To think that deep down, everyone wants to be rich?

[AdeptEagle]

People love to say that money isn’t everything, but let’s be real - who wouldn’t want financial freedom? Not necessarily yachts and private jets but just enough to never have to stress about bills or work in a job you hate.

Some people act like they wouldn’t want to be rich but I don’t buy it. AIBU to think that if given the chance, nearly everyone would choose wealth? Or do some people genuinely not care?

When my children were small I was absolutely broke and a single parent. Now I'm very well off, happily remarried, retired, mortgage free. Having experienced both options I can confirm that not having a single thing to worry about financially is the most wonderful thing in the entire world.

Financial freedom/security is very different to being rich.

I work with a lot of people who are private-yacht, multiple-home level rich, and they don’t seem noticeably happier or less stressed than people who just have the mortgage paid off and enough for a nice holiday each year. In fact they are rather more so in many cases.

YANBU. Obviously.

I genuinely couldn’t care less about designer clothes, flash cars, jewellery, boats, impressing people etc etc. Any of it.

BUT there is something that can be bought that I would very much like to have. My freedom. By which I mean freedom from having to work for a living. My time being my own, rather than something I have to sell to an employer is honestly the only thing money can buy that I really care about.

Rich enough that I can get my house fully fixed.
Rich enough to go on holiday every year.
Rich enough to buy decent food.
Rich enough that, if one day a 12 yr old kid tells me to 'get out the way' or to 'stop nagging me' or to 'get out my face' I can just smile, say 'fuck off you ill mannered little twat' and sashay out of work.

That's the dream.

Although to be honest, I'd rather lose the menopausal bloat than be rich at the minute. Living on salad and still looking pregnant gives me rage.

I voted YABU because I have chosen to work in a job where I get paid a whole lot less than I would get paid if I had stayed where I was previously. I'm not saying that I wouldn't enjoy the extra money if someone handed it to me on a plate, but it isn't my top priority iyswim.

That said, my financial situation is very comfortable in comparison to that of many people. My mortgage is paid off, I have savings and plenty of disposable income, so I don't have to worry about money generally.

I think money is hugely relevant to wellbeing when you don't have enough of it. However, beyond a certain point, where you have enough to meet all of your needs and at least some of your wants, I think it stops adding as much value and having more of it doesn't really make you any happier.

I'd love to have enough money that I didn't have to work, but quite happy living in a modest house - doesn't have to be a mansion.

I think you've conflated comfortable with rich. If we can cover our bills, and do the things we enjoy then we're happy.

If I could have millions with absolutely no increase of work required then sure, I.e. winning the lottery then I'd accept but in terms of actively wanting to be wealthy to the point of pursuing it? No.

I work in a job I love. It so happens that it affords a lifestyle I like. I have fun. I love my life.

My understanding of that meme, as someone who has experienced a serious health problem, is that money, possessions, status etc are all irrelevant when you are seriously ill.

To give an example of what I mean : If Elon Musk was diagnosed with an aggressive, malignant brain tumour tomorrow, all his billions would mean nothing if it was untreatable. And he would willingly swap places with a penniless person who was in good health.

I wouldn't want to be rich...it would change friendships, relationships etc. I suspect the trust would also be an issue etc.

I would be much happier being financially comfortable.

I would like to have perfect house (not massive but just my ideal 3 bed, purposedly designed to my taste, in best area) debt free and enough to cover everything else comfortably.

I don't want to be rich. I would love to win enough money to buy myself a modest flat, with a small amount left over, and that's it. I have no desire whatsoever for the trappings of wealth. I have fairly simple tastes and am content with a simple life.

Depends

If me being richer means working 24/7, then no. Or at the detriment of others, no

Etc

I was talking about this with my OH the other day and we realised that there isn't a single problem we have that couldn't at the very least eased if not completely fixed with money. I know the old thing of I'd just have new problems or money doesn't solve everything but would be more than happy to give it a go 😁

Why "deep down" ? There's no need to dig further than surface deep, I and everyone I know would love to be rich.

Why is it assumed everyone thinks the same thing all the time, in this case it is 'everyone' then we have 'all women' or 'all men' other times

why do people need to think people all think the same?, I would say people are trying to justify something in themselves or there is a lack of intelligence in their somewhere

I want to be comfortable, no more. Having oodles of wealth would just attract misery.

It depends what you mean by 'rich' of course!

By the standards of most of the world's population I am already rich.

I would love to have about £250,000, to pay off the mortgage, have 6 months of living costs saved, and put a chunk into my pension.

I would love to be able to choose a job for its interest and enjoyment, not because of the pay, but wouldn't want to stop work altogether.

I wouldn't want to be distanced from friends because we were suddenly in a completely different world financially.

I would love to afford a cleaner once a week and not worry about house maintenance. I would love to have overseas holidays and do more 'fun' stuff.

But I don't want to lose touch with the pleasure of taking the dog for a walk in our local park and enjoying the combination of sunshine and frost, and seeing the days get longer again after a winter of cloud and dark mornings. And chatting with all the other regulars who have taken their dogs out everyday through the gloom of winter. I don't want expensive fun to push out the happiness I find in the everyday.

I am so sorry for your loss @RosesAndHellebores

100% agree I am sat here wanting to weep at the thought of the next three days at work (14 hr days, worn down NHS Nurse) - I have no desire for lots of material things but the freedom & choices money would bring would be a massive relief.

I’d like a 10 million pound lottery win but I wouldn’t want to have billions as I don’t need it, it would remove the need for my child to find something useful with their life and I’d feel guilty and would have to spend my life giving it away when I’ve got other things I want to do.

I do daydream about the 10 million though, how I’d parcel bits up to give away to family and friends to make their lives better. And I’d live by the coast, with a pool, and my husband could retire. Good times.

Being rich would be strange but I would be a much more Bill Gates than Elon Musk type of rich. I would find ways to redistubr my wealth to support the poorest people in the world.

This is exactly it. I couldn't agree more.

People love to say that money isn’t everything, but let’s be real - who wouldn’t want financial freedom?

People often say money can't buy you happiness and you could eg be very rich but lonely, but I think most people accept that being rich would be much better than not!

I was going to say no but realise I buy lottery tickets 🤣 … still, while I’d like to have financial freedom or more than I do now, I do wonder what it would be like for my kids to have a lot of money - probably not that good for them.
I grew up poor and am now a high earner so feel like we keep things in perspective when it comes to money having had very little and now having enough, though the idea of retiring right now would be lovely.!

If I won THAT amount I do genuinely believe that I would start up a Foundation and give 60/80% away… no one needs that amount of money.