Could We Be Facing a Future Where Money Can’t Buy Everything?

Every month, a top hair stylist visits my spa. Recently, this stylist told me, "I've turned my salon into an exclusive, members-only space." I nodded and said, "Yes, it feels like things are naturally moving in that direction."

On the surface, the reasons are about managing risks with new clients and prioritizing regular customers. But when the stylist muttered, "Honestly, I just don’t want to meet stressful people just to make money anymore," I felt like it was a sign.

The era where money rules everything might be coming to an end.

Of course, money is a very fair tool in the sense that it functions exactly the same way, no matter who uses it. Whether you are a billionaire or a student, if you pay the same amount, you get the same product or service. That might actually be a kind of miracle.

Lately, though, it feels like more and more places are stepping away from this fair rule.

With the wealth gap widening, the feeling of "I can catch up if I just work hard" is fading. And with the rise of AI, the way we work and think about money is changing too.

In the future, as ideas like Universal Basic Income become more real, the mindset of "enduring anything just for money" will likely weaken.

When that happens, the attitude of "I’m paying you, so it’s fine!" will no longer work. People providing services will start to ask themselves, "Do I really want a long-term relationship with this person?"

As a result, a slightly scary future is appearing—one where whether you are a "pleasant person to be around" determines the quality of service you receive.

To be honest, even now, I feel that people who are truly pleasant to be around already receive subtle, special perks.

If a time comes when this becomes completely visible, I'm not so sure I'd make the cut myself (haha).

Some people might think, "Great! Rich people won't be able to act superior anymore." But from my experience, the truly wealthy people I know are actually incredibly kind, thoughtful, and wonderful to be around.

So, even in a world where money isn't everything, those people will naturally be chosen anyway.

That is why the reason we work hard might be changing. It is no longer just about "making money," but slowly shifting toward "becoming the kind of person others truly want to be with."