Five Questions on Money

Perspectives from around the world

1. Do you need more or less money?

"I need less money but I want more money."

"When I made $40,000 per year, my answer used to be no. I make $122,000 per year, and now my answer is yes."

"I need more money because money gives you the freedom to do what you want, go where you want and leave your husband if you need to."

2. Who has influenced your attitude to money?

"My mother would never allow herself the things she really wanted. I try to make sure I do but I married for money not love and it has cost me dearly."

"My grandparents taught me thrift. My parents profligacy. Mark Cuban strategy."

"My friends. They all make what I make or better. It's almost like a competition."

3. When has money made a difference to a big decision?

"I lost my job and decided I could live longer on less in Berlin than in New York. So I got on a one-way flight."

"When I wanted to go to New York Film Academy. It was going to be very expensive, between tuition and living in New York, so I didn't end up going."

"My wedding. Understanding that there was basically unlimited money meant many parts of the wedding were way over the top and we spent significant money on stuff that made no difference."

4. Has money ever corrupted you?

"Money doesn't corrupt. People corrupt themselves."

"I lost everything once in the stock market. Way back in 2001. Invested on Margin. Re-bought on the dip. Very greedy (bordering on corrupt) decision. It was a very dark time."

"I tend to evaluate people based on their financial status."

5. Does money mostly free or imprison you?

"In my dreams, it frees me. One day I still think it will. For now, it is an optimistic trap."

"Well it's everywhere gosh darn it, so if it's imprisoning me, it's as big and beautiful and as free a prison as it gets."

"Maybe having no money is in itself a stillness and a freedom."

Think deeper about money

How are you influenced by money?

Find out with these five thought-provoking questions.