I am single and live alone & I am sometimes envious of others my age that have caring and sharing relationship.
Yes, I miss that also. Especially when I see older couples out and about. But who knows, maybe when they get home they are at each other's throats, lol. Whereas I come home to peace and quiet and can do exactly as I please.
Well, since wife and I have the exact same standards about marriage, we can "do what we want" because we have the same interests. My wife hates "quietness", so she has to have me talking and/or the tv on. And, with my joking/sarcastic type personality, "never a dull moment in our home" we both say. Heck, I didn't realize just how much I hated single life until I met my wife and we married. Now I have much more fun than I did those 22 years of being single/divorced. More money would mean a nicer boat and house w/a boat dock behind it, more nice dinners out, traveling and so on.
I'm happy with what I have which is very modest, and never compared my life with others. I was happiest with a grilled cheese sandwich and a beer with my late husband. Simple things and after he passed, still looked for the simple things. I breath the same air as the millionaires that live around here and there are plenty of them. See about the same scenery they do. Feel the same weather. Birds sing in their neighborhood, they sing in my neighborhood too.....
A number of folks on this Thread say how content they are with what they have/money they have, but the reality is...........how much nicer would your life be with more money????? I think a lot, if not all, here would say, "you're absolutely right, Cody, my life would be better".
Everybody's life would be a little easier, I'm sure but I really don't think that much greater. Look at how unhappy some stars are! I really can't think of one thing I need to rush out and buy because I want it so badly...nothing.
But, that's you! If your kids and family didn't financially help you out, where would you be financially? Just saying. We aren't rich by any manner of the word, but we'd be in somewhat bad shape if it weren't for my wife's salary and SS. I bring in some SS as well, but not nearly as much as her salary/SS is. Anyway, We aren't talking about stars in this Thread, only common people, like the members of this forum. Now, the couples here that are receiving nice Pension's and top SS, may not be envious of others that have money, but those that don't get that nice Pension and top SS, surely might like more money.
I'd be in a cheaper apt. Probably. I don't need 2,000 sq ft to live in. I'd be happy in a studio apt. Yes, anybody that's not making it is probably stressed about how to pay bills. Even with all the help I get, there are times I'm stressed but even my kids are stressed and they have lots more money. What I'm trying to say is....no matter what group you're in...there are problems. They make a lot of money but their expenses are HUGE! And those expenses are every month. Yet their income is not the same every month. They could have a bad month or a good month, it varies.
I agree that age is part of the equation. Yes, I could go on a shopping spree and spend on clothes, heels, purses, make up etc. Now, I don't care as much. I still splurge on my hair and that's out of my money so I don't even need more for that. I paid $144 for highlights and a cut a couple of weeks ago. That includes tip.
First, ever live in a Studio Apt? My ex-wife lived in one when I met her. I had never seen/been in one before her's. Talking about SMALL! Unreal! Some of the bad things about buying/owning a house is yearly property tax and the cost of anything that breaks down (plumbing/heating, electrical). But, most people with nice incomes do have houses and large expenses. Nice incomes means nice lifestyles which can also mean larger expenses. All three go together!
Yep, even if the house is paid off, you still have taxes, homeowners insurance, repairs, etc. I can live in a small space though. I only use a couple rooms in my home and never go in the others.
"I am single and live alone & I am sometimes envious of others my age" I'm in the same boat, except that I'm not single, and do not live alone, though for the most part, it sometimes seems so.
No one lifestyle has everything, and it seems like what we have been posting in this thread is a great example of that. Some of us have a spouse, and decent health, but not enough money to go anywhere or do anything together. The ones that have enough money to go places and have fun wish they had someone to go along with them. And others here are wishing that they still had better health to be able to go places and enjoy life. So, there is always something that could be better, no matter what our life is like. Money is not the answer for everything, nor for everyone. When you have enough to be comfortable, then you miss other things in life. When we were younger and had jobs, then there was not any time to go places because the jobs kept us tied down. I guess there is no one size fits all answer; so we just make the best of what we have.
I would choose good health and family near over lots of money. Doesn't mean I would want to be dirt poor either. Having enough to pay my bills and eat the food I want without sacrificing quality over cost is a good enough life for me. An occasional treat is still doable on my widow's benefits. I do have lots of help from my kids which gives me security and some nice vacations and nice things to wear, etc. but I would be happy without it also.