Would Money Problems Drive You To This?
September 29, 2008
We all know money can cause lots of problems. And while there’s nothing wrong with money, or wanting to make lots of money, it can be dangerous if it’s your only motivator. The sad thing is, some people are motivated by nothing but money. But what do they have left if it all falls apart?
I was just reading a newspaper story about a high flying banker who threw himself under a train. Apparently, a close source said that he’d probably lost a lot of money due to the recent credit crunch and he was feeling the pressure.
What kind of world are we living in when folk value money more than their own lives? And it’s not like this reaction to money problems is something new, because there was plenty people jumping off buildings after the 1929 stockmarket crash.
Every time the the stock market, or housing market booms, then crashes, my stomach churns. And it’s not because I feel sorry for those who have lost money. It’s their reaction that terrifies me. If such a huge percentage of our population are so easily motivated by fear and greed, then panic when they lose control, it puts all of us at risk.
As Akemi Gaines explains in this article - money can be dangerous. We’re living in a world where people die for a few hundred dollars and often a lot less.
Akemi is hopeful that the financial downturn will cause people to re-evaluate their priorities and I hope she is right. Although, 7 years on from 9/11, I have to wonder what would need to happen to convince the majority of the world’s population that life is more important than money.
What do you think? Does all this make you feel unsafe? And do you think a recession may help, or will money always cause problems?
If all this is too depressing, check out some more positive & uplifting related reading:
Can Bill Gates Help Africa Feed Itself? Bill Gates and Howard Buffet plan to invest $75 million from their private foundation, to help small farmers in third world countries to sell their crops as food aid.
2500 Children Saved From Death: The story of Irena Sendler who saved 2500 children’s lives during World War II.
Why Blogging Is Like Backpacking: Kelly compares blogging with backpacking and explains how both activities encourage folk to forge deeper relationships.
I Was A Mail Order Bride: An hilarious story from Rita’s Digest on the lengths she went to, to make sure her friend had a birthday to remember.
Comments
38 Responses to “Would Money Problems Drive You To This?”
Got something to say?
-
Inspired Gifts From Unicef
-
Make Money
-
Great Reading
-
Amazing Deals
-
Successful And Outstanding Blogger
Hi Cath - money sure isn’t everything, but it is a tool that I think can make life a little easier.
Right before I came to read your blog, I was just sitting here thinking, “Holy-shit! What if people don’t travel this winter….what’s going to happen to my little biz?” But, I guess I can only wait and see.
mark_hayward’s last blog post..Train for Humanity Week Two Update
Thank so much for your kind thoughts during little B’s illness it was much appreciated.He’s at school today and doing great.
Suzie’s last blog post..Valium Please
We’re back home and, this afternoon, I’m going to have to look at our financial statements. No matter what they say, I’m not going to throw myself under a train. At the worst, I might have to think about going back to work.
The financial mess doesn’t make me feel unsafe, but then I don’t generally worry about things I can’t do anything about.
I think all of our financial stuff is in places that won’t be too badly affect and that’s all I can do, so I don’t worry about the rest.
Mike at exit78
Mike Goad’s last blog post..From Our Porch
Hi Mark - It’s definitely a tool to make life easier isn’t it. It just doesn’t seem to work out that way for people like that guy.
I’m hoping people will still be travelling. There was a lot of American people in Mexico in the Summer, so hopefully people will still come to Culebra in the winter. Maybe you can do offers to encourage people to travel - you know something like Disney did for the Canadian’s when their exchange rate was bad?
It’s worrying that both our government and your government are bailing out these banks. We had another one nationalized today. It really pisses me off that the tax payers are losing out to compensate the shareholders. They’re happy enough to take the profits and the dividends when the economy is booming. I think everyone is worried about the consequences.
Gosh - money has such an extraordinary amount of power in our world. It’s stunning, given that money really is only a concept - with everything happening electronically, most of us hardly even touch “real” cash. And even that is just pieces of paper, assigned a value.
And that’s the thing - we are the ones that assign money value and power. So often money just stands for something - freedom, security, success - and yes, self-worth is in there, too. If we can figure out what our money stands for, we can also free ourselves from giving it all that much importance.
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea Hess|Intuition In Business’s last blog post..Is Your Time Limiting Your Money?
I like the way you’ve explained how we attach certain values to money. And I think you’re right - if folk work out what money really stands for to them and why, they’d definitely be able to free themselves of that attachment.
I know what it feels like not to have money. Not in the Third World sense, or even ever having to miss a meal, but living in a mouse, rat, ant, mold infested place where it rained in most of the rooms during our heavy rainy seasons until a ceiling collapsed, having someone break in while I was home in the middle of the day, being in deep debt from medical bills and so on. All this in the good old San Francisco Bay Area. I will do my very best not to ever be remotely close to that situation again. Ever. It’s not greed, or wanting to have “stuff”, its wanting the security of not having to live in a delapitaded, unhealthy building, live in an area where you fear gun fire penetrating through your walls, being able to buy healthy food, - I can go on.
So yes, the recession makes me feel extremely unsafe, but I try not to let it run me either.
Carla’s last blog post..Alternatives to fabric softeners
“What kind of world are we living in when folk value money more than their own lives? ” A question that goes so deep…..how does one answer this? The post offers much to ponder…..
M’s last blog post..Stock Market’s Down–So’s My Scale! Yessss!
Hi Mark - it does doesn’t it? And I have to wonder if money is the real problem or is it people? Folk murder, exploit and do all kinds of terrible things for money, whether they fear not having enough - or they’re greedy and want far more, no matter what the cost. But has the world made them like that - or were they born that way?
While I know from experience how very overwhelming money problems can be, there’s always a solution. You may not be able to maintain your old standard of living, which may be much of what makes people commit suicide over money, but you can try again.
Stephanie’s last blog post..The Mysterious Distributed Comments Session at Blogworld
Suzie, Mike and Carla - you all wound up in Askimet - sorry.
Hi Suzie - I’m so glad he’s well again. I figured that with so many of us having the same thoughts, it was bound to turn out ok.
Hi Carla - I know where you’re coming from. Lots of us have been in financial trouble. Wanting to feel safe and secure isn’t really the same as greed though is it? I’m betting it isn’t cheap to live in San Francisco Bay either.
A lot of folk are worried about the recession - especially the governments bailing out the banks with taxpayers money. It’s a shame we couldn’t vote on important stuff like that, instead of trusting whoever gets into power.
Hi Stephanie - exactly - there’s always choices. It’s sad that folk make such drastic choices such as suicide. They might have liked their lives better having less money.
Hi Mike - the way your retirement has gone so far, I’m wondering if you’ll ever get to give up working. Mind you, I get the impression you like doing it anyway. It’s a pity you couldn’t do something like six weeks on and six weeks off, so you could travel in between.
Nah! It’s more like 10 to 12 months off and then 6 or 7 months work.
There is really only one place and one job that I would consider going and doing right now and that’s the one I finished at the end of August…, and that will only be if they invite me, though I will make sure that they know I’m interested. Besides, the performance in the exams in the simulator — where I did almost all of the simulator training that was done for this class — were the best that had been seen ever. If they can get the funding, I think there is a good chance I’ll be asked back. Then I get to decide if I want to do it again…, I do have some expensive additions to my little motor home I want to get.
Mike Goad’s last blog post..Change to my comment response policy ? and replys are are now all caught up!
Hi, thank you for the mention.
I like money (what do you think - I’m an entrepreneur!), I just know it’s only representation of certain values, like Andrea said. And I also think it’s crazy people confuse the two — the true values and their representations — it’s like being scared with the shadow on the wall.
Akemi “spiritual entrepreneur” @ Yes to Me’s last blog post..Inside Out Approach To Entrepreneurship, Part 1, Find The Niche
Hi Cath: I think that there are people who’s identities are so wrapped up with money that they lose all their sense of self-worth if they lose their money. I come from a family that is quite well off, but I personally have gone through points in my life where I haven’t had much money at all. And you know what, I’ve learned that whether I’m sitting in the back of a Mercedes being driven by a chauffeur or in the back of a taxi that’s falling apart and being drive by a driver missing a hand (true story), I’m still the exact same person.
Marelisa’s last blog post..27 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life
Hi Cath,
I do agree money is not more important than life. But what would we do in shoes of this banker, none of us know. When you lose all your money suddenly, life sure takes on a different turn and along with the pressure, guilt for what our family will go through because of us, panic which sets in etc; all together can become life taking.
Avani-Mehta’s last blog post..How To Pick Your First Anger Management Area - Anger Management Series Part IV
Money is very important to me but it’s not THE MOST IMPORTANT! I may work hard to find money, but at the end of the day, it will never be my master. Perhaps for the banker, money was the only thing in his life so naturally, when it was gone his life lost it value also.
chris’s last blog post..?It’s The Economy, Stupid!?
Money will always cause problems. It’s ingrained in human nature. Money holds the promise of safety, of luxury, of never needing anyone, of being self-sufficient even in old age.
I would never value money more than life, but I do see why people place so much value on money.
Vered - MomGrind’s last blog post..10 Bizarre Ads: What Were They Thinking?
I’m always happy when my bank account swells, but money is far from the most important thing in my life. I think that this is a good example of people who’ve taken capitalism too far and too serious at the expense of true wealth, which involves a whole lot more than dollar signs and decimal points. It’s very sad.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..In the Mirror
Once again, you’re reading my mind!!!
I had gotten WAY too caught up in the whole “making my paper” scene. Friday I got a plea from a friend and I jumped in to help pro-bono. I’ve got to say, it was the best mood booster I’ve had in a LONG while!
Money is nice - but even Ebenezer Scrooge needed more than money to make him truly happy!
Kathy @ virtual Impax’s last blog post..Word of Mouth Marketing- Turns out what you don’t know CAN hurt you
Hi Cath,
Thank you for the link. Of course they’re nice to get. Not as nice as money…kidding.
I don’t think I’d kill myself for money. I see how people wrap their identities up in all the BS and create a lot of stress around it.
I like money, don’t get me wrong. But I’m here for a very short period of what we call time and it really doesn’t matter.
But still, I owe money so I chase after it and want to pay of all my bills. And I do wish I could give my kids a nice chunk when I die.
So really. If I have a brownie and it’s the last one and you want it, should I give it to you?
Or, should I give up my life for your comfort? Isn’t that what is happening now in certain parts of the world for others?
It really irritates me when I can’t wrap things up nice and tidy but that’s the way it is!
Sorry if it isn’t the most positive of comments but the whole money and economy thing makes me irritable. That, and we have an election in the US coming up.
I could go one and on so I guess I better exit stage left.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Writers’ Block: Concrete or Myth?
I was going to write a post about why writing is like backpacking. I hope She Kelly doesn’t think I’m copying her. I’ll have to go over and explain. Though I’m sure what she has written will be totally different from what I had in mind. Weird.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Writers’ Block: Concrete or Myth?
Hi Cath. What I find most unnerving is people’s reaction to the current “crashes” and that I feel helpless as to which way the chips fall. It seems that the people with the most money (who understandably may believe they have the most to lose) have the most “power” to influence the way the chips fall. I’m no expert on the financial market, but that’s my 2 cents worth - no pun intended.
Davina’s last blog post..Free Spirit My Ass!
Hi Cath - it is so sad when people get upset about money enough to kill themselves - I can’t comprehend it. I suppose it’s not really the money - it’s the loss of face, or something (but why are they mixing with people who would think badly of them for losing money?)
I personally don’t worry about things like recessions - maybe if house prices go down I will be able to afford one! ha ha
Robin’s last blog post..Ice And Global Warming
I should worry about money. I find I can not think of it at all ( well not quite I do all of our family’s books and finances) but I don’t think that is why people commit suicide. There are so many reasons, but money is only a symbol of the deeper problem…I want to be sure it is this way - I believe it to be this way.
Refusing President Bush’s money solutions today…was very empowering and maybe gave the people some voice back…??we shall see and he knows nothing about money - well he does give more and more to the rich in hopes they will keep him rich…
But with out any money? are we all poor? or just poor in spirit?
Wow you have conjured up lots for me to think about … Thank you
Patricia’s last blog post..I Need to Tell You This
The situation must be really bad for the high flying banker to take his own life. It is so sad that he has been unable to see an end to his money problems. Money or the lack of it, can sure drive us to do crazy things. You’re right…thinking about it now is not doing me any good….I am off to check out some of the links you’ve posted for some uplift in spirits….thanks!
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..Soul Revelations From Past Life Memories
Hi Catherine - Unfortunately stories of people like the banker aren’t that uncommon. Why they put so much value in money, we don’t know, but for some reason without money, they feel they’re nothing. That’s sad.
When I think of the situation in the US and how it could affect us, I think, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Even if all is lost (materially) we still have each other. We can’t put a value on family and friends.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..NBOTW - Helping You - Helping Others
Hi Cath,
Money is the root to all evil, or so they say. I say if you can get a happy medium, enough money to live on, and enough time to do what you love.
Personally I am driven by happiness, health and contentment, but life is not that straight forward.
By the way I really enjoyed reading the blog “http://she-power.com/2008/09/28/why-blogging-is-like-backpacking/”
Regards
Jeff.
infoaddicts’s last blog post..How To Easily Convert Files From One Format To Another
Hi Mike - that sounds like a great plan. I hope you get the funding then you get to have the best of both worlds.
Hi Akemi - you’re welcome for the link - your article really made me think. And being scared of your own shadow is a great way of describing it.
Hi Mare - I think that if you’ve lived in both world’s, you already know that there’s not a lot of difference. Mind you - I have to say, taking a taxi, isn’t exactly the same as getting the bus or tube. But if the taxi driver was one handed, I’m guessing you only paid half price.
Hi Avani - good point. We don’t know how that guy was feeling - he may have had additional pressures that we don’t know about.
Hi Chris - Maybe it was. I guess he was surrounded by the stuff all the time, so maybe that makes a difference.
Hi Vered - that’s a good point. I guess if money means you’ll never be dependent on anyone else - some people would feel a huge loss of control if they lost it all.
Hi Melissa - that’s true - some things are priceless. What value would we put on things like our health, for a start.
LOL Kathy - the Ebenezer Scrooge thing is a good point. Maybe Dickens should become compulsory reading.
Hi Ellen - you’re welcome. The link will be better for you in the long run cos you can’t spend it.
You’re right - people are dying just for the comfort of others and it’s sickening. I wish there was one central website where we could go that showed exactly what human misery was caused, to bring us certain products.
Some of these companies are so hypocritical too - they’ll pretend to promote things like Fair Trade, when folk are dying because of them.
Hi Davina - you’re right - they do have more influence. Trouble is - they’re the first to panic. The loss part is interesting though. Whether you have 10 million dollars invested or 100 and you lose 50% - you’ve lost 50% of what you had. And you haven’t actually lost it unless you sell. People take big numbers too seriously.
I think one of the dangerous things is - they have this perceived gain and it’s dangerous. For example - they may have initially invested 1 million and it’s now worth 10 million. But they only have ten million if they sell at that price.
Now if the price plumetted and their shares were valued at 2 million - some folk would look on the positive side and think they’d gained 1 million, while others would be thinking they’d lost 8 million.
Neither are right - they haven’t made anything until they sell and when they do that the taxman will come and take a big chunk. That’s another stupid thing about all that panic selling.
Hi Robin - I know what you mean - show how dangerous it is to worry about what folk think of you. I am like you - I see falling markets as an opportunity to benefit too.
Hi Patricia - it’s definitely connected to something deeper isn’t it? I don’t think it helps when the media are constantly equating money with success.
I’m so glad the taxpayers in the US aren’t having to pay to keep those banks afloat though. I only wish the same would happen in the UK.
Hi Evelyn - It’s a shame isn’t it - most problems can be solved but people tend to think irrationally under pressure. I know those articles will make you feel better.
Hi Barbara - I think that way too - there’s so many things that would be far more awful than loss of money. Like you say - you can’t put a value on those things.
The guy I rented my old office space off is worth something like £170 million. But his son died of cancer - no treatment could save him. And I bet that guy would have traded every single penny he had for his son’s health.
Hi Jeff - there’s always I huge battle between money and time isn’t there. I wouldn’t how much folk would pay for an extra ten years? A decade ago, I would’ve paid nothing - but now I want that decade back.
Money is such a draw - for all the things we think it will bring us. But money, in and of itself - does it really bring us the things we truly desire? I don’t think so. Now, I do think we need money - we have basic necessities to care for, plus the things that are in alignment with who we deeply are. But too often, money becomes a way of getting us by because of the lack of what really matters, in our soul…
Lance’s last blog post..Winds of Change
I think money is one of those things that is easy to focus on as the source of our problems or our wellbeing. We all learn it’s importance very young and even though money is just a means of exchange, by the time we hit adulthood most of us have a lot of very loaded feelings about money. We crave it, are scared of it, and many people think it makes them who they are. I can’t imagine killing myself over money, but I do know the anxiety that comes from fear and lack of money and it is a powerful thing.
Thanks for the link love and I’m glad I could write something positive in a gloomy news week.
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post..Why Blogging is Like Backpacking
Like Mark said, money is a tool, that’s it. Alone it has no real value unless you’re out of toilet paper!
Money itself isn’t a drive of mine, but I think it’s fun trying to make more. It’s kind of like a game.
I think I did hear once before that one of the worst things you can do to a rich person is take away their money. Yeah - that must really suck, but it’s not worth a life.
I don’t think a recession would help anything. This is all just a natural cycle of unavoidable ups and downs - I say unavoidable because we are only human and we are all stubborn and greedy to some extent.
Hi Lance that’s a good point - it’s like ometimes folk will buy stuff to fill a void but it doesn’t make them happy. Alex Fayle has a good interview and they cover that on SomedaySyndrome.com.
Hi Kelly - you’re welcome. That is true - I suppose folk learn the importance of money when they’re very young and those around them will shape their beliefs about it.
Hi John - Good point - I guess it is like a game to try to earn more - that’s the way I’ve often felt about financial targets. And I guess that’s why games like Monopoly and Cashflow are so popular. I don’t know if you’ve played Cashflow before but it’s a great game.
You work your way round the board and the idea is to get out of the Rat Race - which is in the middle section of the board. Trouble is, when you get to that bit of the game, it’s so boring - there’s no more real challenges.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..An Image Branding Mistake: I Make It But You Shouldn’t
Hi Cath,
It is sad to see people kill themselves for whatever reasons. I do see though what desperation can do to people. I have always said it would be nice to have a world where money is no issue because we all had the same or non at all.
Unfortunately this is idealistic believing on my behalf.
Money is indeed a huge stress for many and I fear with the current situation in the US thousands will become homeless. Money is not evil in itself, but it’s the people who let money be their judge and ruler to act as they do once they have money.
I also think it is a bit egoistical to kill oneself, much rather than fighting through the problems and making something good from a bad situation. I could never do this, regardless how desperate I was. I much rather become a mail order pride if I ever needed money fast and would use Rita’s example as a guideline.
On the note of travel. Travel is actually cheaper than staying put in the one place. Especially if you travel in Asian countries.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Do Your Really Care About Your RSS Feed Numbers?
Mental illness can be extremely powerful. I don’t think everyone to commits suicide, consciously decides, considers all the pros and cons, etc. It’s much more complicated than those who have never been in the situation can comprehend.
Carla’s last blog post..LA Times: California launches broad effort to control hazardous chemicals
Hi Monika - I hope the mail order bride thing would be a v last resort. The financial crisis in the US is worrying a lot of folk though isn’t it?
That’s interesting that travel can actually be cheaper. There’s hope for us all yet then - maybe we won’t need to make too much cash to achieve the travel dream. I know Tim Ferriss seemed to have travelled v cheaply in the four hour work week.
Hi Carla - that’s a good point. And I guess lots of folk don’t even plan to do it - it just happens.
[...] Ways To Immortalize Yourself Would Money Problems Drive You To This? Change The World - Or Is This Weakness Stopping You? Business Success Is Only A Deathbed Away 3 [...]