How would financial security change your life?

I'm not talking about winning the Lottery, buying yachts and football clubs, or anything like that.

But if you were to retain a fairly standard quality of life, without having to worry about money, what would you do differently?

Would you have more children? Go back to college? Redecorate your home or perhaps write that novel that you've been telling yourself is lurking within you?

I'd probably do all of the above, but most of all I'd take up painting and build a studio in the back garden.

How would financial security change your life?

orourkeda1977

I'd have a life then

TheValeyard

Less stress.

CarolineBee

I’ve a friend whose recently found themselves in this situation. We were chatting about how she’s feels like she’s 18 again making plans for her life, but with the benefit of experience. I actually think it’s a nicer place to be than suddenly coming into vast sums of money - she’s got there through her own hard work so far more satisfactory.

I’d move back to Ireland to be closer to family. Definitely living in the country so I’ve got the option to work with dogs in some form... walking, boarding kennels etc

Sunrise_Sunset

I'd have another kid.

OldMrBrennan83

I'd just stop working and live in west Cork.

SEPT 23 1989

racso1975

To me security is a home and having one nobody could ever take from me. I'm over the moon with the job I have unfortunately it will never provide me with that. I get by fine on what I earn and that's more then enough for me. So all I'd ever want would to be given the opportunity to get a house.

Toots

I’d be able to afford a bigger place to live, and then I’d have more kids. It would also be nice to be able to have a holiday every year. It’s lovely to have something like that to look forward to.

Junkyard Tom

Kitten ambulance driver.

Paddy Cow

I'm not a materialistic person and wouldn't need a lot of money. What I would like is to own my own house. I'm currently renting and my landlord is going to downsize in the next 18 months, which means I have to move out. The thoughts of it is stressing me out to the max. If it was just me, it wouldn't be too bad. If I had to go back to house share it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world but I have pets and no landlord wants to hear about that.

If the worst came to the worst, I know I could find loving homes for the dogs as they are well behaved and adorable. I worry about the two parrots though. They are used to the freedom of my apartment. If I had to re-home them I imagine the new owners would keep them locked in their cages most of the time and that would be detrimental to their mental health as they are not used to it anymore.

In the bigger scheme of things, my problems aren't that bad. I don't know how people with kids manage to rent. Prices are crazy and it's a landlords market. So I guess I don't need financial security and am happy to work to live but I'd like a home base that I know no one can kick me out of.

If there's anyone out there willing to rent to a cow, two dogs and two parrots, pm me :pac:

eviltwin

I'd volunteer more. I was doing some with a crime victim organisation but it became impossible with work and family so I had to leave and I really regret that.

Zorya

I would travel regularly and be able to repair things when they break instead of making do. There are lots of places I would like to see, I love sunshine, and I love being anonymous somewhere new. I would go to Gobekli Tepe first, just to have a look at it. Having financial security would mean I could just trek around from time to time. Cheaply like, nothing fancy, I don't crave fanciness.

But it would also mean I would be able to stop doing complicated sums in my head almost every day in a magical juggling act of balancing the books - and doing those endless sums might just be what staves off dementia, so, hmmmmm, maybe being broke keeps me mentally agile!

Richard Hillman

Financial security is really not having to go out and work. I don't love my job by any means but I would imagine I would get fairly miserable and lonely after a few months. I reduced my hours at work a few months ago and am starting to become miserable during my extra days off :pac:

I know a lot of women in my work that don't need to be there. Their husbands are quite successful but they need to get out of the house and into a routine and socialise.

orourkeda1977

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

I'd just stop working and live in west Cork.

yOU'D STOP LIVING IN WEST CORK TOO

OldMrBrennan83

orourkeda1977 wrote: »

yOU'D STOP LIVING IN WEST CORK TOO

That reads like I'm not welcome.

Paddy Cow

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Financial security is really not having to go out and work. I don't love my job by any means but I would imagine I would get fairly miserable and lonely after a few months. I reduced my hours at work a few months ago and am starting to become miserable during my extra days off :pac:

I know a lot of women in my work that don't need to be there. Their husbands are quite successful but they need to get out of the house and into a routine and socialise.

That's why there are so many millionaires who still go to work. Look at Bill Gates. He's a billionaire but still going strong. We need a purpose in our lives. A lot of people who have worked their whole lives struggle when they retire because they don't know what to do with all the free time. That's why it's important to have a good work/life balance.

pat k

Yes personally I think financial security is having the House paid for and a few BoB in the bank @ 40 - 50 k I think this would do me fine
probably work part time then and just enjoy life a bit more and if children came along then that would be nice .(and a nicer hole in the few Bob in the bank) :-)

Wanderer78

Paddy Cow wrote:

That's why there are so many millionaires who still go to work. Look at Bill Gates. He's a billionaire but still going strong. We need a purpose in our lives. A lot of people who have worked their whole lives struggle when they retire because they don't know what to do with all the free time. That's why it's important to have a good work/life balance.

Could you class gates's philanthropic work as work?

Neames

I'm happy enough at work.

Financial security to me wouldn't mean giving up work necessarily. I'd like to travel more and just always have that few quid to treat the family every now and again.

Paddy Cow

Paddy Cow wrote: »

That's why there are so many millionaires who still go to work. Look at Bill Gates. He's a billionaire but still going strong. We need a purpose in our lives. A lot of people who have worked their whole lives struggle when they retire because they don't know what to do with all the free time. That's why it's important to have a good work/life balance.

That is a very interesting comment.

About once a week, usually on Friday evenings, I go along to that Séamus Heaney exhibition in the Bank of Ireland on Dame Street.

What marvels me is how much time the man had to sit in his attic and think, and work, and write. His talent wasn't just a gift of skill, it was also the product of an economic fortune, whereby he could afford to so reflect.

You reference men who crave productive work in the physical sciences, but some of us would love the opportunity to work in more abstract endeavours. Neither art nor science is less worthy than the other, and we should be equally encouraging of people who wish to pursue either of them.

Unfortunately, this is not realistic.

So it's all very well to celebrate Bill Gates for going to work when he doesn't need to, but I'd sooner celebrate the artists and writers who go to work when they'd make more money doing some other job.

Paddy Cow

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Could you class gates's philanthropic work as work?

Yes. Even if he's not gaining financially from it, he still has to go to meetings, ensure funds are spent where they are supposed to be etc. Work requires time and effort, whether or not you are getting paid for it. It's why a lot of retired/unemployed people engage in voluntary "work". You don't see a financial benefit but your mental health benefits from having a purpose because you are still engaging in the community. Bill Gates could retire and go play golf for the rest of his life but I think that would bore him into an early grave.

Paddy Cow

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

That is a very interesting comment.

About once a week, usually on Friday evenings, I go along to that Sus Heaney exhibition in the Bank of Ireland on Dame Street.

What marvels me is how much time the man had to sit in his attic and think, and work, and write. His talent wasn't just a gift of skill, it was also the product of an economic fortune, whereby he could afford to so reflect.

You reference men who crave productive work in the physical sciences, but some of us would love the opportunity to work in more abstract endeavours. Neither art nor science is less worthy than the other, and we should be equally encouraging of people who wish to pursue either of them.

Unfortunately, this is not realistic.

So it's all very well to celebrate Bill Gates for going to work when he doesn't need to, but I'd sooner celebrate the artists and writers who go to work when they'd make more money doing some other job.

I'm not celebrating Bill Gates, I'm using him as an example in the context of this thread, as some one who has financial security who still chooses to work, be it philanthropically or financially.

Comparing the value of science vs art in the context of this thread is irrelevant. There are plenty of artists who only became famous after they died and their works became invaluable. That didn't help the artist become financially secure in their lifetime. It's unfortunate they never lived to see their art get the appreciation it deserved but that's a discussion for another thread

mvl

... in my case having more children is more to do with my biology than my financials . Then, looking around me, art stuff is done whenever there is inspiration, not when there is more money. For example, I would be inspired by ppl I like to do all sorts of arty stuff.

So to answer OP, I'd go with ... I would have more time to read, research, innovate.

Your Face

It would beat living in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER.

upinsmoke

I guess it would just give me more time to do things I actually enjoy.

I absolutely hate routine and not been in charge of my own life. Be in work five days a week, be on time, cook food and then be around 19.30 in the day before I can do anything I want to do. Some mornings I wake up and I would love to just call in sick but you can't do that. I feel like five days of each week of my life is actually ruined because of work.

If I could get a job where you can work 3*12.5 hour days in a row i would love it. The five day working week is an absolute cod.

Wanderer78

upinsmoke wrote:

If I could get a job where you can work 3*12.5 hour days in a row i would love it. The five day working week is an absolute cod.

It is a load of ****e, call in sick now and again, you ll enjoy it

LimeFruitGum

I would have a kid or two if I can, and a live-in nanny.

I think I would still want to work, but in a different capacity. Live off my investments, but do some part-time gig. I need to keep mentally active somehow.

I actually feel a bit sorry for the ‘ladies who lunch’ set. They’re financially secure but the pressure to conform must be mad. God forbid if you don’t have the latest stuff, don’t have a holiday home in Marbella etc.

upinsmoke

Wanderer78 wrote: »

It is a load of ****e, call in sick now and again, you ll enjoy it

My sick days are hangover days

Arghus

I'd read a lot more and try to write a book and I'd be a lot happier.

Shanotheslayer

Stream games mostly.
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