Fat and Rich OR Thin and Poor?

January 21, 2008 · Filed Under , · 8 Comments 

I heard this question the other day. Which would you rather be?

Rich and Fat

People always make the argument that it is better to be rich and fat because you can always buy some exercise equipment and work off the fat. As if somehow being rich is going to make you want to get your body healthy! Money alone is not going to change your state of mind and all of the sudden make you health conscious. I really doubt that. If you were overweight without money I would think that gaining sudden wealth would make you more of what you already are. You see this all the time with people who win the lottery, it often ruins their lives.

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Thin and Poor

Believe it or not, this is the option I would pick. Let me try and explain. First off, being overweight, along with smoking, are two of the worst things you can do to your health. Leads to diabetes, high blood pressure, hearth disease, and osteoarthritis. I think it is better to get rich slowly. Go to college, work hard, find your passion, develop your skills, save more than you spend, build your net worth, work hard, and be happy with who you are. By doing all of these things you are going to develop wealth, the sustainable way. You will not only grow your savings account, but more importantly grow your self-esteem and self confidence. Both of which are going to make you feel better with who you are and make you want to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. A much better way to live in my opinion.

Which would you pick and why? Thanks in advance for your comments on this interesting debate! Also, if you have a blog and our reading this, feel free to discuss this post and my opinion with your readers.

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Comments

8 Responses to “Fat and Rich OR Thin and Poor?”

  1. Meg from The Bargain Queens & All About Appearances on January 21st, 2008 11:29 am

    Thin and poor. I think it’s easier to get more money than it is to loose weight (e.g. all the money in the world hasn’t solved Oprah’s weight problems, though she’s obviously doing better).

    Plus, the health risks of being severely overweight scare me.

    And I hate to say it, but it’s just easier to dress well for cheap when you’re thin.

  2. Kyle on January 21st, 2008 11:34 am

    Meg, great points! You can buy the most expensive treadmill in the world, but that alone ain’t going to get your butt on it!

  3. Meg from The Bargain Queens & All About Appearances on January 21st, 2008 11:49 am

    Thanks, Kyle! Yes, I’ve definitely seen expensive exercise machines go unused. I have a gym membership now, but I need to actually use it.

  4. Mrs. Micah on January 21st, 2008 3:58 pm

    What about thin and poor with potential and decent money management skills?

    Oh wait, that’s me now.

    Well, I like not having to suffer from weight issues or even other peoples’ judgments. And my life isn’t so bad.

  5. Four Pillars on January 21st, 2008 8:27 pm

    Kyle, I can’t tell you how much I’ve been thinking about this exact issue over the last few years.

    My dad is 68 and he fits into the “rich and fat” category. He’s not really rich and not “too” fat, but that’s his category.

    He’s in a situation where money is absolutely no problem at all – mainly because of a good pension and good money management skills rather than a lot of money. However, his health sucks – he has a hard time getting around among other problems, and I’m quite sure that he would trade all his pension and assets to get his health back because as he puts it – “I’ve got more money than I need because I can’t spend it”.

    So my answer (inspired by my dad) is – thin and poor!

    Mike

  6. LJ on January 22nd, 2008 5:55 am

    Thin and poor!!
    My health is sooo important to me, I have 4 kids and NEED to be around for them. I am currently try to work of the last of my “baby weight”, so I can fit into the “thin and poor” category!

    Take Care

    LJ

  7. Kyle on January 22nd, 2008 9:28 am

    Interesting…everybody so far has gone for poor and thin.

    @Mrs Micah – LOL, or like me, budgy and somewhat not poor!

    @ Mike, very interesting point of view. This is the whole ‘when to retire’ quandry. You don’t want to retire to early and run out of money OR retire to late and have money but not the health to do the things you want.

    @LJ Agree. Being able to keep up with my kids is what got me to get in shape again.

  8. KATIE on January 23rd, 2008 12:56 am

    I was very thin and we never had any money when we were raising our kids…did the whole thrift shop thing, coupon shopping, etc. Did nothing…went nowhere.

    In the last couple of years, I came into an inheritance, along with a lot of stress related to the loss of my parents, have health problems which are caused by getting older for which I must take medications which have caused weight gain.

    I was much happier thin and poor, with my parents still alive.
    Money cannot buy you happiness or health.

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