As discussed on MM...

stripesandspots · September 2010

bluekid:
stripesandspots:

More money, more problems.

I think its funny when people talk about how when they make $XX they will have "made it" - and this is why -

When you consider your ideal amount you don't consider that as your income increases, your lifestyle increases too. For instance, most executives that make $200k a year do not drive a 10 year old Corolla with 150,000 miles and they don't live in a 1,500 square foot house with bad landscaping. Its no longer acceptable to wear clothes from Forever 21, if you don't buy a bigger house you probably end up renovating the house you have, further, you are probably working 14 hour days and who has time to mow the lawn, service the pool, clean the house, do the laundry - now you need a housekeeper and a lawn/pool boy to maintain a decent work-life balance - all of this is CA-CHING. So, even if someone makes $1mm a year, they probably have the same percentage of disposal income per year as someone that makes $100k - granted, its more cash money but considering the differences in cost of living - its not that much.

You know, I actually disagree with this. I think this is just pressure that people put on themselves. I think it's definitely acceptable to drive a ten year old Corolla or whathaveyou...even if I were banking 1 million a year, and knowing me, I'd probably do just that (especially if it were a 10 year old Prius...oh baby). The way I figure it, I'm not going to spend my money to keep up with stuff like that if I don't want to. If people want to judge me for my stuffs, they're welcome to do so, but ultimately I'm the only one that I care about pleasing when it comes to things like that.

ETA: Not that I disagree about needing to hire people to do stuff if you work 14 hours a day - that I can definitely understand. I just mean I would not feel the need to upgrade my car and house and such due to my job.

This is not about Keeping Up with the Jones. Its about hard work, maintaining a good work life balance, feeling good about what you are doing, how you are spending your time, and how hard you are working. Knowing you IRL, I agree that YOU are not in the majority - but go to the parking garage underneath leadership square.....there's your answer.

With that being said, I think being a "big dog" also means you can look yourself in the mirror at night and be proud of what you did that day. To most outsiders Andrew Fastow and Jeffrey Skilling appeared to have it all - all the while frauding their investors and employees.

bluekid · September 2010

stripesandspots:
bluekid:
stripesandspots:

More money, more problems.
I think its funny when people talk about how when they make $XX they will have "made it" - and this is why -
When you consider your ideal amount you don't consider that as your income increases, your lifestyle increases too. For instance, most executives that make $200k a year do not drive a 10 year old Corolla with 150,000 miles and they don't live in a 1,500 square foot house with bad landscaping. Its no longer acceptable to wear clothes from Forever 21, if you don't buy a bigger house you probably end up renovating the house you have, further, you are probably working 14 hour days and who has time to mow the lawn, service the pool, clean the house, do the laundry - now you need a housekeeper and a lawn/pool boy to maintain a decent work-life balance - all of this is CA-CHING. So, even if someone makes $1mm a year, they probably have the same percentage of disposal income per year as someone that makes $100k - granted, its more cash money but considering the differences in cost of living - its not that much.
You know, I actually disagree with this. I think this is just pressure that people put on themselves. I think it's definitely acceptable to drive a ten year old Corolla or whathaveyou...even if I were banking 1 million a year, and knowing me, I'd probably do just that (especially if it were a 10 year old Prius...oh baby). The way I figure it, I'm not going to spend my money to keep up with stuff like that if I don't want to. If people want to judge me for my stuffs, they're welcome to do so, but ultimately I'm the only one that I care about pleasing when it comes to things like that.
ETA: Not that I disagree about needing to hire people to do stuff if you work 14 hours a day - that I can definitely understand. I just mean I would not feel the need to upgrade my car and house and such due to my job.
This is not about Keeping Up with the Jones. Its about hard work, maintaining a good work life balance, feeling good about what you are doing, how you are spending your time, and how hard you are working. Knowing you IRL, I agree that YOU are not in the majority - but go to the parking garage underneath leadership square.....there's your answer.
With that being said, I think being a "big dog" also means you can look yourself in the mirror at night and be proud of what you did that day. To most outsiders Andrew Fastow and Jeffrey Skilling appeared to have it all - all the while frauding their investors and employees.

I always knew I was a special case.

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