I like the idea of a short and gloriously wealthy life, though I'd rather not die soon. But a long and fruitless life holds little charm, either. I don't really care about wealth for the sake of wealth, though I can't deny I like some of the things it can get you. I'd like to think I would choose the long and difficult life - but I probably wouldn't.
If you had to make a choice....
- Thread starter Jay
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Because it stops just as it's getting good? 40 is young! Shit, you're almost there yourself. Think of things you'd miss out on if you were dead in 4 years.
M
makare
I guess I don't know what your definition of scraping by is either. Having to work hard to make money doesn't mean your life sucks in my opinion.
With the 40 option probably wouldnt want to have kids you'd miss so much
With the 40 option probably wouldnt want to have kids you'd miss so much
Dude I'm only 30! I'd have a solid 10 years to get my affairs in order.
Shit, I could have sworn you were older than me.
Can I split the difference? 60 ain't all that bad, and then a little cash.
Young or old, you can't take that fortune with you.
I'd be happier to live on longer and be appreciative of what I do have, rather than what's next to buy.
Added at: 18:17
Also, by Jay's wording, "scraping by" doesn't mean destitude or homeless. It sounds like, while money might be tight, basic necessities would be met. Sometimes, that's good enough.
I'd be happier to live on longer and be appreciative of what I do have, rather than what's next to buy.
Added at: 18:17
Also, by Jay's wording, "scraping by" doesn't mean destitude or homeless. It sounds like, while money might be tight, basic necessities would be met. Sometimes, that's good enough.
GasBandit
Staff member
That kinda defeats the entire purpose of the excercise. The point here is to force you to choose between extremes.
"You can't take it with you" is only an argument against saving, not spending. It's an argument FOR spending. And to spend... you have to HAVE it.
The 80 option, as I see it, is having an additional 40 years to appreciate what you have - that which you have, of course, being ulcers, migraines, cancer, arthritis, pain, struggle, want, and financial near-ruin while you work every day just to barely keep body and soul together until the day you die, proving it was all futile in any case. The 40 option is half as long, but infinitely more enjoyable - and it doesn't have to be in a shallow manner, either. There is absolutely no worthwhile pursuit that can be made by a person that isn't accomplished a great deal easier with money.
Why would the money mean life would be infintely more enjoyable? As the adage goes, money doesn't buy happiness.
No, but Gas could buy a lot of whores with the proceeds, then die of AIDS art 40.
Because there's a pleasant way to die.
GasBandit
Staff member
Money doesn't buy happiness, but it pays for rent/mortgage, car payments, insurance, medical bills, higher education, leisure activity, capital expenses... it doesn't buy happiness, it pays for your expenses while you find happiness. Unless you think happiness will just find you while you work unseen in a grease pit for 10 hours a day, coming home too tired to cook or clean or do anything else, watching your kids flunk out of community college and having to choose between fixing the car or buying medication.
If you can't find happiness in a grease pit, you won't find it anywhere else.
I didn't realize a higher education or owning a car led to happiness. I've seen a lot of happy people who have neither. I've never owned a car. Does that make me unhappy by default?
Who's to say your kids would flunk out of community college just because you're scraping by? Depending on the kid, they might go on to have relatively successful lives, with or without you. That's a flawed argument right there, man.
I'll conscend to the medical expenses, though. Then again, I'm also Canadian, where a visit to the doctor doesn't cost you an arm and a leg (possibly literally), so I'm coming from a different manner of thinking, there.
Who's to say your kids would flunk out of community college just because you're scraping by? Depending on the kid, they might go on to have relatively successful lives, with or without you. That's a flawed argument right there, man.
I'll conscend to the medical expenses, though. Then again, I'm also Canadian, where a visit to the doctor doesn't cost you an arm and a leg (possibly literally), so I'm coming from a different manner of thinking, there.
Aren't there studies showing that happiness levels are basically the same once the needs for food, shelter and sanitation are met? You'd definitely have it easier, but not necessarily find yourself any happier.
Shannow
Staff member
Im not dumping on anything. I just think that the feeling of preservation of ones own life, on those last minutes of that last day, most would probably have given it up for just more time. That is all. To say the whole fulfillment and what not now is one thing, but it is a whole other thing at those last moments. Sorry, I thought my point was bvious there, but I guess it was not, and it just seemed like I was "dumping."
Also, Magic Man stole my wife. And my house.
Also, Magic Man stole my wife. And my house.
Hey, one more thing...
When you have the stereo on at the same time as the TV, how do you control the volume of the TV? I'm takin' care of your house good.
Shannow
Staff member
Why would you want to have the stereo and the TV on at the same time?
doomdragon6
Staff member
Let's assume for a moment that "scraping by" is minimum wage, which here, is $7.50/hour. If you work 40 hours a week every week for a year, which most people do, you're making $14,400 per year. Or, $1,200 a month.
That's what I live on right now. $1,200 per month. And I live well. I have a nice, comportable apartment, and this amount covers rent, water, electricity, internet, and MUCH MORE! I have enough money to do whatever or buy whatever I care to without "really" worrying about it. As a matter of fact, I've been too lazy to go grocery shopping this month and I've been eating almost nothing but fast food each day-- and I pay for my girlfriend every time. And I STILL have money at the end of the month. If I weren't that extravagant, I could probably pay car payments and insurance and all that, with just enough left over "just in case."
If scraping by is minimum wage, it would be doable to live like that your whole life. (In this magical realm where you somehow cannot progress to a better job. Again, I just cannot see not making my situation better.)
Chibibar's scraping by, however, sounds pretty bad.
That's what I live on right now. $1,200 per month. And I live well. I have a nice, comportable apartment, and this amount covers rent, water, electricity, internet, and MUCH MORE! I have enough money to do whatever or buy whatever I care to without "really" worrying about it. As a matter of fact, I've been too lazy to go grocery shopping this month and I've been eating almost nothing but fast food each day-- and I pay for my girlfriend every time. And I STILL have money at the end of the month. If I weren't that extravagant, I could probably pay car payments and insurance and all that, with just enough left over "just in case."
If scraping by is minimum wage, it would be doable to live like that your whole life. (In this magical realm where you somehow cannot progress to a better job. Again, I just cannot see not making my situation better.)
Chibibar's scraping by, however, sounds pretty bad.
Have a kid.
M
makare
I think frankie is just looking for love
Shannow
Staff member
Shannow
Staff member
I AM HANZ!
COME, SOLDIER! WE HOLD!
C
Chibibar
Heck, if that is scraping by then yea I will take 80 in a heartbeat
I think the base question is valid. It makes us think what is consider important.
I am NOT saying that people can't find happiness without money (it is possible and personal outlook) but if a person is so busy "scraping by" (I will put into quotes since we don't have a set definition) sometimes people overlook the good thing in life. In America (that I notice) people are so busy trying to be the next Joneses or whatever. People consume beyond their means just to "keep up"
My wife and I makes over 5k a month, but with mortgage, bills and such 3.5k goes out and the rest goes into grocery (too lazy to cook after 40 minute commute each way and work out) gas (which is around 400$ a month) and little savings.
Being financially free can lead to some happiness (one less stress for sure)
C
Chibibar
Agree. So far my wife and I promise each other never to argue about money (even when we are tight sometimes) so that is one less stress
I know couple of my friends are falling out due to money issue.
Yeah....I had problems with my girlfriend not too long ago over money...mostly because she wanted to help me save it, but in the Chinese way, which meant handing it over to her for safe keeping, something I wasn't entirely comfortable with. A wife, I can see that, but a girlfriend is different. To more traditionally minded Chinese girls however, that is a very small distinction. In the end I trusted her enough not to run off with it and reasoned that If I didn't trust her then I had no business being with her. Under her *ahem* plan, I should be able to save a good bit and I'm going to try to put it towards getting another degree in the future and truth be told i might be impulsive enough to spend it if I had the opportunity so maybe it's best I keep my mouth shut.
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