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skitch
climber
East of Heaven
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 31, 2014 - 02:27pm PT
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When I was in college I thought that if I made $40k a year I would be set. . .now I'm making a bit more than that and my wife has a good job. never seems like there's enough. Since chasing that green rainbow is obviously rediculous, how much money could you live on and be happy? Does that include having a spouse?
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Jul 31, 2014 - 02:42pm PT
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Having $10 million liquid is enough to feel secure.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 02:45pm PT
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It's a constant battle, she's never satisfied. I mean about money.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 02:50pm PT
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In the words of John D. Rockefeller, "A few dollars more."
That does not describe me, though. I've found that contentment is all I need. "Happiness" is too fleeting. Seven years ago, I found myself involuntarily without my wife and daughters, climbing, my piano, the internet, bridge players or freedom. I also found myself content.
This caused me to conclude that contentment, like love, need not be merely an emotion. It can -- and really needs to be -- a volitional act.
John
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Jul 31, 2014 - 03:09pm PT
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Who's working for who?
100k should about cover it.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 03:38pm PT
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The important thing is figuring out what you really need. Then you will have the answer. Otherwise there is always something else...
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jul 31, 2014 - 03:42pm PT
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A good hint regarding the money-happiness formula can be found by looking at the history of lottery winners. For the most part the big winners lives fell apart. Sure, it is human nature to think that a million bucks would make you happy, but the truth is, happiness comes from within. I found freedom by learning to not crave material things, I decided a longtime ago that new cars put you in a sort of prison. I would rather be spending my money on road trip gas, rather than a car payment.
Sure, it takes money to live and a bit of cash can grease the wheels of true freedom. But it is a balancing act. The temptation to go for the big bucks will cost you the freedom of doing what you want. Sometimes I envy the homeless guys down by the river, they wake up without a care in the world, all there stuff in a pack. Okay, the reeking of urine I could do without
But somewhere between the guy down by the river and the workaholic who is going to die in his cubicle is your personal freedom. Seek it out!
Enough the inner spiritual stuff, here is some of the best financial planning advice I ever heard, from Andrew Tobias, he noted that a dollar saved is more than a dollar earned. It takes earning two dollars to save one dollar after considering taxes and overhead. So every dollar you do not spend represents two dollars you do not have to earn.
That clip from The Jerk is golden, it speaks volumes!
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rick d
climber
ol pueblo, az
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Jul 31, 2014 - 04:15pm PT
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please show me the measured statistics of lottery winners and unhappy lives.
Those (hundred) that are smart, disappear.
The three dumbasses are in the news daily.
$100k plus some in the bank for a rainy day.
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Handjam Belay
Gym climber
expat from the truth
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Jul 31, 2014 - 04:15pm PT
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I remember seeing a study that said income and life happiness were proportionally linked up until 60k annual income. Then happiness did not track with increased income.
I'm unsure if this is single income or mixed household.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 04:28pm PT
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I like free time more than money, so I want the amount of money that will enable me to have the most free time.
Not like the homeless, I think their time isn't very free since they're having to figure out how to get by or how to get medical attention or how to get their next fix.
I teach high school and feel like I'm sitting right on top of the curve. But like others have said, circumstances don't really control happiness.
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 04:31pm PT
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What happens when you can't blame money for your woes?
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 04:31pm PT
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contentment, like love, need not be merely an emotion. It can -- and really needs to be -- a volitional act.
Beautiful expression John.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 04:39pm PT
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The richest guy I know might be the most miserable. He's had to drop the
price on his 'house' by $10 million and after a year there are still no bites.
How bad does that suck?
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Jingy
climber
Somewhere out there
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Jul 31, 2014 - 04:58pm PT
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good question... like how much would be enough for you live comfortably... or at least living and not having to constantly battle life (like, say for instance, how I imagine the lower/lower class in America lives)...
My question is: What if you had a certain amount of money with no prospect of obtaining more with which to extend the "life"* that you have. How much would it take would not really matter, would it?
* - life is being used in the ultra-basic here... food, shelter, clothing, warmth are really all that is needed in life... all the rest being extra added bonus for ones lucky/focused enough to have obtained the luck in the first place...
@Reilly The richest guy I know might be the most miserable. He's had to drop the
price on his 'house' by $10 million and after a year there are still no bites.
How bad does that suck?
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Jul 31, 2014 - 05:01pm PT
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Now you boys are flirting with Maslow's Seven Needs.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Jul 31, 2014 - 05:24pm PT
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$36k/yr.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 05:55pm PT
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Some of the most content and joyful people I've met have been on mission trips to some of the poorest places on earth. Kinda gave perspective to this question and I wish everyone had that opportunity.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Jul 31, 2014 - 06:41pm PT
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I don't equate money with happiness these days. Maybe that's because I'm no longer struggling to make ends meet but, I am content and that has no price.
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Jul 31, 2014 - 07:48pm PT
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I'd trade all the money in the world to have good health and vitality for the rest of my days. It is our banking on the potential risk that creates the desire to accumulate. How much do you need? It's anyone's guess.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jul 31, 2014 - 08:01pm PT
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Okay, I tried to educate myself on Maslow, but trying to understand even the wikipedia explanation was making my life more miserable. The cool chart reminded me of the Fish Products t-shirt, which is much easier to understand.
http://www.fishproducts.com/catalog/tshirts.html
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Jul 31, 2014 - 11:41pm PT
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please show me the measured statistics of lottery winners and unhappy lives. I have no statistics, but I do have a personal anecdote. About 12 years ago, give or take a year, I represented the Creditors' Committee in a Chapter 11 case filed by a California Lotto jackpot winner. He was a farmer, and bought more land just before the farm price crash in the early part of this century.
The Lotto winnings paid the unsecured creditors in full, and enough left over for him to do OK. I haven't read or seen anything about him since, so I hope he's made it back to some sort of personal equilibrium.
John
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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money money the more the better!
im saving for a house in malibu!
i wanna feel and be one with rich malibuites...
i wanna buy a yaht and park it right at surfrider beach..
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Bad Climber
climber
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This is a really interesting and important question. The answer is a moving target depending on whom you ask. I suppose the bare minimum is enough money so you're not stressing much over the basics--food, shelter, health care, etc. I personally feel like I won the employment lottery as a community college instructor. I've been at the game for decades now, and, when I don't want to kill my students or the system or myself, I find my job quite rewarding. I love the challenges of cracking open young minds and the joy of meeting new, interesting people. Besides that, I make about $80K a year as a tenured prof. + health benefits. And I get butt loads of time off. A damn sweet deal.
I've asked some colleagues about how little pay they would accept to do this job--teaching at a C.C. Theoretically, this low number should be the amount offered for a tax payer funded position. I certainly can't see myself doing it for $30K given all the schooling required. I think, back in the mid-90's when I started my current full time position, I began at about $36K, so obviously that was high enough. But if the salary never increased? That's tougher. For sure I'd do it for $45K, but a lot depends on what my options would be.
The short answer for the OP question is: It depends....mostly on where you live/want to live and the cost of living there. And your tolerance for living under highway overpasses and such.
BAd
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skitch
climber
East of Heaven
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 1, 2014 - 08:44am PT
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I keep thinking that I can live simpler and cheaper, but then I see the next retardedly expensive thing I want and. . .it still doesn't make me happier or more content.
Just bought this stupid thing:
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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I just bought some new underwear. I'm a happy camper.
And, no, they aren't Depends. ™
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pc
climber
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$100 for buy in at the local poker game.
Drinks, fame and fortune will follow...Does anyone have a hoodie I can borrow?
pc
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Roots
Mountain climber
Tustin, CA
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I could be happy with nothing ($0)....but I live in OC and if I'm getting paid then I spend it. Depends on the situation really....
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
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I saw a bumper sticker the other day - "The best things in life are not things" Pretty amazing considering I saw it in downtown Santa Moneyca.
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