I want to be able to choose when, where, how long, and on what I work. - Daniel J. Pritchett

People want to be rich so that they don't have to worry about money. They may replace that worry with something else, but at least they never have to worry about paying bills or eating. There are plenty of happy rich people. Money brings greater potential for happiness due to more resources for finding happiness itself. "Money can't buy happiness, but it makes it easier to hunt down." - xero

Daniel, you CAN choose. And we can choose to stop worrying about money, paying bills and eating. But it takes changing what we've been programmed to think. I have worked with many rich people and they aren't generally any happier than "working class" people. I've also known some REALLY happy people who would be considered "poor" by most any American. It isn't the MONEY that anyone wants - it is what that money represents to them. Start thinking about THAT instead of the money. - Internet Strategist

I'd be happy if I were able to save enough money to be financially independent. I realize I don't need to be rich to attain that. - Daniel J. Pritchett

I'm with Mark. Time is our most precious commodity these days. Imagine if you simply didn't *need* to spend time doing certain things or could pay others to do some things, allowing you to do others. - AJ Kohn

I want my freedom and I want my choices. Money can buy those things. But at the same time I don't want to be a slave to making money. - Steve Olson

I've been poor. Very poor. It sucks. But I know you can be happy and poor. The biggest problem with being poor is the complete lack of choices and experiences. You pretty much get whatever comes your way and you deal with that because you can't afford to do anything else. But in some ways being poor is extremely liberating. Hard to explain in a comment. Maybe a blog post later. - Steve Olson

Really now? How rich is "financially independent"? The dollar is sliding and likely to be worth less and less. I don't see how anyone can be truly "financially independent" in the sense that most people use that phrase. You CAN make a huge change and have freedom and independence but it doesn't look anything like what most imagine. - Internet Strategist

When you're rich, you worry about losing the money. Believe me, everyone wants to get their hands on it and problems come from all sides. - Morton Fox

You just hit on the truth, Steve. We've been conditioned to think "poor" is lack of choice and horrible when in fact, stepping out of the rat race, reclaiming your time, and living as you desire is freedom - and that looks a whole lot like "poor" to most people. :-) - Internet Strategist

Everything we own, owns us. Debt forces us to be wage-slaves. We have lost sight of what is truly important: living. And what necessities are: water, food, shelter. Considering what the economy could do, staying home and planting a garden could be invaluable. Work less, raise a few chickens. I really wish I could find that fisherman story..anyone know the one I mean? - Internet Strategist

Being poor isn't so bad when you're young and healthy. Try it when you're middle aged unhealthy with teenage children you can't afford to educate. Then you watch them hang out with nothing to do, get in trouble... etc... I have mixed feeling about this. I think poverty teaches us things, but so does growth and production and wealth. This isn't black and white. - Steve Olson

I think you'll see the true character of man who either... was poor and becomes rich or was rich and becomes poor. If you can make the transition without losing your soul, you are truly strong. - Steve Olson

It is all a matter of perspective. IMHO, the best education comes from self-learning. Children would be better off apprenticing to the best at whatever they are most interested in than going into debt to go to college. We have to move away from thinking that everything revolves around money. Would you rather have an apprentice who can pay you or one who is brilliant, really interested, learns fast? The most important traits have nothing to do with money. - Internet Strategist

I want to be rich for freedom from working for/with assholes and ass kissers. - Tokyo Dan

I don´t think it´s the money per se, but not having to think about the money that drive people to acquire wealth. Of course you are happier if you do not have to think about money, and can spend time thinking about something you like. But your Q is easily interpreted as asking why everyone think they want diamonds, private jets, superyachts, etc., which of course are not important goals at all (and I´m sure rather make you more stressed out). - ɯɥøq sɐɯoɥʇ

'The only people who think more about money than the rich are the poor." Oscar Wilde - Internet Strategist

I've been rich, poor and everywhere in between. I did learn that MONEY is not EVERYTHING. In fact, it's a pain in the @ss cuz you buy all this sh*t and have to *manage* all your new sh*t === stressful as ever....think about it. Now my house is minimalistic and zen like...I love that... keep money in bank, brain screwed on right and stop thinking of only yourself; instead, be generous and lavish your blessing on others who are less fortunate - Susan Beebe

I've been broke my whole life. Kinda used to it. Hoping to get to "comfortable". No desire to be filthy, stinking rich. - Derrick

btw, I AM rich ! I have everything I HONESTLY need, a wife who is also my best friend, a beautiful baby daughter, a warm dog, and my family is healthy ;) - ɯɥøq sɐɯoɥʇ

I want enough to be "financially independent", so my needs are meet (food, clothing, shelter, etc.) with enough left over for savings and for me to be able get stuff I'd like to have (even if I have to over time save up for whatever they may be). - Grant Bierman

Rich? Not really, but enough money to get rid of worries - sure. Be mortgage free. Have a fat pension fund. Also work - you spend 8 hours of the day doing something you would rather not, with people you'd rather not be with. (ie you would rather be somewhere else with other people). If the mortgage on a decent house was cleared, and a pension fund set up, and you had a good Internet connection (and your health) - I reckon most people would be quite happy on the minimum wage. (if your single - kids would tha - laprensa66

«I really wish I could find that fisherman story» Could it be http://urlhint.com/6V ? It's in Spanish, but GTranslator could help - Jose M Pelaez

Rich No, bt have a job I like -- Definitely YES!! - Paul