Rich People Know that Things Don't Satisfy

Here are some interesting thoughts from the preface of Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire. Let's start with a short summary of what the book is about:

[In this book] I detail why so many people who are not rich hyperspend on luxuries. Often they think that collecting these expensive toys will enhance their overall satisfaction with life. But, as you will read in detail, happiness in life has little to do with what you wear, drive, eat, or drink. The people with the greatest satisfaction are those who live well below their means.

Wow, lots to digest here. I'll comment on this in a minute, but let's continue with a bit more for now. Author Thomas Stanley then offers a thought on why some people spend so much:

So who are hyperspenders really emulating? They are merely mimicking the behaviors of people like themselves, who are not rich but act in ways they think economically successful people act.

And, on the opposite end of the spectrum, here's why others don't spend as much:

Why is it that some people worth $10 million, $20 million, or even $30 million own few or no luxuries whatsoever? They know that satisfaction in life is not a function of what you can buy in a store.

Several thoughts from me:

1. This may go without saying, but I'm going to say it anyway. This book highlights the habits and thoughts of the wealthy as defined by their net worth (the author doesn't count the value of housing in calculating net worth), not by their income. He contrasts this with others who make great incomes and yet have virtually no wealth to show for it. In other words, a high income often does not lead to a high net worth. Again, this is Money 101 for some of you, but I just wanted to be perfectly clear.

2. The book will highlight (and I'll post on this for sure) how many of the most wealthy (high net worth) people in America are those with "average" salaries/incomes.

3. Overall, what he's saying is very similar (almost identical) to what we just covered when I highlighted a few pieces from The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even The Toughest Times. Is anyone starting to see a trend here? Guess what they're saying must be at least somewhat valid, huh? (I'm being sarcastic -- of course it's valid. And yet, some will try and make excuses for why it's not really true.)

4. We've already discussed the fact that possessions often don't satisfy -- experiences do. And, experiences often get better with time while possessions tend to lose their luster with age.

5. "The people with the greatest satisfaction are those who live well below their means." Ha! Told ya so!!!!

6. Hyperspenders seem to be the ultimate keep-up-with-the-Joneses sort of people.

7. There are many, many things in life more important than money. Looks like the truly wealthy people have this figured out -- and, in part, it's a reason they are so well off.

Comments

[mark]

i agree.most of the friends we have are like that. they earn more than we but in bad financial shape because of overspending and trying to show off the "toys".
I strongly beleive in cut cost cut cost cut cost

[Beastlike]

I have a beautiful wife and we both have great health - I would say we are very rich!

[Ron Harvey]

I have read this book and it is a great read but a little redundant because Thomas keeps repeating the same theme over and over. I do definitely agree that the experiences in life and the people that I have met are those memories that I remember best and are most fond of and I barely remember most of the material items that have owned over the years (some I can't even find any more) are only vague memories.

[Bill]

The book is good, but mostly recycled and repetitive.

[jeffinwesternwa]

But, it's great to have the $$ and try it anyway, of course, I'd recommend folks ACHIEVE their financial goals FIRST......

[Old Limey]

I have recounted this story before but it fits well with this subject.
In 1985 my wife and I took a vacation that turned out to be the most memorable of all of the vacations we have ever had. It was a trek in Nepal to the Himalayas, the name of the trek was the Annapurna Villages. It was very memorable because my wife of 53 years has a below normal lung capacity and we worked very hard together the prior year with weekly hikes and some strenuous backpack trips to high altitude in the Sierras to get her into the physical condition where, after treadmill tests, her doctor signed the permission form required by the travel group.
One evening our diverse group of 11 were sitting around in the mess tent at about 10,000ft. after a nice meal when the oldest member of our group, a retired professor from the University of Utah, posed this question to us one by one - "What are the three things that have turned out to be the most important in your life".

The answers were varied and all over the map and none of us got his answers correctly.
His answers were:

1) To Love someone.
2) To be Loved by someone.
3) To live in the U.S.A.

If you think about it, happiness is definitely far more important than money, and money does not always bring happiness. There is just nothing better and more important than living in the country that most people in the world want to live in, and also being in a very loving relationship. A loving relationship brings happiness, pleasure, and joy 24/7, the same cannot be said for wealth.

[Old Limey]

Money is nice to have and it enables us to live very comfortably but the one thing that I value the most of all at the age of 75 is the loving, caring, and enduring relationship that I have with my wife of 53 years - that is priceless and something that many of this country's super rich do not have.

[Ken]

Money can't buy happiness. It's necessary to help us achieve our goals. If we see it as "be all, end all" we will lose sight of really important things..family, friends, faith. How sad to try to keep up with the Joneses at the expense of real financial peace.

[J in FL]

Thanks for relating that story Old Limey!.. I hadn't seen that one yet :)

[Stuart]

I know far too many people that fall prey to the idea that you need to look the part. Just because you bought a $4000 suite doesn't make you any smarter or wealthier. Many of these people are well educated and still can't seem to understand that living within your means provides dividends in the future. It's not like you need to save for years to start to see the benefits. A few months and the snowball starts to roll.

[MC]

All true, but on the other hand--you can't take it with you and those "experiences" are often worth spending major $ on.

That's why I'm delighted that my elderly father, who lived frugally his entire life & raised and sent 4 children to college, has started traveling to Europe, Scandinavia, etc. He also bought a piece of land in the mountains and built a little cabin there. Go, Dad! Because, y'know, he deserves it! I (& my siblings) certainly don't need to inherit his money.

[Mitch]

Good book but there lots there better than this. Too many words were used but all zero in into one. There are more useful and practical ebooks online that will surely bring some good online income. Thanks and good luck.

[The Billion Dollar Girl]

Thanks for the post. I have been thinking about this a lot lately as I have recently changed careers and as a result am living on much less income, but personally I feel more free than ever before despite having less stuff. I have been somewhat forced to live below my means due to the change in career but it has caused me to really re-evaluate what is important and how I want to spend my life. I am proud to say that I am now officially on the road to building wealth vs. just being rich.

[Thirtysomething Finance]

I think this is why you have the phenomenon of the nouveau riche -- ostentatiously spreading all of their new money around. I'd like to think that eventually, these people realize that there is more to life than luxuries like this. While money may make certain things easier, it's not the be all/end all that those without might seem to think it is. After all, Charles Foster Kane's dying word was, "Rosebud," not "Money." :p

[Old Limey]

I think that the biggest setback one can have on the road to becoming wealthy, and leading a very happy life is DIVORCE.

I have met many people over the years that have had one or more divorces and they appear to leave both large financial and deep emotional scars. One of my daughters is a good case in point. She had a wonderful job managing a high rise office tower, and in the course of her job met a very wealthy and very persuasive attorney. He pursued her to a degree that today would be considered 'stalking' and eventually succumbed to the constant pressure and agreed to marry him. Even on her wedding day she told me that she was making a huge mistake but the mammoth and hugely expensive 2-day wedding with 650 guests at the best hotel in town had been planned 100% by her husband and there was no way out. She ended up being a 'trophy' wife to a much older man and was told to give up her career which she dutifully did. She lived in a nice home and ranked slightly above one of his ultra expensive cars in the scheme of things. She played the role expected of her and they quickly had three children. The two boys were always problems for her, but the youngest, a sweet and very intelligent girl made life tolerable for her. Sadly she was taken away by an inoperable brain tumor at the age of 8 - that was the beginning of the end of the marriage. A year or two later she filed for divorce and it was settled without litigation. Two years later both boys have left home and she is living on her own in a rented condo. She is very secure financially because of her settlement and is in the highest tax bracket, but 19 years during the prime of her life ended up being very unhappy. Most divorcees I have met end up far worse off financially than before the marriage, so at least her 19 years weren't a total loss.

The most important piece of advice I can offer young people is to have a lengthy engagement and be absolutely positive that you are doing the right thing before you tie the knot. If you screw up badly you could end up both poor and unhappy.

[D]

hmmmm... aren't you doing the same ;)

"... a little redundant because Thomas keeps repeating the same theme over and over..."

[FMF]

D --

If you're talking to me, then yes, I am doing the same (repeating the same themes over and over.) Experience has shown me that most people don't "get it" the first time. ;-)

That, and there are always new readers here...

[D]

Just having some fun today... almost the Holiday :)

[FMF]

D --

:-)