I have observed that the wealthy feel sorry for themselves a great deal.

I don't mind the wealthy enjoying their wealth. Usually, when they do that other people people are making money off of them. (I'll assume legal behaviors on everybody's part.)

What I don't like are wealthy people basking in the spotlight pointing their crooked little finger of guilt at the rest of us when they tell us how we have to do more, sacrifice more, etc. etc. etc. or we a guilty of bad behaviors for causing fill-in-whatever-is-wrong-with-the-world. Like those who attend environmental conferences by arriving in their private plans, yatchs, massive luxury motorhomes, etc. Then stay at fancy hotels with lots of services and eat tons of fancy food. But you, sweet reader, are the real cause because once a week you drive your 2009 sub-compact to Joe's Tavern to have the senior special lunch with your friends.
 

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I know a guy who is a multi-millionaire. If you saw him walking down the street you would think he is some working stiff at the local big box warehouse store. His work is to help lower income seniors improve the financial aspects of their lives. He gave me the idea to help lower income people to safely earn more on their savings and investments. I get upset seeing a lower income senior, pinching pennies so they can eat the above senor special once a week, while they are earning 2.7% at the local bank in a 5% world.
 

Brookswood said:
I know a guy who is a multi-millionaire. If you saw him walking down the street you would think he is some working stiff at the local big box warehouse store. His work is to help lower income seniors improve the financial aspects of their lives. He gave me the idea to help lower income people to safely earn more on their savings and investments. I get upset seeing a lower income senior, pinching pennies so they can eat the above senor special once a week, while they are earning 2.7% at the local bank in a 5% world.
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Isn't interest income wonderful? But there are those who do not approve of unearned income. Do we know who they are?
 
Marie5656 said:
My brother is wealthy..through owning his own business and being good at what he did. He has helped me out a lot when needed.
BUT...much as I love my niece, Julie, she can act a bit entitled some times. She owns two homes, one up here one in Florida. Just got back from a trip to Italy (we are Italian, me half and she on both sides) BUT she will complain about "not having money for stuff". She was born into the wealth. Sigh. I wish I could just travel on a whim. To me, a big trip is the weekend one I am planning to Niagara Falls...about 60 miles from me
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yes but Marie , the way you should think of your trip is that people spend thousands to travel to see the Niagara falls from all around the world, and equally millions can't afford it.... you are fortunate to have one of the modern wonders of the world on your doorstep... so you are the one who is Rich... (y)
 
Brookswood said:
I know a guy who is a multi-millionaire. If you saw him walking down the street you would think he is some working stiff at the local big box warehouse store. His work is to help lower income seniors improve the financial aspects of their lives. He gave me the idea to help lower income people to safely earn more on their savings and investments. I get upset seeing a lower income senior, pinching pennies so they can eat the above senor special once a week, while they are earning 2.7% at the local bank in a 5% world.
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I know several Millionaires... You wouldn't believe any one of them had more than the average Joe...
 
Marie5656 said:
My brother is wealthy..through owning his own business and being good at what he did. He has helped me out a lot when needed.
BUT...much as I love my niece, Julie, she can act a bit entitled some times. She owns two homes, one up here one in Florida. Just got back from a trip to Italy (we are Italian, me half and she on both sides) BUT she will complain about "not having money for stuff". She was born into the wealth. Sigh. I wish I could just travel on a whim. To me, a big trip is the weekend one I am planning to Niagara Falls...about 60 miles from me
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Bless you. I hope you have a wonderful trip to the Falls.
 
VintageBetter said:
It's almost an established hobby with some of them, this chronic self-pity.

What do you think?
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Before anyone rolls their eyes and says "here he goes......." this is simply my reality.

I have had much in life. Today, much less so. I can say - with 100% certainty in my own case - that wealth does not bring happiness. Let alone when you enter the "more wealth" discussions. At some point you have to address the WHO, the WHY, and true happiness. Money/wealth is not part of that equation.

As for the wealthy - let's look at Elon Musk. He has what, 44bn? Can you imagine? If I had 44bn, you'd never see me. I'd buy a huge high rise and live on top at the 50th floor. I'd not let anyone else in. :D
 
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Mobilman44 said:
One thing to keep in mind.....
- There are a lot of folks whose "wealth" is only on the surface. Behind that expensive handbag could be a mountain of debt, or perhaps nothing of substance.

- I also know a few people whose net worth is 2-4 million. The guys wear jeans, drive nice but modest vehicles, eat at regular places, and take vacations to regular spots of interest. Here in Texas, this is not all that uncommon.

FYI, I know what I'm talking about. I spent 8 years as a loan officer for my Companies credit union here in the greater Houston area. Looking at literally hundreds of loan applications and accounts, I got a real insight into who "had it" and who did not. Believe me, more than a few times I was greatly surprised!
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Absolutely true. We live in a decent neighborhood outside of Dallas that is adjacent to multi-million dollar homes. All the folks that live in those houses are very outdoorsy and spend their time in casual clothes if not workout clothes. Many are women who go to the stores and restaurants in their cross-fit clothing. There are also very few fancy restaurants in the neighborhood. They are healthy, fast-casual restaurants.

Most people who came from wealth don't feel the need to flaunt it. It is not in vogue anymore.
 
HoneyNut said:
I think some rich people (like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett) are great philanthropists, but over on the early retirement forums there are so many rich people who avoid taxes, and I find that galling. I think Roth IRAs should be gotten rid of, they seem to be chiefly used as a way for rich people to avoid paying taxes and to get large healthcare subsidies.
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I have a Roth IRA and the money I contributed was taxed prior to the contributions. 🤷‍♂️
 
I've always loved this song


I'm wealthy enough to leave my house unlocked day and night. Anyone who wants to steal my stuff would probably turn their noses up in disgust and move on.

They leave me alone.

On a serious note, I'm well off enough to be able to help out family members and donate to worthy causes. I have a roof over my head and more than enough clothes and shoes to wear. I can afford to feed anyone who comes to visit me.

What more is there that is necessary for happiness?
 
VaughanJB said:
As for the wealthy - let's look at Elon Musk. He has what, 44bn? Can you imagine? If I had 44bn, you'd never see me. I'd buy a huge high rise and live on top at the 50th floor. I'd not let anyone else in. :D
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Only the 50th Floor, Vaughn? Surely you can go higher.
 
A week ago, if I were to have answered this post, I would have said I hadn't noticed but, then I read about the guy who owns 5 pie shops.

A TV news channel interviewed "everyday families" about how inflation has impacted their finances. One couple sat in their kitchen as they explained how inflation rates are biting into their takeaway budget. You can imagine the reaction of viewers as they took in the large kitchen with two seating areas, kitchen island, expensive fixtures and fittings and the Le Cruset cast iron Dutch oven sitting on the shiny 6 burner stove behind them as the husband explained that "you have a large pool of money which comes in every month and normally you would set a bit aside and that's what we'll have for holidays or takeaways, but a large part of that has gone".

Seriously, we have just had a winter where people were worried about turning on their heating and this guy was worried about the cost of takeaways and whether they would have to take less holidays :rolleyes:

Of course, this is just one couple and they do not represent all wealthy people so, all I can say is that, yes, at least one wealthy couple are, apparently, feeling very sorry for themselves :)
 
jujube said:
I was at a fancy wedding shower years ago and the subject turned to purses. One woman bewailed that her husband wouldn't let her buy the $3500 version of a certain brand; he felt the $2500 version was adequate.

OMG! The sympathy that was dispensed. How could he be so cheap???? Why couldn't he understand??? Men just don't understand purses!!!!

I sat there quietly with my $19 purse from Ross that I thought was quite nice. Also wearing a pair of shoes that I had probably spent $12 on at Ross, too. We didn't get into the $1000 shoe discussion, thank goodness.

Yes, I do believe the "wealthy" quite often lose track of reality.
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Those fancy purses and shoes - many of them go to the Goodwill after people die. I wonder if people think about that when they are laying out $500 to $3,500 for a handbag? I guess not.
 
Brookswood said:
I don't mind the wealthy enjoying their wealth. Usually, when they do that other people people are making money off of them. (I'll assume legal behaviors on everybody's part.)

What I don't like are wealthy people basking in the spotlight pointing their crooked little finger of guilt at the rest of us when they tell us how we have to do more, sacrifice more, etc. etc. etc. or we a guilty of bad behaviors for causing fill-in-whatever-is-wrong-with-the-world. Like those who attend environmental conferences by arriving in their private plans, yatchs, massive luxury motorhomes, etc. Then stay at fancy hotels with lots of services and eat tons of fancy food. But you, sweet reader, are the real cause because once a week you drive your 2009 sub-compact to Joe's Tavern to have the senior special lunch with your friends.
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I completely agree. For instance to the annual WEF conference in January in Davos, Switzerland hundreds of the very rich people come with their private jets, eat the most expensive food as Kobe beef from Japan, but tell us that we must avoid flying and eating meat but should eat insects instead. These people are highly contemptible.
 

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