Do you live a life without financial stress? Can you live the life you want without worrying about every dollar you spend?
By “well-off,” we mean living a life that is right for you. Obviously, a minimalist will consider him or herself well off with an income far less than someone who desires a more affluent lifestyle and needs more money to do it; if they don’t have the money to live such a life, then we believe they would have to answer no to this poll.
So based on the lifestyle that you desire for yourself, would you describe yourself as financially well-off or not?
I said,”yes,” based on the survey instructions. However, I would not describe DW and I as “well-off.” Instead, I would say that we are “comfortable.” “Well-off” implies a much larger financial portfolio/wealth than it seems that we have.
Both of us grew up “dirt floor poor”, but not knowing it, as our home’s were “rich” in Love.
Because of our upbringing we learned how to work hard, be resourceful (self sufficient), be thankful for what we have, and to be generous with our excess, to those in need.
We have raised three strong independent children, who have blessed us with eleven grandchildren (our TRUE treasures). We are debt free, with modest savings, and investments (which we know could be taken from us at any time).
We do not worry about our finances, or future, as GOD is our safety net.
We are more than rich, we are BLESSED!
Well said, Sven! 🙂
I can’t buy what ever I want but I can buy what ever I NEED! So by those standards I’d have to say yes, I am well off.
I don’t have money problems as I don’t have any money.
I’m handicapped and retired. I own a sticks and bricks, an older motorhome, and a few other “essentials”. I’m relatively debt free so comparing myself to a lot of other peoples situations, consider myself pretty well off.
Not wealthy but debt free.
Worked hard lived modest.
Doing what I want “priceless “
Guess I am rich 🤑
Same here (except I KNOW I’m rich)!
To afford and RV and use it, one must be financially secure. Maybe not well off, but not struggling financially.
We are doing just fine – TODAY. I thot we would always get 6% on savings and then in the 70s I thot at 15 to 17% on my savings would make me a wealthy retiree. Now they use my money and pay me nothing for it. I didn’t see that coming. I didn’t think my body would start to fall apart either. So rather than save, because I could make repairs on all my possessions, I have to pay someone. Didn’t anticipate that either. I’m supposed to make it to 100 yeas, but I think I have to rethink that. We’ve made it this far, so figure that we just need to keep on truckin’. Had surgery the other day. When I woke up from anesthesia I was glad to see the doctor standing over me rather than St. Peter – it did take me a few seconds though. Until we get the bill, we are doing just fine.
I didnt answer the poll this week, I’m not real sure how to answer it.
I count my blessings and not my money, but I mind them both
The Apostle Paul said, “he had learned to be content in whether he had plenty or little”.
Maybe, the richest are those who are content with what they have.
Dave Ramsey’s 5 baby steps come to mind, I completed all of them, not rich by any means but no worries either. All I have is two roofs over my head, one and an RV and the other is a mobile home in the south, and enough food and friends to take care of all my wants. I go where my cloths fit the weather, my wardrobe is shorts and short sleaved shirts and sandals.
Up north in summer and down south in winter, with friends and relatives on both ends, that’s being rich for sure!
I checked “well off” but I’m not wealthy; I’m just conservative in my wants and spending. I’m still driving my 2005 Toyota Echo and living in my 2001 Lazy Daze, both of which I paid cash for because I had saved enough to do so. I still sock away some cash into an emergency fund every month. I’m thankful that I am basically healthy for an old head!
Measuring wealth is intrinsic even when using monetary measurement.
We went into retirement “very well off” and could live till 100 comfortably. Six months later the big DOT COM crash and we lost 1/3 of our retirement. We went back to work for the next 6 years to build up our retirement account. We retired again and 2 years later the Big Bank Crash and we lost 1/4 of our account. With that we reevaluate (again) our financial life going forward. We are now both in our 80s and basically financially sound. The big question now – “how long will we live, what if a major medical handicap happens to one, or both of us?” Our “thinking process” on retirement has definitely changed since we had been in our 60s.
I’m taking a chance and answering yes, hope nothing bad happens as a result. Wife keeps saying “don’t be so cheap”, we have plenty of $, but I think women have a different outlook than us guys. In her defense, she is low maintenance and puts up with me for some unexplained reason.
Definitely a keeper! 😉
Our home is the opposite, my husband is the big spender and I try to save what we have. I say I am thrifty, he says I am cheap. He used to pay bills…did not work out as fun came first. His family lived that way.
I pay bills, our spending money is what is left after bills. My Mom set the example to live within your means. Don’t use credit unless you pay in full at bill time.
This reminds me of a statement I once heard from my late, great mother….”You can be just as rich by having fewer ‘wants’.”
I answered yes only because we don’t struggle to survive. Between a pension from GM, my SS, and DW SS we live comfortably without worrying about bills. We drive a year old car, just bought a home to live in the rest of our lives, and buy anything we want to eat or need. I personally don’t classify that to be well off but comfortable.
We married in 1970. We’ve had no credit card interest since 1973, no auto loans since 1990 and paid off the mortgage 6-yrs early in 2004. That made us 100% debt free. Having no CC interest or car payments and living well beneath our means allowed us to funnel more $ to investments which allowed us both to retire early at age 55. Life is not good, it’s great!
I said yes but would have liked something in between. We pay our bills just fine but I am still cautious where we spend our money.
Lived on less than I made, invested for our future, raised two incredible kids, retired 16 years ago and going strong. Health, and staying healthy is both a blessing and a goal.
Our incoming is a lot less than “average”, but we are comfortable with what we have, and that makes us way wealthier than those always wanting more and better.