"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!