Post by EvieEthelGarland on Nov 2, 2021 2:12:49 GMT -5
*buying wine from the wineries, not the grocery store
*Not staying at Motel 6. Taking my dad to an even in my college town and staying at the Best Western (the fanciest in town!) instead of Motel 6 was such a treat for him.
*Not worrying about the cost of vet care.
I still get uptight about buying soda at restaurants. I can justify a $15 cocktail but never a $3 Coke.
I want to have a comfortable life and generally not worry about money and I basically have that. I have everything I need and most of what I want.
I think the biggest thing is have my house mostly updated. I have the money for it but finding a contractor in my area is basically impossible right now.
I would like to help my nieces go to college but unless something changes dramatically in the next few years, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do as much as I would want.
I’m extremely fortunate that I don’t have to worry about taking care of my parents. I know people who support their parents in their later years and I don’t have to worry.
Buying tickets to any (at the very least, local) concert I want to go to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked myself out of concert tickets due to price, and then the day of the show rolls around and I’m supremely jealous of everyone who is going.
I have almost never regretted going, if that helps you make the decision! I forgot to mention this but it falls under the category of “everything I need and most of what I want.” I go to nearly every concert I want to go to. Sometimes multiple stops on the same tour.
I grew up quite poor and went to a private school on a scholarship so grew up with all sorts of ideas of what being 'rich' would mean. I figured it out a bit more as a young adult (who also struggled in my 20s) I'm at that point now of being the 'rich' I wanted to be as a young adult, which I appreciate. To me it was not having to worry about paying a bill because I had the money in the bank, having some savings, being able to give back to the community and owning a house outright. I can buy the things I truly value and want. I know I'm very, very fortunate to be in this position.
When I was a pre-teen/teen my idea of rich was a big screen TV, owning a designer purse (Dooney and Bourke was all the rage in 6th grade and I missed out), owning Guess jeans, and then as a teen an actual new car. My first new car was a Honda Civic and oh my gosh I thought that was just the most luxurious thing ever.
Now I have all of that and more (except the designer purse because now I don't care) but in the spirit of some fun I would love: *A personal chef. I can clean my house but I HATE cooking. *Unlimited travel budget. *A house with a resort style pool and a dedicated area for a bigger gym.
More realistically I would just love to travel more without worrying about it. We do take one big vacation a year and I'm grateful but I want more. I'd also like to buy fun clothes whenever I want. I probably could I just can't make myself do it.
And yes paying for DD's college is also a goal but in this thread I'm being selfish and only talking about me.
My son has defined a rich life for me. He loves to watch “Nature” on PBS. The intro always says, “This broadcast has be made possible with thanks to the ABC Foundation, the XYZ Family and viewers like you.”
DS begs me to donate enough money to get his name on PBS. So that’s it, when a tv show thanks me by name, I’m rich.
That said, I do like OP's example of paying for a friend for dinner and not thinking anything of it. I was reflecting on something like that recently, when I realized I was at a point where I am fine splitting checks 50/50 with friends regardless of what is ordered, instead of doing separate checks or counting up the exact total we each spent. A small thing, really, but there were days when that would have stressed me out so much because it would have blown my budget. I am so thankful to be past that point.
Ha, I had the same thought last week. I went out with a friend and she was drinking fancy cocktails to my beers and had a $$$ entree vs. my modest one and when it came to split the bill I didn't have to give it a second thought. Years ago I would have been stressing it the whole time and/or ordering more expensive things too just so I could "get my money's worth".
Add me to the list of people who thought that a fridge with a water/ice dispenser was "rich."
It also seems "rich" to me to be able to buy coffee out every day. I would love to do that. To be fair, I definitely could do that now, but it would mean that other financial goals and such would take a backseat, and I'm not willing to do that tradeoff.
Buying tickets to any (at the very least, local) concert I want to go to. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked myself out of concert tickets due to price, and then the day of the show rolls around and I’m supremely jealous of everyone who is going.
I do this ALL the time. You just gave me the push I needed to finally buy Elton John tickets.
Post by ProfessorArtNerd on Nov 2, 2021 8:01:43 GMT -5
I want to be able to buy new furniture from a nice store, not hand me downs. I’m trying to even figure out what I’d do if I could start from scratch. I hate my bedroom set, hate hate hate it, but it mostly works and it was my mom-moms.
I’d love to go on family vacations. My SIL took her kids to Disney world multiple times a year. That’s rich to me. (She also passes along her old furniture to us sigh).
Having horses seems rich to me. Nothing would make lucy happier anyway.
Post by basilosaurus on Nov 2, 2021 8:12:30 GMT -5
I swear someone is spying on me. We just had this conversation (the 3rd time in 3 days of crazy coincidence). For me it's flying first/business class. I've been able to upgrade with miles and little money. For a 14 hr flight was worth every penny. I'd love to do that regularly without thinking of it.
I've reached a point in my life where I can eat what I want when I want. So, I've made it imo. And to afford it I'm more than happy to stay in an 8 bunk hostel with shared bath.
Post by basilosaurus on Nov 2, 2021 8:20:14 GMT -5
I have to add one. It's something my parents have given me shit for at least 30 years. When asked what I wanted to be when I grow up my answer was rich enough to have a maid.
I don't think they anticipated my moving to se Asia where it is very affordable (and not exploitative)
More than one bathroom. In my 44 years I’ve never lived anywhere with more than one bathroom. Ever.
I’m still waiting on this too! Growing up I had six siblings and we had one bathroom. Now I have two kids and we have one bathroom, which is a step up. But I’m ready to have a second bathroom! Even a half bath. Yelling at one kid to get out because the other says he’s going to poop his pants is getting old …
My H and I were discussing this last night. And it reminded me that one of the very first times I felt "rich" was the first time I bought a brand new Coach purse. It was a small one, but even still it was $$$ especially for me as a 26 year, only 1 year out from graduating from law school. And, while I put it on a CC, I was able to immediately pay it off.
Growing up, JC Penny's was the fancy store, so buying that purse, on my own and not going into debt for it really stuck with me.
Some of you have mentioned the same experiences I had growing up. Going to Pizza Hut only for Book It and wondering what it was like to actually eat there. Seeing a wealthier friend dress all in Gap and thinking Gap is for rich people. One of my brother's doctors had 2 of the same exact new model Mercedes parked outside the office and thinking wow, she's definitely making bank. Friends buying Coach purses and thinking "that's rich."
These days I am grateful that I can buy necessities and extras for my kids and not have to worry that it was a frivolous purchase. Stuff like someone mentioned, tomorrow is Frozen day and I can go out and buy a Frozen shirt, no problem. As an adult, I've flown first class and stayed at very fancy hotels, but usually by working some point redemption scheme (so basically couponing for the UMC) and not by paying full price retail for the experience. I think rich for me now would be walking into LV to buy a $7K purse I was eyeing and not thinking this money is better saved for the children's futures rather than spent on me. Booking a staycation at the Four Seasons just because.
I've been thinking about this a bit lately as I've recently learned of some colleagues who are by comparison very rich (10 figure net worths) or take home high 6 figures for very cushy positions. I mean I always knew these people existed but recently it's been in right in my face. I'm glad that I am at peace with myself and don't feel jealous anymore like I would have when I was younger. But a part of me wonders how I could have gone wrong in my 30s to end up where I am. They're discussing appliances for elaborate outdoor kitchens or post the pics of their very high end designer house builds while I sit here wondering why my upstairs bathroom leaks downstairs into my work space. They talk about how to hire a nanny AND a personal assistant and I walk into Staples to buy a paper planner to keep my kid's daycare and public school events organized and my house and life maintained.
I guess our rich life goals are getting to a place where we get to enjoy things with no guilt. But that guilt is a HUGE issue right now.
I can relate to this a lot. I've just gotten to the place where I "allow" myself to buy name-brand cereal, so I'm making progress! Really, we can afford to spend a lot more than we do. And so often it's little luxuries that I don't go for because of guilt. (I even cut my own hair. )
Rich life for me: - ordering off a menu without looking at prices - hiring out for services (handyman, lawncare, cleaning, painting) instead of DIY everything - taking a car in for service and getting everything fixed, not just the worst problem. - buying anything that isn't on sale!
For some reason I have this burning desire to pick up the tab, we have, but in very controlled situations, lol
I think it would be nice when looking for a hotel to sort the list by "ranking" rather than by price
I definitely want to have a regular house cleaner
Also, more money in the bank, a cushion if you will
I don't think I'll ever be comfortable with somethings named here such as not looking at prices at a restaurant and fancy thousands of dollar purses. My current pace is to spend 40$ on a used Calvin Klein or Michael Kors. Maybe one day I could see buying a purse that is a few hundred dollars, not thousands
More than one bathroom. In my 44 years I’ve never lived anywhere with more than one bathroom. Ever.
I’m still waiting on this too! Growing up I had six siblings and we had one bathroom. Now I have two kids and we have one bathroom, which is a step up. But I’m ready to have a second bathroom! Even a half bath. Yelling at one kid to get out because the other says he’s going to poop his pants is getting old …
Lolololol! I grew up with 3 adults and 3 kids with a tiny bathroom that was added on as an afterthought (the house was built in 1900 as a beach cottage with an outhouse and was converted to a full time house over time).
The toilet was flush next to the tub (that was 3/4 size of normal) and the sink was at the end of the tub. I still hear my mom banging on the door and then busting in while I was in the shower “I GOTTA TAKE A DUMP”. My parents did the bathroom over when my nana died so now they have a nice larger bathroom with a walk in shower-but still only one bathroom.
There are only 3 of us but the idea of a second bath (even a half like you said) sounds so luxurious 🤣
Post by thebreakfastclub on Nov 2, 2021 8:53:30 GMT -5
One thing that makes me think "rich life" is when a coworker who has the same job title as me has a much nicer house than I do.
I work with a guy who just bought a 7700 sq ft house. I had to look at the listing, and the interior is just gorgeous and perfect. I still have some 90s elements in my house we are working to get rid of over time. Still, to have a 7700 sq ft house.
I know his wife does have a better job than my husband, but with that mortgage payment, huge property taxes, plus 3 young kids in full time daycare, they are spending a ton monthly. He's also going to the Caribbean in two weeks, lol.
Post by mysteriouswife on Nov 2, 2021 9:21:06 GMT -5
H and I grew up completely different. I was at the bottom of poverty and he was upper middle. His lifestyle boasted me to what I considered rich life early on.As we formed our own life and home we did struggle in the beginning, but his grandma filled in where we could not. That kept me in “rich life.” I never had that extra person growing up.
Things I find I want to be able to do is buy gifts for everyone I know. Gift giving is my love language. I want to be able to buy the perfect gift and not worry about cost. Having enough money to not worry about telling the kids no. There have been times sending $5 in to school have been a struggle. Outsourcing lawn care on a regular bases would be nice. Having someone come in once a month to do a deep clean on the bathrooms and floors. Monthly massages and mani/pedis would be amazing!!
I always joke I want to be X rich after our friend. This includes traveling on a whim without thinking about the cost, having a cleaning services twice a week, sending his laundry out weekly, having a person on standby to cook a few times a week, and working 6-8 months spurts on contract.
We've been lucky to get so many hand me downs for my children, and when I need to buy them clothing, I get a lot of it secondhand. So when I recently took my 11 YO to Marshalls to look for some Under Armour shirts, it was one of the first times I'd ever gone shopping with him (literally the third time ever I think.) We were there for shirts but he found an Under Armour winter jacket that he wanted, and it was $40, and I about cried when I told him sure, he could get it. I just felt SO lucky - being there with him, being able to afford to say "yes", etc.
- Pass out full size candy bars on Halloween - Get fast food AND order a milkshake with the meal, if we want - Send money with my kids for the book fair, school activities, field trips, etc - Fridge in the garage - Cable TV and the fancy extra channels - New clothes throughout the year, not just one time/a couple pieces for school - Quitting my job to SAH with my kids - vacations with hotels
As an adult, I feel super rich just not “worrying” about money - which has taken a good amount of money and also meds. I have a lot of money anxiety from childhood and without meds, I’d probably worry about money even if we had millions in the bank. My current favorite rich thing we have is Disneyland passes.
Post by mcppalmbeach on Nov 2, 2021 9:37:04 GMT -5
I am ML poor..
* send my 3 kids to whatever college they want and pay for private school * donate regularly, I’d love to just click on go fund me links for people I don’t know and send $100 or whatever * grocery shopping without thinking about sales * buy my kids random things they ask for at target just because and not wait for a holiday or sale or asking if they really need it * be able to replace / renovate things in our home or our cars without trying To “make do.” My four year old car’s had issues with the radio and blue tooth system for 5 months now. It will be $1k to fix so we’re not fixing it. I miss my gps, linking to my phone and being able to change the radio station * taking vacations where I don’t have to cook and we can eat out more meals. Even at a cheap place a family of 5 is $$ to feed. * taking the kids places without groupons or coupons, buying $ souvenirs and eating out on outings instead of having to pack up snacks, waters, etc.
“With sorrow—for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection—we dissent,”