Home

[house_cat]

We were visiting my husband's parents in East Hampton, NY this spring. They live in a nice neighborhood, above my price range, but nothing like the extraordinary homes you can find out there.  I found one that I especially liked - it must have had at least 30 windows.  We were laughing that we couldn't even afford window dressings for 30 windows, let alone the house payment.

[PamfromCT]

A while back, I saw an interview with Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest men there is.  He still lives in the first home he bought in Nebraska.  A nice home, but not a mansion.  He has no driver or limo - he drives himself in his car.  His office is quite ordinary.  His favorite restaurant is an average Italian restaurant in town.  No bragging, no flash.  And he, like a few others of the very high billionaire class, is leaving 99 percent to charity.  He has said his children will still have plenty.  A very secure and grounded person, don"t you think?

[Desertdi]

I know more than a few "penny pinching millionaires"...............

[151949]

I know many people who own businesses and are wealthy but they always have had to work hard for their success and they do not waste any of their money on things like $11,000 lamps. They live in regular homes  and drive regular cars and hang out with regular people like me. I don't know anyone so wealthy that they throw away money on every whim just because they can.

[RazorSharp]

It's all relative to how much money you have.  I would never say it was wasting or throwing away money if they could afford it and wanted it.  I'm happy for people who are successful and can enjoy having nice things.  

[bri20]

We have friends that are extremely wealthy.  They travel, have a beach home, drive expensive cars - they don't flaunt their wealth, IMO.

He's a stock broker and invested in restaurants and hotels. 

Their home is gorgeous.  I'm sure there are some art pieces that cost upwards of $10,000.  I certainly can't afford to drop $10,000 on an art piece or a lamp, but there are people who can.  It's all relative...

[willdob3]

I know a few wealthy people.

From what I know of one couple, a good amount of money is spent on original artwork, travel, charitable organizations, etc. They know people we've all heard of and do things/go places I've never dreamed of going (Grammy Awards, etc). They are very generous to friends and relatives but they also watch how they spend their money. I don't know any wealthy people who throw their money away impulsively.

One relative is retired & "paying it forward" by helping several people he knows & feels are deserving and in need; he sends them monthly checks & helps with specific needs they may have. I'm not sure how many he helps or the details because he really doesn't discuss it. He purchased a brand new car for one of them. He lives well but but not over-the-top. 

[SilleeMee]

I saw an online store...

"We ship free with a $900 or more purchase"

[qualitygal]

I think they'd spend it on furnishings after they built my log cabin home, that would resemble a lodge. This of course, is after I win the bijillion dollar lottery. Have you ever watched one of those shows on how it takes to get building supplies just to the property to build it!!! ?  But that's where my bijillion dollar winnings will go. While I'm dreaming......

[SahmIam]

Long ago, I was in the home of one of the heirs to a food brand (their products are in every store all over the US, Canada, UK). Their home was  plain, nothing fancy... a nice house but you wouldn't look twice at it.  The furniture was basic, substantial but not fancy but if you know furniture, you knew that each piece cost thousands because it was excellent quality. Nothing was in your face. But I remember looking at pictures on the walls. Here and there, in the hallway, in the bathroom, no special lighting.....just hung where they felt they looked good. I noticed that one was signed... Picasso. I saw another in the kitchen... Andy Warhol.  I started looking at more and more and realized that these names were famous ones. I mentioned to my then boyfriend that these were some nice paintings and he said, "yeah, but everyone has copies like this in their homes, you know?"

The thing was, they weren't copies. HIs wife mentioned to me that they both love art and they buy a piece a year when I commented on the Picasso. She laughed and told me people assumed they're fakes because they don't live in a big house on the hill., shop at Walmart and send their kids to the local public school.Her husband said that he was taught "hiding in plain sight was the best way to live when you have money".

So, you never know.