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Do you feel a little greedy when you are researching ways to make more money? I mean, we have been taught to be happy with what we have. Does it mean that we are going against our faith and beliefs if we have the desire to want more money?

Believe it or not, this is a common question people ask themselves daily, so you are not alone. Wanting to make more money so we can have more things and more opportunities leave us feeling guilty about not appreciating what we currently have. These are some questions to ask yourself to know if you are truly greedy.

What is Greed?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of greed is, “a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed.” The keywords here are “selfish” and “excessive”.

Which this brings me to one of my favorite quotes of all time:

Often, the feeling of greed does not come from wanting more money. It is when your passion for money starts to take over your life until you have nothing left. So, let’s to the bottom of why we feel greedy.

What is your motivation for wanting more money?

Most of us get a second job or start a side business because we need more money. We need money to pay the bills, we need money to get out of debt, and we need money to make purchases. If you have a purpose for the money, it is not greed.

Understanding that people must work long hours just to keep a roof over your head shows responsibility, not greed. There is a reason why 44% of millennials have a side hustle, they need a side hustle to help pay the bills. The costs of goods increase every year and sometimes your paycheck doesn’t keep up with the increased amount. Kids need new clothes every 3 to 6 months, car maintenance, and unexpected emergencies causes us to NEED MORE MONEY! No one should feel greedy because of that.

What if you don’t NEED more money, you just WANT more money? Here is the fine line that you must consider when wanting more money. Do you want more money for a bigger house? Bigger car? More vacations? If that is the case, keep reading…SPOILER ALERT…I doubt you are greedy.

Do you still give?

Although you are looking for ways to make more money, are you still helping others in need? Not just giving money to charity, but are you giving your time or other resources? Volunteering at your child’s school or helping an elderly neighbor shows that you have a great heart. Performing unselfish acts, by definition, is not greed.

Having a good heart and good intentions with your life and those around you will help you know that you are NOT greedy. Often, we want to make more money so our family can have a better life, or so we can have the flexibility to do more with family and friends. If your heart is in the right place, you’re not greedy.

How’s the rest of your life going?

Are you able to spend time with family and friends? Do you have a positive work-life balance? Wanting more money can consume all your focus that the important people around us feel neglected. Take time to nourish those important relationships. Time is more precious than money because you can never get it back.

Do you want to look back on your life and remember all the fun times you have with your family? Or do you want to remember everything you missed because you were focused on WANTING (not needing) more money?

How to overcome the feeling of greed

If you didn’t like your answers to the questions above, it’s not too late to change some of your behaviors. Instead of wanting more money, make sure you are taking care of other priorities first. If all your bills are paid, spend more time with family, give to your community, or just go hang out with friends. Chances are, if you made it this far in this article, you are NOT a greedy person.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a better financial life than the one you have now. Striving for the best is what most of us want. I get it. If you had endless amounts of money, then everything would be perfect. Since I don’t have endless amounts of money, I can’t tell you if that would be wrong, but I do know that I try my best to prioritize time with loved ones because that is priceless.

(I know…cheesy ending…but it’s true!)

Do you think it is greedy to want more money?