How Much is Enough Money and Best Answers to 11 FAQs

If you are wondering how much is enough money, this article will be super helpful.

It looks into the concept of having enough money and answers some of the most important questions you might be having about whether you have enough money and how much is enough money.

 

First things first…

Many of the things that we use today are conveniently installed with various gauges or meters that help us to determine whether there is a sufficient level for optimum use.

For example, our vehicles are equipped with a fuel gauge that ranges anywhere from he to empty and F to for and points in between.

The gas gauge measures the level of fuel that is in the gas tank so that we can judge whether or not we have enough resources to make the needed trips.

Another example, although not a technical one, is our feelings of contentment or being full when we have eaten enough food.

We don’t have a stomach gauge that ranges from E to F but we no we’ve had enough to heat when we no longer feel hungry nor do we hear our stomach growling.

 

How Do We Know When We Have Enough Money?

Which brings up another question, how do we know when we have enough money?

Is there certain money meters that are attached to our wallet that are somehow linked to our investment and portfolio and banking institution?

Is there a point that we reach where we have enough money or do we have to continually accumulate more and more wealth?

Believe it or not, some studies have been conducted on this very question.

The researchers questioned individuals about high income as it relates to their emotional health. They defined emotional health as enjoyably living out your life day today.

The other category that was studied was life satisfaction. They defined life satisfaction as enjoyment that is not a day-to-day experience but life as a whole.

The results were there was no correlation between life satisfaction and money.

However, as it came to emotional well-being it appears that the financial level of happiness was deemed to be at a level of $75,000.

 

Warren Buffet’s Take on Having Enough Money

It seems that to hear the words about having enough money should come from an individual who, we would assume, has enough money.

Warren Buffett was asked a question about how much he would be leaving as an inheritance to his children.

His response was “enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they would do nothing.”

Perhaps that’s the answer in regards to how much money do we need to feel content.

If we take Buffett’s quote and personalize it in our own lives, our happiness would be derived and having enough money to do the things that we want and yet not so much money that we lose our edge or competitive spirit to be all that we can be.

Related: Best Books on Making Money including Warren Buffett Book Recommendations.

 

How Much is Enough Money?

It seems that human nature is always looking for one more thing. For example, the person drinking at a bar will say one more for the road.

For the smoker who is trying to quit they might say just one more cigarette and then I’ll stop.

Or for the individual trying to lose weight, they may emphatically exclaim just one more candy bar and then I’ll give up my empty calories.

When it comes to money, perhaps the individual is also looking for the elusive one more added component to their wealth.

Perhaps they say all look at retirement when I can bump my annual income up another two or $3000.

Or perhaps it’s eczema of shares of one of their stocks added to their portfolio.

About having enough money, John D Rockefeller was asked this very question. His response? “Just a little bit more.”

Therefore, the question arises how much is enough? When it comes to money this question can be particularly elusive.

It seems that the natural tendency would be when a certain amount is reached, earned, or saved that then that would be deemed as enough.

Consequently, rather than answering the question of whether we have enough, perhaps it is more a question of one’s attitude and level of contentment.

Perhaps the level of having enough is realized when we are satisfied with what we have and the need for more does not compel us to continue to our existing level of finances.

Just possibly the answer to the question about having enough does not involve a dollar sign but a

 

11 Most Common Enough Money FAQs and Best Answers

 

1. How Will I Know if Enough Money Is Available to Reach My Financial Goals?

The answer to this question swirls around moving targets or consistently moving the goalposts.

When you planned and worked on your plan to achieve your financial goals, you most likely had a set amount or goal in mind.

Unfortunately, sometimes we are influenced by fear and second-guessing and so we sometimes respond by moving the goals or targets further out.

Unfortunately, these goals and targets are never reached because they are constantly moving.

It is best to maintain the goals that you originally set out to meet and go with that decision. Trust your process and the hard work that you put into these efforts.

Of course, things sometimes change and the variable in the equation can be modified.

Therefore, a modification in time and setting the new goal may be required but stick with it.

 

2. How Will I Know if I Have Enough Money to Be Defined as Successful?

The answer to this question is that your success is not defined by your credit score or the amount of money that you have in your portfolio.

Your success as an individual is based upon the quality of an individual that you are, the impact that you have had on other people, and the enduring legacy that you have left to your family surrounding honesty, hard work, commitment, and love.

Also See: How to Save $10,000 in a Year and How to Save $3,000 in 3 Months.

 

3. How Will I Know if I Have Enough Material Things?

The harsh reality to this question is that we will never have enough financial resources to buy all of the things that we want.

Therefore, the differentiation between what we want and what we need requires determination.

As an aside, I recall meeting an individual who had sold all that they had and was living on the road in an RV.

One member of the family shared with us that whenever their spouse wanted to buy something, the immediate question following that request was that will be fine, but what are you going to get rid of to make room for that new thing.

The reality is to look in your garage and your storage closets and then asked the question again of will I have enough to buy material things?

 

4. Is There an Actual Mathematical Formula to Know When I Have Enough Money?

There is actually. It is known as the 4% rule.

It is a mathematical formula that takes into consideration what your total income needs are, figuring out your tax burden, doing a couple of mathematic functions, and getting an amount needed for your retirement.

You then divide this number by 4% and then multiplying by 25 which gives you the total at which your portfolio should be to have enough.

A quick search online will reward you with the formula.

There are pros and cons associated with the use of this formula where some indicate that is still valid while others say it is antiquated.

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5. How Will I Know I Have Enough Money to Feel Financially Secure?

Security can be defined as knowing that in the event of something happening, you know that everything will be all right because something else is there waiting to cushion your fall or catch you.

Security is like a warm blanket that you can wrap around you and it holds you close and keeps you warm from the coldness of the night.

An individual may have enough when he has or she has this warm blanket of security.

Financially speaking this could be a nest egg that will cover expenses for some time. That period could be anywhere from three months to a year.

That perhaps maybe enough in addition to the regular sources of income that the household is receiving.

Also See: How to Start a Hair Business from Home even when Struggling Financially.

 

6. How Will I Know I Have Enough Money to Retire?

Certain mathematical answers are provided regarding having enough money to enter into retirement.

The major consensus of thinking is that an individual’s income should be equal to 80% of their last paycheck received while working.

Therefore, it is important to look at the total investments and portfolio and do the math in regards to 4% of that total investment being taken out every month.

Consequently, an individual who has a portfolio of $500,000 could anticipate $20,000 a year.

This means that they would not be touching the principal but drawing out a percentage of the investment earnings.

Therefore, if an individual is quitting $20,000 a year that is less than $2000 a month.

This may be enough income if supplemented with other sources of retirement or pension plan income.

 

7. Will My Family Join Me in My Determination of Having Enough Money?

Most likely, the family will support an individual or couple who have concluded that they have enough money and therefore wish to enter fully into their retirement years.

The family most likely understands that a lot of hard work, planning intelligence when into achieving the portfolio of investments that will utilize true support the family during retirement.

Additionally, it is important to remember that if one ever had to go through a graveyard and read the headstones, they would be hard-pressed to read the headstone inscribed as we told him he should’ve retired.

 

 

8. How Will I Know if I Have Enough to Continually Provide for My Family?

Assuming that this question posed extends beyond the marital couple and their concern about continually providing for their family.

The harsh reality is that one day they will not benefit from your presence or your financial support.

Therefore, in all fairness and honesty, you have done your best in sacrificing and providing for your family.

There comes a time or a point in life where they need to not rely on you and be responsible for their financial care.

 

9. How Will I Know That I Have Enough Financial Independence?

Financial independence is something that drives us even before we took our first job.

As responsible individuals, we never wanted to rely on anything or anybody for our independence, happiness, or necessities of life.

Consequently, with your first investment in your 401(k) or index fund, you started on that road to financial independence.

As part of that road, you had a plan in mind and diligently set aside consistent donations assistant contributions consistent monies to achieve that goal.

With your hard work and diligence and perhaps the expertise of financial advisors the plan was faithfully executed and now it’s time to let your money work for you.

 

10. How Will I Know if I Have Enough Money to Cover Worst-case Scenarios?

As part of your financial planning strategy you more than likely included contingency plans that would address worst-case scenarios.

Also See: Success Is the Best Revenge and How to Make 10k Dollars Fast.

 

11. How Will I Know if I Have Enough Money?

Have you ever had this experience when you went shopping?

You were in the store and saw something that looks nice but looked expensive.

You would turn to your shopping companion and say I wonder what that item costs? To which your friend would say if you have to ask the price you can afford it.

I guess the same could be said of when enough is enough.

Specifically, if you have to put a price tag on whether you have enough money or not, then perhaps you haven’t achieved that level.

On the other hand, however, if you have to ask when enough is enough when you don’t have to ask when enough is enough then perhaps you have reached that level.

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Conclusion

There is no financial gauge on our monetary portfolios that indicate whether we still have a ways to go or whether we are at capacity.

Deciding, as it relates to money, what constitutes enough is a personal decision that is informed by several considerations.

Those considerations are based on your retirement plans, your level of comfort, the reality that none of us live forever, etc.

Perhaps your philosophy and your thinking are like Rockefeller who says just a little bit more or, perhaps you’re thinking how much more life’s energy do I need to expand to feel confident about my successful financial planning and achievement?

Maybe, a better question is rather than how much money is enough would be the question of what would my tomorrow look like if my retirement plans, which included the enjoyment of being with another, were disrupted?

Would I have enough or close to having enough?