essay how money has changed someone i know

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How Money Changes the Way You Think and Feel

The term “affluenza”—a portmanteau of affluence and influenza, defined as a “painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste, resulting from the dogged pursuit of more”—is often dismissed as a silly buzzword created to express our cultural disdain for consumerism. Though often used in jest, the term may contain more truth than many of us would like to think.

Whether affluenza is real or imagined, money really does change everything, as the song goes—and those of high social class do tend to see themselves much differently than others. Wealth (and the pursuit of it) has been linked with immoral behavior—and not just in movies like The Wolf of Wall Street .

Psychologists who study the impact of wealth and inequality on human behavior have found that money can powerfully influence our thoughts and actions in ways that we’re often not aware of, no matter our economic circumstances. Although wealth is certainly subjective, most of the current research measures wealth on scales of income, job status, or socioeconomic circumstances, like educational attainment and intergenerational wealth.

essay how money has changed someone i know

Here are seven things you should know about the psychology of money and wealth.

More money, less empathy?

Several studies have shown that wealth may be at odds with empathy and compassion . Research published in the journal Psychological Science found that people of lower economic status were better at reading others’ facial expressions —an important marker of empathy—than wealthier people.

“A lot of what we see is a baseline orientation for the lower class to be more empathetic and the upper class to be less [so],” study co-author Michael Kraus told Time . “Lower-class environments are much different from upper-class environments. Lower-class individuals have to respond chronically to a number of vulnerabilities and social threats. You really need to depend on others so they will tell you if a social threat or opportunity is coming, and that makes you more perceptive of emotions.”

While a lack of resources fosters greater emotional intelligence, having more resources can cause bad behavior in its own right. UC Berkeley research found that even fake money could make people behave with less regard for others. Researchers observed that when two students played Monopoly, one having been given a great deal more Monopoly money than the other, the wealthier player expressed initial discomfort, but then went on to act aggressively, taking up more space and moving his pieces more loudly, and even taunting the player with less money.

Wealth can cloud moral judgment

It is no surprise in this post-2008 world to learn that wealth may cause a sense of moral entitlement. A UC Berkeley study found that in San Francisco—where the law requires that cars stop at crosswalks for pedestrians to pass—drivers of luxury cars were four times less likely than those in less expensive vehicles to stop and allow pedestrians the right of way. They were also more likely to cut off other drivers.

Another study suggested that merely thinking about money could lead to unethical behavior. Researchers from Harvard and the University of Utah found that study participants were more likely to lie or behave immorally after being exposed to money-related words.

“Even if we are well-intentioned, even if we think we know right from wrong, there may be factors influencing our decisions and behaviors that we’re not aware of,” University of Utah associate management professor Kristin Smith-Crowe, one of the study’s co-authors, told MarketWatch .

Wealth has been linked with addiction

While money itself doesn’t cause addiction or substance abuse, wealth has been linked with a higher susceptibility to addiction problems. A number of studies have found that affluent children are more vulnerable to substance abuse issues , potentially because of high pressure to achieve and isolation from parents. Studies also found that kids who come from wealthy parents aren’t necessarily exempt from adjustment problems—in fact, research found that on several measures of maladjustment, high school students of high socioeconomic status received higher scores than inner-city students. Researchers found that these children may be more likely to internalize problems, which has been linked with substance abuse.

But it’s not just adolescents: Even in adulthood, the rich outdrink the poor by more than 27 percent.

Money itself can become addictive

The pursuit of wealth itself can also become a compulsive behavior. As psychologist Dr. Tian Dayton explained, a compulsive need to acquire money is often considered part of a class of behaviors known as process addictions, or “behavioral addictions,” which are distinct from substance abuse.

These days, the idea of process addictions is widely accepted. Process addictions are addictions that involve a compulsive and/or an out-of-control relationship with certain behaviors such as gambling, sex, eating, and, yes, even money.…There is a change in brain chemistry with a process addiction that’s similar to the mood-altering effects of alcohol or drugs. With process addictions, engaging in a certain activity—say viewing pornography, compulsive eating, or an obsessive relationship with money—can kickstart the release of brain/body chemicals, like dopamine, that actually produce a “high” that’s similar to the chemical high of a drug. The person who is addicted to some form of behavior has learned, albeit unconsciously, to manipulate his own brain chemistry.

While a process addiction is not a chemical addiction, it does involve compulsive behavior —in this case, an addiction to the good feeling that comes from receiving money or possessions—which can ultimately lead to negative consequences and harm the individual’s well-being. Addiction to spending money—sometimes known as shopaholism —is another, more common type of money-associated process addiction.

Wealthy children may be more troubled

Children growing up in wealthy families may seem to have it all, but having it all may come at a high cost. Wealthier children tend to be more distressed than lower-income kids, and are at high risk for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, cheating, and stealing. Research has also found high instances of binge-drinking and marijuana use among the children of high-income, two-parent, white families.

“In upwardly mobile communities, children are often pressed to excel at multiple academic and extracurricular pursuits to maximize their long-term academic prospects—a phenomenon that may well engender high stress,” writes psychologist Suniya Luthar in “The Culture Of Affluence.” “At an emotional level, similarly, isolation may often derive from the erosion of family time together because of the demands of affluent parents’ career obligations and the children’s many after-school activities.”

We tend to perceive the wealthy as “evil”

On the other side of the spectrum, lower-income individuals are likely to judge and stereotype those who are wealthier than themselves, often judging the wealthy as being “cold.” (Of course, it is also true that the poor struggle with their own set of societal stereotypes.)

Rich people tend to be a source of envy and distrust, so much so that we may even take pleasure in their struggles, according to Scientific American . University of Pennsylvania research demonstrated that most people tend to link perceived profits with perceived social harm. When participants were asked to assess various companies and industries (some real, some hypothetical), both liberals and conservatives ranked institutions perceived to have higher profits with greater evil and wrongdoing across the board, independent of the company or industry’s actions in reality.

Money can’t buy happiness (or love)

We tend to seek money and power in our pursuit of success (and who doesn’t want to be successful, after all?), but it may be getting in the way of the things that really matter: happiness and love.

More on Inequality

Read Jason Marsh's award-winning story on how inequality hurts everyone's happiness .

Discover how inequality can make the wealthy less cooperative .

Find out why affluent people are more likely to break rules .

Explore whether the rich are really less generous .

There is no direct correlation between income and happiness. After a certain level of income that can take care of basic needs and relieve strain ( some say $50,000 a year , some say $75,000 ), wealth makes hardly any difference to overall well-being and happiness and, if anything, only harms well-being: Extremely affluent people actually suffer from higher rates of depression . Some data has suggested money itself doesn’t lead to dissatisfaction—instead, it’s the ceaseless striving for wealth and material possessions that may lead to unhappiness. Materialistic values have even been linked with lower relationship satisfaction .

But here’s something to be happy about: More Americans are beginning to look beyond money and status when it comes to defining success in life. According to a 2013 LifeTwist study , only around one-quarter of Americans still believe that wealth determines success.

This article originally appeared in the Huffington Post and Fulfillment Daily .

About the Author

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Does money change your thinking?

You encounter it every day. You might count it or spend it or wish you had more of it. But can just thinking about money affect your behavior?

Kathleen D. Vohs Associate Professor of Marketing, McKnight Land-Grant Professor, and McKnight Presidential Fellow, Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota

You've done a series of studies looking at how money affects people psychologically. Why do you think this is an important question? Money is ubiquitous. The possibilities for psychological effects are innumerable because of the number of times we are exposed to the concept of money. So its frequency in the natural environment in and of itself makes it important to know about. In one of your studies you tested how money affected people's willingness to help others and their desire to get help. How did you test that, and what were your results? First we exposed the subjects to concepts of money in very subtle ways. For example, we would have some Monopoly money on the table on which they were working, or we would have them do a word task that involved unscrambling words that made up logical phrases, and sometimes those phrases related to money. Then we gave subjects the opportunity to help someone else. For example, in one experiment, after the subjects were either reminded of money or not, the experimenter would take them across the room, when they're intercepted by another person. That person is part of the experiment, but it looks like she is just generally working for the laboratory. She is holding in her arms a whole lot of different things — papers and pencils, and in particular she has a manila envelope full of those little tiny golf pencils. She drops the pencils right in front of the subject. So the question is how many pencils the subject helps her pick up. And it turns out that it varies as a function of whether or not they earlier were reminded of money. Subjects who were reminded of money were less helpful than subjects not reminded of money. You also found that people ask for help less for themselves. Yes, we designed some experiments to see whether we could determine whether people were simply being selfish when they were reminded of money, or whether they were what we would call self-sufficient — wanting to do things on their own but also wanting other people to do their goals and tasks on their own. So we engineered a few situations where subjects were either reminded about money or not. For example, some of them read an essay about what life was like having a lot of money. Then they were given either a challenging task or an actually impossible task to perform, and we let them know that they could ask for help. For example, the experimenter would say, "I'm right outside if you need anything — if you want any tips or advice or want to know how best to go about the puzzle." In another experiment, we sat a peer in the same room as the subject and we said, "She just completed the experiment that you're doing. I'll be back in a little while, but if you have any questions, you could ask her." In both of those settings, we found that when people were reminded of money, they were less interested in receiving help from others, suggesting not that money makes people selfish, but that it makes people self-sufficient, that they are interested in performing tasks and goals on their own. There was another series of experiments that were done in China, on how money affects the perception of pain, both physical pain and the pain of social rejection. In that study, the subjects came into the lab and were randomly assigned to do either one of two what we told them were "finger dexterity tasks." One of the finger dexterity tasks had them count out 80 slips of paper and the other one had them count 80 bills of currency — each bill was equivalent to $14 in the United States. Ten minutes later, we brought them into a different room and had them put their hands in either very hot water or only warm water. Subjects who had earlier counted out money felt the pain of that hot water as being far less painful — in fact, it looked equivalent, statistically, to their ratings when they put their hands in the warm water. You also tested how people would react to social rejection. How did you do that? We used an online virtual game, where subjects log in and meet two other players and the three of them pass a virtual ball back and forth. So you can set up the game such that the other two players are playing naturally and inclusively with the subject — we call that the normal play condition — or you can rig it so that the subject is passed the ball a few times in the beginning but then is subsequently ignored by the other two players. The subject spends the rest of the game watching the two players pass the ball back and forth with no one passing the ball to him or her. This is a commonly used experimental game, and it's well known to have these social exclusion effects: people feel bad and lonely and they feel like no one likes them. So we had the subjects go online and play the game in one of those two conditions — either normally or in the social rejection condition — and then subsequently we said, "How did you feel during that game?" And we saw that after subjects had been counting out money, they weren't that bothered by being socially rejected. The reminders of money seemed to ameliorate social pain as well as physical pain. Do you connect that with the idea of self-sufficiency? I do. A self-sufficient person is going to have the mindset that I have to live life on my own and I have to be able to achieve whatever goals I want on my own. Being able to withstand pain is a big part of that, since you only have yourself to rely on. We didn't say it like that in the paper, but that was what I think the connection is. Much of economics is based around the idea that people respond to situations in terms of their economic self-interest. If when you introduce money into the equation, they start to respond in ways that have to do with these additional factors, does that mean they're behaving irrationally? That's an interesting question. It's paradoxical: reminders of money might make people less interested in behaving rationally. I wouldn't say that we've tested that directly. You could, I suppose, make the case that people perceiving painful experiences as less painful is irrational. But it can be seen as very rational when you're thinking about goal achievement, because goal achievement means that you have to overcome some discomfort or inconveniences or displeasure. And so in order to achieve your goal, you have to be able to stand pain, broadly defined. One thing that struck me about your work is that when you're testing people, they don't actually own the money. They just have to touch it or think about it to feel these effects. Given that there are lots of ways to get a hold of money without owning it fully — taking out a home-equity loan, for example — might people think that they are more self-sufficient than they are, and would that cause them to do things that maybe aren't the wisest choices? That's where I would go with it as well. I think that that's exactly right, because you don't actually need to own that money or be endowed with that money, and yet it has these effects on you. It speaks to the power that these effects could have on people in their daily decisions. That may be where that linkage to irrational decision-making comes in. Interview conducted and edited by Ben Mattison.

Money Changes People: Here’s How and Why

Money changes people, and it’s not always for the better. Wealthy people struggle more than most realize, and this struggle is often seen regardless of how much money you have. Whether you were born wealthy, a self-made millionaire, a high-income earner, or just well off for your area, you may find that money alters a person’s behavior without them realizing it.

Table of Contents

Is it True that Money Can Change an Individual?

Money can change people, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Much of it has to do with the preconceptions money creates. Our society has a lot of factors influencing how we look at money, and wealth can be seen as a social threat. Of course, money can’t buy happiness , but most people don’t realize that even well-intentioned motives can backfire.

Does money change people? Yes .

Does money change everyone? No, it doesn’t .

But, if you aren’t aware of how having money can affect your behavior and how you treat others, you could fall into the same trap.

Especially for those in upwardly mobile communities looking to increase their wealth, it’s essential to understand the psychological effects of money so that more of it doesn’t lead to negative behavior.

How Does Money Affect Human Behavior?

We all could use more money, but believe it or not, it can make us less empathic. A study conducted in the journal of Psychological Science found that wealthy people are more selfish and less likely to show empathy toward others. However, it also found that people with less money tend to read other people’s emotions better, making it easier to empathize and help them.

Some experts believe it is because people with less money have to depend more on others for various needs. So when they perceive a threat is coming that could affect other people, they are more likely to warn everyone and help where they can versus the more affluent who already have enough money and don’t need to rely on others.

Sometimes money can make a person more aggressive too. This aggression could be due to their selfishness, making them more boastful and less mindful of the people around them.

Negative Ways Money Changes People

They say the more money you have, the more problems. While money problems are the least of the wealthy’s worries, money can lead to other negatives. Even though not struggling financially can bring greater peace of mind, it can also do many negative things.

Here are some negative effects of money.

Less Empathy

It’s more difficult for the rich to feel empathic when focusing on themselves. They are less likely to look at the people around them and see or care about what they need. They are more likely to indulge in self-interest maximization, spending money on themselves rather than using their wealth to help others.

An empathic person will react when someone around them is struggling, has needs, or experiences distress. Conversely, a non-empathic person will seem unaffected by what’s going on around them and is less likely to do anything about the situation unless it has to do with themselves.

Also Read: Fun money and why it’s important .

Wealth and Moral Judgement

A UC Berkeley study demonstrated that money and moral judgment are directly linked. Researchers conducted seven separate studies to see how wealth affected moral judgment, and in each case, it had a negative relationship.

In each study, the wealthy were more likely to cheat, lie, cut people off or make immoral decisions even in the workplace. Many experts believe this is due to the selfishness many wealthy people feel. Because they don’t have to look out for others, they make fewer ‘good’ decisions and instead focus on themselves. As a result, they don’t care nearly as much about how their actions affect others.

Wealth Linked to Addiction

Money doesn’t cause addiction directly, but because there is a more accessible pathway to get drugs or alcohol, the rich are more likely to have addiction problems than the poor . As income increases, so do the rates of alcoholism in adults and substance abuse in teens. Young adults in the upper-middle class are three times more likely to suffer from addiction or unethical behavior than those in lower classes.

Aside from substance addiction, money itself can become an addiction that leads to compulsive behavior. The need to get more money is a process addiction in which a person feels good when they acquire cash or possessions. People could also become addicted to spending money, known as shopaholism.

No matter the addiction, it’s clear that the compulsive nature of habits and consequences to your body or pocketbook is not suitable for your long-term well-being.

Wealth Often Perceived Negatively

There’s a consensus in society that wealth is bad and it makes people evil and rude. But, even if it’s not true, many lower-class individuals won’t give the rich a chance because they already perceive they will be negative, mean, or have ill intentions. With such vast income inequality in this country, it’s easy to see how those without would perceive those with way more than they need to live comfortably in a negative light.

Thoughts of Inequality

Income inequality has always been an issue in our country. As Associate Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said, “We can either have democracy in this country or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.”

We saw this in action after the housing crisis of 2008 that brought the economy down. Wall Street financiers were rescued without question, while everyone else had to figure out their situation themselves.

This feeling of inequality has made the rich act superior, while the middle class and below feel inferior to everyone else.

Children and Substance Abuse

Addiction problems don’t just affect young adults. The higher class a family is, the lonelier children often feel. Those born to wealthy parents sometimes make up for loneliness and isolation by accessing drugs and alcohol. Since upper-class children have access to a lot more money, they are more likely to get addicted to dangerous drugs and alcohol and have compulsive behavior .

Also, children from upper-class families feel pressure to perform better in school and life but have less parental supervision than their lower-class counterparts. As a result, children often find it difficult to cope with the pressures of society and their lack of connection to their parents.

Distrustful of Other Economical Classes

All economic classes have different views of one another. Lower classes often feel like the rich are ‘stuck up,’ untrustworthy, and unhelpful. They tend to avoid the upper-classes because they think they lack empathy and would never help them if they were in a difficult situation.

The rich often look down on the lower classes too. They look at anyone in a class beneath them as criminals and untrustworthy individuals. They also may look at those with less as undeserving instead of someone constrained by socioeconomic circumstances.

However, it’s important to note that the perceptions of the wealthy and the lower classes come from different places. For the rich, it’s more about perception than actual experiences or feelings. Conversely, stereotyping the upper classes is often based on personal experience and negative consequences for the lower classes.

Wealthy Children and Psychological Disorders

Wealthy children often suffer the most from psychological disorders because of pressure. But, unfortunately, some children do it to themselves, assuming they have an image to uphold and standards to live up to so they can be just like their parents.

When children feel like they are ‘less,’ they may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. Unfortunately, some children also have eating disorders or suffer from severe anxiety or depression because they don’t feel good enough for their families.

Materialism Linked with Lower Satisfaction

When you don’t have money, you often think, ‘if I only had more money, I’d be happy.’ But once you get that money, you quickly realize that it’s not the material things that make you happy. Yes, money can buy you peace of mind, which is helpful, but that’s about it. Money is only beneficial until you can comfortably meet all your basic needs.

However, money doesn’t buy love, and material things can’t make you permanently happy. They can’t fill the void of loneliness or make someone feel less stressed. Money may make you feel good temporarily, but when you realize it can’t change how you feel inside, it quickly loses its power.

Distorted Self-Image

Money can make you feel more powerful than you are or make you feel invincible when you’re not. This distorted image can affect how you carry yourself and how you act. There’s nothing that says rich people are better or poor people can’t make wise decisions.

Money doesn’t define us, but it can change how we see ourselves, talk to ourselves, and eventually conduct our lives.

Less Helpful

The more money people have, the less helpful they tend to be. Again, this stems from the lack of empathy many wealthy people have. They can’t think outside of themselves, so they focus on themselves instead of the world around them.

People of different economic statuses were introduced to different things, including fake money, Monopoly money, or money-related words. Then, the other groups were exposed to something other than money. Both groups were then put in situations where they needed help. Unfortunately, the groups exposed to money were less likely to help those in need.

Positive Ways Money Changes People

Fortunately, money doesn’t always have adverse effects on people. On the contrary, there are some positive attributes to having more money.

Self-Sufficiency

Some people may think wealth makes you selfish, but another way you could look at the wealthy is self-sufficient. In the same Yale study, researchers found that groups exposed to money-related items and words were less likely to ask for help when exposed to situations where support was right outside the door.

However, the group not exposed to money was more likely to reach out for help, demonstrating that wealthy people tend to do things on their own for as long as they can. Wealthy people prefer to achieve their own goals and hold themselves higher.

Philanthropy

Wealthy families have more resources to share with others, and the rich often spend money to help charities or other causes. However, you don’t have to be famous to be a philanthropist. You don’t even need millions of dollars.

The most significant benefit to wealth is the ability to help others better and impact the world in ways you deem necessary. Money talks and those with it have the opportunity and responsibility to help move society forward so that everyone can succeed.

Money changes people, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set goals and have as much money as possible. It all comes down to the social psychology of having money and how people perceive you.

Stay aware of how you act, treat others, and even how you use your money. This will help you avoid the bad behavior many people with a lot of money fall into, giving money a bad name.

Now that you know how money changes people, often for the bad, you don’t have to be one of them.

Samantha Hawrylack is a personal finance expert and full-time entrepreneur with a passion for writing and SEO . She holds a Bachelor’s in Finance and Master’s in Business Administration and previously worked for Vanguard, where she held Series 7 and 63 licenses. Her work has been featured in publications like Grow, MSN, CNBC, Ladders, Rocket Mortgage, Quicken Loans, Clever Girl Finance, Credit Donkey, Crediful, Investing Answers, Well Kept Wallet, AllCards, Mama and Money, and Concreit, among others. She writes in personal finance, real estate, credit, entrepreneurship, credit card, student loan, mortgage, personal loan, insurance, debt management, business, productivity, and career niches.

United Kingdom

Learning About Money Changed My Life

Learning about money changed my life — but not in the way you’d think, more from work & money, r29 original series.

How Money Changes The Way We Think And Behave

Senior Writer, The Huffington Post

The term "affluenza" -- a portmanteau of affluence and influenza, defined as a "painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste, resulting from the dogged pursuit of more" -- is often dismissed as a silly buzzword created to express our cultural disdain for consumerism. Though often used in jest, the term may have more truth than many of us would like to think.

Affluenza was even used as a defense in a recent, highly publicized drunk driving trial in Texas, where a 16-year-old boy claimed that his family's wealth should exempt him from responsibility for the deaths of four people. The boy got off with 10 years' probation and therapy (which his family will pay for), angering many for what they saw as the law's unfair leniency .

Psychologist G. Dick Miller, who acted as an expert witness for the defense, argued that the boy was suffering from affluenza, which may have kept him from comprehending the full consequence of his actions.

“I wish I had not used that term,” Miller later told CNN . “Everyone seems to have hooked on to it.”

Whether affluenza is real or imagined, money really does change everything, as the song goes -- and those of high social class do tend to see themselves much differently than others. Wealth (and the pursuit of it) has been linked with immoral behavior -- and not just in movies like The Wolf of Wall Street . Psychologists who study the impact of wealth and inequality on human behavior have found that money can powerfully influence our thoughts and actions in ways that we're often not aware of, no matter our economic circumstances. Although wealth is certainly subjective, most of the current research measures wealth on scales of income, job status or measures of socioeconomic circumstances, like educational attainment and intergenerational wealth.

Here are seven things you should know about the psychology of money and wealth.

More money, less empathy?

Several studies have shown that wealth may be at odds with empathy and compassion. Research published in the journal Psychological Science also found that people of lower economic status were better at reading others' facial expressions -- an important marker of empathy -- than wealthier people.

“A lot of what we see is a baseline orientation for the lower class to be more empathetic and the upper class to be less [so],” study co-author Michael Kraus told TIME . “Lower-class environments are much different from upper-class environments. Lower-class individuals have to respond chronically to a number of vulnerabilities and social threats. You really need to depend on others so they will tell you if a social threat or opportunity is coming and that makes you more perceptive of emotions.”

While a lack of resources fosters greater emotional intelligence, having more resources can cause bad behavior in its own right. University of Berkeley research found that even fake money could make people behave with less regard for others. Researchers observed that when two students played monopoly, one having been given a great deal more Monopoly money than the other, the wealthier player expressed initial discomfort, but then went on to act aggressively, taking up more space and moving his pieces more loudly, and even taunts the player with less money.

Wealth can cloud moral judgment.

It is no surprise in this post-2008 world to learn that wealth may cause a sense of moral entitlement. A UC Berkeley study found that in San Francisco -- where the law requires that cars stop at crosswalks for pedestrians to pass -- drivers of luxury cars were four times less likely than those in less expensive vehicles to stop and allow pedestrians the right of way. They were also more likely to cut off other drivers.

“Even if we are well intentioned, even if we think we know right from wrong, there may be factors influencing our decisions and behaviors that we’re not aware of,” University of Utah associate management professor Kristin Smith-Crowe, one of the study's co-authors, told MarketWatch .

Wealth has been linked with addiction.

While money itself doesn't cause addiction or substance abuse, wealth has been linked with a higher susceptibility to addiction problems. A number of studies have found that affluent children are more vulnerable to substance abuse issues , potentially because of high pressure to achieve and isolation from parents. Studies also found that kids who come from wealthy parents aren't necessary exempt from adjustment problems -- in fact, research found that on several measures of maladjustment, high school studies of high socioeconomic status received higher scores than inner-city students. Researchers found that these children may be more likely to internalize problems, which has been linked with substance abuse.

But it's not just adolescents: Even in adulthood, the rich outdrink the poor by more than 27 percent.

Money itself can become addictive.

The pursuit of wealth itself can also become a compulsive behavior. As Psychologist Dr. Tian Dayton explained, a compulsive need to acquire money is often considered part of a class of behaviors known as process addictions, or "behavioral addictions," which are distinct from substance abuse:

These days, the idea of process addictions is widely accepted. Process addictions are addictions that involve a compulsive and/or an out of control relationship with certain behaviors such as gambling, sex, eating and yes, even money... There is a change in brain chemistry with a process addiction that's similar to the mood altering effects of alcohol or drugs. With process addictions engaging in a certain activity, say viewing pornography, compulsive eating or an obsessive relationship with money, can kick start the release of brain/body chemicals, like dopamine, that actually produce a "high" that's similar to the chemical high of a drug. The person who is addicted to some form of behavior has learned, albeit unconsciously, to manipulate his own brain chemistry.

While a process addiction is not a chemical addiction, it does involve compulsive behavior -- in this case, an addiction to the good feeling that comes from receiving money or possessions -- which can ultimately lead to negative consequences and harm the individual's well-being. Addiction to spending money -- sometimes known as shopaholism -- is another, more common type of money-associated process addiction.

Wealthy children may be more troubled.

Children growing up in wealthy families may seem to have it all, but having it all may come at a high cost. Wealthier children tend to be more distressed than lower-income kids, and are at high risk for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, cheating and stealing. Research has also found high instances of binge-drinking and marijuana use among the children of high-income, two-parent, white families.

"In upwardly mobile communities, children are often pressed to excel at multiple academic and extracurricular pursuits to maximize their long-term academic prospects -- a phenomenon that may well engender high stress," psychologist Suniya Luthar in "The Culture Of Affluence." "At an emotional level, similarly, isolation may often derive from the erosion of family time together because of the demands of affluent parents' career obligations and the children's many after-school activities."

We tend to perceive the wealthy as "evil."

On the other side of the spectrum, lower-income individuals are likely to judge and stereotype those who are wealthier than themselves, often judging the wealthy as being "cold." (Though it is also true that the poor struggle with their own set of societal stereotypes .)

Rich people tend to be a source of envy and distrust, so much so that we may even take pleasure in their struggles, according to Scientific American . University of Pennsylvania research demonstrated that most people tend to link perceived profits with perceived social harm. When participants were asked to assess various companies and industries (some real, some hypothetical), both liberals and conservatives ranked institutions perceived to have higher profits with greater evil and wrong-doing across the board, independent of the company or industry's actions in reality.

Money can't buy happiness (or love).

We tend to seek money and power in our pursuit of success (and who doesn't want to be successful, after all?), but it may be getting in the way of the things that really matter: Happiness and love.

There is no direct correlation between income and happiness. After a certain level of income that can take care of basic needs and relieve strain ( some say $50,000 a year , some say $75,000 ), wealth makes hardly any difference to overall well-being and happiness and, if anything, only harms well-being: Extremely affluent people actually suffer from higher rates of depression . Some data has suggested money itself doesn't lead to dissatisfaction -- instead, it's the ceaseless striving for wealth and material possessions that may lead to unhappiness. Materialistic values have even been linked with lower relationship satisfaction .

But here's something to be happy about: More Americans are beginning to look beyond money and status when it comes to defining success in life. Only around one-quarter of Americans still believe that wealth determines success, according to a 2013 LifeTwist study .

Arianna Huffington and Mika Brzezinski are taking The Third Metric on a 3-city tour: NY, DC & LA. Tickets are on sale now at thirdmetric.com .

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30 Ways Money Changes People – And Not For Good

We’ve all heard the phrase that money is the “root of all evil.” You might understand this phrase more than other people. Some people start to develop a taste for money, while others see it as the door to greed. But no matter what you think about money, one fact never changes — you can’t live without it.

People need money for everything from a place to live to food for sustaining life. Sometimes people grow up poor and then find themselves rich. Other people grew up comfortably and continue to live the same way. You probably have different feelings and thoughts about money than other people you know, and this idea is typical because money changes the way you think and feel. Now, the question is, why and how – does money change people?

We broke down the many ways it does in our list below.

30. Continued Study Of How Money Changes People

For the past couple of decades, psychologists focused on several studies about the way people react towards money. They want to know why some poor people tend to give more than some who are wealthy. Psychologists want to understand why people start to treat themselves and other people differently when they become wealthy.

Throughout their studies, psychologists proved that money influences the way people think and act. They note that many people look at economic status as a way to show themselves to their neighbors, and once many people reach a high financial status, they start looking at the world differently.

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29. Wealth Brings Thoughts Of Inequality

Psychological studies prove that the more money people bring home, the more they start to rethink what equality truly means. Some people state that because they work hard for their money, they should receive different treatment from people who don’t work as hard or don’t work at all.

They can’t understand why people who don’t give their job everything they have, didn’t attend college, or didn’t work hard enough for that promotion should receive the same benefits and treatment as people who worked harder. This form of inequality doesn’t always focus on a person’s gender or race; it focuses on a person’s economic status.

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28. Measuring Wealth Isn’t Easy For Psychologists

One of the most significant snags psychologists ran into while conducting their studies was how to define and measure wealth. This became problematic because people think of wealth in different forms. Some people believe they are wealthy when they can pay all their bills on time and have a little money left over. They might still live paycheck to paycheck, but they are financially comfortable.

Other people look at wealth in terms of reaching their goals and see little value in money. However, some people believe that wealth means you don’t need to worry about how much money you spend. To find a solution, psychologists looked at wealth as a person’s job status, the scale of income, or socioeconomic circumstances.

27. Does A Wealthy Person Feel Less Empathy?

Several studies, including one from Psychological Science, shows that people who gain a high economic status didn’t have the same amount of empathy and compassion that people with a lower financial status show.

According to studies, empathy is how a person responds to another person. For example, if you are sitting on a park bench and a stranger sits down on the other side and begins to cry, how will you react? When you show empathy, you become concerned about the person and will ask them if you can help them. When you don’t feel empathy, you’ll ignore the person or get up and walk away.

26. ‘Lower Classes’ Are Kinder

In the psychological studies, empathy and kindness often went together. While all economic classes showed emotion at times, the lower economic classes showed more compassion. The lower classes also revealed that they could judge a person’s facial expressions better. For instance, they could tell someone looked sad or angry easier than higher economic levels.

Michael Kraus, a co-author of the study, believes this is because lower classes need to be more aware of their surroundings. In an interview, he told Time, “Lower-class individuals have to respond chronically to several vulnerabilities and social threats. You really need to depend on others, so they will tell you if a social threat or opportunity is coming, and that makes you more perceptive of emotions.”

25. More Resources Lead To Bad Behavior

A psychological study completed at the University of California, Berkeley, showed that people who had more resources because of their wealth took part in more bad behavior. The researchers noted that people usually did not take part in serious crimes such as commit assaults or murder. Their behavior changed in the way they acted toward people, without getting violent.

The study showed that people with more real and fake money than others showed more aggression toward people. At one point in the study, researchers gave some participants more fake Monopoly money than others. The people who received more money felt a little embarrassed at first but soon started playing a more aggressive role in the game.

24. Wealth Is Linked With Addiction

It is important to note, as the studies did, that just because you become wealthy does not mean you will become addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or anything else. There are people on all economic levels who face addiction. However, the studies also show that wealth links to addiction because people who have money can easily purchase what they want whenever they want.

The studies show that people who have money show a higher susceptibility to addiction problems. They don’t need to worry about where their money is going as much and can often take so much money every week and spend it at the casino, going to the bar, or buying unhealthy and fatty foods. Some studies concluded that the wealthy class could out-drink the poor class when it comes to alcohol by 27%.

23. Wealthy Children & Substance Abuse

You read about it too much in the papers – a child from a wealthy parent is in trouble for drug possession, DUI, or is shown to have a substance abuse problem. Of course, this can happen to anyone as addiction doesn’t focus on one economic class.

However, several studies prove that children who come from wealthy homes are more vulnerable to substance abuse problems because they are more isolated from their parents and feel more pressure to achieve success, even if their parents don’t necessarily push them to become successful. Children think they need to be as successful as their parents, and this becomes too much pressure.

22. Children From Wealthy Homes Internalize Problems

While the studies didn’t wholly focus on children, the results focused more on children because they surprised many researchers. Of course, another reason is that the researchers want to further their efforts to finding ways to help children cope so they don’t turn to substance abuse.

When going the lengths to find a common denominator to children and higher substance abuse problems, researchers noted that children who come from higher economic homes are more likely to internalize their problems. Part of this is because they feel more isolated from their parents, but there are several other reasons, such as they don’t adjust to new situations as well as children from lower economic homes.

21. Stereotypes Of The Wealthy

It seems we can never get away from stereotypes in this world. No matter what economic class you are in, there are stereotypes. For example, some wealthy people see the lower level as beneath them. Some people go so far as to believe people are poor because they are uneducated and lazy. However, there is also a stereotype with a higher economic class.

The lower classes tend to view wealthy people as self-centered, cold, and uncaring. Poor people also see wealthy people as arrogant, while rich people see poor people as people who have too many problems. Of course, this isn’t a stereotype that everyone follows. Some people don’t believe in stereotypes, while other people do their best to understand the other person’s economic status.

20. Not Trusting Anyone From Other Economic Class

It doesn’t matter what economic class the psychological studies looked at, they all have stereotypes about other classes, and some people didn’t care for anyone in a high economic level. Some people will point to this as jealousy, which is right in some cases.

However, there are also people in lower classes who don’t trust the wealthy class because of how a few wealthy people personally treated them. Some wealthy people don’t trust the lower level because they believe the lower class is more likely to become criminals.

19. ‘Lower Class’ Likes When Wealthy People Are Struggling

When it boils down to stereotypes and feelings towards a different economic class, some people like to know the other class is struggling. For example, the lower level wants to see the higher economic class struggle with their own stereotypes and problems. While some people say this is because it lets them know that everyone has their own problems, other people state it is because they deserve to struggle because the wealthy class is cold and uncaring.

People don’t usually want to see harm come to the other person; they simply want to see them struggle. Some people from the lower class like to read about well-known CEOs coming into money problems.

18. The Stereotype That’s A Myth

When the study looked at how different economic classes affect children, researchers looked at the myth that children who are born in a wealthy family have it all. It is easy for lower classes to look at children in a wealthy family and see that they have designer clothing, everything in fashion, new cars, and seemingly everything they want.

While many wealthy children have all the material possessions they want, they tend to struggle in other ways – in ways that many children in lower economic classes do not. Of course, this is not to say that children at any economic level can’t suffer from the same problems.

17. Wealthy Children & Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders and addiction are one and the same. People can suffer from both no matter how much money they make, but this doesn’t mean that one economic group doesn’t tend to suffer more than others. Studies prove that children who grow up rich are at a higher risk for psychological disorders, such as depression, eating disorders, or anxiety. They also tend to cheat and steal more because they have an image to hold, and they are afraid of people seeing them as less than their wealthy parents.

Psychologist Suniya Luthar states about the topic, “In upwardly mobile communities, children are often pressed to excel at multiple academic and extracurricular pursuits to maximize their long-term academic prospects—a phenomenon that may well engender high stress.”

16. Money Can’t Buy Love Or Happiness

People want power, and they tend to see that power in terms of money. Of course, this goes to show as most people don’t feel successful until they have money they can spend on whatever they want. However, this doesn’t mean that success and money will bring you everything. In fact, studies prove that money cannot buy love or happiness.

There is not one study conducted that links money to happiness or love. While people will start to feel less stressed when they make a certain amount of money, they still feel lonely, overworked, and many cite that they are more unhappy as a wealthy individual than they were in a lower economic class.

15. Materialism Linked To Lower Satisfaction In A Relationship

It seems that wealthy people have everything. They have a beautiful house, new cars, and can buy almost anything they want. They have all the material possessions they need and can often pay for people to take care of their home so they can focus on working, go on vacation, or become a socialite. People see photographs of happy, wealthy couples all the time and then become shocked when their names are in the divorce column in the paper.

Several studies prove that a couple who strives for wealth and material possessions are more likely to find themselves headed towards divorce. People who focus more on properties than on their marriage are linked with lower relationship satisfaction.

14. People Can Become Addicted To Money

It’s an old saying – the more money people make, the more money they want. People never seem to have enough money, even when they make millions of dollars a year. Psychologist Dr. Tian Dayton states that this is because many people become addicted to money. Becoming wealthy becomes a compulsive behavior that people cannot control.

According to psychologists, when people become addicted to money, their brain reacts similarly to cash as it does with any other addiction, such as drugs or food. People simply don’t feel right if they don’t have the amount of cash they crave. They will also do anything they can to get what they want and will often turn to negative behaviors.

13. Ethics Leave For The Wealthy

Ethics is vital in the business world as well as in your personal life. Without ethics, people won’t understand the difference between right and wrong. They will think it is okay to fudge their taxes, so they don’t have to pay the government as much money. They will start to cheat, and this behavior often leads them to break other rules.

One 2012 study published in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America” focused on how the wealthy handle ethical situations. In conclusion, the study showed that people who are in a higher economic class tend to increase unethical behavior.

12. “Self-Interest Maximization”

While people in lower economic classes also forget about ethics, the 2012 study showed that wealthy people do because they think that their money can keep them out of trouble. The study called this behavior “self-interest maximization” because people in the wealthy class started to think about what was in it for them and why they had to follow the same ethics as the lower class.

This is the attitude the wealthy take on when they start to work for themselves, and the only benefit they care about is how they can benefit themselves. However, the wealthy don’t always forget about ethics. The researchers noted that most people would throw ethics out the window when they came across someone who looked wealthier than they were. For example, they would cut off someone in a nicer and newer car.

11. Your Self-Image Depends On Money

The way people view themselves often focuses on how much money they make. For example, people in a lower economic class don’t always see themselves as worthy. They don’t believe that they can make more money because they don’t believe in themselves and don’t have the skills to succeed. Whereas wealthy people see themselves as successful and think they can achieve anything they set their mind to. They see themselves as deserving of the wealthy they receive because of how hard they work.

Of course, this depends on the individual as well. There are a lot of lower economic people who believe they are successful and have the skills to take them far, and there are many wealthy people who suffer from depression. It’s always important to remember that the studies are generalized and follow the majority.

10. Self-Image According To Wealth

In August 2013, the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology” focused on a person’s self-image when it came to their wealth. Researchers asked participants to rate their genetics, class, and I.Q. when it came to how they see themselves. They also provided necessary information such as their income.

The wealthiest people responded that they believe they receive their wealth because of their genetics and identity. In a sense, many wealthy people saw themselves as entitled and thought they deserved their success. People of lower economic classes did not relate their wealth based on genetics and stated that they believe anyone can be poor or rich. They don’t necessarily find that everyone becomes rich or poor because of who they are.

9. The Wealthy Tend To Become More Self-Sufficient

A 2009 study completed by the Yale School of Management found that wealthy people tend to be more self-sufficient than people in lower economic classes. The study focused on two groups, several tasks with instructions, the ability to ask for help, and Monopoly money. One group received a lot more money than the other group, and each group knew how much the other group received in cash.

People who were part of the wealthy group often took time to figure out the task by themselves or with the help of instructions. The people in the more impoverished group took more time starting on the duties and would often ask for help if they felt they didn’t understand the instructions, or they couldn’t do it alone.

8. People With Less Money Are More Helpful

The 2009 Yale study decided that they needed to look at both sides of the workforce. Therefore, not only did they look at how well the two groups worked individually, but also as a team. Part of the study focused on how the two groups reacted when someone walked into their location with a pile of folders, pencils, and extra tasks.

The group with less Monopoly money jumped at the opportunity to help this person with additional tasks. They showed a lot of compassion and wanted to do whatever they could to work together and ensure the job got done. The wealthy group was less likely to offer their help, but several members of that group did eventually step up to the plate.

7. Time & Effort Depends On Money

In 2004, researchers James Heyman and Dan Ariely looked at how motivated people were when it came to how much money they made on a task. Groups were split with one group receiving $0.50 to complete a job and the other group $5.

It didn’t take long for the researchers to realize that the more money they offered a group, the more motivated the group became to do well and receive their payment. When Heyman and Ariely measured the amount of time it took for each group to complete the task, the $5 group performed faster and worked harder than the other group.

6. Money/Work Ethic

During the 2004 study, James Heyman and Dan Ariely looked at how hard people worked in comparison to how much money they received. Even though the initial research focused on the work ethic between two groups, the researchers also wanted to look at the participants on a more individual basis.

After a questionnaire and watching the participants in the study, it became clear to the researchers that when people are paid what they feel they are worth, they work harder. If people think they deserve more money than what they receive, they won’t work as hard. This can easily affect a person when it comes to their work-life and what a company thinks of your work ethic.

5. Wealth Can Cloud Moral Judgement

By now, you probably have the idea that wealthy people feel more entitled than poor people. Several studies prove that wealthy people don’t always think clearly when it comes to moral judgment and sometimes believe that they are above the law. While this isn’t everyone in the higher economic class, several stories in the news also prove the study’s findings.

A University of California, Berkeley 2008 study focused on how wealthy people’s moral judgment becomes clouded by noticing specific actions, such as people in luxurious cars refusing to follow the law when it comes to stopping before a crosswalk. They tend to believe that pedestrians can go around their vehicles and they have the right away.

4. Money Can Lead To Unlawful Behavior

The University of California, Berkeley study not only focused on people’s actions when they actually made more money, but also on people’s thoughts. This study followed another study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah and Harvard, who focused on thinking and unethical behavior.

These studies concluded that participants engaged in lying, cheating, stealing, and other negative behaviors after exposure to money-related words. This meant that people don’t need to make a lot of money to show unethical or criminal behavior. They can change their behavior by merely thinking about having more money.

3. We Don’t Always Follow Right From Wrong

Kristin Smith-Crowe is a professor at the University of Utah, and one of the authors who conducted a study looking at how thinking about money affects a person’s behavior. When giving an interview about the findings of the survey to MarketWatch, Smith-Crowe stated that people will not always follow their moral code of right and wrong when money is a factor.

She stated, “Even if we are well-intentioned, even if we think we know right from wrong, there may be factors influencing our decisions and behaviors that we’re not aware of.”

2. People Are Changing Views Of Money

One of the positive outcomes of the several studies completed that focus on how people react in comparison to their wealth is that people are starting to become more aware of their view with money.

People in all economic classes are starting to realize their judgments on themselves and other people. They are beginning to look beyond the dollar sign when it comes to status and focus more on what can be done to help people and change the world.

1. Thoughts On Success And Economic Status

Sometimes people don’t realize that they are in the trap of believing their success is solely based on one’s economic status. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you are only successful if you make $100,000 or more a year, wear a suit to work, or work for a prestigious company.

However, it’s essential to take a step back and forget about what society and other people tell you what it means to become successful. To realistically be successful, you need to look at your version of success.

“How Money Can Change People and Affect Their Behavior.” Jacqueline Curtis, Money Crashers.

“How money changes us, and not for the good.” Chris Taylor, Reuters. February 2016.

“How Money Changes the Way You Think and Feel.” Carolyn Gregoire, Greater Good Magazine. February 2018.

“Having a Lot of Money Changes Your Personality.” Alexandra Ossola, Vice. May 2017.

Social Media Users Call Out The Weirdest Things We Think Are Normal

Sep 15, 2021

How Money has changed someone I know Essay

The Power of Money:

How it changed or destroyed someone i know :.

My life has been greatly impacted by the amount of money I have.

I will explore the effects money has had on my life, and how it has shaped me.

How money has changed someone I know Essay

When I was younger, money was not an issue for me. My parents did everything they could to ensure that I would never want for anything.

However, as I grew older, I realized that it is hard to be rich while everyone around you is poor. That one thing led to another until finally, money became my biggest problem in life - next only to grades!

Money Can't Buy Happiness But It Can Change Your Perspective :

No one can deny that money can't buy happiness. In fact, as research points out, the relationship between happiness and wealth is a non-linear one. Beyond a certain level of income, more money does not seem to make much difference to our well-being.

In today's world where people are moving towards the pursuit of happiness, it's more important than ever to find ways of breaking the cycle of limiting beliefs about what we can achieve with just our hard work. So how much money do you need to be happy? It depends on your perspective!

The Other Side of Money- What It's Really Like to Be Rich:

The rich have unique issues that the average person doesn't have to deal with. The first being how to manage all of their money. There are so many different stocks, bonds, and other investments that it's hard for a new investor to know where they should put their money.

This section introduces some of the perks of being rich as well as some of the difficulties that come with being very wealthy.

How Money Transformed My Life- The Positive and Negative Aspects

Money is one of the most important aspects of people's lives. There are two aspects to money that I want to explore: the positive and negative aspects.

I will explore some personal stories that show a different perspective of how money can transform a person's life.

Conclusion-

The importance of reflecting on one's relationship with money.

Money is the primary motivator for most people. It is used to purchase our needs and wants.

This section will explore how one’s relationship with money changes over time, and how it influences their current lifestyle.

The conclusion of this section is that reflecting on your relationship with money can help you make sense of the life choices you made.

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50 Things I’ve Learned About Money

1. Money is a mindset. It can be learned. You can figure it out.

2. Money buys you time. Time is not money—it’s much more valuable.

3. Money may not buy happiness… but that doesn’t matter because happiness is too small of a goal. What makes you feel truly alive? And how can you use money to reach it?

4. Money is easy once you figure it out. You learn more about it the more time you spend with it.

5. Money is a reflection of who you are. The better you know yourself the easier it is to define success.

6. Money isn’t a tool. It’s a form of energy. Calling it merely a tool limits its power and potential. How you make and spend your money impacts the world.

7. Money can buy you freedom, but most people don’t take advantage of the freedom they already have. 8. Money has diminishing returns. Just having the ability to buy what you want no longer means you need to buy it.

9. Money is complicated and made confusing by people who are trying to take it from you.

10. Money will mean more to you when you remember the energy you put into making it.

11. Money isn’t fair, but it should be fairer. Not everyone has the opportunities you do, so don’t waste them.

12. Money can increase your quality of life as long as you know what you want. If you don’t define what you want, then you’ll end up buying what someone else wants and then be left unsatisfied.

13. Money didn’t always exist. Humans made it and constantly overthink it.

14. Money means options. It gives you choices and can expand your life.

15. Money should be talked about. Share your salary, what worked for you and what didn’t, share blueprints.

16. Money will change your relationship to it if you let it. Take the time to build a relationship with money. The more time you spend with it, the more you’ll learn about money and yourself. It will be with you for the rest of your life.

17. Money is how you see the world. Freedom is freedom of mind.

18. Money is like life; you can learn from it if you pay attention.

19. Money is a tradeoff. You need to choose what you’re willing to trade it for.

20. Money is best when shared. Somehow, giving away money is more fun than making it. We’re social animals built to help others; giving magnifies our joy.

21. Money isn’t real. But then, nothing is, so don’t worry. Just enjoy.

22. Money making money is the key to financial freedom. It’s really that simple.

23. Money isn’t worth losing sleep over. Despite this, money is the number one stressor in most people’s lives. It’s hard to overcome this stress, but you can figure it out.

24. Money isn’t evil. It’s neither bad nor good. It just is. It’s whatever we project onto it.

25. Money is personal power. You can use it to turn your desires into reality, make the unreal real.

26. Money shouldn’t be over optimized. Don’t obsess over spreadsheets or your savings rate. I see this far too often. Put money in its place in your life and then focus your energy on more important things.

27. Money has limits and so does freedom. There’s only so much it and we can do with our lives. Find your own limits and operate within them–that’s the key to a rich life.

28. Money magnifies everything. It just does. Be cautious: making more money won’t solve all of your problems, but it can solve some of them.

29. Money comes and goes. Don’t hold onto it too tightly. This is the most important lesson I’ve learned and I try to remind myself of it every day.

30. Money is simple: make more, spend less, save the rest. Don’t overcomplicate it, just keep at it and you’ll have more money than you ever thought possible.

31. Money is a mind game. Don’t get stuck in your head; we’re our own worst enemies. Find your blind spots, correct them, and move on.

32. Money is sometimes an excuse for something else. People often say they want more money, but it’s always easier to chase money than it is to deal with what we’re running from.

33. Money is used by the rich to get richer and unfortunately, sometimes to keep others poor. Be on the right side of history. You can get richer while helping others to do the same.

34. Money changes you if you let it. Money can make you desire things you didn’t use to want. It can trap you into unhelpful dreams. You can get stuck, but that’s your choice.

35. Money doesn’t discriminate, people do. Use it for good.

36. Money experts don’t know you. I’m not an expert, I just have a perspective. Take from it what you can. Your life is yours.

37. Money isn’t worth sacrificing your health. It took me too long to learn this lesson. Letting my health go is my biggest money regret. It’s not worth it.

38. Money is worth managing yourself. I’ve never understood why anyone would want to outsource one of their most precious assets. Why would you give your freedom to someone else to manage? Your life to someone else to manage? I’m not hating on financial advisors, it’s just that even if you work with one you should still manage money yourself. Pay by the hour, not a percentage of your assets.

39. Money controls you or you control it. There’s no gray area. If you think there is, then money is controlling you. I see this all the time.

40. Money runs the world, unfortunately, and fortunately. You probably can’t change the game, so learn the rules and then master the game. There are rule books out there. Read them.

41. Money takes time—to make, save, and grow. Be patient, but not complacent.

42. Money is infinite—you can always go out and make more money. If you think you can’t, then you’ve already lost the game.

43. Money is always flowing, like water, into new places, opening new opportunities.

44. Money will continue to change as we change, evolving from physical to digital, from object to pixel. From shells to coins to paper to crypto, it will keep evolving like everything else.

45. Money means whatever you want it to mean. You can choose what it means to you and your life, what you’re willing to sacrifice for it, whether you let it stress you out. What does it mean to you?

46. Money has value, but its value is your choice. You can decide what you buy most of the time and whether it’s “worth it.” Choose wisely.

47. Money is being reborn in every moment, just like everything else. Money is alive. Don’t forget that.

48. Money isn’t about “more.” It’s about “enough.” How much is enough? This is the most important question and only you can answer it for yourself.

49. Money, like life, is about taking calculated risks. The better you know yourself, the easier risks are to take. They expand your life and teach you things. Don’t be afraid, but don’t risk it all. The single best piece of money advice ever is: “Don’t lose money” from Warren Buffett.

50. Money only matters if it helps you live a life you love. This is how I live my life.

To learn more about how I became a millionaire at age 30 and the most important steps you can take to create more freedom in your life, check out my book Financial Freedom, available in many languages wherever books are sold or at your local library.

Wishing you much success and peace on your journey!

Grant Sabatier writes about money, mindfulness, and financial independence – all with the ultimate goal of helping you build a life you love.

His story and ideas have been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, CNBC, Business Insider, and many other places .

Click here to learn more

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Essays About Life-changing Experiences: 5 Examples

Discover our guide for writing essays about life-changing experiences that combine three different elements: narrative, description, and self-reflection.

Each of us has gone through life-changing experiences that shaped us into the individuals we are today. Because of how powerful they are, these events make for fascinating topics in writing. This subject doesn’t only let us tell our life stories, and it also pushes us to evaluate our behavior and reflect on why an incident happened.

Attract your readers by creating an excellent introduction and choosing a unique or exciting encounter. Paint a picture of the events that describe your experience vividly and finish with a strong conclusion.

5 Essay Examples

1. long essay on experience that changed my life by prasanna, 2. life-changing events: personal experience by anonymous on studycorgi.com, 3. my example of a life-changing experience by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 4. life-changing experience: death essay by writer annie, 5. a life-changing experience during the holiday season by anonymous on studymoose.com, 1. life-changing experience: defined, 2. the experience that changed my life, 3. life-changing events and how they impact lives, 4. everyday events that change a person’s life, 5. the person who change my life, 6. books or movies that changed my life, 7. a life-changing quote.

“Experiences can be good and sometimes terrible that results in a positive or negative impact on one’s life. Life is full of many unexpected challenges and unknown turning points that will come along any time. People must learn and grow from every experience that they go through in life rather than losing yourself.”

In this essay, Prasanna discusses her father’s death as her most challenging life-changing experience. She was cheerful, immature, and carefree when her father was still alive. However, when her father left, she became the decision-maker of their family because her mother was unable to.

Prasanna mentions that she lost not only a father but also a friend, motivator, and mentor. That sad and unexpected experience turned her into an introverted, mature, and responsible head of the family. Ultimately, she thanks her father for making her a better person, and because of the devastating incident, she realizes who she can trust and how she should handle the real world. You might also be interested in these essays about choice .

“In life, certain experiences present challenges that change the way people relate to themselves and their families. Certain life events mark life-changing moments that alter lives either positively or negatively. It matters how people handle their relationships at such critical moments.”

This essay contains two life events that helped the author become a better person. These events taught them to trust and appreciate people, be responsible, and value family. The first event is when their best friend passes away, leading to stress, loss of appetite, and depression. The second circumstance happened when the author postponed their studies because they were afraid to grow up and be accountable for their decisions and actions.

The writer’s family showed them love, support, and understanding through these events. These events changed their behavior, attitude, and perspective on life and guided them to strengthen family relationships.

For help picking your next essay topic, check out our 20 engaging essay topics about family .

“I thought it was awkward because he looked and acted very professional. In that moment I thought to myself, ‘this person is going to have a great impact in my life!’. I was very curious to meet him and get a chance to show him my personality.”

This essay proves that you should always believe in yourself and not be afraid to try something new. The author recalls when they had many problems and met an extraordinary person who changed their life.

When they were in sixth grade, the writer had life issues that caused them to be anxious about any future endeavor. The author then says they don’t usually open up to teachers because they fear their reactions. Then they met Mr. Salazar, a mentor who respects and values them, and the writer considers him their best friend.

“When the funeral was over and he was laid to rest, I had a feeling I can’t even describe. It was almost an empty feeling. I knew I had lost someone that could never be replaced.”

Annie never thought that she’d go through a life-changing experience until the sudden death of her father. Her thoughts and feelings are all over the place, and she has many unanswered questions. She says that although she will never wish for anyone to experience the same. However, her father’s passing improved her life in some ways.

Her mother remarried and introduced a new father figure, who was very kind to her. Living with her stepdad allowed her to explore and do things she thought she couldn’t. Annie still mourns the loss of her birth father, but she is also grateful to have a stepdad she can lean on. She gradually accepts that she can’t bring her birth father back.

“This story as a whole has really changed me and made me an even better person in life, I’m so thankful that this happened to me because now I have a greater appreciation for the little things in life.”

The essay shows how a simple interaction on a cold day in December can completely change a person’s view on life. It starts with the writer being asked a small favor of an older man with Alzheimer’s disease to help him find his car. This experience teaches the writer to be more observant and appreciative of the things they have. The author was inspired to spend more time with loved ones, especially their grandfather, who also has Alzheimer’s disease, as they learned never to take anything for granted.

7 Prompts for Essays About Life-changing Experiences

Everyone has their definition of a life-changing experience. But in general, it is an event or series of events profoundly altering a person’s thinking, feelings, and behavior. Use this prompt to explain your understanding of the topic and discuss how a simple action, decision, or encounter can change someone’s life. You might also be interested in these essays about yourself .

Essays about life-changing experiences: The Experience That Changed My Life

For this prompt, choose a specific memory that made you re-evaluate your views, values, and morals. Then, discuss the impact of this event on your life. For example, you can discuss losing a loved one, moving to another country, or starting a new school. Your conclusion must contain the main lessons you learned from the experience and how it can help the readers.

Various positive and negative life-changing experiences happen anytime and anywhere. Sometimes, you don’t notice them until they substantially disturb your everyday life.

To begin your essay, interview people and ask about a momentous event that happened to them and how it influenced their way of living. Then, pick the most potent life-changing experience shared. Talk about what you’d do if you were in the same situation.

Some life-changing events include common things such as marriage, parenthood, divorce, job loss, and death. Research and discuss the most common experiences that transform a person’s life. Include real-life situations and any personal encounters for an intriguing essay.

It’s normal to meet other people, but connecting with someone who will significantly impact your life is a blessing. Use this prompt to discuss that particular person, such as a parent, close friend, or romantic partner. Share who they are and how you met them, and discuss what they did or said that made a big difference in your life.

Movies like “The Truman Show” help change your viewpoint in life. They open our minds and provide ideas for dealing with our struggles. Share how you reached an epiphany by reading a book or watching a movie. Include if it’s because of a particular dialogue, character action, or scenes you can relate to.

Essays about life-changing experiences: A Life-changing Quote

While others use inspirational quotes for comfort and to avoid negative thinking, some find a quote that gives them the courage to make drastic changes to better their lives. For this prompt, search for well-known personalities who discovered a quote that motivated them to turn their life around. Essay Tip: When editing for grammar, we also recommend spending time and effort to improve the readability score of your essay before publishing or submitting it.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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11 Excellent Scholarship Essay Examples That Changed Life of Many Students

Getting a scholarship is one of the greatest pleasures of life, it can be life-changing, especially for those with financial needs.

Oftentimes, people overlook that getting lots of small scholarship applications can also bring a huge change in life. The scholarship essay examples mentioned below will help you with your college plans and also help you to achieve your career goals so that you can lead a successful life.

A general problem college students face is paying college fees. They fit for many scholarships but are horrified by the task of writing five to fifteen or sometimes even more essays. It is mentally exhausting to even think about it and even start writing, especially for those “why I deserve the scholarship” prompt.

One solution for how to write a scholarship essay for several topics at once is: You have to select topics that have overlapping subject matter and write few essays that fit lots of these essays at once. Below, I’ve provided some more information about how you can successfully earn scholarship opportunities with this technique and how to end a scholarship essay.

Reason These Scholarships Essays Are Great

Students who wrote these scholarship essays won thousands in financial aid.

The answer to many of these essays is that they express a story of student’s life in a dynamic way: It indicates many of their likes, interest, values, strengths, volunteer work, and unique life experiences.

Some of these essays also show vulnerability. Scholarship representatives reading your essays will want to know who this money will serve from and why it’s essential that you receive this money.

In simple words, scholarship representatives want to better know how your likes, values, skills, and qualities will prosper in college--and of course how good your writing skills are.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a scholarship essay about yourself , an essay about why you deserve the scholarship, or a creative writing scholarship, the sample scholarship essays mentioned below can help you better understand what can result from following a scholarship essay format.

If you’re an international student (not belonging to the United States) and you want to apply for scholarships, avoid some common mistakes international students make when applying to college .

How You Can Save Your Time By Combining Essays

Are you looking to save time during the process?

Make sure you write a great college essay and use it again when writing scholarship essays for related prompts. Because combining essay prompts will not only save your time, but it’ll also result in a better essay.

Check out this guide on How to Combine Your College Essay Prompts , the advantage of writing a multi-purpose essay is that it makes the essay robust overall.

Scholarship essays are kind of similar to supplemental essays because many supplemental essays also overlap. Many students write both types of essays at once.

Scholarship Essay Example #1

Kang Foundation Scholarship ($1000), Kingdom Dreamer Scholarship Fund Scholarship through Sarang Church ($2000), and the national contest from the Lamber Goodnow legal team ($1000) by Peter Kang.

Prompt: Open topic.

Fedora? Check. Apron? Check. Tires pumped? Check. Biking the thirty-five minutes each evening to the cafe and back to work a six-hour shift was exhausting, but my family’s encouragement and gratitude for the extra income was worth it.

A few years earlier, my family of nine had been evicted from the home we had been living in for the past ten years. With nowhere else to go, we moved into our church’s back room for three months, where I shamefully tried to hide our toothbrushes and extra shoes from other church members. Right then I made a commitment to my family to contribute financially in whatever way I could. My sacrifice translated to a closer bond with my siblings and deeper conversations with my parents, helping me understand the true meaning of a unified family and the valuable part I play in that.

With the financial stability that my part-time jobs provided my mother could stay home to raise seven children, my learning-disabled older sister could attend college, my younger sister could go on a mission trip to Korea, and my twin siblings could compete in national math competitions. I’ve seen that even as a high school student, I have so much potential to impact my family and beyond -- how one small act can go a long way.

Through the successes of my efforts, I also realized that poverty was just a societal limitation. I was low-income, not poor. I was still flourishing in school, leading faith-based activities and taking an active role in community service. My low-income status was not a barrier but a launching pad to motivate and propel my success.

To additionally earn more money as a young teen, I began flipping bicycles for profit on craigslist. Small adjustments in the brake and gears, plus a wash, could be the difference between a $50 piece of trash and a $200 steal. Seeing how a single inch could disarrange the lining of gears not only taught me the importance of detail but also sparked my fascination with fixing things.

When I was sixteen I moved on to a larger project: my clunker of a car. I had purchased my 2002 Elantra with my own savings, but it was long past its prime. With some instruction from a mechanic, I began to learn the components of an engine motor and the engineering behind it. I repaired my brake light, replaced my battery, and made adjustments to the power-steering hose. Engineering was no longer just a nerdy pursuit of robotics kids; it was a medium to a solution. It could be a way to a career, doing the things I love. I was inspired to learn more.

Last summer, to continue exploring my interest in engineering, I interned at Boeing. Although I spent long hours researching and working in the lab for the inertial navigation of submarines, I learned most from the little things.

From the way my mentors and I began working two hours earlier than required to meet deadlines, I learned that engineering is the commitment of long hours. From the respect and humility embodied within our team, I learned the value of unity at the workplace. Like my own family at home, our unity and communal commitment to working led to excellent results for everyone and a closer connection within the group.

What most intrigues me about engineering is not just the math or the technology, but the practical application. It is through engineering that I can fix up my car... and facilitate submarine navigation. Engineering, in fact, is a lifestyle -- instead of lingering over hardships, I work to solve them and learn from them. Whether the challenge is naval defense or family finances or even just a flat tire on my bike before another night shift, I will be solving these problems and will always be looking to keep rolling on.

Success is triumphing over hardships -- willing yourself over anything and everything to achieve the best for yourself and your family. With this scholarship, I will use it to continue focusing on my studies in math and engineering, instead of worrying about making money and sending more back home. It will be an investment into myself for my family.

Scholarship Essay Example #2

New York University College of Arts and Science $39,500 Scholarship by Ana

Prompt: Explain something that made a big impact in your life.

“If you can’t live off of it, it is useless.” My parents were talking about ice skating: my passion. I started skating as a ten-year-old in Spain, admiring how difficulty and grace intertwine to create beautiful programs, but no one imagined I would still be on the ice seven years and one country later. Even more unimaginable was the thought that ice skating might become one of the most useful parts of my life.

I was born in Mexico to two Spanish speakers; thus, Spanish was my first language. We then moved to Spain when I was six, before finally arriving in California around my thirteenth birthday. Each change introduced countless challenges, but the hardest part of moving to America, for me, was learning English. Laminated index cards, color-coded and full of vocabulary, became part of my daily life. As someone who loves to engage in a conversation, it was very hard to feel as if my tongue was cut off. Only at the ice rink could I be myself; the feeling of the cold rink breeze embracing me, the ripping sound of blades touching the ice, even the occasional ice burning my skin as I fell—these were my few constants. I did not need to worry about mispronouncing “axel” as “aksal.” Rather, I just needed to glide and deliver the jump.

From its good-natured bruise-counting competitions to its culture of hard work and perseverance, ice skating provided the nurturing environment that made my other challenges worthwhile. Knowing that each moment on the ice represented a financial sacrifice for my family, I cherished every second I got. Often this meant waking up every morning at 4 a.m. to practice what I had learned in my few precious minutes of coaching. It meant assisting in group lessons to earn extra skating time and taking my conditioning off-ice by joining my high school varsity running teams. Even as I began to make friends and lose my fear of speaking, the rink was my sanctuary. Eventually, however, the only way to keep improving was to pay for more coaching, which my family could not afford. And so I started tutoring Spanish.

Now, the biggest passion of my life is supported by my most natural ability. I have had over thirty Spanish students, ranging in age from three to forty and spanning many ethnic backgrounds. I currently work with fifteen students each week, each with different needs and ways of learning. Drawing on my own experiences as both a second language-learner and a figure skater, I assign personal, interactive exercises, make jokes to keep my students’ mindset positive, and never give away right answers. When I first started learning my axel jump, my coach told me I would have to fall at least 500 times (about a year of falls!) in order to land it. Likewise, I have my students embrace every detail of a mistake until they can begin to recognize new errors when they see them. I encourage them to expand their horizons and take pride in preparing them for new interactions and opportunities.

Although I agree that I will never live off of ice skating, the education and skills I have gained from it have opened countless doors. Ice skating has given me the resilience, work ethic, and inspiration to develop as a teacher and an English speaker. It has improved my academic performance by teaching me rhythm, health, and routine. It also reminds me that a passion does not have to produce money in order for it to hold immense value. Ceramics, for instance, challenges me to experiment with the messy and unexpected. While painting reminds me to be adventurous and patient with my forms of self-expression. I don’t know yet what I will live off of from day to day as I mature; however, the skills my passions have provided me are life-long and irreplaceable.

Scholarship Essay Example #3

North Coast Section Foundation Scholarship for $1000 by Christine Fung

As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibility for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my parents spoke English, they constantly worked in order to financially support my little brother and I. Meanwhile, my grandparents barely knew English so I became their translator for medical appointments and in every single interaction with English speakers. Even until now, I still translate for them and I teach my grandparents conversational English. The more involved I became with my family, the more I knew what I wanted to be in the future.

Since I was five, my parents pushed me to value education because they were born in Vietnam and had limited education. Because of this disadvantage, I learned to take everything I do seriously and to put in all of my effort to complete tasks such as becoming the founder of my school’s Badminton Club in my sophomore year and Red Cross Club this year. Before creating these clubs, I created a vision for these clubs so I can organize my responsibilities better as a leader. The more involved I became, the more I learned as a leader and as a person. As a leader, I carried the same behavior I portrayed towards my younger cousins and sibling. My family members stressed the importance of being a good influence; as I adapted this behavior, I utilized this in my leadership positions. I learned to become a good role model by teaching my younger family members proper manners and guiding them in their academics so that they can do well. In school, I guide my peers in organizing team uniform designs and in networking with a nonprofit organization for service events.

Asides from my values, I’m truly passionate in the medical field. I always wanted to be a pediatrician since I was fourteen. My strong interest in the medical field allowed me to open up my shell in certain situations— when I became sociable to patients in the hospital as a volunteer, when I became friendly and approachable to children in my job at Kumon Math and Reading Center, and when I portrayed compassion and empathy towards my teammates in the badminton team. However, when I participated in the 2017 Kaiser Summer Volunteer Program at Richmond Medical Center, I realized that I didn’t only want to be a pediatrician. This program opened my eye to numerous opportunities in different fields of medicine and in different approaches in working in the medicine industry. While I may have a strong love for the medical field, my interest in business immensely grew as I soon discovered that I didn’t only have to take the practical approach in the medical field. With this interest, I plan to also become a part of a medical facility management team.

In the future, I hope to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor by attaining an MD, and to double major in Managerial Economics. I intend to study at UC Davis as a Biological Sciences major, where I anticipate to become extremely involved with the student community. After graduation, I plan to develop a strong network relationship with Kaiser Permanente as I’ve started last year in my internship. By developing a network with them, I hope to work in one of their facilities some day. Based on my values, interests, and planned future, I’m applying for the NCS Foundation scholarship because not only will it financially help me, but it can give motivation for me to academically push myself. I hope to use this scholarship in applying for a study abroad program, where I can learn about other cultures’ customs while conducting research there.

Scholarship Essay Example #4

Fund for Education Abroad Rainbow Scholarship $7,500 by Steven Fisher

Prompt: The Fund for Education Abroad is committed to diversifying education abroad by providing funding to students who are typically under-represented in study abroad. Please describe how you and/or your plans for study abroad could be viewed as under-represented.

“Oh well look at that one,” my uncle leans over and says about my brother-in-law in the living room wearing a dress. “I’d always had my suspicions about him,” he jokes with a disapproving sneer and leans back in his chair, a plate of Southern-style Christmas dinner in his hand.

I was hurt. Why would my own uncle say that like it’s such a terrible thing that my brother-in-law is wearing a dress? That it was the worst thing in the world if my brother-in-law were gay or effeminate.

“I think he looks beautiful,” my oldest brother Ethan chimes in. At that moment, I wish I could have hugged Ethan. No, not because he was defending my brother-in-law (who actually isn’t gay, as my uncle was suggesting), but because Ethan was defending me. My uncle has no idea that I recognized earlier this past year that heterosexuality wasn’t meeting all of my needs for intimacy with other people and that I’ve come to define myself as queer. It all started when I took a hard look at how my upbringing in Miami had taught me that the only way that boys are supposed to connect with others is by having sex with “beautiful” girls – that intimacy with other guys or “ugly” girls isn’t as meaningful.

After freeing up that block in my brain that told me that I shouldn’t look at guys in a certain way, I could embrace the fact that I’m attracted to men (and people in general) in a lot of different, new ways. My growth as a person was exponential. I rewrote so many areas of my life where I didn’t do things I wanted because of social conditioning. Within two months, my world expanded to include polyamory. I looked back on my past relationship with my girlfriend and realized that I wasn’t jealous (angry, yes. hurt, yes. But not jealous) when she cheated on me. I realized that people’s needs — whether they are for sex, someone to talk to, someone to engage intellectually — don’t necessarily all have to be met with one person. It can be easier sometimes with one person, absolutely. But that’s not the only way. As someone who is both polyamorous and queer, I feel like parts of my family and large parts of my community marginalize me for being different because society has told them to. I want to change that.

Since I will be studying for an entire year in Prague, I will have the opportunity to attend the annual Mezipatra, an international film festival in November that screens around a hundred top-ranking films on lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, and queer themes. I feel really connected to going to this event because I crave being in an environment of like-minded people who strive to do that same thing I want to: balance the images of people typically portrayed through cliché and stereotype.

When I came out to my sister-in-law, she told me that people who are really set in their ways are more likely to be tolerant to different kinds of people after having relationships with these people. If my uncle can learn to love me, to learn to love one queer/poly person, he can learn to love them all. If I can be an example to my family, I can be an example to my classmates. If I can get the opportunity to travel abroad, I can be an example to the world. Not just through my relationships, but through my art. Give me a camera and a screen and I will carry the message of tolerance from the audiences of Mezipatra in Prague to my parent’s living room.

Fade in: Two men with thick beards kiss – maybe for once they aren’t wearing colorful flamboyant clothing. Fade in: A woman leaves her house to go to her male best friend’s house and her husband honestly tells her to enjoy herself. Fade in: A college student wanting to study abroad tells his conservative parents the truth.

Scholarship Essay Example #5

Questbridge Finalist essay earning $3,000 in application waivers plus $3000 in local scholarships by Jordan Sanchez

Prompt: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Recall the most cherished memory with your father figure. For some it may be when he taught you how to ride a bike, for others it may be memories of him taking you out for pizza when mom said the family has to eat healthy, for others, it’s the ability to confide in somebody that won’t judge or stop loving you because of the mistakes you have made. When a child is born, he or she is given a birth certificate, which provides information such as name, date, and place of birth, but most importantly it provides the names of the parents of the child. On my birth certificate, I have the name of my beloved mother Lurvin, but right above her name is an empty space where my father’s name should be.

As a child I would often compare my life to my peers; I would often go through all of these hypothetical scenarios in my mind thinking, “If my dad were around I could be like all of the other boys.” As the years went by I always had a sense of optimism that one day I would meet him and he would tell me “I love you and I’ll never leave your side again.” But when the time came and I met him on January 2014 I learned that a man can reject his only son not once, but twice.

My father left when I was one year old and I will soon be turning 17; I did the math and found that for about 5900 days he has neglected me. He was able to sleep 5900 nights without knowing whether or not I was dead or alive. Even though he’s been gone for 5900 days, my life did not get put on hold. In those 5900 days, I learned how to walk, talk, and I became a strong young man without the provider of my Y Chromosome because he is nothing more to me than that.

In the past, I believed that my father was necessary to rise but instead I found that false hope was an unnecessary accessory and now I refuse to let the fact that I am fatherless define the limits of the great things that I can accomplish.

It’s said that boys learn to be a man from their fathers, that they learn what it means to be a man that has values and can stand up for what’s right. I, however, have found that grit can come from anywhere. When I was in middle school I was overweight and many other boys would call me names, and even after going to administration several times nothing changed and for several years I kept myself at bay because if I had done anything in return I would be no better than those guys who bullied me. I previously had this perception that somebody else would come to my rescue, that somebody else would provide the mental strength to combat the hardships that were sent my way. But as time passed I grew tired of waiting for help that was never going to come so I had to become my own hero. Since making that decision I have been liberated from the labels that previously confined me and I took back control of my own life.

My ability to be self-motivated has assisted me in becoming a leader in several of my extracurricular activities. I was one of the 4 male students of my school district that was selected as a delegate by the American Legion to participate in the Boy’s State program and I am also the captain of my group in the Young Senator's Leadership Program that is run by California Senator Tony Mendoza. I also developed skills on the wrestling mat. On one occasion I wrestled the person who was ranked the 9th best wrestler in the state and although I did not win there was not a single second that I was afraid to fail because I knew I gave it my all. Similarly, I have put the same effort into becoming successful.

My father’s name is not on my birth certificate, but it is MY birth certificate. My origins are not the brightest but I was given a life that is mine to live and because “Life is made of two dates and a dash..” I have to “...Make most of the dash.” I am not going to live forever but if I were to leave this world today I would feel content with the person I see in the mirror.

I know the difficulty that Latinos face in this day and age I can envision assisting other young Latinos in achieving their dreams. I believe the most valuable thing in this world is an opportunity because sometimes all it takes for someone to be successful is a chance to do so. Consequently, I would like to be part of that chance that can foster the growth of future success.

Scholarship Essay Example #6

Change a Life Foundation Scholarship Essay Examples by Isabella Mendez-Figueroa

Prompt: Please explain a personal hardship or catastrophic life event that you have experienced. How did you manage to overcome this obstacle? What did you learn and how did you grow from it? This answer is critical to your application as Change a Life Foundation’s vision is to assist individuals who have persevered and overcome a hardship/catastrophic life event.

Filling out this application, and my college applications has forced me to face head-on the realities that I've grown up in. Looking back and describing my life I see all the ways in which I am disadvantaged due to my socioeconomic status. But I think it's important to note that I wasn't fully aware of any of it growing up. I knew that my parents couldn't buy me everything, but I also knew that they hardly ever said no. I was a very normal child, asking for chicken nuggets and looking at mom and dad any time I was scared or unsure of something. As I've grown I've learned to fight my own monsters but I now also battle the ones that frighten my parents, the monsters of a world that they weren't born into. Monsters of doubt and disadvantage that try to keep them stuck in a cycle of poverty; thriving in a world that casts them to the side and a society that, with its current political climate, doesn't welcome them with the warmest hello.

The babysitter, the housekeeper, the driver, it's taken my dad 10+ years of night shifts to attaining financial stability, and become an asset to his workplace. He's been one of the millions of people who have been laid off in the last couple of decades and has had to start over multiple times. But each time he's re-built himself with more resilience. I've grown up living in section 8 housing because my parents often found themselves living paycheck to paycheck, not by choice, but by circumstance. They've endured bankruptcy over credit card debt, have never owned a home, or been given access to resources that allow them to save. Every time we've readapted, we get struck by a new change. I currently live in Manchester Square, a ghost town, a byproduct of the Los Angeles Airport expansion project. The 16 steps I have always known, soon to be demolished. My neighbors are empty lots, enclosed by fences. Homeless people’s pitch tents, under the roar of airplanes. My home is soon to become an accommodation to an airport, soon to be nonexistent. Knowing that my family has to relocate as I'm applying to college makes me feel a tad guilty, because of my lack of resources, I fear it will become a barrier to my transition to college. My parent’s finances are not a secret, I know their struggles as I hear about them day after day. My parents now deal with the burden of relocating, no longer having subsidized housing, and again, struck by yet another need to readjust and reassemble. Relocating a family of 5 in an area plagued by the gentrification of stadiums and demolition is no simple task as rent prices are as high as mortgages. It's odd they don't want me to stress or have it become my problem but I know it is, and I want to do whatever I can to help.

My older sister is the first in my family to go to college. I was always the shyer one. She's taught me through her efforts that the only limits you have are the ones you place on yourself. With my sister's example, I have followed in the footsteps of never letting money become a reason why I can't or won't do something. If my sister can do it, I can do it. I see the leadership characteristic is genetic and it runs in my entire family. I witness my parents be leaders every day as they tackle cultural obstacles in a country that wasn't the one they were born into, speaking a language that is not their own, and raising children to succeed in a system of higher education; one they never had the privilege to be part of. My family and I are one. We stack our efforts, and obstacles on top of each other to further our successes as a whole. When I think back to my family's story I'm amazed to think that my grandpa came to the US in the midst of WW2, a bracero, leaving his family to help feed millions of Americans in time of war. My grandpa, a man of the fields, paved the way so I could defy the odds with my prosperity.

At home, the teacher role often switches within my family. I am responsible for translating documents to my parents and explaining procedures and concepts as I, myself, am learning them. I have had the responsibility of helping assist my younger sister who has a mild case of Cerebral Palsy. Due to her pre-existing condition, she is a slow learner. I have dedicated a lot of time this past year, helping her with her transition from elementary to middle school and helping her adapt to such a drastic change.

Sometimes, I only sleep 4 hours as I wake up and rush out the door in order to make it on time to 6 am tutoring. Having to manage my schoolwork and home responsibilities has been difficult but I've managed to maintain high academic achievement by managing my time correctly and being persistent. If I truly want something, I need to go after it, and I will get it done. Sometimes being tired isn't an option.

Scholarship Essay Example #7

Millennium Gates Last Dollar Scholarship and $3,500 in Outside Scholarship Essay Examples by Famyrah Lafortune

Prompt: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela. Describe a change you would like to make in the world. Tell us about how you would plan to make that change, and what obstacles you might encounter along the way. * (No more than 400 words)

Nothing is more important to me than ending racial inequality and discrimination in America, as I do not want my younger siblings to face the discrimination Black people continue to face in our present society. After winning our fight to freedom and provoking the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, why do Black teens face higher poverty rates than Whites and are still four times more likely to be incarcerated? “That was such a long time ago. You really need to get over it,” my White peers say when referring to racial inequalities. But, why then, in 7th grade, after winning Nazareth Academy’s Spelling Bee competition, did my fellow White classmate state with a heavy dose of surprise, “You know…when I first saw you, I didn’t think you were going to be smart?”

I hope to contribute to ending racial discrimination by utilizing our present interconnectivity and running a social media campaign titled #It’sNotOver. #It’sNotOver aims to oppose the widespread misconception that, because racial inequality was legally outlawed, de facto racial inequality does not still persist in our society. Our recent presidential election may have brought life to a ‘Divided America,’ but it also exposed how influential social media is. By raising awareness of racial disparities that occur everywhere, I might encourage a new wave of change in our country like that of the present Time’s Up movement. Furthermore, if I can access the influence of celebrities in my #It’sNotOver campaign, like that of Time’s Up, I might similarly capture the attention of millions of people and inspire action against this issue across the globe.

I know that social media can only do so much in addressing these issues as not everyone can afford the luxury of having internet access. However, I hope that my campaign can inspire all those who do have access to take it upon themselves to be the change by being inspired by the fact that we are globally united in this issue. Although I expect negativity and criticism from people who either do not believe that this issue exists or do not believe in our cause, I am willing to encounter it if it means our society as a whole irrevocably can grow to accept each other’s differences.

Scholarship Essay Example #8

Prompt: “It is very important to know who you are. To make decisions. To show who you are.” – Malala Yousafzai. Tell us three things that are important to you. How did you arrive at this list? Will these things be important to you in ten years? Why? * (No more than 400 words)

The three things that are important to me are my family, being successful, and leaving a legacy. As a result of my past, I keep these three crucial things at the forefront of my mind every day to help myself be successful.

Above all, my family is the most important thing in my life. The meaning of family may differ for everyone, but for me, my family is life. I almost died in the 2010 Haitian earthquake, as Jacmel was one of the worst damaged areas, had it not been for my grandmother and my mom. Later, if it was not for my uncle, my mom would not have been able to come to America to give me a better life. Without my family, I wouldn’t be here. I am forever indebted to their sacrifices, and I am so grateful that I have their eternal love and support.

Success is also very important to me. I hope to accomplish many things in my life, but most importantly, I would like to make my family proud so that they know that all of their sacrifices were worth it. Success to me is having a career that I love and allows me to help my family members financially. I hope to no longer experience hardships such as homelessness, poverty, and economic difficulties, as I had in my young life.

Ultimately, however, I would like to grow into someone who is loved and remembered by people who aren’t my immediate family members and my friends. I do not wish to be glorified, but I want to be more than a nonentity in this big, vast world. I hope that if I can inspire the change that I want to make, I can leave a legacy that continues to influence and shape the landscape that follows me. After coming to the epiphany that if I died today, nothing would change except for the lives of those extremely close to me, I find myself unwilling to be just another Jane Doe. I want to leave a part of myself behind, whether it is a building or a popular hashtag, that is meaningful and permanent once I die.

Scholarship Essay Example #9

Prompt: “Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures.” - Cesar Chavez. What does it mean to you to be part of a minority community? What challenges has it brought and how have you overcome them? What are the benefits? * (No more than 400 words)

Being part of a minority is very conflicting for me as I feel both empowered as a part of a Haitian minority community but also disconnected from my non-immigrant peers. Coming from a background of poverty in Haiti, I knew that, even at a very young age, I had to be a good student in order to succeed. This work ethic--found throughout my Haitian community--has been very beneficial in my life as we all came here to pave ourselves a better future. As my mom held two jobs, went to college, and was temporarily homeless just to secure me a better future, I feel invigorated to be part of such an indefatigable community. And, it is because of this strong work ethic, central to my community’s core values, that I am now the salutatorian of a class of 679 students.

As I was so young when I came to the US, I didn’t know how American society functioned, specifically elementary school. I was the only immigrant in a class of forty, barely spoke English, and had no friends because of these limitations. Every day of those first few years, I felt an almost physical divide between my peers and myself. I never experienced a sense of belonging, despite my efforts. Already a double minority as a woman and a Black person, I tried to relinquish my language and culture in favor of American language and values to better fit in the crowd. By doing this, however, I almost completely lost my cultural identity as both a Haitian and an immigrant, and also my language.

It was in the halls of my first high school, International Studies Charter High School, that I realized the enormity of what I had lost. Where my peers retained their cultural identities and language, I had almost lost mine. It was there, I learned to embrace a part of me that was virtually buried inside, as I was encouraged to be more open: speaking Creole with my Haitian math teacher and peers. As a senior, I now volunteer weekly helping Haitian ESOL students with their homework. I am both a teacher and a student in that small classroom as I help them with their homework, and, in return, they help me in perfecting my use of Creole. They are my daily reminder of what unites us as Haitians—our ability to triumph in the face of adversity.

Scholarship Essay Example #10

Prompt: “The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.” - Wilma Mankiller. Tell us about a time when you failed at something. What were the circumstances? How did you respond to failure? What lessons did you learn? * (No more than 400 words)

I’ve danced ballet since I was seven years old. But, even after almost eight years, I could still barely extend my legs as high as my peers nor could do as many pirouettes as them. My flexibility was incredibly subpar and I easily wore out my Pointe shoes, making them unwearable after a couple of months. Where the average lifespans of my peers’ pointe shoes extended into months, mine could barely last ten classes. I was the weakling of my class at Ballet Etudes, and I was too absorbed in my insecurities to do anything to better myself to become the dancer I aspired to be.

After a humiliating recital, wherein my pointe shoe ribbons untied in the middle of our group performance, I all but gave up on dance. I was in the middle of doing a Changement de Pieds (Change of feet jumping step) when I glanced down in horror to see my beautiful ribbons untied as I forgot to tape them with clear tape as I usually did before my performances. Glancing to my right, I saw that my ballet teacher backstage had also taken note and was rushing me to get off the stage, her hands beckoning me in a frantic manner. After berating me for not having properly tied my laces, I was not allowed to finish my part. Later, I could barely get back on stage that evening for our final performance as I didn’t want to fail myself and my team again. But, because of my move to Port Saint Lucie in the summer before sophomore year, I was able to rekindle my passion for ballet and pointe at South Florida Dance Company. South Florida Dance Company was my saving grace, a place where I was able to restart my experiences in dance and renew the joy I once felt in my art. It was an incredible feeling regaining my confidence and surety in my abilities, as a result of the additional help that I received from my dance teacher, Ms. Amanda.

Presently, I always remind myself to be the best that I can be and to positively use my dance role models, like Misty Copeland, as encouragement to be a better dancer. From this experience, I learned that to overcome personal failures, I needed to move forward and think positively because change doesn’t happen when you sit still.

Scholarship Essay Example #11

National Association of University Women Scholarship Essay Examples by Isabella Mendez-Figueroa

Prompt: Please explain how your experience volunteering and participating in community service has shaped your perspective on humanity. Elaborate on how these experiences have influenced your future ambitions and career choice.

I didn’t really understand my community until I was forced to see it from the outside; sort of like when you see a picture of yourself someone else took that you weren’t aware of. It took a 3,000 mile flight for me to gain a different perspective of the world, of my world. When I landed in Maine it was nothing like the place I called home. There was no traffic, there were lots of trees, and absolutely no spanish to be heard anywhere. I missed my people, my home, and my community the most as I saw the ways in which other communities fostered creativity, advocacy, and community involvement.

I talked about my community every chance I got, writing a public backlash to Donald Trump and reading out to the group of parents to show them my unique struggle. The election of Donald Trump has forced me to come to terms with the harsh realities of this world. The lack of respect he has for women, minority groups, and factual evidence are alarming. This presidency makes me want to prove wrong all of his perceptions of people like me, the poor, the immigrant, the woman. I left people in awe, leaving me empowered. I had people come up to me and explain that they can relate to my poem about not fitting in, being Mexican American and not feeling like you can consider yourself American or Mexican because you’re both. I emphasized that I, like many others, am in between and we have the same platform that anyone else does to succeed. I explained that many of us, hold this pressure of first generation children of immigrants to prove that we are the proof that our parents sacrifices of restarting in a new country was worth it. I was the visible representation of a first generation child of immigrants, branching out into a new environment despite where I had come from and shocking everyone with my prosperity.

If I was the only visible representation available, I was going to use my voice to echo the feelings of my entire community and make it known that we are all here-- all of our struggles, our efforts, and our passions, are not absent from places where we are not seen.

Maine helped me branch out in my own community now as a Student Ambassador. From this experience, I’ve learned that I can represent my high school and have the responsibility to assist staff at events for prospective students and organize presentations for parents. I spend a lot of time interpreting for parents at meetings and explaining the current events that are ongoing and new educational opportunities that students should take advantage of. I have had the privilege to work alongside office staff and the Principal, where I get to positively dedicate my time to parents who have general questions regarding the schools upcoming events. By dedicating my time as a Student Ambassador, I have allowed myself to excel at communicating with others and improving my customer service skills. I want my education to change the negative stigmas surrounding my community, by showing that it's possible to expand your access to the world and allow you to leave, by choice, through receiving a post-secondary education. I am someone who has grown up in an area with limited resources fostering limited mindsets. My neighborhood has 4 elementary schools, 2 high schools, and a strip club feet away from a library. What message does that send to children? It's normal in my community to have pregnant classmates in high school. People aren't aware of the world outside, they aren't encouraged to ever leave.

Through my experience as a volunteer that communicates a lot with parents, I have learned that the American Dream does not simply belong to first generation students like myself. I have found that our accomplishments are stacked upon the sacrifices of our parents. I used to think that growing up was like the passing of a baton where you’re the next runner and it’s your turn to run your best race, but I now see that this is a team effort, as you expand your horizons your family also gets to experience the benefits. I want to demonstrate to my community that there can be a female, bilingual, Latina doctor. I want to showcase that one's zip code, doesn't determines one's success. One of the most common questions I get at these parent meetings is “what’s better college or university”? This question didn’t make sense to me at first then I realized that parents wanted to know the difference between community college and a four year. Concepts like financial aid, grants, loans, are all foreign concepts as most of our parents never went to college. They want to be able to help but do not know where to begin. As a student ambassador, I helped bridge that gap. We often held meetings where we explained to parents within our community what resources were out there and available and what the difference was among the different options for each student. Being the student face for Animo, I’ve learned that I was a student and daughter, can provide assistance to my own community through the knowledge that I have gained. I am the communication that is needed in my community that’s necessary for further successes by using my personal knowledge and experience to help uplift and educate others in similar situations.

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Getting Started With Savings

The earlier you begin trying to save, the easier you’ll make things for your future self.

By Tara Siegel Bernard

Financial Boot Camp for 20-Somethings: Day 5 of 5

It’s time to get your money in order.

When you’re in your 20s, retirement seems so abstract, it might as well be thousands of years away.

Maybe it feels something like that to you right now. Why save for something so many decades in the future, when every last dollar is accounted for in the here and now? Saving for anything at all, in fact, may feel impossible.

But what if you just laid the groundwork so that it became easier to save a little something? That’s what we’re going to work on today.

Getting started early for retirement is smart for the same reasons you may want to put it off: Time is on your side. If you set aside what you can now, the magic of compounding numbers — when you begin to earn interest on interest — can do more of the heavy lifting over time.

In other words, saving early may result in having to save less over the long haul, which will take some pressure off as you’re juggling other demands that inevitably arise. Maybe those demands will be children and all the money they manage to siphon up , or perhaps you’ll need some time off to care for an aging parent .

And (mostly) nobody wants to work forever — the earlier you start saving, the sooner you can stop working and dedicate more time to what’s meaningful to you.

The easiest way to save — for everything, really — is automating. When you have money automatically and regularly shuttled to its destination, you don’t have to remember to do anything. That goes for purely pleasurable financial goals as well, like saving for a big trip.

It’s empowering, and will bring you closer to the things that make you both happier and more financially secure. It will take some time and patience — but your future self will thank you.

Before you get started, you need to figure out how much you have to work with.

Deal with debt. Before you begin saving, make sure you have a plan to knock out any high-cost debt, like debt on credit cards, where interest rates (around 22 percent) far exceed the money you might earn when investing your savings in the stock market over time (7 to 8 percent).

Get organized. Get a copy of your pay stub or check your direct deposit to get a sense of your take-home pay. (Freelancers should calculate their average monthly income.) Then write down all of your expenses — rent, all insurance not already deducted from your paycheck, utilities, groceries, transportation costs, car payments, mobile phone, student loans and any other debts.

How much is left over? Something? Congratulations! You have some room to save. Cutting it close? Is there anything you can pare back a bit to make space for some savings?

Build a Buffer. Creating a financial cushion — in the form of an emergency savings fund — can help you avoid turning to credit cards if you suddenly lose your job or hit a financial pothole, like covering a $1,000 car repair.

Financial planners suggest keeping three to six months of your expenses in emergency savings (stowed in a high-yield online savings account, which offer the best rates). That may seem like a lofty goal when you’re living on a starting salary that barely covers your bills. So start small , even if it’s saving $50 a month — $83 a month will get you to $1,000 in a year — and add more if and when you can afford it. Set up an automated plan that sweeps that amount from your checking account to your savings account. Then, don’t touch that money.

Saving for Retirement

Many people with student loan debt often wonder if they should focus on paying down those loans before saving for retirement. The short answer: Probably not. (If you’re really struggling to pay your federal student loans, check out the income-driven repayment plans I mentioned yesterday. )

But there’s a strong case to be made to both invest and pay down your loans simultaneously , if you can.

The illustration below practically screams why. Can you see how much you’re likely to give up by focusing solely on paying off loans for 10 years?

If you have access to a 401(k) or a similar workplace retirement savings plan, you’re in luck — only 69 percent of private-sector workers do.

You may have already heard that some plans come with a nice little perk: free money. Employers may provide matching contributions when you save; for example, they might match every dollar you contribute up to 4 percent of your salary.

That means you’re effectively contributing 8 percent of your income, which is pretty close to the 10 percent that experts recommend (they often recommend saving more, up to 20 percent, but 10 percent is a great start — consider ratcheting it up one percentage point each year as you get raises).

What if you don’t have a workplace retirement savings plan?

Roth individual retirement accounts (or Roth I.R.A.s ) are often the right choice for younger people (though they are subject to income and contribution limits ). That’s because you’re depositing money that has already been taxed, and you’re probably in a lower tax bracket now than you will be later in life, when you’re likely to be earning more.

Compare that with the traditional I.R.A ., which provides you with a tax deduction now, but you pay income taxes when the money is withdrawn. That means your Roth I.R.A. balance is what you’ll have to spend, whereas traditional I.R.A. balances will be reduced by the amount of tax you will owe later.

How should you invest your money? The short answer: A diversified mix of index funds . These are inexpensive mutual funds that track broad spheres of the stock and bond markets (exchange-traded funds, which are like mutual funds but trade in an exchange, are a similar option). For more details on your investment options, check out this guide .

More immediate spending goals

Besides retirement, you surely have other savings goals. Maybe you’re saving for a car, a wedding party or a special trip. Since these goals have a shorter time horizon than retirement, or something you’ll need to access within three years or less, you’ll want to take less risk with this money. The easiest strategy is to automatically transfer money into a high-yield online savings account, say, monthly. With short-term goals, the amount you save is far more important than your return.

But if you need the money in three to 10 years — call that a medium-term goal — you may have more options, depending on how flexible you can be with your timing.

It may be tempting to invest your savings in the stock market, for example, in hopes of generating a higher investment return. But that comes with more risk. As one financial planner wisely put it: You have to consider how it might feel to lose half of your stock investment in any given year, which can take some time, even years, to recover. Do you have the time (or the stomach) for that?

You can take a hybrid approach and invest in a mutual fund that has a mix of 60 percent bonds and 40 percent stocks, for example, or there may be bond investments to explore that provide more stability (though they carry risks of their own ). But tread carefully.

Even if you don’t have large amounts to save now, setting up the infrastructure to save is the hardest part — and as your earnings increase, it will be much easier to save and invest more.

Action items:

Do you have a high-yield online savings account ? Some banks, including Ally and Capital One, let you set up different savings buckets for specific goals, which you can label (emergency funds, vacation, down payment). DepositAccounts.com has a helpful guide to help you sort through options.

If you have a workplace retirement plan and haven’t thoroughly inspected the investment options , set a reminder in your phone’s calendar to check. What index fund options do they have on offer? Also familiarize yourself with any target-date fund offerings. (These are a ready-made mix of investments that you can select and then forget about and are a blend of stock and bond mutual funds that gradually and automatically become more conservative as you approach the year you expect to retire. If you were born in 2000, the 2065 or 2070 funds may be the right fit for your situation.)

If you don’t have access to a workplace retirement plan, familiarize yourself with roboadvisers , or companies that lean heavily on technology to manage your investments but also often have human financial advisers. These are nice options for people with simple needs, or who have a savings and investment plan they want to establish and run on autopilot. Morningstar ranked its top picks here.

Have a question about money?

Ask us here .

Did you miss Day 1? Catch up here. Day 2 is here , Day 3 is here , and Day 4 is here .

Tara Siegel Bernard writes about personal finance, from saving for college to paying for retirement and everything in between. More about Tara Siegel Bernard

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Making sense of your finances can be complicated. the tips below can help..

Inheriting money after the death of a loved one while also grieving can be an emotional minefield, particularly for younger adults. Experts share ways to handle it wisely .

Either by choice or because they are priced out of the market, many people plan to never stop renting. Building wealth without home equity requires a different mind-set.

You may feel richer as you pay your mortgage down and home values go up. As a result, some homeowners end up with a lot of home equity but low retirement savings. Here’s the problem with that situation.

Can your investment portfolio reflect your values? If you want it to, it is becoming easier with each passing year .

The way advisers handle your retirement money is about to change: More investment professionals will be required to act in their customers’ best interest when providing advice about their retirement money.

The I.R.S. estimates that 940,000 people who didn’t file their tax returns in 2020 are due back money. The deadline for filing to get it is May 17.

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How Money Changes the Way You Think and Feel

More money, less empathy?

Wealth can cloud moral judgment

Wealth has been linked with addiction

Money itself can become addictive

Wealthy children may be more troubled

We tend to perceive the wealthy as “evil”

Money can’t buy happiness (or love)

More on Inequality

About the Author

Are the Rich More Lonely?

Low-Income People Quicker to Show Compassion

When the Going Gets Tough, the Affluent Get Lonely

What Inequality Does to Kids

Does Wealth Reduce Compassion?

Why Does Happiness Inequality Matter?

Does money change your thinking?

Money Changes People: Here’s How and Why

Is it True that Money Can Change an Individual?

How Does Money Affect Human Behavior?

Negative Ways Money Changes People

Less Empathy

Wealth and Moral Judgement

Wealth Linked to Addiction

Wealth Often Perceived Negatively

Thoughts of Inequality

Children and Substance Abuse

Distrustful of Other Economical Classes

Wealthy Children and Psychological Disorders

Materialism Linked with Lower Satisfaction

Distorted Self-Image

Less Helpful

Positive Ways Money Changes People

Self-Sufficiency

Philanthropy

Learning About Money Changed My Life

How Money Changes The Way We Think And Behave

The Best Advice I Ever Got

30 Ways Money Changes People – And Not For Good

30. Continued Study Of How Money Changes People

29. Wealth Brings Thoughts Of Inequality

28. Measuring Wealth Isn’t Easy For Psychologists

27. Does A Wealthy Person Feel Less Empathy?

26. ‘Lower Classes’ Are Kinder

25. More Resources Lead To Bad Behavior

24. Wealth Is Linked With Addiction

23. Wealthy Children & Substance Abuse

22. Children From Wealthy Homes Internalize Problems

21. Stereotypes Of The Wealthy

20. Not Trusting Anyone From Other Economic Class

19. ‘Lower Class’ Likes When Wealthy People Are Struggling

18. The Stereotype That’s A Myth

17. Wealthy Children & Psychological Disorders

16. Money Can’t Buy Love Or Happiness

15. Materialism Linked To Lower Satisfaction In A Relationship

14. People Can Become Addicted To Money

13. Ethics Leave For The Wealthy

12. “Self-Interest Maximization”

11. Your Self-Image Depends On Money

10. Self-Image According To Wealth

9. The Wealthy Tend To Become More Self-Sufficient

8. People With Less Money Are More Helpful

7. Time & Effort Depends On Money

6. Money/Work Ethic

5. Wealth Can Cloud Moral Judgement

4. Money Can Lead To Unlawful Behavior

3. We Don’t Always Follow Right From Wrong

2. People Are Changing Views Of Money

1. Thoughts On Success And Economic Status

How Money has changed someone I know Essay

The Power of Money:

Money Can't Buy Happiness But It Can Change Your Perspective :

The Other Side of Money- What It's Really Like to Be Rich:

How Money Transformed My Life- The Positive and Negative Aspects

Conclusion-

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50 Things I’ve Learned About Money