HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED

HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED

Musings

By

VIKRAM KARVE

How much money do you need to be happy?

Give me a figure. 

One Lakh, Ten Lakhs, One Crore, Ten Crore, One Million, One Billion ... how much?

One day, when you have earned that amount, will you sit back satisfied, relax and be happy all your life or will you keep on striving to earn more and more money till your dying day?

Way back in the 1970s, when we were studying engineering we wanted a cycle and we wanted a job. 

Yes, when we were students we desired to have a cycle. 

But, our principle desire after completing our B. Tech. was to get a job.

After we got a job we wanted a Motorcycle and then a Bajaj Scooter 

(yes, a Bajaj Scooter was the ultimate status symbol for which one had to patiently wait for a few years). 

A few years later, one day, I had a coveted Bajaj Scooter and I was happy. 

In my wildest dreams I had never imagined that I would have a car, but many years later I was a proud owner of a car too. 

Soon I had my own home and enough money to live a reasonably comfortable life. 

Now what more do I want? 

That's when I decided enough is enough and I “retired” from my “job” and decided to invest my my time in what I like to do best - writing (and blogging).  

Remember, you can always earn more money but you cannot get back lost time

That is why your time is your most valuable resource

Time is much more valuable than money

I blog every day. 

I have written a book of short stories, a foodie book and I am leisurely writing my novel now. 

Yes, I am writing leisurely, without deadlines, because I want to enjoy my writing.

In fact, I have realized that the creative writing process (the journey) is more enjoyable than the destination (publication).

There is a Chinese saying:

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough

It is the same with money:

“If you know when enough is enough, you will always have enough” 

THE PETROL ANALOGY

Money is like petrol in a car. 

 

Money is not the car. 

 

Money is not the destination. 

 

The petrol in your car enables you to go from place A to place B. 

 

Now suppose you have reached your destination place B. 

 

Now money ( “petrol” ) will also enable you to go from place B to place C. 

 

But suppose you are happy and content at being at place B and you do not want to go to place C

You were at place A. 

You wanted to go to place B.

So you earned enough money ( “put petrol in your car” ) and travelled to place B.

Now you are happy at place B.

You do not want to go anywhere.

You do not want to travel in your car any more.

So what is the need to earn more money ( “petrol” ) to go to a place where you do not want to go.

Is the excess petrol of any use?

Of what use is more money ( “petrol” ) if you do not want to travel further because you are happy and content where you are at present?   

 

Do you have a capacity for contentment...? 

 

Do you know when enough is enough...?

 

I am sure you have read a version of this meaningful inspirational story about the lazy fisherman:

THE STORY OF THE LAZY FISHERMAN

A fisherman lived on a tropical island.  

He fished for his family and had plenty of time to play with his children, to enjoy the beauty around him and to be a good neighbour.

 

A yacht arrived carrying a wealthy entrepreneur.  

The fisherman took him out for a day’s fishing. 

 

As the day went on the entrepreneur looked at the beautiful island with its silver sand fringed with palm trees, the calm blue sea filled with a rainbow of darting fish and saw the opportunity for development and making lots of money. 

 

The wealthy and successful entrepreneur was a magnanimous man so he thought he must help the fisherman by offering him the idea, so he said to the fisherman, “Why don’t you build a hotel and encourage tourists to come to the island...?”

 

“A hotel...?” the fisherman asked perplexed.

 

“Yes, a hotel,” the businessman said, “In fact you should build a holiday village with a sports complex so people can come and relax.  It could be so successful that you could build an air strip so you can offer the whole package to the tourists so you can cut out the middleman and make even greater profits.”

 

“Why should I do that...?” asked the fisherman.

 

“You would make lots of money and be rich of course...!” replied the entrepreneur.

 

“How long would it take...?” asked the fisherman

 

“I would think it would take ten years to be really successful,” answered the entrepreneur.

 

“What would I do with all that money...?” asked the fisherman.

 

“You could go on exotic holidays to a beautiful island where you could fish, play with your children and have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty all around you” replied the entrepreneur.

 

“But that is exactly what I am doing now, isn’t it...?” asked the bewildered fisherman.  

Sometimes we can have happiness and contentment here and now

But we keep on struggling and aspiring for more and more.

We do not enjoy what we already have. 

Yes, Your Happiness is Here and Now

Your Happiness does not exist in some distant future.

So there is no need to be ambitious and ruin your present happiness.

Yes, why spoil your present and try to chase elusive happiness in the future?

 

It would be apt to quote Warren Buffet:

 

“I really like my life. I've arranged my life so that I can do what I want... I get to do what I like to do every single day of the year…”

 

Dear Reader, may I wish you happiness and contentment here and now, wherever you are, with whatever you have got.

 

Remember: Money is like petrol in a car. Money is not the car.

 

If you know when enough is enough, you will always have enough. 

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

NB:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013. All Rights Reserved

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.