Comments on: Happiness (and Money)

By: BBB

BBB — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:31:12 +0000

It’s simple, how much do you like your freedom? If so, then the axiom’s rather clear…

provided one has reasonable health, then money should bring happiness.

The caveat here is that no one wants to be sick all of the time but I think that’s a no-brainer.

By: aschmuck

aschmuck — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:08:03 +0000

I like the saying happiness is a choice. Money can help but it really just opens up options you can be happy with or without it.

By: JoeRiv

JoeRiv — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:54:30 +0000

I think you’re dead on about a level of freedom. It can pave the way to happiness if it’s spent right, but it’s not guaranteed. I know I’m happier when I have more money, it gives me a few less things to worry about (food, mortgage, bills, etc.).

By: MoneyNing

MoneyNing — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 02:32:48 +0000

Everything is in our heads. Someone who is satisfied will be happy, rich or not. The reason why most poor people are unhappy is because they want more money than they have. It all comes down to being materialistic but that’s many people are.

By: Moneymonk

Moneymonk — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:54:13 +0000

“I think of money as buying me a level of freedom ” I agree

Money does not equate to happiness but to me money makes me comfortable. Money give you margin, options more wiggle room.

When you can breathe with no stress it initially brings calmness, stability and happiness.

As you said money brings freedom no worrying about tommorrow

By: Minimum Wage

Minimum Wage — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:22:58 +0000

LACK of money is a big obstacle to happiness. While SOME of the poor are very happy, it’s a small proportion – something like 24%. Those with a middle class income are twice as likely to be very happy, additional income above that doesn’t make much of a difference. So an increase from poverty to middle class can make a big difference in happiness, but more than that doesn’t help much.

By: Brip Blap

Brip Blap — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:24:35 +0000

There’s been all kinds of research into what makes you happy – Penelope Trunk at The Brazen Careerist covers that topic frequently and has some good summaries of what money contributes. As my salary has grown 5 times what it was 15 years ago, it has helped me be a little bit happier – but the single biggest happiness spikes have been due to getting married, having a child, and spending time with family or on vacations. Money makes some of that possible – you need money to raise a child, for example, or to take a vacation.

I bet your friend’s life is not poorer for the lack of video games. Probably what he misses would be the time spent in a carefree way with buddies. I miss Tecmo Bowl because it reminds me of a lot of beer-and-chips-fueled fun evenings in college hanging with my friends. It was a stupid game, though – Lawrence Taylor was unstoppable so whoever had the Giants destroyed everyone.

There are about three big components to happiness – health, wealth and relationships. It’s like a three-legged stool… without all three you can’t be happy, as the Financial Blogger said. So where’s Lazy Man and Relationships? :) Dear Abby needs some competition.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:09:32 +0000

I’m pretty happy, despite the fact that I don’t feel like I have enough money. The main reason I want to be financially independent is for my time. I think time is my most precious resource. Since I don’t have enough money, I have to trade some of my time each week for a paycheck. Once I no longer have to make that trade, I think I’ll go from being pretty happy to totally happy.

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:02:48 +0000

The Financial Blogger is right. I didn't want want to get into health into this post as that's for Lazy Man and Health to write about. This is why I said it is just a tool in the quest for happiness. There are other parts of the equation obviously.

By: The Financial Blogger

The Financial Blogger — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:43:52 +0000

Relating only money to happiness is useless. Do you know anything alone that brings happiness?
Health? Man, if you are healthy but you find out that your wife is cheating on you with your own brother, being healthy won’t do much!
Love? Then again, if your wife loves you but your brother is about to die from a cancer, you won’t fee too happy (unless if you previously find out that your wife was cheating on you with your brother!).
Then, money brings a part of happiness as you need money to do a lot of things like traveling around the world, bring your kids to Disney or simply play tennis (the court, balls and rackets are not free!)

By: Amber Yount

Amber Yount — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:51:59 +0000

I believe that even if money can’t buy happiness, it can sure help. Money would have saved me and my husband from thousands of horrible arguments. There’s simply never enough of it!

By: rstlne

rstlne — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:19:28 +0000

The way I see it, money solves some problems that get in the way of happiness. Once the basic problems of getting food, shelter, and other necessities are solved, the part about actually being happy is up to you.