# Could money solve your most serious problem? If so, how much would it take? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884 "2014-09-08T17:47:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/21 "2014-09-08T19:17:22Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Sounds like a plan! > > I just got my degree, but here’s what I could do with the money - pay off all my loans and go back to school and get a master’s and have a better chance of landing a job. :: dons Evil Helmet :: Shall I have the larceny department assist you? There’s some small-town banks in upstate NY that really need to work on their security. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/22 "2014-09-08T19:22:21Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You have $10 million and you want a job? Mika’s younger than I am. If she lives another fifty years, $10 million might last her the rest of her life, but probably not at the lifestyle she desires. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/23 "2014-09-08T19:45:23Z")
Directly, no. But I currently spend a great deal of my time and mental resources at work, allowing me less time and energy to spend toward resolving my most serious problems. A huge infusion of cash would give me back that time & energy so that I could focus on problems with non-monetary solutions. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/24 "2014-09-08T19:47:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You have $10 million and you want a job? Even if someone handed me $10 million - which I could easily live on for the rest of my life, no doubt about it - I’d still want to do _something_. I can’t sit around on my laurels for the 40+ years I may potentially still live. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/25 "2014-09-08T19:48:34Z")
70 grand would pay off all my bills, allow me to remarry, and basically be as free of stress as I could possibly imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/26 "2014-09-08T20:06:32Z")
This is a good poll. At first I was calculating the expenses of various stresses in my life, and then I realized that it’s not really the individual problems that drag me down - even if I was Warren Buffet, I’d still manage to find _something_ to wring my hands over. I think this applies to many people; the things you worry about shift with the years, but the anxiety is the same anxiety, just in different forms. . . . I’m going to need more pie, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/27 "2014-09-08T20:16:04Z")
I was nice and only said the amount of money it would be to remove the debt I have and then have some left over for savings. I didn’t just say the max so that I could have a FULFILLING life ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/28 "2014-09-08T20:16:21Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > This is a good poll. At first I was calculating the expenses of various stresses in my life, and then I realized that it’s not really the individual problems that drag me down - even if I was Warren Buffet, I’d still manage to find _something_ to wring my hands over. I think this applies to many people; the things you worry about shift with the years, but the anxiety is the same anxiety, just in different forms. > . . . I’m going to need more pie, thanks. I tried to teleport you a piece but your teleport pad account appears to be in arrears. That’s another money problem. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/29 "2014-09-08T20:16:40Z")
I don’t know. What would it take to pay for my kids college so they aren’t buried in debt for the rest of their lives? What would it take to be able to have a different car every 10 years? What would it take to cover my property taxes until I’m dead? I’m guessing Untold Billions. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/30 "2014-09-08T20:25:07Z")
My main problem is that I am going blind from a retinal degenerative disease that has no current treatment or cure. Millions for research might potentially fix that before I go completely blind (or die of old age), but not likely. On the other hand, five or ten million would allow me to 1) retire while I still have some vision, 2) allow my wife to retire so she and I could travel as much as we want (both for pleasure and to visit our aging parents on opposite coasts), and 3) allow me to hire some part-time staff to do the things I can’t do (like drive myself around and maintain the house and garden). ---
**Author:** ![BigDadWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@BigDadWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDadWolf)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/31 "2014-09-08T20:26:47Z")
I think I could take care of my biggest problem for about $50K. It wouldn’t put me on easy street but not being on easy street isn’t my biggest problem. It would allow me to restructure my life so I could live happily within my current means. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/32 "2014-09-08T20:28:21Z")
I’d need $3-4 million to retire and never worry about running out of money. I guess I could retire on less than $2 million and invest, but then that’d be like working. I prefer to just walk the earth and get into adventures, I’ll just be Amigo at that point. That’s my problem. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/33 "2014-09-08T20:38:26Z")
I can’t believer everyone knows what their worst problem is. . . anyway, I decided to pay-off the mortgage. . . do we get taxed on this? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/34 "2014-09-08T20:38:47Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Even if someone handed me $10 million - which I could easily live on for the rest of my life, no doubt about it - I’d still want to do _something_. I can’t sit around on my laurels for the 40+ years I may potentially still live. I can understand that you want something to do. An IT job doesn’t sound interesting to me because I’ve been doing that for 40 years already. In your position I might do the same thing. You will certainly be able to live well from simple investments of the $10 million, but then you can still get a job that you like without regard for the pay or location. If you don’t waste the money you’ll have enough to start your own company someday if you want to and then work for yourself. I like your attitude, I hope Skald chooses you to get the money. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/35 "2014-09-08T20:49:15Z")
I want us to be able to own our own home. Not much to ask, unless you’re in Silicon Valley. $100K for a down, $700K for a house. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/36 "2014-09-08T21:15:18Z")
I put 100-999k. It’s hard to prioritize a “most serious problem” among the total list, but that amount of money would pay off my mortgage, pay off my student loans, get some wish-list home renovations done and get me more on track with retirement savings. None of these are really “serious” problems - I get by day to day and make gradual progress on all of these issues. But something like $500k would have me feeling like I’ve arrived at financial security and everything is downhill from there. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/37 "2014-09-08T21:26:35Z")
I selected Between $50,000 and $99,999. I need a new roof, windows, siding, furnace and some solar panels to go off the electric grid would be lovely. Hmm, with that laundry list I should have gone higher. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/38 "2014-09-08T21:51:08Z")
I took this seriously and talked to my husband about it before answering. Then again, we ARE drinking right now so make of our answer what you will. Between $100,000 and $999,999.99. That would pay off our bills and get current, buy us the place we’re living in rather than having to rent, pay back my mom, buy a new vehicle or repair the current one (although I really really want a new one - I’ve never in 48 years EVER owned a brand new car and neither has he - in 56 years), and give us a cushion for when I’m not working and he could start rehabbing this place that we would have bought with the money. He doesn’t work outside the house - he can’t for various reasons. One can always dream, right? ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/39 "2014-09-08T21:55:15Z")
I don’t really have any big problems. I make a decent living wage, pay my bills on time, have no debt or medical issues. But I don’t make enough to save much money for extra and big expenses. My 14 year old girl needs braces. My insurance will cover $2,000, but the total is $6,000. The monthly payments for the balance will be hefty. I could use $4000. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884/40 "2014-09-08T22:00:29Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > About 600 million take home from the lottery would help. No,it wouldn’t cure cancer,but I could have my ranch so that I could watch the skinny horses I’d buy get fat and glossy… I could help out a few rescues that really do rescue. I could watch the Milky Way again… And I could set up my son so he could do whatever he wanted to do. > Fancy house? Forget it. I want electricity,flush toilets,running water,a soft bed and a roof that doesn’t leak. Fancy,fast car? I’d get my old beater '88 Ford pickup running. Girlfriend, I like your style! As for me, $100,00 (after taxes) would take care of my problems quite nicely, thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-money-solve-your-most-serious-problem-if-so-how-much-would-it-take/697884.md?page=3)