Comments on: Everything Is Relative Superstar – Being Happy With What You Have

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:46:06 +0000

Yes, society definitely does! It also puts a lot of pressure on women to have kids, and I think my years of standing up for my decision not to has really helped me to see just how insidious societal pressures can be.

Career has never been a value in my family, so I have a really difficult time comprehending how it means so much to him. To me, it seems like something requiring a lot of unnecessary sacrifice, especially when happiness can be had so many other ways.
Kelsey´s last blog ..More Proof the TSA are Morons…

By: admin

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:39:02 +0000

Hi Kelsey – Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I gotta tell ya, society puts A LOT of pressure on us guys to succeed in our careers and make money. As a result, it is very tough for us guys to step back and enjoy life. This is a topic I will be putting up later. It’ll be called “How To Get your Super Motivated Boyfriend To Marry You”.

Best, Sam

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:34:11 +0000

Great post! My boyfriend and I have had several similar discussions on being happy with what you have. I was raised in a family that made just enough money to be able to pursue the things we wanted, so long as we did so frugally (I believe our combined income was never above $80k). My parents chose to have more time at home rather than spending more time at the office in exchange for a higher paycheck. My boyfriend’s family made huge sacrifices and spent a good 20 years of their lives living in relative misery in the foreign service, all in the name of a stable paycheck and benefits. Personally, I think my family wins in the comparison of the two.

Marc (my boyfriend) is very focused on having “a good career and salary”, whereas I’m focused on enjoying my life. I have asked him several times why he is so focused on his salary, especially since neither of us want kids and we aren’t members of the “cult of stuff”. He has yet to be able to give me a good answer, and I think your post hit the nail on the head – we’re conditioned from so early on in life to always want something more, something better, and in the process, we often overlook what we already have.
Kelsey´s last blog ..More Proof the TSA are Morons…

By: Best of the Rest: ING Direct Black Friday Sale Edition

Best of the Rest: ING Direct Black Friday Sale Edition — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:31:01 +0000

[...] really enjoyed Financial Samurai’s post about Being Happy With What You Have. Everything is relative, and this is an appropriate time to put things in [...]

By: admin

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:40:01 +0000

@Roger
Hey Rog – No sweat. Take a look at http://www.globalrichlist.com. I’ll be highlighting it in an upcoming post. I think you’re also the first one to use the “Commen Luv” plug-in, yihaw!

By: admin

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:38:56 +0000

@Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog I did see the CNBC spot actually on Will. He's a rich rich man! It's his silliness and laughter that has rocketed him to the top! Sorry for not responding earlier, I missed this threat it seems. Sam-urai

By: Roger

Roger — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:33:07 +0000

@Roger
Heh, sorry, I meant ‘Good post, FS’; another example of the importance of proofreading.
Roger´s last blog ..Weekly Thoughts: Start the Giving Season

By: Roger

Roger — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:22:05 +0000

Good post, AF. It’s always too easy to look around at everyone who seems to have so much more than you and say, ‘Why don’t I have all that?’ My favorite way to keep it all in perspective is to look at other countries and back into history, and realize that merely by being alive in the Western world in the modern era, I’m already living a richer life than the kings and queens of the past or the heads of many Third World countries. Yes, there will always be someone richer than me, but compared to the billions (trillions, perhaps, if we add up all the souls in history) who have it worse…

By: Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog

Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:42:15 +0000

Very random thought after seeing the image you used… did you hear Will Ferrell is on top of Forbes’ list of Hollywood’s Most Overpaid Stars? The calculated the ROI based on how much the actor was paid compared to how much money the movie brought in.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:31:43 +0000

I do think that we have to learn contentment. Our lives will be much simpler and meaningful once we master this. It’s OK to have goals and move ahead as long as priorities are in balance.