Affluenza? Here's a tissue... only $10.0000

Forums:
Email this Topic • Print this Page

Listened to a really interesting programme on the radio the other day www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 about 'Affluenza'- A feeling of malaise brought on by being RICH!

The expert reckons that to live a decent life in the U.K. you ONLY need £20.0000 P.A.!

He said that since the 70.s and Thatcherism, we have changed (as a society) from a collective feeling of 'being' to one of 'having'.

Previously, we (mostly) measured our happiness by the happiness of those closest to us, our family and friends.

Now we measure our happiness in terms of acquisition and ownership of material things.

Of course not everybody's like that and I don't think I'm like that, but maybe that's just wishful thinking. It was definitely food for thought. I have had a big lifestyle change recently, and no longer 'consume' as much as I did. Although I have a responsible and very stressful job, my salary is just £17.400 p.a. - £2.600 less than enough to make me 'happy'. How can I stop myself from 'consumer envy' now the change is starting to affect my purchasing power? What can I do to maintain a sense of balance, perspective and personal happiness (once restored) on a lot less green stuff?

Advice and comments would be welcome, I'm very interested in this...

In the programme, psychotherapist Jessie O'Neill, the American who founded the Affluenza Project in Wisconsin, USA - and coined the term affluenza - describes it as "a dysfunctional relationship with money".

Quote:

According to O'Neill, extreme wealth disturbs your emotional well being.

Many of us feel empathy for the poor, but O'Neill argues that it is time we felt empathy for the rich as well.

She counsels rich families for a fee of between £10,000 and £15,000 per day to help them come to terms with their wealth.

Notes to Editors

Poll Summary: Attitudes to the rich and wealth

How much ready cash would you say somebody needs in order to describe them as rich?
Less than £100,000 - 25%
£100,000 - 8%
Between £100,000 and £500,000 - 15%
£500,000 - 8%
Between £500,000 and £1 million - 4%
£1 million - 14%
Between £1 million and £5 million - 9%
£5 million - 1%
Between £5 million and £10 million -1%
£10 million - 1%
More than £30 million - 1%
Don't know - 13%

Here are some statements about rich people in Britain:

They generate wealth and create jobs in Britain

Over 50% agreed with this (34% disagreed)

They are risk takers and entrepreneurs and that's good for Britain

56% agree and 31% disagree

They are good for charitable causes
56% agree and 28% disagree
They are greedy and selfish
40% agree and 43% disagree
They motivate me to be more successful and ambitious
41% agree and 47% disagree
They make me feel envious / inadequate
16% agree and 75% disagree (19% slightly disagree, 56% strongly disagree)
They make me feel dissatisfied with what I have
16% agree and 76% disagree (18% slightly disagree, 58% strongly disagree)
Overall rich people have a positive effect on Britain
53% agree and 31% disagree

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 602 • Replies: 10

No top replies

Well I just seemed to have answered my own question...
... change my job!

So if any rich A2Kers are suffering from Affluenza, smorgs will counsel you! And only $100 per day!

I'm afraid the counselling sessions maybe a little repetetive, but hey, you can affored to be bored...

For an extra $15.0000 I can send you a supplementary 'cassette' to play whilst you sleep (fitfully) under your Hermes duvet. You will hear the soothing voice of smorgs telling you to:

buy shoes...buy shoes...buy shoes...buy shoes...buy shoes...buy shoes...

0 Replies

By most standards Mr. B and I are rich but you would never ever guess it by looking at our possessions. We live a very simple life. We are quite unimpressive.

I think our shared hatred of shopping makes it easy for us to not acquire.

0 Replies

...but he did say (boomer) that you can be wealthy and VERY happy, and that it had alot to do what kind of a childhood you had. I think it's more to do with your shared values and core beliefs rather than a mutual hatred of shopping.

0 Replies

Shared values and core beliefs do indeed lead to contentment and satisfaction within a relationship and that is indeed a peaceful, easy feeling of happiness.

0 Replies

...how I envy you, Boomer, that's the problem! But then I'm not envious of your money, but of your happiness and contentment.

But then would you be as happy and contented without the lifestyle to support it? That's what I'm curious about - how much if an influence is your home, the square footage, the full freezer, the paid bills? Money buys you space and quiet. Do you think you would be as happy and content if life was more of a struggle?

I'm asking you these questions in a friendly, curious, over coffee style, not a 'explain yourself' kind of way,I am genuinely interested to know if you ever reflect on your lifestyle? Whilst you say is not lavish, certainly gives you more choices than most people. Do you think that your shared values and core beliefs are the foundation of your happiness or would they be sacrificed or diminished by a life of stress and poverty?

0 Replies

I was born and raised in poverty then we graduated to simply poor with bouts of middle class.

In the 20 years that Mr. B and I have been together there have certainly been periods of real struggle.

And we do still have periods of great stress and we do still have concerns about money (notably two $400 per hour adoption attorneys) so it's not like we just have money to throw around.

We also have several large debts - business debt though, and a mortgage.

But we have a nice cushion. Knowing that the bills will be paid and that there is food in the fridge, and that the dog will get the $100 per month shot that she needs to stay alive is indeed a luxury and we recognize it as such.

But we live in a small house in an unfancy neighborhood and I drive an 11 year old Subaru that continues to run only through the grace of god and my neighbor, Mr. Fix-it.

And we know that everything could change in a flash.

So we keep copies of all our photos in our fire safe.

0 Replies

Proverbial wisdom: Money can't buy happiness, but in many cases it can buy freedom from worry.

I've been Altruistic Teacher Poor and Graduate Student Poor and Young Married Poor and Single Again Poor and Raising Kids Poor and Launching Kids Poor and Unexpected Early Retirement Poor.

Mr. Noddy and I have a very modest income, but an excellent medical benefits package. We own our home, free and clear.

Both of us were raised not to spend money we didn't have and not to measure self-worth by possessions.

My guess is that those who are rich enough to suffer from Affluenza labor under the delusion that happiness should be automatic; that they are entitled to serenity.

The U.S. Constitution guarantees "the pursuit of happiness", not "the possession of happiness".

0 Replies

During the A2K Housecleaning Shutdown, I've been thinking about this question.

Perhaps living joyously on your income--the full range from Scrimping & Saving & Pinching Pennies to Lavish Self-Indulgence--is like writing poetry. The best poems are written with strict limits.

Back in the sixties when much of my social life in NYC was centered around the 103rd Street Sandbox, my/our income was about $500/month . My friends and I were stay-at-home mothers. One good friend was married to a struggling student, income perhaps $250/month. Another close friend was married into a large corporation. Her income was about $2000 a month.

We were all educated, resourceful women--and all sure that if, somehow, our incomes could be instantly doubled a lot of stress would have been removed from our lives.

I have more financial flexibility now--and a different husband--than I had then, but my life has not dramatically increased in richness. I've acquired more aches and pains. I've acquired many more problems from other people. I'm watching other women of my age and my talents who are able to indulge themselves in hands-on, down-and-dirty travel.

I have far more internal serenity than I had 50 years ago.

You can't buy internal serenity, but you can earn it.

0 Replies

smorgs wrote:

...I'm not envious of your money, but of your happiness and contentment.

But then would you be as happy and contented without the lifestyle to support it? That's what I'm curious about - how much if an influence is your home, the square footage, the full freezer, the paid bills? Money buys you space and quiet. Do you think you would be as happy and content if life was more of a struggle?

smorgs, since you provided this link in another thread, I like to answer you here, even though you spoke to boomerang. Smile

You've had a huge emotional setback in your life, one doesn't bounce
back from that easily. Give yourself more time to mourn and reassess
your life. Once you have figured out what you truly want, then go for it,
despite obstacles and objections. The inner satisfaction you'll get from
that, will be far greater than any home, square footage or full freezer
will ever give you.

Keeping up with the Jonses is - in my opinion - a dangerous game that
will leave you probably more frustrated than happy.

0 Replies

I'm happy calam (missed this post, sorry), I've had a fantastic summer, full of adventure, got my spark back, and am feeling much more content...

Especially now I'm a lesbian!

Thanks for your post calam, you are such a nice woman.

Sarah
x

0 Replies

Forums
» Affluenza? Here's a tissue... only $10.0000

Read Discussion
Reply to All

Affluenza? Here's a tissue... only $10.0000

Quick Links

My Account

able2know