Virtually everyone today dreams of being wealthy and living a rich lifestyle. We are flooded with people on social media flaunting expensive cars and new technology. We think designer clothes or a higher paying job will finally make us happy with life, so we strive to acquire as much money as we can. While I have no issues with making more money, is living a life of luxury really a worthwhile goal to aim at? Is it not better to live a life of poverty?
The Fickleness of Fortune
“He who has relied on Fortune less has maintained his position best” -Niccolo Machiavelli
A common theme in life is as follows: things are going great, something bad happens, and then another bad thing compounds, and another, and it seems like Murphy has it out for you.
Bad days are bound to come. Maybe bad weeks. Maybe even bad years.
Having millions of dollars can be a buttress against some of the many storms that life has to offer, but even the rich are vulnerable to accidents, scams, lawsuits, addiction, wasteful spending, medical bills, divorce, death, war, revolution, and natural disaster.
Mike Tyson earned $400 million during his boxing career, yet in 2003 Tyson filed for bankruptcy.
Making wealth a primary aim in life is a shallow boat in a rough ocean—an ocean that you have no control over. Disaster will come and Murphy will knock on your door (several times throughout your life). If you stake your life on wealth you are opening yourself up to disappointment and discontentment when Fortune turns her back on you.
You Can’t Buy (Lasting) Happiness
“Within a year, lottery winners and paraplegics have both (on average) returned most of the way to their baseline levels of happiness. The lottery winner buys a new house and a new car, quits her boring job, and eats better food. She gets a kick out of the contrast with her former life, but within a few months the contrast blurs and the pleasure fades. The human mind is extraordinarily sensitive to changes in conditions, but not so sensitive to absolute levels” -Jonathan Haidt
Every time a rich celebrity commits suicide, there’s that question in the back of everyone’s mind “they had everything, why would they kill themselves?”.
Katherine Brosnahan (Kate Spade) had millions of dollars. Anthony Bourdain had over a million. Mac Miller was worth around $10 million. Money doesn’t guarantee happiness (and poverty doesn’t guarantee despair) .
Poverty Will Make You Strong, Resourceful, and Alert
“For I think that Fortune, when she is opposite, is more profitable to men than when she is favorable. For in prosperity, by a show of happiness and seeming to caress, she is ever false, but in adversity when she showeth herself inconstant by changing, she is ever true. In that she deceiveth, in this she instructeth; in that she imprisoneth the minds of men with falsely seeming goods, which they enjoy, in this she setteth them at liberty by discovering the uncertainty of them” -Boethius
Being poor forces you to use your resources in the most efficient ways possible—if you don’t you might go hungry. The rich man throws out his scraps while the poor man cleans his plate. The poor man’s dollar goes a lot further than the rich man’s dollar.
Living in poverty will make you more alert—looking out for both opportunity and possible disaster. Opportunity is much more important to the poor man and so is avoiding disaster. Opportunity can be the difference between having a place to sleep and sleeping on the streets. The poor man is always alert.
Lastly, living as if you are broke will make you stronger. The rich man cannot sleep if he is not in his California king bed. The poor man sleeps comfortably on the ground. The rich man cannot stand the hunger pains from not eating for a day. The poor man is used to it and doesn’t think much about it. The rich man requires the best foods to be pleased. The poor man is happy with rice. The rich man’s body is weak and atrophied from laziness. The poor mans body is strong from work and hardship.
Freedom from “Stuff”
“The things you own end up owning you.” -Tyler Durden , Fight Club
The more shit you buy, the more shit you have to worry about—whether it be the monthly payment for your new BMW or making sure your new watch doesn’t get scratched. Having a ton of stuff weighs you down and makes it difficult to move. It will consume your thoughts and your time.
Trading time and money for objects that won’t bring you much joy is a horrible trade to make.
The Rarer The Sweeter
“Rare indulgence produces greater pleasure.” -Juvenal
Humans are excellent at adapting. This is good when it comes to enduring pain, but it’s a major issue in regards to experiencing pleasure. If you eat delicious steak every day for five years you will get used to it, and maybe even get sick of it. But if you eat delicious steak only once every few months, you will thoroughly enjoy every bite.
If you live as though you are poor, the small luxuries in life will be far more pleasurable to you. People who are addicted to cigarettes always talk about chasing the high they got from their first cigarette—but since they smoke daily, they will never experience that high again.
Warm showers feel the best after long periods without them.
The best meal comes after days without eating.
Lack causes appreciation when Fortune decides to visit you.
Money Well Saved
“Money is a guarantee that we may have what we want in the future. Though we need nothing at the moment it insures the possibility of satisfying a new desire when it arises.” -Aristotle
A very pragmatic reason to purposefully live well below your mean is to save money. Any money that you earn, that you do not spend, can be put away to help mitigate any future catastrophes. Having a respectable savings account will eliminate a bit of worry about the future.
Money well saved can be used for future adventures . Too many people spend money on useless objects and never have money left to do things like take time off or travel with loved ones. When you are on your death bed you will remember the adventures, not the new iPhone you got.
I am not naïve about the negative effects of poverty. Poverty is directly linked to crime and inadequate nutrition. People who live in poverty have higher cases of depression and suicide. Being broke drastically reduces your options.
However, I’m not advocating that you live in abject poverty. Instead I am advocating that you choose to live well below your means and remove “become wealthy” from your top priorities in life.
“It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.” -Diogenes the Dog
“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, for he that is so wants nothing.” -Seneca
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