Current Events > They say money doesn't buy happiness, but I disagree

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I feel like the more money I have the happier (or at least I feel better) I am. Very little savings? Felt like shit. A good income and amassing some wealth? Feels good man.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/costofliving/money-can-buy-happiness-1.7107592

The rich don't want you to know what they already know

money grants financial stability. whoever came up with that original quote had never been dirt poor.

I think the person who came up with that quote was admonishing greed not really saying having financial stability was a bad thing. And let's be real the truly greedy like Elon and Trump will never actually be happy.

If money truly does buy happiness, then why are the rich the most bitter and miserable people out there? They're so miserable, that they're out there making everyone else miserable.

Money absolutely buys happiness. Periodt.

It's really security, true. Not having to worry about not having enough money for food or rent feels really good. Seeing it up go is nice too. Being able to buy better quality things is great too. Being able to buy experiences like trips is also happiness inducing.

If there weren't a bunch of poor people, then nobody could be rich enough to be happy.

HighSeraph posted...

I think the person who came up with that quote was admonishing greed not really saying having financial stability was a bad thing. And let's be real the truly greedy like Elon and Trump will never actually be happy.

this i think most of us would be happy with a few million dollars

most of us would never even want more than that

My pay has 5x since 2017 but that comfort ladder keeps getting pulled

This topic really shows how materialistic people are.

It's Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/631caa55.jpg

Money can't directly buy self-actualization, no.

But it sure as shit can buy housing and food and safety and security, the lack of which makes achieving the higher-order needs practically impossible.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

This topic really shows how materialistic people are.

It'd be awesome if society didn't need money, but we don't live in that society. So money is a requirement for happiness. At least I think so.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

This topic really shows how materialistic people are.

yes how dare people wish they could afford food and housing

Money buys happiness...but only certain pieces of it not the whole thing and it doesn't scale infinitely. You aren't 10x happier when you are worth 10 mil vs 1 mil.

You usually need money to be happy but its not really the key ingredient so much as an enabler. Once you can stably survive then its a lot easier to find happiness and it so happens the vast majority of cultures use money for most commerce which is how basically anything happens. Its nigh on impossible to be happy living under a bridge in winter while you are very hungry.

Money can also buy unhappiness though.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/vlwiSoyo8nA

Its too vague. It ignores what you may be going through to get the money.

Easy money spent well without unwanted attention buys happiness? Yeah probably.

Money doesn't buy happiness. Money IS happiness.

Pikachuchupika posted...

It'd be awesome if society didn't need money, but we don't live in that society. So money is a requirement for happiness. At least I think so.

AceMos posted...

yes how dare people wish they could afford food and housing

That's not happiness. That's just surviving. You can be given those things and will still be just as miserable. I know this from both firsthand and secondhand accounts.

Money can certainly contribute to happiness but isn't the only important thing. Seems obvious.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Individual or household?

"Money buys cheese, and cheese imparts happiness. Verily, so sayeth Gouda." Emmentaler 24:7

Whoever says that is using it as a coping mechanism from my experience. I grew up poor and mom used to say that too but deep inside, I knew for sure she wished we were rich and never had to worry about money.

Hickey_Blvd46 posted...

Whoever says that is using it as a coping mechanism from my experience. I grew up poor and mom used to say that too but deep inside, I knew for sure she wished we were rich and never had to worry about money.

As someone who has experienced both poor and very well to do, I can say for sure that those with money are just as miserable as those without. It always comes down to the environment. Safety and luxury isn't what gives them happiness. New problems just arise (mo money, mo problems/ the richer you are, the more enemies you have). Like some here already said, it does give some level of comfort. But if their lives are messed up before money, it's not going to change after money.

Being able to comfortably cover bills, add to savings, and have disposable income is 100% necessary to being happy IMO.

Money may not be the end-all answer to happiness but it is absolutely a big part of it

"Money doesn't buy you happiness. Money buys you options." -- Ice T

nocturnal_traveler posted...

As someone who has experienced both poor and very well to do, I can say for sure that those with money are just as miserable as those without. It always comes down to the environment. Safety and luxury isn't what gives them happiness. New problems just arise (mo money, mo problems/ the richer you are, the more enemies you have). Like some here already said, it does give some level of comfort. But if their lives are messed up before money, it's not going to change after money.

I don't agree with that at all. Yes, money isn't everything, but not worrying about money is a huge relief. Financial problems are also the greatest strain on a relationship.

Dissident_77 posted...

I don't agree with that at all. Yes, money isn't everything, but not worrying about money is a huge relief. Financial problems are also the greatest strain on a relationship.

Have you ever been rich, or well to do? The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Yes, not having to worry about basic needs is a huge relief. But that well to do lifestyle comes with a cost.

It's better to say money doesn't guarantee happiness.

It certainly helps. As someone who used to be poor but is now fairly well off just not having the stress of worrying about whether I'm one medical bill or car repair away from not being able to pay my rent makes a huge difference.

Part of it though is I have a job where I'm not overworking myself and I can take time off when I need it. I could grind myself down working 70 hours a week and I'd have more money but I'm sure I'd be less happy.

Might be a hot takes but I absolutely agree.

Take 2 people with the exact cancer thats curable. One can do something about it, the other has to struggle. We can go as far as to say both arent curable, and terminal. One can at least slow it down or spend money to go enjoy what lil life they have left.... while the other no matter the emotional support they have still has to financially struggle to get by.

HighSeraph posted...

I think the person who came up with that quote was admonishing greed not really saying having financial stability was a bad thing. And let's be real the truly greedy like Elon and Trump will never actually be happy.

Elon Musk in particular. He is the richest human to ever exist. If he had an ounce of self awareness, he'd realise how fucking astronomically impossible it is to be in his position and how fucking lucky he is to have so much money that he will never, ever have to even think about what anything he wants costs.

Such an insufferable little git.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

Have you ever been rich, or well to do? The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Yes, not having to worry about basic needs is a huge relief. But that well to do lifestyle comes with a cost.

I have been in debt and having to constantly budget vs now, where I am firmly upper middle class. There is no cost with my current lifestyle and my wife and I never argue about money.

Dissident_77 posted...

I have been in debt and having to constantly budget vs now, where I am firmly upper middle class. There is no cost with my current lifestyle and my wife and I never argue about money.

You sure about that? No sacrifice whatsoever to keep your comforts and security? Lose anything significant on your climb to the top?

nocturnal_traveler posted...

You sure about that? No sacrifice whatsoever to keep your comforts and security? Lose anything significant on your climb to the top?

Yeah, I'm sure. I have great work life balance so no sacrifices.

And not anywhere near the top. We just both make good money and so our combined income is high. Not "rich" but certainly comfortable, which is all I want.

Money can definitely buy happiness (speaking from personal experience here, as I imagine many others have too), but only up to a certain point.

It is a great real world example of diminishing returns.

Money will not only buy me my happiness, it'll also buy everyone I know their happiness too

Dissident_77 posted...

Yeah, I'm sure. I have great work life balance so no sacrifices.

And not anywhere near the top. We just both make good money and so our combined income is high. Not "rich" but certainly comfortable, which is all I want.

Good to hear. I've had a lot of friends and relatives that completely lose their former selves once they rose above poverty. They give into peer pressure to "keep up with the Joneses", or let their money cause them to start thinking they're better than those below them. In the case of one of my sisters, she gave up her integrity for huge financial gain. Happy to hear that wasn't the case for you. Don't ever lose that.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

Good to hear. I've had a lot of friends and relatives that completely lose their former selves once they rose above poverty. They give into peer pressure to "keep up with the Joneses", or let their money cause them to start thinking they're better than those below them. In the case of one of my sisters, she gave up her integrity for huge financial gain. Happy to hear that wasn't the case for you. Don't ever lose that.

Appreciate it. All I want is to have a nice house, have good food (we mostly cook ourselves), have money for entertainment stuff (movies, games, go to a brewery, etc), and go on a vacation or two each year. I wish everyone had that.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

This topic really shows how materialistic people are.

Boo fucking hoo

if you're going to look me in the eyes with an eight figure net worth and go "money doesn't buy happiness" I'm going to laugh you out of the room because if you still have troubles at that point you are, objectively, doing it wrong.

it's like with pizzas.

are you gonna be happy when you're hungry af and you're just about to1 dig into 2 pizzas? hell yes.

are you still gonna be happy when you've barely finished those and realize you ordered 10 just because you could?

It's been a while since I looked into it, but pretty sure most studies show that up to a certain point, money does indeed buy happiness. It plateaus after a certain point, and I'd have to imagine that point would depend on things like cost of living where you live.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

Have you ever been rich, or well to do? The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Yes, not having to worry about basic needs is a huge relief. But that well to do lifestyle comes with a cost.

That "cost" is a big whoop freagin do compared to poor people who cant afford basic needs.

Like lets not sit here and act like the life of a person living paycheck to paycheck is on the same scale of Trump, Musk, or a rich person who ISNT an attention whore.

I dont think anyone is claiming the life of a rich person is sunshine, hearts and rainbows, and life is always great. But comparatively to a person who cant afford groceries, let alone a major medical expense? That poor person cant even go spend money to temporary blow off any stress..., because they're broke.

I don't think money buys happiness, but I absolutely think it helps curb anxiety, despair and depression that comes from being one accident or medical injury away from being destitute. I also think it helps buy things for your children you want them to have and making your children happy comes with massive peace of mind.

Not that it's right or wrong, but I thought it was obvious that it's a philosophical/moral concept. The argument is that material possessions or monetary wealth don't lead to pure "happiness", it's the simple things in life like having solid relationships and a core value/belief system and whatnot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMWbjL3Hqc8

Awakened_Link posted...

Not that it's right or wrong, but I thought it was obvious that it's a philosophical/moral concept. The argument is that material possessions or monetary wealth don't lead to pure "happiness", it's the simple things in life like having solid relationships and a core value/belief system and whatnot.

I feel like my core values have a detrimental effect on my happiness, if anything.

It absolutely makes life easier. Something breaks? I just buy a new one. Never a disagreement about whether I spent too much on something.

Sometimes its problems can outweigh the happiness you can buy. For example all the lottery winners whose social connections were destroyed from obtaining even a moderate amount of money.

No amount of splurging can make up for all the family and friends youre going to lose in the aftermath.

Nor am I sure how to prevent that from happening with said money.