[brapper]

This is not a general amount like "I only need enough tfor food and shelter and I could be happy...

I'm thinking of the amount you in particular would need to be spiritually and/or materialistically happy.

Don't give me money doesn't buy you happiness crap, you all want the ability to buy at least the next big thing from Apple.

So to buy everything you can't think of needing or wanting, and then support the way of life you think would bring you the most ahppiness, how much?

I'm thinking minimum, $10 million, but that might not be enough to buy a yatch and travel the world...

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

I think I figured out I needed 120 million to be very very happy but 400 million would be better (my own jet).

[MacMan4000]

how much money do you need?

all of it

[Dale Sorel]

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
I think I figured out I needed 120 million to be very very happy...

Uh... Money = Happiness... I don't think so

[paully dub]

None. I wanna be a kept man to a very wealthy and generous lady. Just keep the $$$ coming is all and I'll gladly cook the meals and make the house look nice for when she come home from the office. I'll even take care of her kids.

[ManOfSteal]

Eleventy Billion® of course.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally posted by Dale Sorel:
Uh... Money = Happiness... I don't think so

"Don't give me money doesn't buy you happiness crap, you all want the ability to buy at least the next big thing from Apple."

[d4nth3m4n]

60k/year.

nice and reasonable.

[MacMan4000]

Actually I'd be happy with only $100,000 (as opposed to "all of it" as I said before). I'd buy a 1970 Chevelle (restored) and a new mac and a new TV then go back to normal life.

[mac-kerouac]

I will be dealing with this very issue very soon. Currently I make a decent living and next year I may take a GA position so that I can pursue my Ph.D. full time. The position only pays 15k so I may have to learn how to eat wood or hope my mortgage company will accept seashells as payment! We'll see.

[MacNStein]

Though I'll never be satisfied, I'm quite content and have all I want or need.

... `cept for maybe a `52 Indian Chief. I'm currently shopping for one in decent condition.

[MacNStein]

sorry, dp.

[olePigeon]

I came out to about $40 million. $20 million would end up going to my friends and family in various forms. $10 million would go to charity, mostly stem cell research. $5 million would be invested, the remaining $5 million would be perfect for me to retire on.

[macroy]

Originally posted by brapper:


Don't give me money doesn't buy you happiness crap...

Lets say you have a good job doing what you like. And it pays ...$60K - and you also have a great wife and kids.... would you give ALL that up for 200 million (and lets just say you'll never be able to recreate that situation)?

But "realistically"? I'd say I'd be happy with 5 million and get to keep everything I have now.

[angelmb]

Money doesn't always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars.



BTW, with a bunch of money I would love to get more and more skills to be able to have a kind of dream work, you can get serious skills travelling and working for nice companies, nice people and so, sad but with a limited budget you can not even try it, you need to know man with real skills, no machine can do the work of one extraordinary man, but hey, I am human and sure I would love to, well, have some nice 'toys' and the best for my loved ones, relatives and friends.

Hell!, I would love to give something like one hundred Macs to macnn guys/girls

[D'Espice]

Originally posted by brapper:
Don't give me money doesn't buy you happiness crap, you all want the ability to buy at least the next big thing from Apple.

Really? We do? Nice, that means I'm not part of us all... Seriously, I couldn't care less what the next big thing from Apple (or IBM or Mercedes or Bose) is. To be really happy, I'd say I need a bit more than I need to make a living. To me, that includes a nice apartment, nice car, nice motorcycle but that's pretty much what I'm looking for in terms of stuff to buy (wife, kids, and friends however is a totally different situation so I ain't gonna discuss that right now). I would spend the little extra on stuff like holidays or luxury items I don't really need, like a pair of expensive shoes or a really uber digital camera (you know, like 8MP instead of what I really need which is 3-4MP). But right now, I couldn't care less about having millions on my bank account because I know, it would not make me any happier than I am.

[Oranges for Six]

None. Nada. Nil. I'd be a happy man if I could throw all these THINGS out and live without a penny. If I lived in a warmer climate I would build myself a hut on a piece of land and live off what the earth is giving me. A minimalitstic lifestyle. Ugh, I really hate all this stuff, things, crap. Computers, TVs, kitchens - yuck! I've seen enough of the outside, material world. Now I'd like to discover more of the inside. So easy to say, so hard to actually do. Well, soon the loans are paid off..

[Captain Obvious]

Originally posted by brapper:

I'm thinking minimum, $10 million, but that might not be enough to buy a yatch and travel the world...

You'd burn through 10 million in a decade or less.

I had this question before and we sat down and did some math.
In the end I came to about 125 million. It covered expenses throughout my life, philanthropic endeavors, and most importantly was enough to provide for 3 generations of relative wealth. My great grandkids could fend for themselves or hopefully their parents would have figured out how to spin the money they had into more through investments or business ventures.

Where do you guys live that 70K a year would be enough? A nice house in or around a large city is AT LEAST 600K. Add a car, cost of sending kids to college, vacations, and other must haves and 70k won't cover it.

[Xeo]

I've never figured it out to an actual figure, but I would be happy if I could travel. I only really care about my computer and as far as other cool things (stereo, tv, games, houses, cars, etc), they are toys that I'd have fun with every now and then. I don't need any of them. But to travel, live in various places, experience life, without the worry of how much it's costing me or what I need to think of next would be my paradise.

The only problem is when life takes me to a place that doesn't have broadband. That would be a hard decision...

[storer]

Originally posted by brapper:
I'm thinking minimum, $10 million, but that might not be enough to buy a yatch and travel the world...

\
A yatch? Whats a yatch?

Oh, you mean a yacht?

[Wiskedjak]

Originally posted by Dale Sorel:
Uh... Money = Happiness... I don't think so

Money does not equal happiness ... but it certainly does make happiness easier to achieve.

[d0ubled0wn]

I'd be happy if I could afford the following:
luxury car, BWM or Acura - $40,000
very nice home - $350,000
every new generation PowerMac - $4,000 every other year or so
kick ass home theater - $20,000 (?)

Actually I believe I'm well on my way. You see, I got this email from a wealthy Nigerian prince that needs my help...

[olePigeon]

Money can solve 90% of my problems. The other 10% I can get rid of on a treadmill.

[Moderator]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
"People don't understand, professional athletes make a lot of money, but we spend a lot of money, too."

-Patrick Ewing

[CD Hanks]

Originally posted by Moderator:
http://www.detnews.com/pix/2002/09/17/ewing.jpg

Yeah, and for that reason, I think most "professional" atheletes (and their agents) can all go die horrible deaths.

Nothing personal.

Regarding the thread topic: I could certainly live out the rest of my days (and I'm still pretty young) comfortably on around 10 million USD.

[Xeo]

Originally posted by d0ubled0wn:
Actually I believe I'm well on my way. You see, I got this email from a wealthy Nigerian prince that needs my help...

[CreepingDeth]

Let's do a little math:

$6.00 Taco Bell every nite.
$2.00 breakfast.
$4.00 lunch
Total=$12
Occassional eat out: $20 ever 2 weeks

Pocket money: $200 week
Big 'ol Box buys: $500 month (money for TVs, macs, etc.)
4,000 sq ft house: $3,500 monthly. [Central PA housing estimates]
Misc bills: $2,000 monthly
Gas money: $75 weekly
Other expenses: $1,000 biweekly (savings, stock, Hanukah. etc.)
Family occassions: $10,000 biyearly
[If I'm single]

Now let me figure this out:

Food month: $360
Pocket money: $800
Big Box: $500
House $3,500
Bills: $2,000
Gas: $300
Other: $2,000

$9,460 monthly
9.460x12=113.520
$113,520+(10,000x2)=$133,520.
Assume that I get out of college at 22. 4 years in military. Start at 26. Assume that I live to 90 (My family usually has pretty long life expectancy).
90-26=64

64x133,520= $8,545,280. Now, figure in the pills and operations. Maybe $10k for 10 years. Add 100,000. 8,645,280. For a lifetime? I must be missing something here…Car.
That's only about $100,000 over a lifetime.
$8,745,280.

Something's wrong here. I round up and that's $10 million.

It's gotta be more than that.

[hayesk]

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hreadid=237890

[Scientist]

$0.00

Originally posted by Oranges for Six:
None. Nada. Nil. I'd be a happy man if I could throw all these THINGS out and live without a penny. If I lived in a warmer climate I would build myself a hut on a piece of land and live off what the earth is giving me. A minimalitstic lifestyle. Ugh, I really hate all this stuff, things, crap. Computers, TVs, kitchens - yuck! I've seen enough of the outside, material world. Now I'd like to discover more of the inside. So easy to say, so hard to actually do. Well, soon the loans are paid off..

I'd like to think I could do the same. Unfortunately we are all quite spoiled by now. You people don't think the cavemen walked around depressed all day, do you? Sure, their lives were short and hard and extremely painful, but I doubt they experienced any less happiness.

[CreepingDeth]

Hey, if ya wanna do that, shut off your mac, go burn all your cloths, live in the woods in communion with nature, maaaaaan.

[Scientist]

Originally posted by CreepingDeth:
Hey, if ya wanna do that, shut off your mac, go burn all your cloths, live in the woods in communion with nature, maaaaaan.

If I could, I would.

Unfortunately I believe the amount of happiness one experiences is often more or less relative to the success one has relative to ones neighboors and to ones past condition.

My neighboors have cloths and computers and I do too currently. I admit I am spoiled. There isn't much I can do about it now.

[macaddict0001]

10 mil

[Goldfinger]

You have enough money when you don't have to think about it/worry about it anymore.

[Randman]

Money can't buy you happiness, but you could always try and lease it.

[RonnieoftheRose]

It took me a long time to appreciate the value of money and what it can do. When I was younger I listened to the cliches such as 'Money is evil/can't buy happiness, etc'. It's a big lie. People who complain about money are either jealous, trying to look like "Pity me I'm a poor saint" or think that every rich person is corrupt. There's nothing wrong with having a big car, a big house, even two of them, or great clothes. The problems most people have with big cars are that they pollute the air. A temporary problem that will be fixed one day.

Lots of money can be earned ethically and spent in such a manner to create prosperity for others. Imagine Oskar Schindler with no money to bribe Nazi officials. The power of money to create change is immeasurable. For every wealthy person paying politicians to help their greedy cause there is also a wealthy person paying politicians to help society or the world become a better place. Not enough though.

Socially concerned capitalists know that it takes money to generate money. It takes money to start a business. It takes a successful business to create and maintain jobs. Jobs create prosperity and security. When people have them they can concentrate on what makes them happy instead of worrying about their future and fighting to survive day to day. Yes, money can buy happiness. When you can pay for the roof over your head and food on the table you've got more time to give attention to those you care for.

[Thilo Ettelt]

3000 Euros a month would be a nice start.

[Sherwin]

Well, if you're looking for a nice yacht with ocean-going range, you're looking at about $15m minimum to start with (I was quoted 9m Euro for a Benetti Classic 115 - which will just about do the Atlantic at 20 knots - about two years ago).
Then figure about 15% of the original purchase price per year for running the thing, so about $2.25m per year.

Given that you probably won't want to work, you can't guarantee interest rates and there's the small point of inflation, you're looking at substantially more than you originally thought if you want to maintain the lifestyle until the end of your days.

Materialistically happy, permanently? £300m... ...and not a penny less.

[Scientist]

Personally, I think $200,000 sailboat would suit me just fine. Someday I hope it will.

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by Scientist:
Personally, I think $200,000 sailboat would suit me just fine.

If you're sticking to the lakes, yep. Don't try the Atlantic in it though!

[turtle777]

Originally posted by brapper:
I'm thinking of the amount you in particular would need to be spiritually and/or materialistically happy.

I'm thinking minimum, $10 million, but that might not be enough to buy a yatch and travel the world...

You really need a slap on your head.

Read this to have your perspective straightened out.

-t

[Sherwin]

Originally posted by turtle777:
You really need a slap on your head.

Read this to have your perspective straightened out.

Do you not think that "Rick" would be having these dreams too?

[wolfen]

$40k individual / $75k DINK / $150K w/2 kids


Any of these gets me a townhome, the ability to travel Europe every few years, and an acceptable retirement.

[macroy]

Originally posted by wolfen:
$40k individual / $75k DINK / $150K w/2 kids


Any of these gets me a townhome, the ability to travel Europe every few years, and an acceptable retirement.

$40K to maintain a townhouse and still be able to travel? I guess that depends on where that townhouse is located... but still seems low.

[spiky_dog]

Originally posted by macroy:
$40K to maintain a townhouse and still be able to travel? I guess that depends on where that townhouse is located... but still seems low.

agreed. i would think a $10 mill chunk would provide for a healthy enough stream of profit from investment to tide me over.

[hayesk]

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
It took me a long time to appreciate the value of money and what it can do. When I was younger I listened to the cliches such as 'Money is evil/can't buy happiness, etc'. It's a big lie. People who complain about money are either jealous, trying to look like "Pity me I'm a poor saint" or think that every rich person is corrupt.

Actually, I've found the more money people have, the more they complain about it.

There's nothing wrong with having a big car, a big house, even two of them, or great clothes.

Agreed. Sort of. It all depends on how you made the money to buy those things. If you made it from smart investing, working hard, or even winning the lottery, then by all means, enjoy the stuff.

If you made your money by laying off 10000 employees so you could write yourself a big bonus cheque for saving the company money, then I do have a problem with that.

[roberto blanco]

i'd say about 100 million to start things off...

with that, i'd jump start my business, buy/design a couple of homes, stoke out my family and my friends, give a lot to charity...

after that, 3 million each year. i'd spend about the first 10 years just travelling...always carrying along a top of the line powerbook.

w00t. thailand here i come... *g*

[wolfen]

Originally posted by macroy:
$40K to maintain a townhouse and still be able to travel? I guess that depends on where that townhouse is located... but still seems low.

I have this. It's in the Raleigh-Durham area. Cost $110k. It's all a matter of how much you put down, and how much debt you're in -- which I am not.


As an aside: the original poster seems to be implying "How much money would you need so that you no longer need to exercise self-discipline?" The money is not the fantasy in this question -- it's the idea that happiness means you don't have to control yourself. I beg to differ.

Most people's financial problems revolve around immediate gratification. As a resident MacNN "Old Grumpy Fart," here's my Public Service Announcement, kids: Stay out of debt, save up, and you can live well. Fk the lottery.

[macroy]

Originally posted by wolfen:
I have this. It's in the Raleigh-Durham area. Cost $110k. It's all a matter of how much you put down, and how much debt you're in -- which I am not.


As an aside: the original poster seems to be implying "How much money would you need so that you no longer need to exercise self-discipline?" The money is not the fantasy in this question -- it's the idea that happiness means you don't have to control yourself. I beg to differ.

Most people's financial problems revolve around immediate gratification. As a resident MacNN "Old Grumpy Fart," here's my Public Service Announcement, kids: Stay out of debt, save up, and you can live well. Fk the lottery.

I guess in your original post - it read like you only needed 40K to BUY the TH. So having it already is a different story. Maybe I need to move down there then. 110 here will get you a... parking spot.

[MindFad]

Originally posted by d4nth3m4n:
60k/year.

nice and reasonable.

Agreed.