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I don't know what a trust fund is, but my goal in life is to maximise leisure and minimise work. The more time I have to spend on my own activities, things that

I don't know what a trust fund is, but my goal in life is to maximise leisure and minimise work. The more time I have to spend on my own activities, things that make me happy, the better. (This even involves writing Scheme for fun.) If you have a job doing something you love, I am not about to look down on you for working extra hours. After all, you'd probably be doing it whether you were being paid or not. It doesn't feel like work at all. That is where I draw the distinction. If you are doing something that you normally would not be doing, something you don't enjoy, and taking pride in the fact that you are putting in these extra hours for free, working for someone else, increasing their wealth... the employer has you exactly where they want you. The perfect employee. Working for yourself, now that's an entirely different matter. Work as hard and as long as you want. You're only answering to you.

natnat 15y ago
A trust fund is a huge pile money that a wealthy person (a trustee) gives to some beneficiary under certain conditions. The money is dispersed gradually to the beneficiary (stereotypically a spoiled rich kid) so they don't spend it all at once, and to avoid estate taxes. Basically, it's something that allows you to maximise leisure and minimise work.
- prodigal_erik 15y ago
  (Nitpick: a trustee administers the fund, the money was supplied by a settlor or testator.)
- cipherpunk 15y ago
  People really don't want this?
  - zeemonkee 15y ago
    Lots of people may want it, for 99% of us it's not an option and we have to work for a living.
  - xiaoma 15y ago
    Lots of people want it, but those who have it aren't generally happy. In recent years there's been a lot of psychological research about people's happiness set points. In general, people adjust to an increased income very quickly, even if no work is required to earn it (e.g. lottery winners). On the other hand, many people do find fulfillment through work. In that sense, trust fund beneficiaries may have a tougher road to follow. Another thing that can defeat happiness set points is continual goal setting and achievement, once again something that the idle rich don't need to do.

natnat 15y ago

A trust fund is a huge pile money that a wealthy person (a trustee) gives to some beneficiary under certain conditions. The money is dispersed gradually to the beneficiary (stereotypically a spoiled rich kid) so they don't spend it all at once, and to avoid estate taxes. Basically, it's something that allows you to maximise leisure and minimise work.

prodigal_erik 15y ago
(Nitpick: a trustee administers the fund, the money was supplied by a settlor or testator.)
cipherpunk 15y ago
People really don't want this?
- zeemonkee 15y ago
  Lots of people may want it, for 99% of us it's not an option and we have to work for a living.
- xiaoma 15y ago
  Lots of people want it, but those who have it aren't generally happy. In recent years there's been a lot of psychological research about people's happiness set points. In general, people adjust to an increased income very quickly, even if no work is required to earn it (e.g. lottery winners). On the other hand, many people do find fulfillment through work. In that sense, trust fund beneficiaries may have a tougher road to follow. Another thing that can defeat happiness set points is continual goal setting and achievement, once again something that the idle rich don't need to do.