The question for me isn't so much money as time. If I could keep my job take a 20% pay cut and only work 4 days a week I would do it starting tomorrow.

sac

I'm the girl who left the guaranteed millionaire by 35 career path to start a small business that helps others start small business for complete peanuts....and I am REALLY happy I did! 

Quote from: DesmoLu on September 14, 2010, 07:07:58 AM
I'm the girl who left the guaranteed millionaire by 35 career path to start a small business that helps others start small business for complete peanuts....and I am REALLY happy I did! 

you mean...YOU were to be the next Ms Cleo? 

money is inherently linked to happiness for me.  if i was living on my own, maybe not.  but with a wife and kid, it makes me happy to be able to provide for them.  i just bought a great house in an awesome neighborhood in a place where it's warm and sunny most of the year.  those things make me happy, and they take money to sustain.  however, i've also done a lot of work over the last 5 years to change my outlook on life.  i had "stuff" before that, and i wasn't happy.  now i still have "stuff", and i am happy.  so no, it's not all about money.  but it sure helps.

i took a 98% pay cut and work 12hr shifts, and i'm having the time of my f*cking life! My life is simple my needs are met.

food

shelter

beer

the rest is gravy.........

i have a lifestyle that i really like:  good home, company car, my Duc, new things around the house, vacations, and a little "mad money" on the side.
i couldn't take much less w/o a major adjustment.  i like my job and my boss likes me most days too.

OTOH, i know someone who seems to be quite content getting by with no steady income, no health/dental insurance, no car and no savings.  i don't get it, but to each his/her own.

Ciao!

The NY Times had an article in the past few weeks looking at this.  $75,000 seemed to be the cut off.  Anything over 75K was gravy.  Under meant stress, worry and not so happy.

Quote from: Little Monkey Toes on September 17, 2010, 10:05:24 AM
The NY Times had an article in the past few weeks looking at this.  $75,000 seemed to be the cut off.  Anything over 75K was gravy.  Under meant stress, worry and not so happy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_income_in_the_United_States

According to this about 89% of the US population is worried, stressed and not very happy.

Quote from: humorless dp on September 17, 2010, 10:30:48 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_income_in_the_United_States

According to this about 89% of the US population is worried, stressed and not very happy.

I am guessing you guys are quoting 2 different things.  The wiki is personal income, not household.  I am guessing the Times was household income.  If you have 2 people making 40k each, you are above the 75k level.


mitt

According to wiki the household income is 70% are below 75k. 

I wonder what the times meant about 75k - that is the cut off for being happy, or from going to Job A to B with B being less than A?

mitt

Found it and I was wrong above.  75k is limit for increasing happiness - after 75k, then the happiness meter pretty much stops moving.

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/the-magic-income-number/?scp=4&sq=income&st=cse

mitt

That's what I said right?  After $75K it's all gravy.  Under, not so happy.

Quote from: mitt on September 17, 2010, 10:49:40 AM
Found it and I was wrong above.  75k is limit for increasing happiness - after 75k, then the happiness meter pretty much stops moving.

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/the-magic-income-number/?scp=4&sq=income&st=cse

mitt

Meh. I need more time.

My gravy tastes terrible, I must be doing it wrong.

Not enough grease.