What Does Money Mean to You? [Poll]
As I reflect over the last several years of my life, one of the biggest thought shifts I have made is about money. I went from spending it without thinking to becoming the most frugal person I know.
Regardless of whether you are single or have a family, chances are you spend a lot of time thinking about money. What to buy, how much to save, what is good enough for retirement. There are a lot of questions in our lives that revolve around the topic of money.
Think about your recent conversations and interactions with people? Asking someone the question, "What have you been up to?" will many times solicit a response somewhat related to money.
But the underlying question that determines how we handle money is…
"What does money mean to you?"
That’s this week’s poll question. But unlike in previous weeks, we are not going to provide the answers for you to select. Instead, we just want to hear from you. So please answer the question by leaving a reply in the comment section below about what money means to you. Be sure to check back periodically as others may reply to your response.
Thanks for visiting Men’s Playbook and we look forward to your responses.
As a guy, I think money really represents having a better chance at women. Getting a better car, nice house, nice clothes makes me more attractive to women. I say that because before I had a good job, I didn’t get the attention from ladies like I do now.
I’m just being honest with my own personal situation. Hope not to offend anyone.
Money to me equal financial stability for my daughter and myself. It allows us to live comfortable (since these males don’t have their stuff together
). It also allows me to be a blessing to others when called upon.
Tiany,
You mentioned something that is key:
I think when you have been responsible with money and can do so without neglecting your own responsibilities, this is a very important money move. It allows you to get something out of money other than self-gratification.
What money means to me is being able to have the financial freedom to live, work and play. It allows me to keep a roof over me and my daughters head and feed us. It keeps the lights and gas on. It also allows me to be a blessing to my family and close friends if their ever in need. I need money to live and be the mother my daughter deserves. Where would any of all lives be if we didnt have money?
Tasha,
Thanks for stopping by the site!
It’s great to hear about the responsibility that you feel with your money. Many do not totally value money and thus spend is without regard to the importance of it.
Although $ is important for the obvious reasons for me its not that important because when the focus is on how important the money is something suffers and its usually the relationship or the children & yada yada yada…I have learned to not focus so much on the $ but the potential simply because when the $ is obtained together it makes for a less stressful relationship & all of the other things take precedence like love, trust, respect all the things that make being in a relationship worthwhile!!!
I believe money has been made important by the standards that have been made today about statuses. We have the haves and the have-nots. Females in particular. Not that I’m blaming ya’ll but that’s just they way things are. Cars, cribs, clothes and other material thing equate directly to how someone percieves you. Plenty of ladies I know SAY they don’t care about how much money a man makes but would never date a broke or unemployed dude. Which I don’t blame them but it makes it difficult to seperate the gold diggers from other females and to manage and find a good woman in this economy especially when the women have more job oppurtunities than the men.
Money is material. 12 years ago when I first had my daughter, I constantly worried about money. I was afraid of not being able to care for my baby. Over the years I have learned that money always seems to work itself out.
I highlight both Jared and Marshall Law’s commments, whom I quote ‘…money really represents having a better chance at women’, and ‘Plenty of ladies I know SAY they don’t care about how much money a man makes but would never date a broke or unemployed dude’. The reason many women would not date an unemployed man is because it indicates he has a lack of drive, passion and knowledge, three attribute which women find deeply attractive. And for Jared if you noticed an increase in money followed by an increase in women, then chances are the women are not with you for you, they’re with you for what you can provide them materialistically.
Money allows you financial freedom to do and experience things, it gives you stability and it’s a rewarding indication of how hard you have worked. More importantly money can help other people when you don’t need it yourself. You can have all the money in the world and buy in extravagance, but sadly it can’t buy style, nor happiness.
Thanks for stopping by the site, shing. Unfortunately, some guys have that feeling because of what they’ve experienced in their lives. Hopefully, this site, articles and comments from readers like you will help educate guys on what is reality from fiction.
We hope you are a regular visitor and subscribe to our site!
As a 38 year old husband and father of three you would think money is one of the more important things in my life, well in actuality it’s not. I can’t front, in my younger years I was obsessed with material things and working all the time. Money, money, money was all I was about, but as I have gotten older, I have learned to live on less and value the money I do have. Last year I walked away from a $60k a year job to go back to school to become a teacher. Some say, I was crazy and others said I was nuts, but I was following my calling and destination. When I made this decision, I absolutely knew the answer to, “What money meant to me”? We all know teachers don’t get paid the money they deserve and we do it for the love of the profession.
I refuse to let money dictate my happiness in life. Yes, at the end of the day the wife and children have to be taken care of and that’s priority #1, but I know with proper planning and living within my means The Morris family will be just fine. …
Derrick,
Thanks for visiting the site and giving us your take. It’s impressive that you have followed your passion to become a teacher, regardless of the financial implications of that decision. I really admire those who have the courage to do what ultimately will make them happy.
My wife is an educator and I see first hand how challenging education can be. But the impact that you make of our future generations will last much longer than any amount of money that would normally chain you to a job that you do not enjoy.
Money = Freedom. I really don’t like people telling me what to do. To the extent I can take care of my basic necessities and luxuries without tap dancing for someone else, I’m cool.
I do have one dream that’ll require quite a bit of money. My mom has been awesome throughout my life. She’s just a wonderful person overall. I need enough money to buy a house with enough land to hold a separate living quarters for my mother. I don’t want her to have to worry about anything when she gets ready to retire.
Back to freedom. I want to wake up when I feel like it, work when I feel like it, and relax when I feel like it. That means my money has to work for me.
What does money mean to me? Having money means having freedom to live the life you want to live – on your own terms. Having money means being able to give more freely to your fellow man. It means not being indebted to someone else and having to live with worry and regret.
[...] What Does Money Mean to You by Torrey McGraw @ Men’s Playbook – When I was kid, I wanted to be rich. Probably because I wanted to buy a bunch of junk so I could impress people. Not so much anymore. Answering the question posed by Torrey requires you to really think about why you bothered to set financial goals in the first place. [...]
Money means freedom to me. Free to travel where I want, when I want, how I want. Freedom to take care of my body that’s good for me (not worrying about medical bills, insurance, etc). Freedom is not having to work for “the man” if I don’t want to. Most of all, freedom to help others in need financially.
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Have you ever stopped to consider the fact that money hasn’t any use at all except when you spend it or give it away? Interesting concept isn’t it?
I enjoy the things that money can purchase for me and I enjoy having money in my pocket and back account to maintain the lifestyle I enjoy as well as enjoy the things I like to purchase on special occasions(concert tickets, good quality food, plane tickets to take trips, books to expand my learning etc).
But money comes and goes. Its meant to stack and meant to move. I don’t believe in being irresponsible with money yet I also don’t believe in being miserly with money (e.g. sitting on millions and living in a rusted shack eating out of a tincan which is not very healthy as a lifestyle FYI). It only has the worth we attach to it. Otherwise, its just cotton/paper/plastic/cooper with pictures on it.
MsM,
I agree with you. There really has to be a balance with money (ie saving vs spending).