Are you rich?

[OldWiseGuy]

I have a pretty good retirement nest egg, but don't consider myself rich by any means. What is 'rich' to you? Is there a dollar figure in terms of net worth, regardless of lifestyle?

 

[Greg J.]

It is mostly missionaries that I see that have all their future needs, and some desires, guaranteed regardless of the condition of the economy, their savings, or investments.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:8, 1984 NIV)

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19, 1984 NASB)

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; (Matthew 9:29, 1984 NIV)

 

[dogs4thewin]

Whether I am rich depends on what I am comparing. Am I rich compared to most of the seven billion people on this Earth? YES Do I consider myself rich for the United States no not by a long shot.

 

[DaisyDay]

It's a comparative rather than an absolute, isn't it? If you're speaking purely of material wealth. In global terms, nearly any American is rich, having shelter, bodily security, food, easy access to clean water, mobility and such.

But within First World culture, no, I'm far from being rich. Affordable healthcare is always a concern, working hours to leisure hours are not the best.

Still, as the saying goes, "enough is as good as a feast", so, since I'm not greedy, I have pretty much what I need materially as long as I keep working at my current job; perhaps also when I retire.

 

[aieyiamfu]

Rich seems like it would be a fairly subjective standard. Materially speaking I have more than most people in the history of the world, I am however in debt beyond my net worth, and that would make me poor by that standard, I also do not have huge amounts of disposable cash, due mainly to focusing on elimination of my debt. But on the surface I would certainly be rich compared to someone from cambodia or other such 3rd world country, just for the fact that I have the ability to aquire a certain lifestyle. What would a king in millenia past given to have one 25 year old Ford Escort, or running water, what would some in 3rd world countries have given? Rich is extremely subjective, we should be thankful for all that we have.

 

[Chesterton]

I agree with everyone above. Another old saying - "if you've got food, shelter and some clothes, all the rest is gravy." I feel very blessed to have the necessities.

 

[jayem]

To be totally honest, I suppose we are. My wife's and my net worth is in 7 figures. We're not 1 percenters, but according to our broker, we're in the top 4%. I've always lived below my means and I've always saved and invested. But most importantly, I've never had a lot of debt. We paid off our mortgage years ago, I've bought all but one of my cars with cash, and I never carry a credit card balance.

 

[keith99]

Of course I am. Otherwise how could I be a man of wealth and taste?

 

[Soyeong]

I have a pretty good retirement nest egg, but don't consider myself rich by any means. What is 'rich' to you? Is there a dollar figure in terms of net worth, regardless of lifestyle?

"The rich man is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least."

 

[Nithavela]

If you can afford to post on this website, you are propably rich when compared to the rest of mankind.

 

[dysert]

I have a pretty good retirement nest egg, but don't consider myself rich by any means. What is 'rich' to you? Is there a dollar figure in terms of net worth, regardless of lifestyle?

As everyone else has said, "rich" is relative. But in terms of a retirement nest egg, there is a number that would make me comfortable (and I'm nowhere near it). Let me put it this way, if I could afford to retire and live off my nest egg, I'd feel rich. As it is, I'll have to work at least until full Social Security age.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Theres a buddhist tale. Someone had no friends, went into business, and then had loads of old friends and relatives appear. He collected the sack of riches and worshipped them - "Oh Money, I worship you because you have made me so popular!"

 

[KCfromNC]

Of course I am. Otherwise how could I be a man of wealth and taste?

Pleased to meet you...

 

[OldWiseGuy]

As everyone else has said, "rich" is relative.

But then is poor also relative?

 

[Jack of Spades]

But then is poor also relative?

There are two recognized definitions for poverty, one of them being relative, the other one not:

Absolute poverty = "lack of means necessary to meet basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter" (UN)

Relative poverty = Poor compared to the living standard of ones society.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

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[Greg J.]

How long have you been around?

He's been around for a long, long year. You can see it in his profile.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

.

 

[Chesterton]

I think I saw someone looks like him laying traps for troubadours. What's he got against troubadours?

 

[brinny]

I have a pretty good retirement nest egg, but don't consider myself rich by any means. What is 'rich' to you? Is there a dollar figure in terms of net worth, regardless of lifestyle?

"rich" to me is having provided what you need without feeling "lack"....

and a bit left over