Lenten thanks: Day 16 (I expect)
Thank God for real wealth.
I much enjoyed reading a recent post on Intelligent Speculator, whose proprietor asks readers what they consider to be “rich.” It’s a great question, and it elicits an amazing range of answers in the comments section.
IS remarks, interestingly, “I will consider myself as rich when my monthly passive income will be enough to pay for my expenses.” That’s a pretty good answer, IMHO. But it poses another question: what d’you mean by “expenses”? How much do you figure it will cost for you to support yourself in the manner to which you intend to become accustomed?
Experience suggests that if you appreciate what true wealth is, it doesn’t take anywhere near as many dollars to cover reasonable expenses as many of us think. This year, assuming all my classes make, I will be living on about 70 percent of the relatively modest amount I earned at the Great Desert University. I expect to be very comfortable. If I didn’t have to chip in on the evil mortgage, I could make do just as comfortably on about 57 percent of former earnings. And believe me, my salary did not come anywhere near what most of you would think of as “good” pay.
So what’s true wealth? Probably varies by the person. In my universe, true wealth is having the basic amenities that make you comfortable—a paid-off roof over your head, food on your table, a way to get around your town or city—and then the things that make you happy: good friends, family members who don’t make you crazy, decent health, a capacity to care about others, moments of fun, and an appreciation for the beauty around you.
You don’t really need anything more. Whatever you accrue beyond that, especially in currency, is superfluous. It’s not wealth. It’s junk. You could give it away or throw it away and not change your well-being.
Here are some examples of real wealth…
Family, Fun
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Good Friends
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A life in fellowship
Crafty furbelows
Good food
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An amazing world
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Ahhhhhh. Nice. I recognize SDXB, I think. Is that your son? Food looks good. And, of course, Cassie is very photogenic.
We are retired on hubby’s s.s. , his modest pension and my embarassingly small s.s. We have never had so much money in our lives. We travel, frugally when we can, but are doing a very expensive trip this year. Our house is paid off and we adore our grandchildren.
I feel truly wealthy.
Amen to this! I especially liked the part about ‘family members who don’t make you crazy’! Sometimes those seem hard more and more hard to come by.
Thanks for making me smile today!
@ Holly: Ain’t that the truth. Those of us who are lucky enough to have sane family members are truly blessed!
@ E. Murphy: As long as there’s food on the table and you’re well enough to enjoy it, life is good, eh?
@ frugalscholar: She’s the cutest little furball I’ve ever seen. And she has a personality to match. Can’t imagine why anyone would leave such an amazing critter at the dog pound.
that amazing critter was at the dog pound just waiting for you – that’s why!
One animal lover to another
awwwwww – at the Cassie face at the end.
And your house is beautiful. I love the shot of your friends in the living room, kitchen.
I feel rich when I’m not worrying about money. If the grown up son and my little sister find jobs/start businesses that will let them pay all bills and get decent health/dental insurance, I’ll feel rich. I’m good for myself, but I worry about my family.
It makes me crazy that they don’t worry about money the way I do. It’s like they are dancing on the edge of a cliff “Taxes, well, yes, I own the IRS, but money will come along. Oh, I know I’ll cash in the last of my retirement to pay off Uncle Sam/” ::headdesk::