DISQUS

Elaine Vigneault · 2 years ago

I think it's a 'keeping up with the Jones' type of thing. People report being happy with their income when they earn just as much or more than what their friends earn. I see it here in NY too. My husband doesn't feed rich, I do. It's because he's comparing our income with his friends' incomes instead of with average people's incomes.

webomatica · 2 years ago

Elaine I'm sure New York can be just as (if not more) money-crazy as the Bay Area.

It would be nice if people put more emphasis on happiness rather than net worth. There is the assumption in our society that more money should mean more happiness. I think the Times article shows the diminishing returns of more money once your basic needs are met.

As for keeping up with the joneses - I think personally we realized it's a losing game. There is no way in heck we will ever be "rich" in terms of monetary value what with Bill Gates and Warren Buffet out there. There's something to be said for realizing you'll never be super wealthy and therefore, learn to be thankful with what you have.

I'm no financial guru but as long as we can pay the bills, save a little, support what we believe in, and have the free time to enjoy life, what the heck else is all the rest for? Buying a Hummer would just make me feel guilty...

Shawn S. Wilson · 2 years ago

It is my sincere hope that all those involved in producing the material quoted herein eat a copious quantity of shit and die, only to burn in the worst Hell one could pull from the sick imagination of a Judeochristian zealot.

srsly.

webomatica · 2 years ago

I think the suitable hell for the person trapped in "keeping up with the joneses" land involve their lives as it is now - except for every material possession they acquire (say a new car) their neighbor immediately appears, gloating over the better model they just bought.