Poor and happy or rich and miserable?

[warpig1]

Which would you rather be?

[warpig1]

Good point pippa, definition of poor. I am thinking that you have to think about every penny you spend, ie, what will I have for dinner, what can I afford, how can I make that stretch, need to save up for something so put away a couple of pounds a week (and I mean a couple of pounds), no money for the bus so walk into work, that is my definition of poor and believe me I have been there. I do realise that there are many people much worse off than I have previously been but I guess it comes down to being relative to your peers.

[Octavius]

Its easy being poor, and an easy life means a happy life.

A friend of mine who has �10k a year told me wistfully the other day that he found it quite impossible to keep up with the rich. On his income he couldn't do it. A family that I know who have �50k a year have told me the same thing. They can't keep up with the rich. There is no use trying. A man that I respect very much who has an income of over �100k a year told me in all honesty that he finds it absolutely impossible to keep up with the rich. He says it is better to face the brutal fact of being poor. He says he can only give me a plain meal - it takes three men and two women to serve it - and he pleaded with me to put up with it.

I have not yet met Richard Branson. But I know that if I did he would tell me that he found it quite impossible to keep up with Alan Sugar. No doubt Sugar has the same feeling.

The rich undergo cruel trials and bitter tragedies of which the poor know nothing. The rich suffer perpetually from money troubles. The poor sit snugly at home while exchange rates or the FTSE falls ten points in a day. Do they care? No. An adverse balance of trade washes over the nation like a flood. Who will mop it up? The rich. The rich are troubled by money all the time. They have a lot to lose.

[warpig1]

Octavius, thank you, excellent example, the reason I was asking the question is that mr warpig is consumed with making money, and quite frankly I don't give a flying fart about money, as long as I have a roof over my head and food to eat and am happy that is all I want, but he thinks about it day and night (and is doing my head in). If I have money and a friend needed it, it would be theirs, can't take it with me, who wants to be the richest person in the graveyard?

[Pippa68]

Very well said, Octavius,

This is an impossible question really. Do I have a good income? yes. Do I have to count the pennies? yes. To a good few I am considered wealthy, but as I have pointed out on another thread in another section I am financially worse off than a family member who earns less..

I have a bigger mortgage (they bought their council house with huge discount) I have more children (they get free childcare).

However, I have a fantastic relationship with my husband. Their relationship is the crappiest around. Therefore I consider myself richer than they will ever be..and happier.

[Octavius]

Yes, my point was that the definition of "rich" depends largely on your social and professional circles, where you live, what really makes you happy and how much financial responsibility you have, it's most likely your own ideal level of wealth will differ from the next person. Believe me warpig it doesn�t matter how much money you get paid, given or earn, it is never �enough�. Ask Mr W how much exactly he desires, and then when he gets it, I will imagine he will want more.

Mr & Mrs Octavius are what one would deem �comfortable� but others would deem �loaded�. I have friends that envy us our large house and flash cars and our lifestyle. I have friends that are considerably better off and constantly moan about how they are struggling with this and that. My impression from the people I know is that yes, more money doesn�t make you happier and those people envy those who are less well off for their easy lives. But then it would seem knowing someone who has more money than you also makes you unhappy and jealous. It would appear that there is no happy medium but like Pippa I am confident that Mr & Mrs O have achieved it and we are content with that, and contentment means we are happy.

[warpig1]

Octavius, you are right, if I was to ask mrwarpig how much was enough, no matter what figure he gave me, once he achieved that it would still not be enough. being content and happy is what I want out of life, big house or no big house, it is irrelevant to me. Glad you and MrsO are content, because as you know money cant buy that.

[Mammar]

What's that quote from Dickens?
Income �1 expenditure 19/6d = happiness
Income �1 expenditure �1 + 6d = not happiness
Sorry for you metricised lot but I remember real money
Always hated Dickens though.
No choice at this house - poor and miserable

[Mammar]

What was that quote from Dickens?
Income �1 expenditure 19/6d = happiness
Income �1 expenditure �1. 6d = misery
or something like that
Apologies to you metricised lot but I remember real money
Always hated Dickens though

No choice at this house - poor and miserable

[Mammar]

Sorry folks, don't know what happened there - I'm blaming the computer

[Panic Button]

I'll say rich and mis, but once the cheque clears I'll cheer up

[warpig1]

Panic Button , money does not buy happiness, take if from me. Actually don't care, just hope everyone can find happiness, it is out there, money or not.

[-Z-]

I AM poor and miserable