My wife and I live a comfortable life, we don't have any money problems because we live in our means and splurge only on special occassions.
We are in our mid 20's and will have our house and cars paid off in less than a year due to hard work and MANY extra payments.
We would like a bigger house, a newer car, etc. but we know we we need to be happy with what we have instead. So we save our money for a future child and prepaid vacations that will give us memories.
Its really hard to be happy with what you have, and it seems like many people think buying a bunch of stuff will make them happier.
My friends had a nice house, but had to sell it to buy a bigger one that costs twice as much. They are still not happy with their house and now they are in major debt with all their equity loans.
Why do so many people have so much stuff, like cars, expensive houses, gadgets, clothes, etc. when it doesn't make them feel better about their lives?
Why are we like this?
2006-09-20 10:25:25 · 8 answers · asked by HappyHippo 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
I don't think people understand what I am asking. I am asking this:
Why do people buy things that they DON'T need thinking it will improve their lives and make them happy?
Like fancy cars, the latest gadgets, expensive clothes, etc.?
Money is important, I need money to have a roof over my head and food in my mouth, but is it not important enough to make me happy by supplying me with a ridiculous amount of crap in my house.
2006-09-20 11:18:28 · update #1
Buy a copy of VeggieTales "Madame Blueberry" and find out.
2006-09-20 10:27:58 · answer #1 · answered by Radiosonde 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many don't, many think buying stuff will allow them to survive another day.
Most of the people I think of when I read the first lines of your post don't have two cars, they may have a shopping cart but no cars. And they don't have a house, a cardboard box maybe, but no house.
Now a question for you. Why do the affluent, frequently, think money doesn't matter? Of course you know it does but the very tone of your question seems to say otherwise. Even the necessities like food cost something.
You and your wife are fortunate. Through luck or management you are doing well. My wife and I were also. Then I was diagnosed with a condition that no employer wants to touch. We went from over 100K a year to under 40K a year in a matter of minutes. At this point I am too damaged to work and too young to retire. We are surviving but it isn't easy. Much of our retirement savings are gone and if something doesn't happen soon we may have to sell the house.
I don't wish anyone ill, and certainly not you, but you should know, it can happen to anyone at anytime. The stuff I want to buy to be happy is food, house payments, insurance, not jet skis, boats, and new cars. Actually a new roof on the house would be wonderful.
2006-09-20 18:10:04 · answer #2 · answered by gimpalomg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its society. One thing is that t.v. and other media spews out the false notion that if you buy this car, or boat or toy or whatever, it will bring you joy. After getting this magic pill, and finding that it doesn't work they then see someone with a new BMW and think, if I can obtain that, I too will be happy ,(not realizing that the people they are looking at are in the same dilemma)We are bombarded by this. People need to start looking inward for the happiness they are seeking instead of trying to obtain it from something on the outside. I have found the secret of being free from this dilemma, it is to start being thank full. Look at all that you already have and give thanks. Write down on paper all of your blessings and focus on what you have and not on what you don't. I also have found it to be easier to focus on the blessings when you start to think about all of the people around you and the hardships that they have. One of the things I think about is, the North Koreans. Do you have any idea what they would do, to be able to just walk down the fruits and veggie isle in STOP AND SHOP and be able to pick out just one item.
2006-09-20 17:46:23 · answer #3 · answered by nyker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you are very sensible. Many people think they will be happy by constantly buying new things. The fact is you can be happy with what you have if you want to be. When you grow your personal wealth and balance your life with well planned prepaid vacations and buying what you need with an occasional indulgence you will be much happier than people that think buying things will make them happy. Unless those people are rich all their buying will just put them in debt and that certainly that wont make them happy.
2006-09-20 17:36:36 · answer #4 · answered by Angelo F 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you see the reason why you see that is because you are a wise [miture person, enough isnt enough for some people mate and when they see the money rolling in they want more and more, its a never ending viciose circle that at the end of the day, if only people were wise like you the world would be a wiser place
2006-09-20 17:32:38 · answer #5 · answered by sweetlikehoney_73 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes people may secretly be trying to fill a void in their life or live above their means due to low self-esteem or it could be that they are just flat out frivalous and dont consider consiquense to action in the end.
2006-09-20 17:32:02 · answer #6 · answered by max 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really don't understand why you're posting a question here!
You should be posting ADVICE!
PLEASE tell me (36 years old!) how a couple your age managed to put yourselves into such a pretty financial picture?!
2006-09-20 17:36:03 · answer #7 · answered by Danny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He who dies with the most toys, wins.
2006-09-20 17:28:43 · answer #8 · answered by Brite Tiger 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋