this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2024
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

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If "more money=more problems," why doesn't "no money=no problems"? (self.showerthoughts)
submitted 2 weeks ago by JasonDJ to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Because you only get mo problems after you get mo than you need.

Not sure what it is with inflation, but a while ago the number was like 75k?

Money = happiness until you reach whatever threshold that's at today, and after that mo money doesn't get you mo happiness, just mo problems.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I believe the number is now closer to $110k and even then you are one major hospital visit from being back on the problems train.

The trick is to make more money, but don't live like you do. Just save the money. And then be able to retire young with millions in the bank

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yep.

A big tip that helps is most people aren't wired to hoard resources, so when we accumulate a lot our brains want to trade that for a dopamine hit which can lead to reckless spending.

But our brains are kind of stupid, and easy to trick.

Drop $100 on a fun thing, or go online and make an extra mortgage payment, pay a credit card, or even just deposit it into a savings account.

Our brain just sees that resources went down, a good thing happened, and dumps some dopamine.

I only read the original study years ago and never saw any followups.

But as far as our brains are concerned, the same thing just happened, so it gives the same dopamine.