So I think a bit more... How do I define rich?
Well, let's not talk about the uber rich, so let's not talk about big bungalows or luxury boats, cos that's just way out of what most of us are going to be able to achieve.
Let's look at what many people would deem a wealthy life.
So I'd think someone rich would be living in a condo or landed property. ($3k per mth or $36k per ann)
This person drives a luxury car. ($2k per mth or $24k per ann)
This person can go out and eat and party every day. ($2k per mth or $24k per ann)
This person can buy luxury watches or bags or shoes, etc, regularly. ($2k per mth or $24k per ann)
This person also probably goes for expensive holidays. ($20k per ann)
So this person needs to make around $128k per annum and spend it all for someone to feel rich.
If I lived this kinda lifestyle, I would probably feel rich. Except that I would probably be poor.
From an external point of view, if we see someone living this kind of lifestyle, it's easy for us to conclude that this person has made it in life. They are living it up and it's easy to be envious.
But let's be practical. How many people are able to make $128k per annum? Next, how many people are willing to blast ALL the money away every month?
So... Not many people make $128k every year. Are you sure your friend who is living this lifestyle is one of those who earns $128k per year?
If this person makes $128k per year and spends it all, means this person also needs to remain employed for him to continue this lifestyle. Which means in the later years, this person will not be able to live this kind of lifestyle.
So let's go back to the question... Are you rich?
If rich is defined as living the lifestyle above, then I know I am not rich. And I also think most of us aren't rich. And even if some people are rich and living such a lifestyle, it's probably not sustainable and they will eventually have to downgrade as they grow older.
Of course there will be some who are able to sustain such a lifestyle for very long and are truly rich.
So why is richness always perceived? It's always about showing off. It's kinda like... if someone is rich, they must tell everyone. Else, what's the point in being rich?
Someone wants to live a luxurious lifestyle and he is able to do so. He is perceived as rich.
But someone who doesn't want a luxurious lifestyle and is able to live without. Is perceived as poor?
Long story short...
Rich or poor is relative. If you never saw anyone richer than you, you wouldn't feel poor. If you never see anyone poorer than you, you will not feel rich.
If you are the only person in the world. There would be no such thing as rich or poor. Even if you are just eating grass.
But if there are 2 people in the world, and you are eating grass and the other person is eating lobsters, then maybe it's easy to be envious and think that the other person is "richer".
But what if you like to eat grass? And there's so much grass around.
But the other guy wants to eat lobsters and he has to work really hard to find lobsters. Is he richer?
Rich or poor, it doesn't matter. Cos if you are rich, you don't really affect me.
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