Quote:
Originally Posted by Manomanman  Every time I've ever played an MMO, I've grown very rich in the game. I can buy whatever I want, my character destroys everybody else's, I buy nice things for people I like. Life is good. When I'm poor in the game, I feel stifled, weak, and useless.
I've been poor IRL my entire life. I've never made more than $20,000 in one year, and I'm 26. I decided to go to graduate school rather than make money. I'm on the verge of starting up some online business, but the lure of the virtual world remains strong.
I want to know what it feels like to have a ton of money. By this, I mean you make over $40,000 per person in your household.
I need a new carrot to chase  |
Money doesn't feel like anything in particular.
The real difference for me is social status and expectations. It feels very different to live in a neighborhood of $1 million houses than an apartment, and outsiders to your social circle treat you very differently.
This can be good or bad. When I was climbing a corporate ladder, I made more money every year, but I could never keep up with the people who were a couple rungs higher than me. It seemed like there was an expectation to buy certain things - upgrade the car, upgrade the home, take a more brag-worthy vacation - just before I could afford them. So, I felt behind, harried, pressured.
Since I work for myself, I only need to maintain appearances to the extent they matter to those who hire me, instead of being immersed in a competition with co-workers. I find it's pretty easy to save money. That wasn't true when I made $20K a year. I found pressure at the $20K level, and some self-esteem struggles, because so many people had important things I didn't (like a car that ran reliably). But whether that pressure dissipates depends on who you hang out with.
It is important to accept that there are people who won't give you the time of day if they don't perceive you are at a certain level of material success. I try to focus projecting my success through reputation, not acquisition of symbols that impress other people.