helped!

It's this for me too. Things have changed so much.

@Onegingerhead 😂Yes, we need a thread like this

I understand. I'm now in my fifties and have poor health and I'm tired of getting nowhere in life. I didn't expect my life to be like this, no money, no own home, but due to falling for pricks and having to leave abusive marriages, that's where I am now 😔 I know money isn't everything, but it would make life easier. It makes me mad that some people are just born into fortunate circumstances and live a completely different life, and especially that many of them seem to be running our country and haven't a clue what it's like for some of us. I'd happily pay a mortgage instead of throwing money away on rent, but can't get one and can't afford to save for a deposit anyway 🤷‍♀️

Well yes that's normal.

You don't need all that though. You've got what you need already. You say your daughter has a wonderful life.

Private school and horseriding lessons are just 'fluff'. They don't make you significantly happier.
We all still experience loss, heartbreak, achievement and excitement at all wealth levels. It's a little easier to feel the more positive emotions with more money I admit, but then that depends on how much you appreciate the little things. I get more satisfaction from a hot shower than wearing designer shoes, for example.

@humblemeep you know I really sympathise and agree with what you've written.
It does feel like life is a game of luck sometimes. Some people just fall into great lives, seem to be so much more successful with less effort.
It's annoying isn't it?

Yes, exactly. It's depressing, no matter what I do, I can't change my circumstances now.

Yeah because private school is all that would stand between them and a life of endless riches....🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Part of the issue is that when you start out as a grad you really don't need that much money. I also picked a career for the love of it not the money (and sadly I do love it, which is why I'm still doing it 20 years later). But the older you get the more you do need.
Yes, I wish I'd thought harder about earning potential. Too late for me now I'm in my forties and deeply established in my line of work.

@Mojoj it's really quite sad that someone would choose not to have children because they can't afford private school. And I mean genuinely sad.