Is It Possible To Buy Happiness With Money?
One thing that I’ve witnessed is that people often try to acquire money because they think it’ll make them happy. However, will money truly make you happy? Is money the key to happiness? Many people who don’t have money would probably say yes. However, those who do have money often say it’s not the key to happiness. In fact, having money can cause many other problems that you’ve never had before. Although the answer is based on perspective, I’d like to share my thoughts on the matter.
To start, we need to define what happiness is.
What Is Happiness?
This is a rather broad term. Happiness can mean a lot of things. Furthermore, the meaning may vary depending on the person. If we look up the definition of “happy” it states:
Therefore, if the definition of happy is to feel pleasure and contentment. The question is, for you to be happy, what gives you pleasure or contentment? Money can definitely give you these two things. However, you can only have so much money until that happiness runs out. If this is the case, did money really give you that happiness? Of course, there are people out there who only want and need money.
There are over 7 billion people in this world. Therefore, it’s not hard to believe that there are people who’ll take money over everything and anyone. Although this is the case for some people, for most I think perspective plays an integral role.
Related Articles
- How To Get Through Tough Financial Times
- How Your Health And Finances Are Connected
- 8 Ways To Eat Healthier On A Budget
- Earn Money With Survey Junkie
Perspective
Everyone has a different perspective on what it means to be happy. Some people even think that you don’t need money to be happy. However, I believe that money can give you a degree of happiness. This is because money can let you live a comfortable life. If you’re comfortable, you won’t have to deal with the stresses of bills or figuring out how you’re going to afford your next meal.
A lot of wealthy people state that money isn’t the key to happiness. However, I’d like to think of money as a part of the key. Those who’re wealthy will still have their personal problems, those things will never change. However, there are many people out there who would be exponentially happier if they got a raise or even won the lottery.
I’ll use myself as an example. There are 2 particular things that I want in life. To help people and to take care of those around me. I truly believe that if I can achieve these two things, I’ll live my days as happy as can be. However, while I may not need money to necessarily help people, I do need it to take care of those around me. This is where money becomes a factor. Therefore, for someone like me, I’d need money to make me the happiest I can be. Although, money isn’t all that I’d want.
As I said, everyone’s perspective is different. Take a second to think about what truly makes you happy and think about how you may acquire it. If you want to be successful or a “somebody” success can be found in many different avenues. If you want to be rich, what happens when you’ve gotten so much money that it starts to lose its value? These are all questions that you should consider when pondering this question.
I’d like to share a video that clearly shows two people who value money different. Although their lives reflect this, they both seem to value different things but are still happy in their own right. I’ll link the video below.
Deeper Meaning
I truly believe that there is a deeper meaning to what makes someone happy. You may think that something will make you happy. However, once you acquire it, you may feel dissatisfied. Therefore, I believe that in order to acquire true happiness, you need two things. First, find something that can make you happy regardless of the amount. Second, would be comfortable in life.
The hardest part is finding what truly makes you happy. There are people who write articles just for the love of it. Although, there is usually a deeper meaning as to why something makes you happy.
For example, I have a friend is extremely happy. He works with computers and is amazing at his craft. Needless to say, this is a job he loves doing. However, what truly gives him his happiness isn’t the fact that he’s working with computers. It’s the fact that he’s helping those who need it. Other people’s relief and happiness is the source of his happiness.
Keep In Mind
As long as you’re doing by your own terms, this is something that’ll probably never get tiring. However, once you start doing it for money, it may turn into a job instead of a passion or both. Let’s take a look at a professional gamer. Gaming is something that a lot of us did when we were younger (or currently do) as a pass-time. However, many professional gamers get burnt out or often quit because it’s become less enjoyable.
Everyone is different. Everyone has their own perspective and thought process. More importantly, everyone has something that makes them happy. There are people who make a living off of their passion and wouldn’t want it any other way. Something that brings them genuine joy. Finding a good balance is definitely what everyone should do.
Being Comfortable
Being comfortable financially is a huge factor in happiness. A quote I often hear is that someone who makes $70,000 is often just as happy as those who make one million dollars a year. Although I am unsure about the accuracy of this quote, I’d like to believe that this is the case for many people. When you make $70,000 a year, depending on where you’re living that’s more than enough to live comfortably. Granted, you have regular daily expenses and don’t overindulge.
For example, in Toronto, you’d need an estimated $45,000 – $55,000 per year to live comfortably. This is well below the $70,000 mark. Most people want just that, to live comfortably and be free from financial strain. I also believe this is a large reason as to why people don’t mind working regular jobs and have no desire to create their own business. If you’re living comfortably and are able to provide for those around you, there is no need to do more.
Quick Reads
Short Answer
The short answer is no, money can’t buy happiness, in my opinion. However, it can aid in you being happy overall if you incorporate other factors. Money isn’t everything but it is something. Therefore, having more money will make your life better in many ways. Happiness is deep and it takes more than a few things to acquire. However, I believe that two things can lead to the path of absolute happiness.
First, living life without any financial stress. Second, finding your passion or something that makes you happy. This can be a job, activity, love, and/or family bonding. My advice would be to find what makes you happy and incorporate it into your life. It may take days, months or even years. However, the journey is always worth the reward.
Shameed is just a man on a mission to help those around him gain financial success. Obsessed with writing about all things finance, this GTA native is constantly learning and sharing his experiences with others.
