What would you be doing if you didn't need the money?

[Pat Coyle]

Seems lately all anyone can talk about is the economy. And it seems the only solution to our problem to figure out a way to bury toxic assets so that banks will start lending again and so that people can begin borrowing and spending again. Um...yuck? Does anyone else feel like we're on a big gerbil wheel of revolving credit? Is all this scrambling worth it? Is owning a home, buying a car and saving for college all there is to life? Will we ever reach the cheese? Please share your thoughts here.

[Douglas Karr]

If I didn't need the money, I would devote much more time to family and friends. Yes, I do feel like I'm on a revolving wheel - and the fact that every time I turn around the government is trying to take more of it doesn't help. Sometimes I wonder how difficult life would be off the grid and working for potatoes instead.

[Nicki Laycoax]

If I didn't need the money, and I had what I needed to do what I want?

Traveling and blogging about every experience, teaching my kids to do the same, and connecting with folks in every country and culture. Learning about every culture, and how they operate is, in my mind, the first step toward world peace. I hope that I am an active part of that... I can't wait to be financially capable of doing so.

[Deanna Sipe]

So consider the Big Rocks theory. Have you ever read about or witnessed the demonstration where the teacher fills a large jar with big rocks, then we agree it's full, then the teacher pours in smaller pebbles and then we again agree it's full.... an this goes on with incrementally smaller 'stuff'? Maybe now is the time to go with only the big rocks for a while in our finances. Fund the things that are the most important for necessity and quality of life. Then consider this: what do you have already? What do you have that you take for granted? Can you find joy and wonder in things that you already have? How about rotating out of storage some decorative items that you haven't' seen in a while to freshen up a bit- instead of buying new. You might be delighted at the nostalgia it inspires.

What about focusing on what $ you could put into a jar called, 'Financial Freedom' account? Could you spare $1, $2? how 'bout $5. Then keep that up and start a new habit. T. Harv teaches that starting a habit of funding a 'financial freedom' account or jar can begin with the smallest amount. In the beginning it's about the habit, it's about creating the idea that you too can become financially free. With some research you would be surprised at how many ways there are to create passive income with an initial investment- and investment that comes from your FFA jar.

I don't believe that becoming financially free is about having more STUFF. More stuff is great if that's what makes you happy.... but usually it doesn't. For me financial freedom is about getting to the place where I do what I love for a living OR my living makes it's self and I do what I love because I want to not because I need to. I think financial freedom is about getting to the place where you can bring your 'gift' to the table because you aren't so overwhelmed by making a bare living.

Again, I like to go back to being grateful for what I have. I remember days in my 20's and 30's that if my car broke down it was nearly the end of the wold for me. I KNOW what it is like to be so so so poor. How many of you are over 30 and if the car broke down you have either a cell phone or plastic, either of which would get you home safely? Not that it might not be a terrible financial burden but, you would get home? That is something to be grateful for. I remember when a car breaking down .... meant that I might not get home safely without the kindness of someone else. If you are in a place in your life where the kindness of strangers is the only saving grace.... well.... today someone else got to feel like a hero inside when they helped you and that is priceless. The gerbil wheel that I see is the one where sometimes we give and sometimes we need and it necessary to have both of us for the world to go around. There is always someone better off than you, and there is always someone worse off than you. Jump on the merry-go-round! Do you remember seeing the world race by as you squealed with delight at the ride?

"Necessity is the mother of invention" - Plato. The best times of my life were the ones where I had to invent because I NEEDED something, and the sense of accomplishment was far superior to the convenience of purchasing the solution from someone else.

Deanna
millionairemindindy.com
millionaire-mind-midwest.ning.com

[Theresa Browning]

Travel, travel, travel. Drink wine all day (that's from a song - NOT a personal habit!). Read. Garden. Go out on the speedboat on Lake Monroe or Patoka Lake. Of course, it would always be sunny and 70 degrees. And it would only rain on the days when I had to do laundry anyway. Ok -and I'd lift weights so I could have buff upper arms like Michelle Obama and look good in sleeveless dresses in spite of being over 40.

[Genie Goykhberg]

Same thing I am doing now - facilitate an individual growth and strive for balanced live on all four level of human existence: emotions, mind, spirit, body. I would still charge (affordable for everyone who is ready to use my coaching for self development) as my experience is people do not value what they got for free. I would invest in local organic food maker, do lectures for schools, young adults, parents, bring an awareness that we are totally responsible for our own well being and what is even MORE important for well being of our children. I am an eternal student of human dynamics, life itself is my class room, my teacher, my coach - its just inapprehensible to see how parent feed their kids (starting at the age when they are not even waling yet) in restaurants, fast food places, coffee shops... No wonder our medical offices are so busy! I personally think that doctors should share their profit with the fast food industry for supplying them with customer base.
One thing I do better than others - I make people THINK.
The phrase I hear everyday almost from everyone I talk to - "I never thought about that" with all different modifications.

It took me 50 years to get where I am now. And I see how Her Majesty Life shaped and prepared me for the task - to make the difference in people's lives: one at a time!

[Curt Franke]

Sorry to intrude on the discussion, but what is "Her Majesty Life"?

[Steve Stuck]

I take it you saw the signs at the protest of the G20 this past couple of days. I saw the signs too and it really made me laugh. Money is very essential in things we have today and provides an incentive to do things that better ourselves.
Take for instance the protestors that used signs to say "Get Rid of Money". Someone decided a long time ago that there was a need to make pieces of paper board that could be used to write things like that. They took money and opened a business. The protestors who bought the board then actually contributed to capitalism without thinking about it and used the sign to get their message out.

What would you being doing if you didn't need money? Well, we would become cavemen again. Instead of working towards something for incentive, each individual would have to survive somehow. Hunting and maintaining the basic needs of a lifestyle would be the incentive people would have. People wouldn't be incentivised for really anything else.

[Steve Stuck]

If I had enough money I would be following the Buckeyes to every game that they play in!

[Erik Deckers]

I'd do nothing but write, hang out in coffee shops, get up at noon, go to bed at 2, and write all times in between.

I'd probably become very Hunter S. Thompson-esque, but without the drugs and suicide.

[Noah Coffey]

I thought that's what you do now? ;P

[Noah Coffey]

It's hard to tell for sure until you're actually in the position. But, I'd probably spend more time outside (nothing stopping me from doing that now except my brain that tells me to get inside and put another few hours in on some project).

It is a very interesting question because money or not, I have a strong desire to create and build (as I imagine most humans do). With the money incentive removed, I know that desire to create and build would not go away. But, it would likely manifest itself differently and I'm not sure in what way.

[Noah Coffey]

Okay, call me crazy, but this question made me think of the Doozers from Fraggle Rock (show I watched when I was a kid). The Doozers were builders. They loved building and creating for the sake of it. They loved perfecting how they did things, trying new methods, and seeing how they could improve. The Fraggles loved to destroy and eat their creations, but the Doozers never minded because it would give them room and an excuse to try again. The Doozers weren't financially motivated, they created for the love of creating. I loved those little green guys. :)