Individuals share 10 instances where they simply feel rich even though they aren't

Wealth is a state of mind.

Being rich is not always about having big mansions, billion dollars in your name, or a garage full of luxury rides. Even though having money certainly won't hurt, it's not the material goods that make people feel rich and happy all the time. Sometimes, being able to do something for another person, fulfilling a childhood dream, small accomplishments and even not having to check your bank account repeatedly can give you the sense of being wealthy without actually having a lot of money in your hand. u/matroosoft quizzed the community to drop their answers on a question that read: "What makes you feel rich, even though you aren't?" Here are some of the best answers, involving personal stories and wins left behind in the comments section.

1. Not frequently checking bank balance

Not having to check or recall my current bank balance before I take myself or others out to eat. It's nice basing your diet on what you'd like to eat instead of what you have to fit into a very limited budget. -u/LordFluffy. My wife tells me this story of a workmate who had to ring her husband and ask him to transfer $50 into her account so they could pay for work dinner. She then spent the next 20 min arguing with him. Yeah, not having to do that is nice. -u/moxeto

2. Basic necessities

Grew up dirt poor, so basically everything. Lights are on? I am rich. Food in the fridge? I am rich. -u/Obvious__Otter. I squatted in an old warehouse and gave myself baths with a pot of water warmed over a Coleman camp stove for a year. The moment I signed a lease and walked into my apartment that had clean carpet and most importantly, a normal bathroom with a shower and a door with a lock, was a beautiful feeling. The place we stayed had running water and electricity, and we were able to keep warm in the winter, but that showering/bathing situation over cold concrete really bugged me. -u/jdsizzle1

3. Not having to pay back debt

Being debt-free. -u/DueStatistician3704. I paid off my car a few years early (3.1% APR, 72-month term) because I kept throwing a few grand toward the principal when I had the extra cash. I paid it off in January and it still feels great. Almost every time I get in my car I think to myself, "Yeah, this car is mine. I don't owe anyone anything for this bad boy." I've always taken good care of my car, but I've noticed since I've paid it off I vacuum it more often, never leave trash inside of it and leave random stuff in it for less than a day. It's basically empty and clean, with nothing but my car accessories/essentials at all times. -u/GoneHamlot

4. Paying for VIP tickets

I pay $10 extra for VIP seats at the comedy club by my house (around 2-3 times a year). No waiting in line, always seats in the front row. It's $10!! I used to think they were at least $50 extra until I checked. Now, I can be fancy and poor. -u/Icy-Ostrich1306. I paid for a deluxe cinema ticket. You can then watch the movie in a special theater with a big seat then lean back and have a food rest. The best part is that you can order your snacks online upfront and they get delivered to your seat before the movie starts. So, you basically just walk right into the building and sit down without any waiting to a prepared comfy seat with snacks. -u/51542345

5. Ability to save money

I'm not rich by any means, but I'm at a place now with my job salary where I don't have to worry about my bills, all my debt is paid off and I can save money for the first time in my life. -u/d1ce88. I'm at that point too and I almost feel guilty for it. I don't feel like I do anything to deserve this much money, even if it's not the most money I could make. I'm on my way there. The idea is to live within your means and be content. -u/HailToTheThief225. Same. No debt. I never worry when I purchase groceries. Or anything, for that matter. I have savings and I'm starting to invest small amounts for retirement. -u/idolovehummus

6. Being grateful and living a healthy life

Gratitude: Feeling thankful for what you have, even if it's not extravagant, can create a sense of richness. Quality Relationships: Having strong and meaningful relationships with family and friends can provide a deep sense of wealth. Good Health: Being in good health is invaluable, and it can make you feel rich in terms of physical well-being. Experiences: Travel, new experiences, and learning can make you feel enriched without requiring significant financial resources. Personal Achievements: Accomplishing personal goals and milestones can provide a sense of fulfillment and richness. Ultimately, feeling "rich" often goes beyond financial wealth and can be found in various aspects of life that bring joy, contentment, and satisfaction. -u/bobo8891

7. Building a new PC

I hadn't built a PC since my college desktop in 2008-2009 and just put one together for the family. The glow-up on what you can get for $1,500 is just mind-melting. I just put a vacation video together with a Microsoft Office-included video editor and it blew the shorts off any video editing I did with Adobe products back in the day - render time at fast-than-playback rates in HD. I'm losing my mind. -u/redkat85. My beautiful PC, which I spent thousands on and will probably be outclassed in a year or two. -u/Kddiglerz

8. Buying good quality toilet papers

Quality toilet paper. -u/Ratakoa. Even when I was living paycheck to paycheck and occasionally borrowing from the bank of Mom and Dad, the 2 things I always splurged on were good toilet paper and facial tissue. Even weeks when all I could afford to eat was potatoes and onions. Now I have a bidet and could probably get away with cheap one-ply, but I still only buy the good stuff. -u/Thetechguru_net. My best friend in college lived in a literal mansion on a hill in a very expensive part of DC. Her mom grilled a steak every night for their dog. Their house had 1-ply toilet paper. It baffles me to this day. -u/icetslovechild

9. Sending money to parents

I started silently to wire transfer my Mum a "pocket money" each month. It's fun and she sometimes very proudly tells what she got for it. -u/51542345. This! I not only felt rich, but I felt grown up for sending my mom money every month. My chest all puffed out, proud of myself — that kind of feeling. She passed away a few years ago. I'm glad I was able to do that kind of thing for her. -u/142riemann. I started sending my mom a housekeeper each Thursday. She complained about it at first, but then it was great as my mom got older/stopped driving. They'd do errands together on Thursdays- Adventures! -u/AmexNomad

10. Getting a nice second-hand good

My friend gave me a Nespresso machine that he thought was broken. It wasn't. It's so delicious and fancy!! -u/Unfair-Pomegranate25. It reminds me of finding one of those nice Shark Navigator vacuums in great shape at a garage sale once. They retailed for like $250 at the time and we needed a vacuum. A person is like, '$2 because it doesn't work very well, so we just got a new one.' I'm like, 'Okay gonna get it because it's in such great shape and such a high-end appliance that I'm sure some of the parts alone, sold on eBay, will net me as much as an entry-level vacuum at Walmart costs.' I get it home and flip it over and the thing is filled with long hair. Like, of course, it doesn't work well. She never cleaned out all the long hair she was sucking up with it. Gloved up my hands and removed all that hair and within 2 minutes, had a vacuum that worked like a charm and still does over 5 years later. -u/TheWalkingDead91