Nope

I'm having just the opposite experience.
I had tons of money, and all the trimmings... maid, landscapers, pool, cars, beach house.... and I was miserable. With more money comes more (and bigger) bills, and more stress, and more debt.

Now, I have nothing, and I am the happiest I've ever been.
I don't owe nobody nothing! And I never will again.
No longer have to worry about maintaining my "lifestyle" or appearances or any of that shit.

I'd rather be miserable and rich than miserable and poor.

Yah.... I hear you on that one.

Welcome to change we can believe in.

Thank you Satan.

Ugh. Sorry, OP. been there. It sucks.

Actually the old axiom is true, money does NOT buy happiness.

That said, it certainly helps with the little things which don't seem so little when you are broke. Like mortgage/rent, utility bills, food, entertainment, travel/vehicles...

Not being able to pay for the basics or stressing out about paying for them adds another layer of unhappiness which money can indeed alleviate. As I have often said to friends, money may not buy happiness, but it sure helps with the little shit.

Well, go make some money then. Only one way to find out.

If love to try wealth, even if just for a year. I'm incredibly frugal anyway, so I'd probably still by used cars and clothes from the thrift store.

But I'd still love to try at being wealthy. Not have to worry about living month to month or unpaid bills.

I'm trying. Lots of little odds and ends jobs, basically poverty crap but it adds up in the end. Have to get out of the 50k hole before I can even think about anything.

The debt prison.

They say money can't buy happiness...? I call BS. If I had a few million, I'll 'show' you how happy i could be.

But you see, nothing changes when you have more money. You just spend more and buy more expensive shit. At the peak of things, I had a $7k monthly mortgage bill, $1500 mo electric bill, $500 mo landscaping bill, bills, bills, bills.... I was burning through enormous amounts of money. Trust me.... there is no happiness there.

You are spot on.

But there are very few material things I actually want. A used tent trailer, to get some landscaping and concrete work done, remove and replace the destroyed floor and counters in the kitchen.

I'd spend the rest traveling.

So it sounds to me that whether you are rich or poor, don't be in debt. Live within your means and you will be happy.

That's the key right there. Never be in debt... or at least not for long. Debt is a soul-killer. I found that if you are in debt, you are no longer living / working for yourself.. you are someone's slave. And that is what makes us miserable. I will never go into debt again, for that reason.

True, Op! but I dont think that having a spiritually oriented life is in any way a contradiction with being abundant (having money if you please) and enjoying a life with comfort.

I know its a cliche, a true one...abundance is our natural state of being.

I agree. That money you spend paying back the credit card is money you could have kept for yourself.

I had found that it's hard to balance the "desires".

This sums it up eloquently. Maybe some of these miserable rich folks would feel better if they gave me (us) some of it :)

The key to financial happiness is to find balance. Regardless of how much you have, it's how much you make in the coming year that should dictate your lifestyle. Financing an education, car or home puts you into assuming you will make x each year which is usually not the case.

Everything left over that you save should be for the retirement years... People, once the money is made, it's up to you to spend it.

Also I think everyone should own a corporation in a couple of states like Nevada or Delaware. Even if you just do eBay or a simple business, the wrote offs beat a mortgage any day of the week.

Having to much is just as bad as not enough. Stats show 75k per year is the magic number but the key is that it's 75k in perpetuity.

This means 75k per year for 30 years or about 2.5 million at retirement... That means saving part of your earnings and supplementing with a side job or business so that by the time you reach 60-70 you have 2.5 million saved up.... This number will get higher... Key is to never take debt, especially mortgage and student loan.

I am 35 with no debt and a net worth of 1.5 million with 1/3 in land ( my home) 1/3 cash and 1/3 investments...


I will reach my goal and I wa where many of you are when I was 28,... Go out and make a difference...

Report your income and pay taxes too... If you have a lot, people notice. A good lawyer, CPA and investment advisor are important.. You will go through one or two of each until you find the right fit.

Don't risk too much either. Little changes over a decade make a huge difference.

Don't make yourself a target either with fancy purchases.

The key is nonattachment. If you're poor you become attached to what you don't have and suffer, if you're rich you become attached to things you buy which ultimately do not fulfill and then you suffer. If you can remain free from attachment then you can have and enjoy material things without suffering. It's called having your cake and eating it to. Not many can pull it off though.

Money lets you be unhappy while surrounded in luxury.
Gives you choices about where you're going to be
unhappy.