There are people just scraping by with two jobs but they managed to raise two bright, happy kids that got into good schools.

This tends to be my go-to definition of success.

For 25 years my next-door neighbor, lived in quiet desperation; venturing out only to yell at the kids or get a lift to do shopping. When she died, they found out she essentially lived in one room, that had one working light bulb and a 30 year-old TV that she watched every day.

She lived on four lots — total value, over $2 million, which she left to a niece.

Money seems to mean so much, but in the end, seldom does.