| Yeah, it goes both ways. Money can buy you free time, by reducing the time you spend working for someone else (two jobs -> one job -> no job), and by paying other people to do stuff for you. Money reduces stress from your life, by knowing you can quit your job if it becomes too bad, by knowing you can afford to fix broken stuff or get healthcare (or get better healthcare). Money allows you to buy things you need, and the things you want. This can improves your relations, because you have more time to spend with people you care about, more time to think about them, can spend money to help them, can spend money to have fun with them. Being less stressed makes it more fun to be with you. Having money makes you a more desirable partner (other things being equal). And this all can translate into better income opportunities. Being happily married is cheaper than being divorced. Having "f-you money" improves your negotiating position at job. Being less stress makes it easier to focus on being productive. You can buy the tools or lessons that you think you need; you have time to learn new stuff. Your friends can recommend you better jobs, or better business opportunities. (Also, rich people usually have rich friends, which usually have access to better jobs and better opportunities.) This cycle can also break if you e.g. have some mental problem or personality trait that makes your life suck regardless of how much money you have. > I think the hard work it might take for a low income earner to get a higher income, is part of what also increases their well being. It can make you more proud of your achievements. Depends on whether you would rather be proud, or live an enjoyable life... speaking for myself, I would choose the latter, but maybe the grass is always greener on the other side. Also, your hard work may fail to make you rich, or you may get older and unable to work hard anymore. |