Quote:
Originally Posted by nique  I can definitely see the benefit of having a lot more money than you strictly need. Being able to use it to make the world a better place is a good thing.
What I have a hard time envisioning is spending my money on what I see as extravagances. I just can't envision myself in a situation where having a tennis court in my backyard or a full 20 car garage is OK and normal. And when I hear about and see "rich people" that's what I see: extravagances. Yes you're spending a lot of money on other people, but you're spending a boatload on yourself too. Way more than you need. Is that actually OK? |
Nique, I felt exactly the same way for many years - in fact there are still some small things that continue to cause me guilt from time to time. Even a bowl of grapes has been known to occasionally make me feel guilty!
At the moment my partner and I qualify as "rich" by most senses of the word, and this is a real blessing. Here's how I have been beginning to see the situation... (I think I have three main points)
The main luxury in life is to be able to spend your time the way you want to. Whether that be in humanitarian pursuits, art, music, career, love, or just plain extravagances, being able to call your own shots in life is the most priceless thing and it's one good reason to value wealth. Of course we can always call our own shots in life, with or without money, but money can make it easier and a bit more comfortable. My partner and I have many ideas to generate more $$ and its very likely we will do so in the near future. But we don't plan on using it to buy 20 cars or anything like that. Mainly we just want further control over our time, the ability to pursue our passions, and to take care of the children we hope to have in the best way we know how!
A second point. If you make money with integrity, you have to do it by creating value with others (sharing). That is something Steve Pavlina stresses, and it's a totally true concept. Having $3,000,000 generally means you did something that others valued, and that they probably valued it enough to contribute to your personal fortune (though of course they probably weren't consciously ruminating over that fact). In other words, the very act of making a lot of money - ideally - makes the world a better place for the people who chose to trade the money with you for your products or services.
A final point (i think!). Every dollar we spend - ideally - helps to keep money flowing throughout our society. Ideally, even if we choose to buy 20 cars, we're supporting the employment of those involved in the creation and selling of the cars. As they generate profits or wages, they too will be able to use that money to meet their needs and desires and this will create a trickle down effect. The idea here is that spending/investing money consciously (even if its for purely luxurious reasons) is probably better than hoarding money (and probably better than choosing not to make much money at all).
I thought I'd share these ideas, even though I don't know whether or not it will help. I know how these sorts of problems feel, and they're not easily "rationalized away". But one thing I'd encourage you to do is to think about how you'd live your life if you had, say, $2,000,000. Don't just think about where you'd work -- think about what things you'd pursue, how you'd feel, how you'd contribute, what hobbies you'd take up, what places you'd see. And then see if it feels so bad?
And of course, if you continue to feel guilty - then that's your right too! There's a place for all of us, and we don't all have to have the same goals, thoughts, and feelings!