15 Things More Important than Money
The recession has caused many people to look at money and reevaluate their lives in relation to it. There's no doubt that money is important to everyone (after all, it's hard to eat, buy clothes, and have a place to stay without money), but some have come to realize that having lots of money isn't the end-all of life — there are many things that are much more important than accumulating wealth.
Personal finance blogger Trent Hamm at The Simple Dollar takes a stab at listing fifteen things more important than money as follows:
Experiences
Wisdom
Marriage
Friendships
Physical health
Mental health
Personal passions
Communication
Self-reliance
Security
Helping others
Personal growth
Thankfulness
Hobbies
Spirituality
This lists seems like a good start at naming the things in life more important than money. Any here that you would disagree with or maybe some you think are missing?
Fifteen Things More Important than Money [The Simple Dollar]
— FREE MONEY FINANCE (Photo: strobist)
Post a comment
Comments:
They may be more important, but a lot of these things are very affected by the amount of money one has.
Family
I thought money = security. It doesn't?
Sure they are more important. But many of those things can be obtained or greatly subsidized with money.
This list is idiotic. If someone has to remind you that friendship is important to you, than it obviously isn't.
And marriage? Um, no.
Most things are worth so much more than money. I view money as a tool, useful for what you need it for.
I suppose it's a subset of personal growth, but learning new stuff. I love learning new stuff.
Also making babies laugh. I am not sure there's a better feeling in the universe. You're the most hilarious thing IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD! Who knew?
You know what else is worth SOOOOO much more than money?
Getting to tell your spouse "I TOLD YOU SO!"
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): Hehe yea I love when our 8 month old giggles at daddy and mommy, nothing better.
Children (if you have them, you know this already).
"Writing platitudinous lists on the internet"
@BabyFirefly: I'm going to have to disagree. Some of my happiest times come from when I had the least amount of money.
I traveled for a year and a half. And I experienced nearly all of those things while usually only having $100 to my name at any given time.
I think a strong argument can be made to substitute "rationality" for "spirituatlity".
If you must persist in retaining spirituality, wouldn't "Mental Health" be excluded by definition?
Wisdom, Courage and Friendship
Wow, I thought my life was ok. But after seeing that list, I realize it's really a mess. :(
I mean, Marriage? Physical/Mental health? Personal growth? Sheesh, thanks for reminding me what a shell of a man I actually am.
(in b4 replies telling me to become an hero)
Physical health depends on money (and luck).
Mental health often depends on money (and luck).
Self-reliance most assuredly depends on money.
Hobbies very often depend on money (and if not yours, then someone's. Can't read books from the library if the library has no funding...).
Security depends on money. (No money = no roof over your head = highly unsecure.)
Intangibles really are more important than money -- I value my friendships and my spouse above all else. But I can't live to enjoy them without money, so right now I value my job right up there with them. Hooray for making the rent!
Someone forgot to put kitties on the list. Especially when they're so excited to see you that they rub their lil face on yours so hard that it hurts.
@Science is for girls!: I've always hated it whenever someone dredges up the old trope, "Money can't buy happiness." Maybe it doesn't, but I'm usually a lot happier when I don't have money problems.
@tbax929 is just plain tbax929: In a superficial, worldly sense. My personal heroes are the people who realized that money provides neither happiness nor security and gave most of it away.
That said, money is a tool and nothing more. It can be used for great evil and great good (like any other powerful tool). The love of it is the root of all evil!
A good pair of shoes.
@FatLynn: Um, yes. My marriage is worth more than all the money I have. I'd trade all my money to keep my wife around.
People get paid to write this sort of dreck? He forgot puppies dogs and rainbows. Sheesh.
Beer, but you need money to buy or make it.
1) MORE MONEY
@bornonbord: Yes, you can technically have good moments with no money, but for example, in the pursuit of hobbies, well, some hobbies are very expensive. Like, I love astronomy. I can't afford the telescopes I want, so I can't fully enjoy my hobby. In marriage, a lot of problems arise from lack of money. "Security" (assuming they mean safety?) can be an issue if you live in the projects because you can't afford a better home. Some experiences that most people should have (travel, for example) can't be enjoyed because of lack of money...
So yes, money doesn't HAVE to be the direct cause of enjoying these things, but the more money you have, the easier it is to pursue a few of the things on this list.
Sex.
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): Oh yeah, making a baby smile or laugh has to be one of the best things a person can ever experience.
@GuinevereRucker: That does not mean that it is the right choice for everyone. If the blog post listed things more important TO THE AUTHOR than money, I wouldn't object, but she lists it as an item of universal importance.
I deal with a good many people whose physical and mental health are in the toilet thanks to spending all of their money before they earn it. They are miserable and broke. There are lots of things that are more important than money, yes, but it takes money to make a lot of things happen. We aren't living in Star Trek yet.
@redskull: While money isn't the most important thing in the world, I agree that it's really, really hard to be in an overall wonderful mental health state if you have no money. I'm pretty much always happy when I don't have money problems. When I got laid off, I went into a state of shock, despair (give me a break, it was my first real job) and uncertainty. I spent a lot of time pretty miserable because all of a sudden everything was going under a microscope.
You know, that box of cereal that we bought yesterday, it was the wrong brand - should I return it or just give it to someone? Am I going to kick myself for not getting back that $3? What about cable, can we cancel or dial back without an ETF or extending our contract, should we keep it so we don't go crazy? We need a new bathmat, but should we actually buy one right now, even though it's only $20?
My mental health took a big punch when I had to worry so much about money.
@BabyFirefly: One of the most common reasons for divorce is because the couple can't agree over how it should handle money. I understand why it can fall apart over something like that. Money makes a lot of things possible.
@BabyFirefly: If you really wanted to pursue your hobbies, you'd find a way to do it where you don't need money.
The movie "Once" is, funny enough, a lot about this.
From the Trivia on IMDB
The title refers to the many very talented artists that John Carney knew who put off their career by saying "once" they get this and that sorted out, but never succeed because they've put it off too long. This describes the lead character, The Guy.
There are ways to do everything with little/no money. Including moving out of the projects, being happily married, and enjoying your hobbies.
@Kimaroo - No Stars Upon Thars: Yes. Phoenix bopped me so hard in the mouth on Sunday that I swore I broke a tooth.
@pb5000: Exactly. Money is the means to do the things you want, not an end in and of itself. But you have to balance out the things you ultimately want (family, creative pursuits, etc.) with your means of earning the money to support them. If you earn a lot of money but burn all your time and energy for other pursuits in doing so, then you're not going to be satisfied with your life; likewise, if you earn little enough that you can't support your desired lifestyle, you're not going to be happy either.
@GuinevereRucker: Awesome! I'm so tired of people saying marriage is bull or isn't important. Marriage is at the top of the list of best decisions I ever made.
@bornonbord: Maybe in your experience this holds true, but in mine it hasn't. My SO and I can't even live in the same country together because we're both to broke for me to transfer to a uni there or for him to afford a visa to move here.
All I'm saying is money gives you a lot more flexibility in what you want and gives you the ability to do it now rather than wait years for it.
More important than how much money?
Because it's all a matter of scale.
Coffee.
Without it I would not be able to experience any of the others on that list.