Americans value free time over money: survey

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Having enough free time is more important to most Americans than being rich, according to a new poll.

Only 13 percent of more than 2,400 people questioned in the telephone poll ranked being wealthy as most important to them, while 67 percent ranked free time as their top priority, higher than having a successful career, getting married, and having children.

"Everyone wants free time to do the things they want to do, young, middle-aged or old," said Richard Morin, of the Pew Social & Demographic Trends Project, which conducted the survey.

"So our desire to play unites us."

The poll also showed that people who were university educated valued career success over wealth, as did middle-aged people.

Not surprisingly, those who didn't have money, ranked wealth very highly. This included minorities, first generation Americans and less educated people.

The survey also revealed that a disproportionate number of people under the age of 30 and retirees in the group made $20,000 or less a year.

But the emphasis on wealth lessens with age, with younger people putting value on it but hardly any seniors.

"It just diminishes with time as the reality sets in that you would never be rich," Morin said. "But also, the reality sets in that you don't have to be rich to lead a very comfortable and fulfilling life."

While wealth was not at the top of people's list of priorities, 43 percent still said it was somewhat important.

(Reporting by Irene Kuan; Editing by Patricia Reaney)