Winning $20 M Won't Make You Happy

[luisHK]

. Surely 20M can’t suffice for survival and fun... maybe it can. I don’t know. Weird to think about, but necessary.

As someone mentioned before posters here are likely to make money out of their money, you must not think of a starting amount than deduct your expenses from it for years, but rather of a capital which you can invest in more or less volatile ways, than expect returns from those investments. Than you can try and estimate your mid to long term returns, inflation, and see if that's sufficient.
That being sufficient doesn't mean it isn't worth looking to expand one's wealth btw, and return estimations are far from an exact science afaik.
Pretty obvious what I said above but considering your post and being only early 20s, thought I'd type it anyway.

 

[Sinbin]

As someone mentioned before posters here are likely to make money out of their money, you must not think of a starting amount than deduct your expenses from it for years, but rather of a capital which you can invest in more or less volatile ways, than expect returns from those investments. Than you can try and estimate your mid to long term returns, inflation, and see if that's sufficient.
That being sufficient doesn't mean it isn't worth looking to expand one's wealth btw, and return estimations are far from an exact science afaik.
Pretty obvious what I said above but considering your post and being only early 20s, thought I'd type it anyway.

I get that. My assertions wasn’t necessarily is 20M enough to live on for the rest of my life. My problem in my previous post was the lack of explaining- you can’t read my mind. However, passive income would be the way to go when the proverbial “pursuit” is done. At the same time, though, you’re still pursing. If I’m at the cross-roads where I am happy with my financial stability and my place in life, my active risk in the markets should effectively be ~0. This doesn’t mean 0 mediums for passive income. Capital would be invested to offset inflation and extraneous events in my personal life benchmarked to the 20M... as if the 20M is the break-even. Anything below 20M caused by not being spent on the “purpose” is red or a sunk cost.

Overall, this is a very hard question to answer- “Winning 20M Wont Make You Happy”. I believe I would be much happier because it gives me freedom and what I want, but at the same time is my mental capacity for this quick influx of cash mature enough to handle it? Only after having it, is when you can answer the question. Anything prior is speculation.

It’s just a weird round about explanation, but it makes sense to me

 

[ElCubano]

Secondly, the phrase: Shit stinks at all levels
.

This is exactly the point. Problems, issues exist at all levels, rich, poor, ugly, good looking, fat, skinny etc. Happiness is a choice and in order to get the best bang for your buck it needs to be unconditional. Easier said than done but I’ve seen people who have gone through issues 100 times worse than me seem happier than I was. And not forced but from the heart, giving from the little they had, food, time, help etc. When you really understand that its a choice and it comes 99% from within you can then open your heart to the beauty around you. The stuff that really counts. Dale

 

[volente_00]

Egyptians tried, they got robbed.

You can take your credit tho

Yet that was another story, when there was no limited liability concept, hundreds of years ago, debts would be left ,for your family.

View attachment 203389
( book ,,Homo Sapiens'' )

Hmnnn, ain't gonna buy happiness, but being broke, ain't gonna buy anything.
G.Cardone

The things that bring the most happiness in life can't be bought


As you get older you figure that out

 

[GRULSTMRNN]

I worked hard so I can obtain my dream and be independent, not accountable to anyone other than God and my wife and family. That is what I worked hard for. Other than that I am way confident enough and don't give a shit about others' feelings towards me that I would have anything to prove to others.

Well about your last statement I can only say, you felt perhaps too tired and did what you wanted,whjch is watch TV. That a few others choose instead to study and work to get somewhere else in life is something they should not later on be accused of when they actually get that little extra from their extra efforts. I keep on saying to every Filipino child that I teach for free how to program that they can make a difference if they really want to. They have a free teacher, free lunch, free computer usage, free textbook. All they need is to make that extra effort. It's a misperception of some liberals who always love to talk big and preach how some people are so poor that their kids need to work to bring bread or rice or a few pennies to the table. I work with some of the poorest kids in the world and I know firsthand it ain't so. People have by huge majority a choice in life, multiple choices. Only very few don't have any choice and I have a heart for them to support them.

Never said you didn't work hard, never said you didn't earn your wealth. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy. But it sounds like you have something to prove about how you got there?

I think you should just admit that being wealthy is very important to you. If it wasn't then why did you work so hard and sacrifice to achieve it? Why waste the time if you were already happy without it?

Also realize that ultimately it is the wealth that gives you the freedom, not the hard work and sacrifices. You said it yourself, hard work doesn't guarantee it. Tons of people work super hard but they are not effective. You need to work hard and smart and also not get unlucky.



Have you considered that maybe because they need to spend all their time just to get above that minimum standard and they have no time left to enjoy it? When I was working a regular job I was above the standard but I would get home exhausted every day and spend most of my little free time watching TV because I was too tired to do anything else.

 

[cruisecontrol]

I worked hard so I can obtain my dream and be independent, not accountable to anyone other than God and my wife and family. That is what I worked hard for. Other than that I am way confident enough and don't give a shit about others' feelings towards me that I would have anything to prove to others.

And what enables you to be "independent, not accountable to anyone other than God and your wife and family"? Oh that's right, it's money. Money that you worked very hard for, but still money at the end of the day. So when you talk about money not buying happiness it does not ring true with your own story.

Well about your last statement I can only say, you felt perhaps too tired and did what you wanted,whjch is watch TV. That a few others choose instead to study and work to get somewhere else in life is something they should not later on be accused of when they actually get that little extra from their extra efforts.

I was tired because I was working 10 hours a day not counting commuting. I tried to accomplish some other stuff in my free time but found it wasn't very effective because then I would be too tired to perform at work the next day. I would disagree with the characterization that being tired was a choice that I made. Maybe you have an amazing healthy constitution and can be productive 16 hours a day, this is simply not how it works for me or probably most people.

In the end that working and soulless life was not in vain because I was able to save up a large enough pot to launch my trading career. Now I too am independent and not accountable to anyone else, make more money and have more free time to spend it. And, surprise, my happiness has increased dramatically because of this. And if I were to get 20M tomorrow then I could stop trading and I would be even happier as I could then spend 100% of my time doing whatever I want and 0% on working to get money.

I keep on saying to every Filipino child that I teach for free how to program that they can make a difference if they really want to. They have a free teacher, free lunch, free computer usage, free textbook. All they need is to make that extra effort. It's a misperception of some liberals who always love to talk big and preach how some people are so poor that their kids need to work to bring bread or rice or a few pennies to the table. I work with some of the poorest kids in the world and I know firsthand it ain't so. People have by huge majority a choice in life, multiple choices. Only very few don't have any choice and I have a heart for them to support them.

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said there, however there is a huge difference between not being in poverty and financial independence. Knowing how to code is typically not enough to escape wage slavery, you need some kind of entrepreneurial activity and that involves a lot of risk that most will never take on.

 

[GRULSTMRNN]

I would do exactly the same even if I had zero savings and just earned enough to live from month to month. Stop twisting what I said you nutcase.

You sound like a typical whiner. 10 hours? I work 12-13 (corrected from 14 hours for accuracy purposes) hours every single day for the past 20 years, other than weekends and vacations. Are you kidding me? So, by your own admission you have weak DNA, are constantly tired, cannot do anything else in your free time and that means the world has to circle around you? Stop blaming the rest of the world for the choices you made in life. Goodness. This has nothing at all to do with money anymore but simply with effort and hard work even when it's painful. Let's agree to disagree, pal, because I sense you are getting off the wagon and into some very strange self pity territory.

P. S. 20m then you stop trading? So even now you live a miserable life toiling and not living the dream? Sorry you... OMG. So what's your dream? Smoking pot all day in your bedroom or at the beach? Why not choose today what your dream is and find work that affiliates and connects with your dream and enjoy your work rather than moaning about toiling? That is what smart people at least do.

And what enables you to be "independent, not accountable to anyone other than God and your wife and family"? Oh that's right, it's money. Money that you worked very hard for, but still money at the end of the day. So when you talk about money not buying happiness it does not ring true with your own story.



I was tired because I was working 10 hours a day not counting commuting. I tried to accomplish some other stuff in my free time but found it wasn't very effective because then I would be too tired to perform at work the next day. I would disagree with the characterization that being tired was a choice that I made. Maybe you have an amazing healthy constitution and can be productive 16 hours a day, this is simply not how it works for me or probably most people.

In the end that working and soulless life was not in vain because I was able to save up a large enough pot to launch my trading career. Now I too am independent and not accountable to anyone else, make more money and have more free time to spend it. And, surprise, my happiness has increased dramatically because of this. And if I were to get 20M tomorrow then I could stop trading and I would be even happier as I could then spend 100% of my time doing whatever I want and 0% on working to get money.


I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said there, however there is a huge difference between not being in poverty and financial independence. Knowing how to code is typically not enough to escape wage slavery, you need some kind of entrepreneurial activity and that involves a lot of risk that most will never take on.

 

[cruisecontrol]

I would do exactly the same even if I had zero savings and just earned enough to live from month to month. Stop twisting what I said you nutcase.

You sound like a typical whiner. 10 hours? I work 12-13 (corrected from 14 hours oft accuracy purposes) hours every single day for the past 20 years, other than weekends and vacations. Are you kidding me? So, by your own admission you have weak DNA, are constantly tired, cannot do anything else in your free time and that means the world has to circle around you? Stop blaming the rest of the world for the choices you made in life. Goodness. This has nothing at all to do with money anymore but simply with effort and hard work even when it's painful. Let's agree to disagree, pal, because I sense you are getting off the wagon and into some very strange self pity territory.

P. S. 20m then you stop trading? So even now you live a miserable life toiling and not living the dream? Sorry you... OMG. So what's your dream? Smoking pot all day in your bedroom or at the beach? Why not choose today what your dream is and find work that affiliates and connects with your dream and enjoy your work rather than moaning about toiling? That is what smart people at least do.

lol, take a chill pill man. If you read my posts again you will see I'm not blaming anybody for anything. Things are going good for me now, thanks to my own efforts, just like you. The difference between us, (other than my weak DNA apparently) is that I can admit that having money absolutely does bring me happiness. And, goodness you must have a lot of money indeed if you think 20M isn't a lot.

 

[GRULSTMRNN]

Well, good luck toiling for more money, you don't sound content to me at all given that by your own admission you are not doing what you really would like to do. You contradict yourself, on one hand you claim things are going well for you and you make good money yet you are still not content and would do something else had you just a bit more money. Sounds like a slave to money to me not happiness. Let's agree to disagree, I am not here trying to change your mind. Good luck to you.

lol, take a chill pill man. If you read my posts again you will see I'm not blaming anybody for anything. Things are going good for me now, thanks to my own efforts, just like you. The difference between us, (other than my weak DNA apparently) is that I can admit that having money absolutely does bring me happiness. And, goodness you must have a lot of money indeed if you think 20M isn't a lot.

 

[Overnight]

...And, goodness you must have a lot of money indeed if you think 20M isn't a lot.

Yes, I think that is the problem with the thread title. The OP did not base his predications on how much one had BEFORE getting the 20 million.

If you already have 20 million, or 200 million, or 20 billion already and are currently unhappy, then 20 million more will not make you happy.

But if you have very little and get the 20 million, you will certainly be happier.

If receiving more money than one has ever had has made someone unhappy, then they need to get checked into a hospital. Preferably one with a financial advisor.

Guys, when you are walking down the street and see a $10 bill on the ground, do you feel depressed and sad about it? Or does your heart skip a beat, and you think "Oooh, lucky me! Score! I can spend this on X,Y or Z."

You have just felt a twinge of happiness, because you now have more money that you did not have a second ago. If anyone disagrees with that, they are a liar or a guru from an ashram in India. In which case they would still be a liar.