Is It Human Nature To Always Strive For More?

[Stuno1]

I am 30 and have been working in banking since i left uni. I moved within that company 3 times to carve out a career with the long term objective of going contracting.

I achived that objective 18 months ago. It is very lucrative and myself and my wife were able to buy items we didn't think we would have been able to justify at this stage of our lives.

With the initial splurge out of the way we then wanted a family and are extrememly fortunate in that we have a gorgeous 4 month old baby girl who i cherish with all my heart. We then quickly realised a one bed flat does not support 3 people comfortably! So we currently rent (until we know the area well enough to buy) in chelmsford in a 3 bedroom house.

If i could look at myself now, even 2 years ago, i would catagorically say i would want for nothing more! BUT there is always something else!!! I took a low rate for a first role and know i should be earning more so am trying to find the right role to move to. We would like a new laptop to replace a 5 year old one, we would like a good soundbar for the lounge, xbox one, a second car for my wfe when she passes her test this year etc etc etc

Does it ever stop??? Are we as people never 100% satisifed???

Stu

[IHgs300]

No i don't think you ever get to the stage where you have everything. You always find something else you "NEED" but if you can afford it go for it.

We only come this way once so enjoy yourself, you never know what's round the corner.

I managed to work my way up from manual labour in warehousing to assistant manager, Put things off "while i get a bit further" and "more money in bank"

Then all of a sudden through health reasons physical and mental, had to come out of work.

So my advise is do or buy anything that makes you and your family happy.

[Stuno1]

That's always a concern and has driven a lot of our behaviour/spending.

We spend within our means and save at the same time but don't want to stick it all away for a rainy day only to wish we had spent it and had more fun as a couple and now as a family.

One of my dads friends is obsessed with watching his bank balance grow instead of enjoying life.

Stu

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

It's normal to always want more.

Myself and my wife have taken a new look on life in the last couple of years. Before we were obsessed with money, we bought a house and saved like crazy. But we were not happy. So we sold the house, I became self employed so I could work as little or as much as I like. My wife is still in her job as she likes it. I got rid of my new car (08 plate honda at the time) and bought a 10 year old IS200 to free up more funds.

So we now enjoy life, we take 6-8 holidays abroad per year, I bought an IS300 as I'd always wanted one lol, she buys shoes, handbags etc and we live with the philosophy that as long as we have a roof over our head and food in our cupboards/fridge then we are blessed and life is good :)

[TeesLS460]

Agreed, it's normal to want more, particularly when you are young. I would caution though not to put material possessions above relationships and spending quality time together with your wife and child.

I've had the money and the cars, and to be honest it didn't actually make me happy. Then I lost it all, and had to climb back up the ladder from nothing (bankrupt, divorced and unemployed all at once).

Now I realise that I don't need anything beyond the basics and making sure that my children have enough to cover anything they need. My new Lexus is an indulgence, but I could easily have done without it.

[Stuno1]

Agreed, it's normal to want more, particularly when you are young. I would caution though not to put material possessions above relationships and spending quality time together with your wife and child.

I've had the money and the cars, and to be honest it didn't actually make me happy. Then I lost it all, and had to climb back up the ladder from nothing (bankrupt, divorced and unemployed all at once).

Now I realise that I don't need anything beyond the basics and making sure that my children have enough to cover anything they need. My new Lexus is an indulgence, but I could easily have done without it.

I have very quickly realise money does not = happiness but it does give you options and it does reduce stress of not counting the pennies. I would never treasure material items over my family. They are my whole world and my reason for being.

Stu

[Lillywhites]

This topic got me thinking when I was at school I had to get a weekend job to help out to buy food and pay bills etc as we never had much but we were happy. and when I was 16 i got a job and all I ever dreamt of was getting my own house, married with 3 nice children and so I started working 7 days a week doing stupid hours working away from home two to three weeks at the time and yes earning plenty of money which I saved and invested in properties . Forward to present date and I celebrated my 49th birthday last week with my wife and three kids. I still work 7 days a week do I need too no, do I work 7 days for the money no, friends ask my why I do it when I don't need to and all I can say its all I am used too. and when I do think of slowing down I have this little person on my shoulder saying peter what will happen if this happens or that happens so I push on is there a down side yes I missed my two girls growing up and regret that and never made the same mistake with my youngest would I give it all up to get those years back with my girls yes without a doubt so my advice earn as much as you can when you can but don't make the same mistake as me thinking you need more you don't. and don't forget why your doing it and miss your children growing up as you will not get a chance to go back LIVE FOR TODAY AS YOU DONT KNOW WHATS ROUND THE CORNER wish I had learnt this lesson a lot earlier.

[mikeyv]

Some excellent posts here.

Money is nice, but health, happiness and family are far more important.......no point in working yourself in to an early grave.

Trouble is, the penny often doesn't seem to drop until one of the above goes wrong.

[jaroph]

Thank you all, really thought provoking .

Let's all be grateful for what we have and think less about those who are perceived to have more than we do, but think and care more about those who have less.

In a world of finite resources for us to have more someone somewhere is bound to have less.

[petayV8]

Money is a moving target. be careful in the world, because there is alot of stuff. you can accumulate alot of stuff and you can buy cars and buy better cars and better houses and bigger houses. but we've got to learn how to be good at it. and there is a line you cross about when you are wealthy but that line will always be in front of you because money is a moving target. if you ask someone who makes 20k a year they will say if i earnt 40k i would feel comfortable and wealthy, if you ask someone who makes 40k they would say if i made 80k i would be comfortable and wealthy, and so on. This is based on fact and research because money is a moving target. this is because there is always that need for more. the way it breaks down is knowones is really rich but we all know someone who is lol.

All im saying is as long as you have food on the table and a roof over your head then your doing fine, anything else is a bonus and shouldn't be taken for granted. Live in good health mentally and physically and don't let money go to your head and realise where that line is that makes someone wealthy and secure, but your right it is in our nature to strive for more and its hard to sometimes step back and see the world for what it is in our modern society surrounded by man made things.

on another note did you know research shows ppl who earn 50k a year give about 5% on average to charity or family etc. when we earn 200k a year it goes down to 3% or less. when a family makes 1 millons a year it goes down to 1%. the more people make the less they give.

Did i mention money doesnt make you happy? I know tons of people who have money but are going though mid life crysis's or break downs and money has no effect on them. In fact i class myself as better off even though what i make is loose change to them because i have family, friends and a great wife and good health and i am happy