How Much Is Enough Money | The Fine Line Between Happiness and Greed!

What do you think is the difference between these two phrases: How much is enough money? and How much money is enough? You might wonder what a stupid question(s) this is, both are the same. Well, grammatically both might look the same but perspectively there is a difference. Earlier is the world's view which dictates how much is enough money to buy this car or that car, whereas later relates to the individual standpoint which simplifies how much money is enough to buy just a car, and not this car or that car (Since this car could be a Swift while that car could be a Ferrari).  

Image credit: AI-generated image by Gemini- Google

How Much Is Enough Money | The Fine Line Between Happiness and Greed! 

For example, suppose you are a married couple with no kids and want to buy a house. In that case, the world will tell you how much is enough money to own a 1 BHK, 2 BHK, 3 BHK or a villa, but if you knew how much money is enough to buy just a house, and not 3 BHK or 4 BHK, let alone villa or a penthouse, you are very much closer to deciphering the fundamental concept of "How much is enough". At this point, money doesn't appear to be less, the possession doesn't seem to be downsized, income doesn't lag behind, and most importantly, you don't cross that fine line beyond which greed welcomes you wholeheartedly. 

#IDEA OF FEELING ENOUGH 

Image credit: AI-generated image by Gemini- Google

Ask yourself is there anything like enough money? In fact, ask anyone in the world what is the meaning of enough money, and s/he will be as clueless as you might be now. If we seek a clear understanding of this, it reveals that there can never be enough money for a thing to buy! But yes, money certainly can be enough for a thing you want to own if it adds value to your life, serves a purpose, truly carries a meaning to be in there, and lastly, it is not something you desired or longed for but you actually needed. If this is how you look at things in your life, you flabbergastedly realize what you have is... "Enough", be it money, possessions, things, or the time.  

#ESSENTIALITIES

This is so very true from the tiniest/simplest things like an earphone, a pair of shoes, or a smartphone to the vast affairs such as financial investments, the airline (s) you travel in, the hotel you stay in, or the school of your child - when the world determines your expenses, the meaning of "Enough" dies, and so lives the "Greed". Why so? Because the very idea of "Enough" only comes into effect when you understand the value, meaning, purpose, and primarily, the need (not desire) of the asset. So be clear about these four essentialities, and you will have that feeling of enough to own them. The absence of even a single essentiality will provoke a gut feeling that there is not enough money! And what comes next? You start chasing the mirage called "Enough Money". Yet, there is, there was, and there will be "Enough", only when you personify these essentialities in your life.   

#MONEY AND HAPPINESS

Image credit: AI-generated image by Gemini- Google

This looks in full resemblance to Minimalism, yes? Such a beautiful way to live a life, but the inquiry here is what are those values, meaning, purpose or need when I preach about "Enough Money" in regards to material?! Could that be Happiness? Or the Peace? Or it has something to do with FOMO?! Well, as long as you are making money to buy something that advocates these essentialities, and happiness and peace are the byproducts of them, you are still on the right track to feel enough. But if the FOMO is the sole driver here, you are massively poor; and no matter how much richer you may feel, there will never be enough money and you are far away from the feeling enough! - Nonetheless, in this case, happiness and peace might still twinkle in the process, but transiently; they just don't last. Sustained happiness and peace are the two indicators of feeling enough with money! 

#MONEY AND GREED

Image credit: AI-generated image by Gemini- Google

However, be extremely cautious while deeming happiness and peace to be the metaphor for feeling enough with the money you have- Beacuse during the process of buying if they are not the byproduct but the reward in the first place, it is the inception of the negative feedback loop where you chase the money to gain the happiness but lose the peace alongside. Now you seek more happiness to appease the lost peace and chase more money for that, desperately sidelining four essentialities, and again feel short of it since it doesn't last and so would peace. Yes, money indeed brings happiness and peace, but when you addict yourself to transient happiness and peace while constantly raising the threshold for the same, your substance changes to Greed. From now you not only forsake the essentialities but also discredit happiness and peace, and the substance changes exclusively again to Money, which again would not be enough!

#THE FINE LINE

Before owning something, understand the difference between price and value. Any article in the world possesses these two. Price is something that the world decides but the value is determined by self. Enough is when your earnings tell you to choose the valuable over the precious and you do exactly the same, but when you shift the chunk of your money unworthily in owning little precious, it is called crossing the fine line and turning greedy for precious. 

#IDEOLOGY INSIGHT

This doesn't mean I devalue the money or undermine its importance; my point here is to elucidate the concept of enough money and have the feeling that your money is enough as long as you stick with the value (and not the price) and stay within the fine line. The privilege of adopting this ideology is, that you understand how much is enough (Because there is), what it feels like to have sustainable happiness and peace, your FOMO vanishes, and you start seeing money with happiness and not greed. 

I hope you agree with me, however, many might disapprove of this ideology too. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Kindly comment. And if you liked this article, kindly follow me and share it in your feeds. 

RELATED READING:

MENTAL HABITS OF PRODUCTIVITY

CONCEPT OF FREEDOM