Money

[eclipse]

The problem with money is that everyone (well almost...everyone) wants MORE.
Every post that I have read regarding your question is true. Education and degrees are what make you money
----unless you were born lucky- are EXTREMELY intelligent and invent something-marry rich-or win the lottery. You will probably be a working stiff for the rest of your life...(like the rest of us).
I read a great quote somewhere about a 40 year old person saying that they would love to go to school and get their BA degee, but it would take a long time, you know full time job, kids, whatever ...they figured 5 years and the remark was, "Yeah, I'll have the degree but I will be 45 years old!" The person they were explaining this delimina to said..."Yeah, and if you don't go back to school and get your degree, in 5 years you are going to be 45 anyway!!"

Just something to think about Markolos

Me, I am 48, I possess no college degree, I am female..(married and my husband makes good money, not rich or anything...but we can buy the groceries without havingh to apply coupons or get stressed about going, so I am not alone financially.)
I have only been married since I was 30 so I was alone financially from 17-30 and I had lots of jobs, some I hated and some I ....hated, some paid more than others but always with a price. It took me a long time to find out "what I wanted to be, when I grew up" If I have even done that?? not sure ----but
I am finally in a job that I LOVE, ( I am a school secretary at an elememtary school, wait...I mean...Administrative Assistant to the Principal... ) I'm not making alot of money at all!
I think in my job it truely wouldn't matter if I had the degree.
But some business, careers, jobs, whatever...you need that paper, experience of college and expertiece.
Just a thought, my friend

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by eclipse

[
I read a great quote somewhere about a 40 year old person saying that they would love to go to school and get their BA degee, but it would take a long time, you know full time job, kids, whatever ...they figured 5 years and the remark was, "Yeah, I'll have the degree but I will be 45 years old!" The person they were explaining this delimina to said..."Yeah, and if you don't go back to school and get your degree, in 5 years you are going to be 45 anyway!!"

Great quote!

[DrummerDeanna]

In regard to money my grandpa always used to say, "it's never enough." that seems to be the case. When people start making more money they way they live changes and bam - the money STILL isn't enough.

And the doing what you love and the money comes thing...not true lol - I'm in public radio - the money will never come (ok - unless I become some bigshot national host).

[skcin]

^ Exactly. It's never enough.

But, I do agree that money can't buy happiness. I'm not saying I'd be really happy if I were poor, what I mean is that I know I'd making a lot more than I am now if I worked in a hospital. I also know that I'd be miserable, tired, cranky & wouldn't have much time to spend with friends & family. So screw that, I'd rather be careful with my money.

[DrummerDeanna]

^^
And exactly! I could make more money in commercial radio - but I know I'd be miserable. I worked in commercial radio for over a year and it was just the worst experience.

So I'm sticking it out in public radio, where I agree with and respect the policies and ethics

It sucks sometimes to have to be so tight and careful with money - but I like what I do and that is worth a lot to me.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by skcin

. . . But, I do agree that money can't buy happiness . . . .

Lord Child - it is as my mother always says:

Money cannot buy you happiness, but it sure can make you suffer in comfort

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Lord Child - it is as my mother always says:

Money cannot buy you happiness, but it sure can make you suffer in comfort

Yeah I can remember when I had more than I do now, I used to love indulging in those really nice steakhouse meals. One of my little indulgences.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Yeah I can remember when I had more than I do now, I used to love indulging in those really nice steakhouse meals. One of my little indulgences.

I think, for me, the thing about money is to use it to make you happy. I mean if you work for it, then you get to spend it how you want once you take care of all the necessities.

For example, a good friend just bought a four bedroom house in some gated community in the burbs. To me, that would be a living hell. So, I spent roughly the same amount of money awhile back and bought a small condo directly in the city. I love condo living. So, it is all about your reality and what it takes to make you happy.

[amber]

Originally Posted by skcin

But, I do agree that money can't buy happiness.

I disagree. Unless I had to work too hard for it.

I can't really think of money in the same terms right now, because of the encore presentation of Oprah I watched last night, and various other things, where kids are starving and dying and have no medical care in several parts of the world - say, because of the drought this year. I mean, cool if you want to give your daughter a 10 bazillion dollar birthday party, I just think you're an a-hole. I dig what bill gates and others are doing, trying to end world poverty in our lifetimes. And, apparently, it's possible. I just think we're at the point, globally, and resource wise, where we can't live our lives unconsciously anymore. Sadly, as I see here, most people don't think that, and more importantly, only a small percentage of people with huge amounts of excess resources think that way, and it's totally anethema to the way most americans have been raised to think.
I get all your guy's points, I just think there needs to be a paradigm shift in the way we think about resources asap.

[strandinthewind]

On the contrary - I think people ought to give as mnuch time and money as they can. I just think that all of my plane tickets and expenses around the US to see FM probably could have fed and clothed a small family in a poor nation. Am I a bad person for that. If I use the same standard as me judging the birthday party people, then yes, I am So, I say, do all you can and then live a little.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

On the contrary - I think people ought to give as mnuch time and money as they can. I just think that all of my plane tickets and expenses around the US to see FM probably could have fed and clothed a small family in a poor nation. Am I a bad person for that. If I use the same standard as me judging the birthday party people, then yes, I am So, I say, do all you can and then live a little.

I don't think splurging while others are starving makes someone a bad person...if they're also making some sort of effort to do good with what they have.

People like Paris Hilton infuriate me - all this money and absolutely no good done with it. Hell take ten percent of your shoe budget and give it to starving kids or the homeless - but when people are completely self-absorbed I think it's sad and I do tend to find that jerkish.

[amber]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

On the contrary - I think people ought to give as mnuch time and money as they can. I just think that all of my plane tickets and expenses around the US to see FM probably could have fed and clothed a small family in a poor nation. Am I a bad person for that. If I use the same standard as me judging the birthday party people, then yes, I am So, I say, do all you can and then live a little.

I knew I'd hear from you. I agree logically, but in actuality, birthday party guy is being much more wasteful than you are. Live a little is awesome. But I think as a society we should be evolving towards thinking that 10 bazillion dollar parties are wasteful. No one really wins when there is such a huge disparity between rich and poor. And if we don't address these problems now, it will get worse, and we will all be the worse for it.
I mainly have issues with how americans are taught that it is important, and okay, and fulfilling, to consume as much as possible, things we don't need, at the expense of other countries, the environment, and even our own people. I'm not talking about your trips, I'm talking about the nature of the thinking of an entire country. And no, I don't mean we should never buy anything, and all live in huts. But you can be a conscious consumer, still have everything you need, and live a full and happy life - and even have fun. Again, not speaking of your trips.
We've had this convo before, and I don't think we'll ever have the same perspective on the nature of consumption. Which is fine. I'm just saying.

[cliffdweller]

Originally Posted by eclipse

Education and degrees are what make you money

Oh how I wish that were true