Comments on: Do You Want to Be Rich?

By: Charles Cohn

Charles Cohn — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:31:07 +0000

There are some downsides to being rich that haven’t yet been mentioned. First of all, fancy toys like yachts, airplanes and big houses need to be administrated — you have to hire people to maintain them and captains and crews to run them. It’s just like what you have to do to run a company.

Secondly, the bigger your house it, the better organized you have to be, since bigger houses have so many more places to mislay things.

By: Darla

Darla — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:42:43 +0000

I live near Okoboji. You can imagine the price tag on some of the property here – yikes.

And they say we aren’t in a recession in NW Iowa. Isn’t that a hoot!

In this area of Iowa it’s really hard to not get caught up in wanting to be “rich” (unless of course you are married to the chief of police, then you’re a shoe-in for not being rich ;)

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:27:49 +0000

I’m with Michele (comment #20). As long as I have my family and we’re all healthy my next goal would be financial independence.

I think being rich would distract from my goal of enjoying my life and my family, while being financially independent would enhance that goal.

That said, it would be really cool to win the lottery, invest in some savings for the future and be able to do something wonderful for my extended family & friends!

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:55:11 +0000

To me being rich isn’t so much a number as a feeling. What is it you want out of life? What are you striving for? What makes you happy? Yes everyone has to have money or compensation of some sort to live. That is mute. But I read a book not to long ago, the book was on not so much the accumulation of money, but instead what the money was used for. I really liked that principle. It breaks down everything that you spend money on and makes you think about it. Everyone thinks they need “money” to live, and that is true in having to pay for the basics in life, but what about bartering? Its an age old system that worked for a long time, but most people don’t even think about it anymore. Just one of the tidbits that I found in this book. So…. Rich? No not monetarily, but rich in life, health, happiness? Yes indeed.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:25:23 +0000

Was the interview for 515 Magazine? My boyfriend (a Drake student) mentioned that he saw your site profiled there.

By: Battra92

Battra92 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:23:11 +0000

I just want to be able to have a place of my own and never have to worry about money. I know I’ll live in the fast lane but I would like to be able to buy a roll of Kodachrome without cringing at the $9 price tag.

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:38:18 +0000

Being “rich” isn’t just measured in money– it is also peace of mind and quality of life . . .

By: Lynne

Lynne — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:15:08 +0000

I have been rich most of my life! I have family I love, and who love me. I have a job I love. I own my home (ordinary home in an ordinary neighborhood). I had a husband whom I loved and who loved me equally, until he died last year. So, I am rich. Have I reached financial independence, no. Will I? Probably not, but I still have the things that are truly important in life. Would I change anything? Sure….We always dreamed of traveling, not having to worry about paying the bills, etc. I still would like those things, but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll still feel like I have had a full life. Truly, the old saying of the best things in life are free is still relevant today.

By: Moneymonk

Moneymonk — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:34:08 +0000

Being rich is having more than the other person

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:00:44 +0000

Today the word rich has a different meaning. Rich people in today’s world are struggling. I think most people would like to live financially stress free with the lifestyle they see fit. To me that would be considered rich.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:20:35 +0000

My husband calls it “independently poor”

By: Ellie

Ellie — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:24:44 +0000

Hy Trent,
Nothing to do with todays message.
When I open your messages (since hotmail changed their format) I cannot get the end of each typed line. I have tried to ask them how to widen the page but they are not helpful. After jumping thru hoops to get an answer, it didn’t work.
Was wondering if a lot of your loyal friends are having this trouble?
Thanks,
Ellie

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:47:03 +0000

My Grandpa called it “F*ck you money”… I think that about sums it up.

I don’t want to be REALLY rich. The amount of work, schmoozing, and “friends” you must have to achieve that kind of wealth is just not worth it to me. Some people love that game, I detest it.

By: micki

micki — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:27:23 +0000

Trent, I really like your page the best out of all the pages I subscribe to (and I subscribe to a lot). Consistently you write articles that really hit home. This one is no exception. Yep, I really want financial independence. I really wanted to own my own subsistence farm and grow all the food we would need. However, I am currently working on getting out of debt. I understand the principles of all of it, but it still feels like forever to get out. But I know that sooner or later, God willing, I will get there. Keep writing, Trent. It’s excellent.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:16:31 +0000

Trent that was a good article, I’ve always thought being rich was being “comfortable”. Comfortable with what I have, where I am in life, and comfortable in my own skin. If each of us could find that in ourselves we wouldn’t be a “wealthy” nation, we would be a “rich” nation.

Sandy E I really loved the quote by Thoreau.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:39:46 +0000

Excellent post- financial independence is the real goal and I am working toward it. I would love to be able to spend more time with my family and work less knowing we are comfortable in our current lifestyle. Perhaps a few more vacations and day trips to museums, sporting events, etc.

I really enjoy your posts – keep them coming!!

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:58:40 +0000

My first thought was exactly Trent’s – I just want to have financial independence and not have to worry about money. But then I thought – who am I kidding? I would love to have a nanny, cook, maid, and a personal trainer. Who wouldn’t? I would love to never have to fly coach again. I would love to have a larger house (not a mansion, but something bigger than 1,200 sq ft). But the reality is that I would only love to have those things if it were handed to me and I didn’t work the long hours and the stressful job to get it. And since I don’t play the lottery and would never win anyway, I content myself with less.

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:43:47 +0000

I’m with you. I want to not worry about money. I don’t want to have to continue working harder and longer to make more money, I want to be able to volunteer at my children’s school, make more visits to the women in my church, take regioual trips with my husband and children, support a missionary, those kinds of things. That would be “rich” to me.

By: Broke Wall Streeter

Broke Wall Streeter — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:36:19 +0000

I’d be happy with $1.3 million and working part-time. I’d still love to be filthy, dripping, nasty rich. I would donate to several charities and start my own “The Apprentice” contest. Of course, that would mean I have something to teach them.

By: Sushil

Sushil — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:41:54 +0000

Once we are able to distinguish between our “needs” and “wants”, much of the financial mess disappears magically!

I am from India, and firmly believe in the old adage…we should have enough for our stomach, as well as for any guest(s), who may turn up at our doors.

Anything more than that, is an unnecessary burden that one carries.

Blessed be….