5 ms·

I've always said money doesn't buy happiness, but being poor will make you sad for free.

by MrLeap 8y ago

fastball 8y ago
"It's true that money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's much more comfortable crying in a Porsche than on a bicycle." - George Carlin "Money can't buy happiness, but it will certainly get you a better class of memories." - Ronald Reagan "Money can't buy happiness, but neither can poverty." - Leo Rosten "Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy you a jetski. Have you ever seen anyone sad on a jetski?" - The Internet
ModernMech 8y ago
That's a great saying, but I would hesitate to make it causal with the word "will". I know I've certainly felt miserable due to finances, but my grandmother who grew up during the depression and had nothing her entire life but her family, died at 90 with a smile on her face and no regrets. Meanwhile, I see a wealthy man like Anthony Bourdain end his life early. So for me, as someone without money, I can look at these two cases and consider: do I find happiness now without money, or do I do what it takes to get money, and hope it makes me happy, but knowing that it's not guaranteed to.
- felipemnoa 8y ago
  You can still be extremely happy while being poor. It just means that they are happy in spite of being poor. That does not mean that a poor person will choose to not become rich if given the chance.
  - ModernMech 8y ago
    > That does not mean that a poor person will choose to not become rich if given the chance. This is very true. I can't say I wouldn't, that's for sure! But at the same time, I've also seen how money can corrupt and change a person. Someone I once knew and loved became rich, and then became a different person entirely. I'm sad that person is gone, and I often times wonder if the same would happen to me, and how I could avoid it if I ever became rich.
- pdimitar 8y ago
  Your grandmother was very strong person and you should be very proud of her! Being able to not become bitter and angry in the face of poverty is a superpower. That being said, maybe she wasn't aware of the possibilities of money. Many people are just happier if they don't grasp the world as a whole. There's happiness to be found in not comparing to others -- that's for sure. Maybe if things turned out slightly differently she would be materially very ambitious. I am willing to bet that given extra education she might have wanted a bit more than she had.
- Regardsyjc 8y ago
  My grandmother and grandfather lived through Japanese colonization and the Korean War. My grandfather pulled all his teeth out (except 4) to escape fighting for the Japanese army. By today's American standards, they grew up in extreme poverty while by Korean standards for the time, they lived well middle class. My grandparents raised me and throughout my childhood, I was chided for using too much toilet paper, leaving the refrigerator open too long, etc. They were also hoarders like collecting tons of paper napkins, salt/ketchup packets, forks, etc. Even to this day, I can't throw out ketchup packets I'll never use. I loved helping my grandpa pick up plastic bottles and cans until my mother told me it was shameful and I became embarrassed. My grandpa cannot speak and write English well despite living in NYC for over 20 years. He didn't work much. However he was able to give $10k to each of his grandchildren. I don't know how he had the money considering how frugal he was and how poor he seemed! He picked weeds off the streets to turn them into Korean rice cakes or pickled them into Korean side dishes or made his own fruit wine. That's how frugal he is. However, when my grandmother passed away my grandfather shared his biggest regrets with me and they have stayed with me to this day. My grandfather is the most stoic man I know. I've known him for 20+ years and I have rarely seen him upset. His biggest regret was that he didn't take care of his wife better. He said he wished he could have bought a nice home for them to retire and die in instead of the senior apartment they rented. He also said he wished he could have seen his son again before he passed away in an auto accident- and that he missed his son every day. That not being able to support and see her son before he passed was my grandmother's biggest regret. It had been 30+ years. When my grandmother passed away, my multimillionaire uncle despaired that he had been a terrible son, and that he wished he could have spent more time with his mom. When my grandmother passed away, I had been building my own business and I wish I could have been a better granddaughter. Despite my uncle's millions and his kind heart, he seems a little alone and sad, with an adult son who never leaves his room, and he is still always working. I also know another multimillionaire who started as a pizza delivery boy. He has everything he could possibly want except adult children who have no motivations in life. I don't know if this helps at all but what I've taken away is that you need to cover your basic needs but don't sacrifice things that are important to you for money. My relatives sacrificed their health and their relationships. I hope to never repeat their mistakes. Money or greed has caused much sorrow in my life, in those of the people I love, whether friends and family. People need to chill and focus less on $ if they can. I feel like I've seen both sides and they can be equally dark.
chromaton 8y ago
"Money can't buy happiness, but it lets you choose your own kind of poverty." - Mickey Rooney
smitty1110 8y ago
"If money can't buy happiness, I guess I'll have to rent it!" - Weird Al, This is The Life
bostik 8y ago
"Poverty and love don't live under the same roof."

I've always said money doesn't buy happiness, but being poor will make you sad for free.

by MrLeap 8y ago

I've always said money doesn't buy happiness, but being poor will make you sad for free.

"It's true that money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's much more comfortable crying in a Porsche than on a bicycle." - George Carlin "Money can't buy happiness, but it will certainly get you a better class of memories." - Ronald Reagan "Money can't buy happiness, but neither can poverty." - Leo Rosten "Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy you a jetski. Have you ever seen anyone sad on a jetski?" - The Internet

ModernMech 8y ago

That's a great saying, but I would hesitate to make it causal with the word "will". I know I've certainly felt miserable due to finances, but my grandmother who grew up during the depression and had nothing her entire life but her family, died at 90 with a smile on her face and no regrets. Meanwhile, I see a wealthy man like Anthony Bourdain end his life early. So for me, as someone without money, I can look at these two cases and consider: do I find happiness now without money, or do I do what it takes to get money, and hope it makes me happy, but knowing that it's not guaranteed to.

felipemnoa 8y ago
You can still be extremely happy while being poor. It just means that they are happy in spite of being poor. That does not mean that a poor person will choose to not become rich if given the chance.
- ModernMech 8y ago
  > That does not mean that a poor person will choose to not become rich if given the chance. This is very true. I can't say I wouldn't, that's for sure! But at the same time, I've also seen how money can corrupt and change a person. Someone I once knew and loved became rich, and then became a different person entirely. I'm sad that person is gone, and I often times wonder if the same would happen to me, and how I could avoid it if I ever became rich.
pdimitar 8y ago
Your grandmother was very strong person and you should be very proud of her! Being able to not become bitter and angry in the face of poverty is a superpower. That being said, maybe she wasn't aware of the possibilities of money. Many people are just happier if they don't grasp the world as a whole. There's happiness to be found in not comparing to others -- that's for sure. Maybe if things turned out slightly differently she would be materially very ambitious. I am willing to bet that given extra education she might have wanted a bit more than she had.
Regardsyjc 8y ago
My grandmother and grandfather lived through Japanese colonization and the Korean War. My grandfather pulled all his teeth out (except 4) to escape fighting for the Japanese army. By today's American standards, they grew up in extreme poverty while by Korean standards for the time, they lived well middle class. My grandparents raised me and throughout my childhood, I was chided for using too much toilet paper, leaving the refrigerator open too long, etc. They were also hoarders like collecting tons of paper napkins, salt/ketchup packets, forks, etc. Even to this day, I can't throw out ketchup packets I'll never use. I loved helping my grandpa pick up plastic bottles and cans until my mother told me it was shameful and I became embarrassed. My grandpa cannot speak and write English well despite living in NYC for over 20 years. He didn't work much. However he was able to give $10k to each of his grandchildren. I don't know how he had the money considering how frugal he was and how poor he seemed! He picked weeds off the streets to turn them into Korean rice cakes or pickled them into Korean side dishes or made his own fruit wine. That's how frugal he is. However, when my grandmother passed away my grandfather shared his biggest regrets with me and they have stayed with me to this day. My grandfather is the most stoic man I know. I've known him for 20+ years and I have rarely seen him upset. His biggest regret was that he didn't take care of his wife better. He said he wished he could have bought a nice home for them to retire and die in instead of the senior apartment they rented. He also said he wished he could have seen his son again before he passed away in an auto accident- and that he missed his son every day. That not being able to support and see her son before he passed was my grandmother's biggest regret. It had been 30+ years. When my grandmother passed away, my multimillionaire uncle despaired that he had been a terrible son, and that he wished he could have spent more time with his mom. When my grandmother passed away, I had been building my own business and I wish I could have been a better granddaughter. Despite my uncle's millions and his kind heart, he seems a little alone and sad, with an adult son who never leaves his room, and he is still always working. I also know another multimillionaire who started as a pizza delivery boy. He has everything he could possibly want except adult children who have no motivations in life. I don't know if this helps at all but what I've taken away is that you need to cover your basic needs but don't sacrifice things that are important to you for money. My relatives sacrificed their health and their relationships. I hope to never repeat their mistakes. Money or greed has caused much sorrow in my life, in those of the people I love, whether friends and family. People need to chill and focus less on $ if they can. I feel like I've seen both sides and they can be equally dark.

chromaton 8y ago

"Money can't buy happiness, but it lets you choose your own kind of poverty." - Mickey Rooney

smitty1110 8y ago

"If money can't buy happiness, I guess I'll have to rent it!" - Weird Al, This is The Life

bostik 8y ago

"Poverty and love don't live under the same roof."