Do you want to get rich? Let’s see if you are prepared!
Dreaming of getting rich overnight is a pretty common thing. Winning the lottery or unexpectedly inheriting a large sum of money. Wanting the comfort money offers is a reasonable fantasy, but most people only see the good part of this.
But as with any other thing that exists in this world, money also has a dark side, and this is not news. People actually talk pretty much about it, but not when they are the ones owing the money. They look around and see the bad things that happen, but they think they would do so much better if they were the wealthy ones.
Well, unfortunately, getting rich overnight is not the best context for it because this means you have no prior experience with money. Yes, if you want to handle money and don’t let it handle you, experience is a golden resource.
The easiest way to gain experience is by listening to the stories of other people. This is why we have written some incredible stories that will help you on your money journey. Read on and find out more!
Getting their teeth fixed
Becoming rich overnight is indeed something life-changing, but not always in the ways people expect. For many people, the surprise doesn’t come from owning luxury cars or designer clothes. They are happy just because they can finally take care of basic necessities they were not able to do prior to getting rich.
For example, this anonymous user told us how they were extremely surprised that they were finally able to visit the dentist. For years in a row, they had to endure cavities, pain, and other dental issues because the budget was tight, and they had to pay the rent and put something to eat on the table.
The moment all this financial stress disappeared, they decided that they needed to take care of these old problems. For someone who has spent their life choosing between paying bills or taking care of their health, being able to afford necessary care is a profound relief.
This is a reality that many don’t consider when they dream of wealth. For those who have struggled, sudden money isn’t about indulgence; it’s about finally being able to live a life that is no longer stressful.
Doctors are more open to taking care of you
This is a harsh reality, but when you get rich, you also get the chance to notice how much different the world treats those with money. This man we are writing about spent years going to numerous doctors looking to get treated properly, but this didn’t happen until the day he became wealthy.
When he had no money, he was ashamed to seek help because medical specialists judged him. Doctors dismissed concerns, assuming symptoms were exaggerated or drug-seeking. This is how an important diagnosis was missed, and he had to suffer for a long time.
But this extends even more than this. For example, buying a new pair of glasses can feel like a burden when you are not rich. Talking to the salesperson and asking them for the cheapest options can be a humiliating experience. Once you have the money, things change, and people are eager to help you choose the best possible option.
It’s a stark contrast, one that reveals how deeply financial status influences everyday interactions. Money buys both better healthcare and respect.
Learning who to trust
Inheriting wealth can be both a blessing and a curse. After losing both parents within a year, one of our readers found themselves financially secure thanks to their parents’ wise money management.
Their home was paid off, and they only needed to bother with the property taxes. This is basically nothing compared to how much others are struggling. This stability gave them the chance to relax for a little bit.
However, the sudden money quickly revealed the darker side of wealth and how it can strain relationships. Yes, being rich is cool, but when people from the past start asking you for co-signatures on debts, things are not that cool anymore. If you don’t know how to deal with these people, you can end up broke in less than a year!
This also happened to our readers, and they concluded the harsh reality that money changes how people behave and often reveals their hidden motives. They are close to you now because they want to take advantage of you and your generosity.
The fear of losing it all
Becoming rich can give you that relief that feels like your life is finally put together, but the anxiety of losing it all can be truly excruciating. No more paycheck-to-paycheck living, no more debt; it all feels amazing, but what would happen if you suddenly lost it all and had to start it again? This is a scenario not many think about, but once you become wealthy, you will notice that this is more common than you ever thought.
For some, this fear doesn’t go away even if decades of being wealthy have passed. This becomes a way of living, and it is not a stress-free one, as you can easily see. This can lead to an almost obsessive need to save.
There is this constant worry about the unknown. Maybe an unexpected crisis, an economic downturn, or a random emergency that could destroy everything. This is an experience that tells you more about the emotional weight money carries.
The scars you have collected during your years of hardship can last for much longer than you think.
The strings are still attached
Suddenly getting rich doesn’t just change your life; it also changes how people see you. We already told you that, but now we also have a good story attached to this affirmation. When distant family members suddenly start calling after years and years of no contact, you know that something is not right. Why are they doing this? You totally forgot that they existed in the first place. What is happening?
In one case presented to us, the relatives were not even trying to hide their motives. They openly requested a van and funding for a construction business. This is totally outrageous; we know this! It’s not like sharing some DNA makes you entitled to use money from your relatives freely.
The unreasonable requests were denied without a second thought, and they reacted quickly and showed how offended they were by this decision. Instead of being happy for their relative’s success, they labeled them as selfish and cruel for refusing to hand over the rewards of hard work.
And tears flowed
One reader managed to get a job that paid them double what they used to get, and this totally changed their life. Maybe they were not rich, but they surely had more money than ever.
They decided to share the news with a trusted friend, and their reaction was a surprising one. They started to tell the said friend’s story, and they simply broke down crying. This person was unable to believe that they were finally able to afford enough food.
In the past, they always had to sacrifice something. There was never enough for them. Paying the bills, the rent, the health insurance, and so on. These were things that were mandatory, and at the end of the month, they were not able to even afford food. It was a grim time for them.
During the pandemic, when they lost their job, they needed to rely on friends and relatives for food. Struggling to make ends meet is not fun. But now when they realized that they were finally able to have food and, besides this, other things, well, they burst into tears.
Wealth, envy, and letting go
This is not something new. Success and money can bring with them lots and lots of trouble. For example, someone wrote to us about how their entire family was not happy with their newly achieved financial stability. Instead, they let envy and resentment take over. Even more, some even tried to sabotage them, and all of it was done out of spite. Their relatives also felt entitled to their wealth, like being related gives you the right to use their money.
What our reader discovered is that at first, the guild will slowly creep in. The idea of having more while a loved one’s struggle feels uncomfortable. You want to help them, but this is not always possible. But if they have unrealistic expectations, you need to know that this is not something you can do anything about.
Letting go of guilt is a powerful step. It is ok to have a better lifestyle, and it is not your fault that your relatives don’t have as much money as you. Sure, you can help them in case of emergency, but that’s about it.
Spending without guilt
Kimberly spent most of her life living on a very tight budget. When she was in the same house with her parents, she saw how much they had to struggle to make ends meet. Naturally, she wanted to get more from this life, and she managed to go to college in a big city.
Life was not the easiest here. Living in a huge city with little money is not an incredible experience. Kimberly struggled some more, and after she got her graduate degree, she indeed got a good job that, in the end, gave her the financial security she wished for.
Landing a high-paying job should have felt like the ultimate reward, but now she feels guilty for everything that she is buying. The scarcity mindset is not as easy to get rid of as you might think.
Simple things like getting a haircut or going out for dinner every once in a while might seem like reckless acts. The old habits of frugality are still there and make her feel guilty. She should be saving the money and not mindlessly spending it, right?
Shifting from survival mode to a comfortable life is something most people are surprised to find out about once they get rich. Once you are financially stable, you welcome balance into your life, and getting used to it might take a while.
The fear of financial ruin is something real
When you live in scarcity for years, you will be marked for life. There are scars that don’t go away even if you are now rich or live a comfortable life. The weight of past hardships still lingers.
For example, the fear of debt collectors, if it used to be a constant reality for you, remains deeply ingrained into your mind and life. A simple random call from an unknown number can activate things in you that you forgot existed in the first place.
This was also the case for Ben. He lived like this for a big part of his life, and after he got rich, he was surprised to discover how much struggling with money can affect you. Even with six figures in savings and a home paid in full, he was still afraid of losing everything. Taking money out of his savings feels like a crime.
But what people have to learn is that adjusting to financial security is more than the numbers you see in your bank account. You need time to get out of the survival mode thinking. Taking care of that emotional baggage is hard work, and some people even need therapy for it.
Wealth without purpose
For many people, suddenly getting rich can create a void inside them instead of bringing them relief. Sometimes you can have enough money and never need to work for a while. This sounds amazing, but for many people, work was what created a structure in their lives. When work is gone, they no longer feel like they have a purpose.
For one reader who wanted to remain anonymous, this change happened during a vulnerable moment. They got rich when a loved one passed away, and this was a matter that affected their whole identity. This loss, combined with the sudden change in lifestyle, was a real turmoil for them, creating an unexpected scenario.
The reader no longer had a job because they were affected by the sudden death of their loved one and also because they had enough money to survive without working. At first, it seemed great, but after a while, they concluded that their life was pointless, and they didn’t know what to do about it.
Without their former job, the days stretch aimlessly, leaving an emptiness that wealth alone cannot fill. Rebuilding a new routine takes time, but if you find yourself in the same boat, you should fight for a better life. Money can’t buy everything, and this is the best example of it.
Breaking free
Coming from a financially struggling family and then suddenly earning more than them can be an emotional challenge. Petrov spent his childhood and teenage years watching how his parents tried to make enough money for them to survive.
He left Central Europe and managed to get a job in the UK and study there. Quickly, he started to earn more than his parents ever did. But this didn’t bring him just relief. It also made him feel incredibly guilty. This was an internal struggle Petrov had to battle, and in the end, he won. But this is not easy. Not everyone is able to do that.
Generally, the child who left feels a deep sense of responsibility, and they tend to believe that they are the ones who will rewrite the destiny of their family. The weight of this burden can be overwhelming and can easily lead to anxiety.
You should learn to separate personal achievements and family struggles. This is a crucial step that will help you advance.
What do you think about these stories? Do you find them inspiring? Tell us more in the comments!
Do you want to learn more about getting rich? This is a staple book that might help you get all the insights that you need: The Science of Getting Rich: The Original Classic
If you liked this article you can also read: How I’ve Got My Financial Independence Back (10 amazing tips for you)
