"Miserable" begins with "miser".....

[poltr1]

A couple of weeks ago, I was flipping channels (as I often do), and came across Suze Orman's show on CNBC. She's written several best sellers on personal finance. I was watching the "Can I Afford It?" section, where people call in and ask for Suze's advice on major purchases. In all the cases I heard that night, Suze gave a "denied" rating. I probably would have denied many of them too. One woman wanted to borrow money against her 401(k) to buy a few thousand dollars' worth of clothing.

Needless to say, I didn't sense a lot of compassion from Suze that night. I didn't care for the tone and timbre of her voice either. She came across like a heartless harpy. And so I turned the channel.

I also thought back to the times I've seen Donald Trump on TV. This man rarely, if ever, smiles. Is he a happy man? I think not.

It seems to me that the wealthy -- or those that try to make you wealthy -- are hard-nosed, shrewd, and generally unpleasant to be around. Unless they're trying to sell you something. Is it any wonder the word "miserable" begins with the word "miser"? Or is it a coincidence that they appear to have a common root?

It's not "money is the root of all evil". It's "Love of money is the root of all evil". In other words, greed -- one of the Seven Deadly Ones.

I'd rather be broke and happy than rich and unhappy, if I had to choose between the two.

Comments

[stevieannie.livejournal.com]

*Leaps up and down and points at this*

YES!!! YES!!!!

You wouldn't believe the email abuse I got when I publicly blogged about the fact that my financial aim was for Tim and I to earn less, pay out less and spend time together instead.

I was told that no *real* woman wanted a man who couldn't buy her new cars and fancy clothes, and that if I thought I didn't want those things, then I was deluding myself. I was told that my marriage would fail without regular injections of "retail therapy". I was told I was stupid, naive and a lot of unprintable things.

And then the bottom fell out of the financial markets, and those people stopped emailing me with unpleasant comments.

I really struggle to think of a major purchase which has brought me long and enduring happiness, but I can name any number of wonderful afternoons spent with family and friends which cost nothing, but made my heart sing.

Money is a tool that society uses to enslave us through either it's abundance or it's lack.
Donald Trump, with all his millions is as much it's slave as someone facing foreclosure.

[egoldberg.livejournal.com]

If you haven't read "Your money or your life", it sounds like exactly what you're describing!

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Actually, it's "lust for money is the root of all evil." Many happy people love money and have a good and healthy relationship with it; it's the ones who obsess over it, who need more regardless of how much they have, and who can't or won't part with it when it's necessary or helpful to do so that are miserable.

Me, I want to be wealthy -- abundant, really -- and happy (I also want to be a live lion, per Heinlein). It's not a simple dichotomy.

[egoldberg.livejournal.com]

I have to disagree here, I think. I'm not rich, but I've had a 70%+ post-tax savings rate over the past 10 years and am definitely not poor as a result.

I think Americans are collectively among the most financially irresponsible people I've ever met. Suze's show sounds awesome to me!

I think one becomes wealthy by being mindful of what is important to use money for, and what's not. I don't buy junk I don't actually need. I don't aspire towards a luxury car (or really, any car) or a big house. I do, however, value the ability to say "I don't think I want to work for the next 5 years" and not having to stress about it.

Do people probably perceive me as a cheap? I assume so. I couldn't give a shit. As long as they don't expect financial support because I saved money by not wasting on the things they did, and duh, now they're broke after just a few months of being out of work?

With the money I didn't waste on a winter vacation, I just made $2,000 in philanthropic donations this year to local organizations doing work that I think is a lot more important to me than 8 days trotting around Europe or Hawaii.

gotta run to work.

[egoldberg.livejournal.com]

Rather, being mindful of what is important to YOU to use money for -- just like you don't do SF cons.

--

I wonder about the connection between financial management and weight management. I only started losing weight after I finally applied my money management philosophy towards food: "Do I need to eat this? Have I eaten enough? Am I eating just to eat?" (replace "eat" with "buy")

And 10 pounds in 3 months gone -- whereas I'd made no progress for 10 years before when I felt I was entitled to eat anything I wanted and somehow not become overweight. Money works the same way, I think.

--

There's my trolling for the day. Hopefully I've offended everyone equally! Really off to work.

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

The problem with Suze Orman is that her message (when I first listened to her mumble mumble years ago) was that to get rich, the money was what was important. Not the things that money could do to make your loved ones and you happy. The money had to be more important to you than your loved ones.

Maybe it's my religious upbringing manifesting, but I was offended by this. I stopped listening to her. If she's changed her message any in the intervening years, I wouldn't know.

[egoldberg.livejournal.com]

Yes! It sounds like you're saying a lot like what Anne (Annie? sorry) is saying above. Couldn't agree with you more. Admittedly I've never watched her show (actually don't own a TV, and never have). Have a great weekend Robin!

[trektone.livejournal.com]

When I watched more tv the Suze Orman show was on my list. She may have gotten more snarly in recent times, but I definitely recall shows where she "approved" darn near everyone in the "Can I Afford It" segment. And seemed happy about it!