Not how I imagined it.

[screenman]

36, or two years after I moved away from the smoke and up to rural Lincolnshire. The people are here are far less materialistic and that rubbed off on me.

Now all of this is easy for me to write as I live in a house I designed and helped build, I work hard for myself and the family and I am often told how lucky I am. Cars well I learned a while back that it is not the car I am fed up with but driving in general. I have owned the toys, Roller, boats, etc. They are certainly not things I would ever want to own again.

Time is the one thing I hope to have left in plenty.

 

[ColinJ]

Oh. and another thing ... I have suffered ill wealth and ill health and I can tell you that lying near-death on the floor wondering whether my next breath would be my last bothered me a hell of a lot more than not being able to afford a nice new bike!

So ... as far as I am concerned, if you and your family are in good health then you are already wealthy in a way that actually matters.

 

[Crandoggler]

In the words of the song, 'Money can't buy you love'. What's your wife's take on this? What would she think to you mentioning your daughter first and your wife second?

I'd hope she would put our daughter first as well. The context of love doesn't really suffice for your own flesh and blood. For her, there is no distance, time, price or condition too far. For however long I draw breath on this planet, she will have every part of my being and my love alongside her, whatever path she chooses.

I'd like to think any parent would agree with me.

 

[Billy Wizz]

When i was 27 i was skint, mortgaged to the eye balls working seven days a week and the kids wanted the best of everything.

At 53 i still have my wife and kids and grandchildren, also a great guitar collection, a Orbea Orca, a Specialized and a Boardman for back up.

I often wondered when i was young about the nice cars and exotic holidays, it all comes together in the end you just have to work at it.

 

[beachy]

Fascinating posts. I am the most un materialistic person but worked my butt off to renovate my house in my early 20's in order to save money. I spent all I had every month on the renovation and remember sleeping with my dog in the box room as I had no heating or cooker etc (purely platonic!). I had 30 pence in my pocket one night and waled 2 miles for a Mars bar. I am currently looking for a bike so all my angling equipment is up for sale which breaks my heart but thats how I work.

to put things in perspective I think of those poor Africans that walk 10 miles and back to get water.

 

[Crandoggler]

Fascinating replies. Thanks everyone!

 

[colly]

My take on it Crandoggler is that unless you are born to money or fortunate (possibly cursed ?) to get an inheritance or something early on in life, you simply have to work for what you want. Be that essentials, luxuries, or just spare time. You are 27...........I mean come on, 27 ?? You've barely got the cradle marks off your arse yet.
I know, as others do, that once you get that fancy car you find yourself driving along and suddenly it dawns on you that you have it, now what? It's great but..................? But nothing, it's just a car, same roads, same jams, same sh1t driving. You get that big f*** off telly and it's just as naff watching Eastenders as it always was.
It's true though that stuff you work for you appreciate.
If you really feel like you are in a rut and all the good things in life are passing you by..............then do something about it. Get a better paid job, start a business and see if that works, figure out how to win the lottery, I don't know, but the solution's in your hands.

Money is a means to an end not an end in itself.

I'm looking for a quote I've heard which is relevant.
Edit: Can't find the quote but it's something like.............

He who has little and wants nothing has everything. He who has much and wants everything has nothing.

Or summat.

 

[welsh dragon]

Today I was out cycling, the sun was out, I was coasting downhill at 25 mph, the wind was in my hair and I was in the countryside. That to me was paradise. I just felt thankful that I've got my health, reasonable fitness and I can get out and enjoy myself.

The grass is always greener........but actually just be thankful for life's simple pleasures.

You've still got hair? Blimey. You are blessed.

 

[Crandoggler]

My take on it Crandoggler is that unless you are born to money or fortunate (possibly cursed ?) to get an inheritance or something early on in life, you simply have to work for what you want. Be that essentials, luxuries, or just spare time. You are 27...........I mean come on, 27 ?? You've barely got the cradle marks off your arse yet.
I know, as others do, that once you get that fancy car you find yourself driving along and suddenly it dawns on you that you have it, now what? It's great but..................? But nothing, it's just a car, same roads, same jams, same sh1t driving. You get that big f*** off telly and it's just as naff watching Eastenders as it always was.
It's true though that stuff you work for you appreciate.
If you really feel like you are in a rut and all the good things in life are passing you by..............then do something about it. Get a better paid job, start a business and see if that works, figure out how to win the lottery, I don't know, but the solution's in your hands.

Money is a means to an end not an end in itself.

I'm looking for a quote I've heard which is relevant.

Haha started so well!

Agree with all of it, I've had the 13 plate Octavia VRS which to me was the start of the road to luxury. Don't agree with the age thing. But then again! What do I know

 

[Hill Wimp]

I will admit i read you post and angrily thought "get a life and look around you" but then @colly posted it much more eloquently.

The Oxford dictionary defines contentment as a state of happiness and satisfaction. So you are not happy and as others have said you should be examining why you aren't happy and how you can change that.

Ask yourself why do you want these things ?
Is it to impress others, to make a statement to the world that you have lots of money or do you think it will bring you happiness?

Do you think you are owed these things you crave?

If you want more then work for it or win the lottery like we all do or hope to win.

I have had to work damn hard for all i have and its good but freedom as @Moon bunny said is priceless .I love nothing more than getting up early and cycling down to the beach because i can but doing that on a bike worth£5000 rather than my £1000 one is not going make a jot of difference, neither is flying first class to the maldives rather than cattle class. I would still be going to the same place and seeing the same things.

I and many others on this forum deal with people on the worst day of their lives every single day. A brand new BMW or a 5 bed house would not have enhanced their lives in any way shape or form, believe me.

 

[Crandoggler]

Sorry I wasn't trying to stir emotions. I, like everyone here, work hard for my money. The reason I want it all? Who doesn't? I'm a human and we crave the very best, it's human nature. Otherwise 'the best' wouldn't exist. I have no right to it, and continually tell the TV that the scroungers have no right to whatever they think they deserve.

I don't understand or agree with the word content. Especially when used in conjunction with my or anyone else's life. This was what I was trying to get at. How can you be content? Unless you've seen everything, been everywhere, done everything. But even then? There must be more?

Obviously my argument was at a lower level, arguing audi's and big houses.

 

[colly]

Mind you..............I've just got a brand new van and it's f****** terrific.

 

[colly]

Not very much of it

And that's borrowed.

 

[screenman]

Do you own the Skoda or just a month's a worth.

Funny how in this section the talk of hard work getting you places is accepted, in the more political section of the forum I have been told it is almost wrong.

 

[Dave 123]

As I've stated on here before I've worked for 2 lots of very wealthy people. They were both utterly miserable, paranoid, angry, frustrated and rattled with Prozac.
The more you have, the more you want. The more you get, the more potential for stuff going wrong. The more wealth you have, the more mean spirited you seem to become.

On the flip side a bloke that works with me now lives alone, doesn't get paid a huge lump, has learning difficulties, and makes the best of what he's got, which in the grand scheme of things doesn't add up to much. He's happy, hard working and fit as a flea (he cycles everywhere.)

Mrs Dave says I'm never satisfied, and to an extent she's right. I tend to be a bit goal driven. Currently the goal is a nice Thorn touring bike, it'll come in time.

Toys and goals don't have to come in the physical form, but through (shared) experiences with friends and family.

Don't beat yourself up over it either!