Turns out money buys happiness...Who would've thunk?

What I've realized about money and happiness is that many of the things I enjoy doing require money. Also, money gives you options (poverty, on the other hand, is a lack of options).

To some extent money can 'buy' baseline fulfillment / happiness. But if the sole source of happiness are things acquired with money, then I think it's not possible to experience joy.

Real joy is derived with our without money.

I think, happiness comes from your inner heart whether you have money or not. But money has important influence to support your happiness. Happiness is a choice. Start being grateful on what you have got. And try your best on whatever you do in earning you do. I'm sure, the door is always open, and now it is how we are to be creative of seeing it as good opportunity.

Good luck!! ^_^

I've had many a rich person tell me that money can't buy you happiness but never a person in poverty who believes this.

There is no joy in poverty. There is no peace of mind in knowing your child can become sick and die because you can't afford a trip to the hospital or that the home you live in will no longer be yours.

Money is not the solution to everything but we live in a market based economy and as such you must come to terms with the necessity of money.

-Vikram

Money has no value... it is just a piece of paper
The value comes in the benefit it brings to you
Many people define themselves by things and only feel peace when they have things. Others define themselves by inner peace which has nothing to do things or money.

people say money does not make you happy, but in the world we live in today it is quite obvious that most people need some form of income. The question is how much do we need to be happy and live a life of fulfillment. It would be good if there were a better disribution of money around the globe.

Everything starts with happiness.

The purpose of life is to be happy. Then serve a purpose. Then have the means - aka money - to live as free a life as possible so that you aren't bound to anything.

Money is freedom in green pants. It allows you to have more, do more, be more. Having plenty of money means that you are free to have more, do more, be more.

If you don't have much money there is a shortage of prosperous ideas in your mind. Any time there is a shortage of ANYthing in you, you feel unfulfilled and unhappy.

Most poor people who talk about money not buying happiness aren't aware of the misery which they voluntarily put themselves through because of their shortage of money making ideas.

Only enlightened souls and the select few balanced beings on earth can genuinely say that not having money doesn't affect them, because they have no attachments to anything.

Ryan Biddulph

Yes, money is very important in our world. We can't do much of anything without money. This is a very big topic and one that will take us awhile to 'chew'.

I agree that your attitude is what brings you happiness. One can be a millionaire and not be happy. And someone else can have $50,000 and be extremely happy.

It's all relative to what you've experienced. I for one love money and love being happy. Both together are dynamite! Good luck!

When I was younger it seemed I was always depressed because I didn't have any money. So I worked furiously to take away that depression by making lots of money. After I moved into my dream home and had all the money I could ever need I was surprised to see my depression return. Only this time it wasn't about money it was about my health. So for a bit I became a hypochondriac worrying over every ache and pain. My reasoning? I just knew that since I had achieved my goal of making great money that I was going to die soon as a result. Given the fact I was only 35 and in perfect health should of set off some warning bells. But it didn't.

After a while of this I eventually wised up and came to this conclusion:

"If you're depressed over money when you're broke you'll find something else to be depressed about when you are no longer so."

At least that's the way it was with me.

Hope things change around for you financially. I have been where you are at and it's no fun for sure. But keep your chin up. It'll pass. Bad times always do!

Money and happiness have often been pitted against each other. The popular belief, as evidenced by the number of children's stories with such a theme, is that money can't buy you happiness.

They say, you can have everything in the world but if you don't have friends or anyone to share those things with, it's pointless. They also say that, the more money you have, the more things you end up wanting. It's a vicious cycle, so they say.

But what if money can indeed buy you happiness? You might think this is all crazy talk but there is growing research that suggests otherwise. So can money buy happiness? Read on and make your own conclusions.

1) Great Expectations

Perhaps we have been looking at money and happiness the wrong way all our lives. For example, we pine after the newest laptop or gadget for months, imagining the day when we can finally buy it with our hard earned money.

When the day comes and we bring our newest baby home, we end up feeling a little less enthralled. We automatically think: Money doesn't buy happiness. Look at where it got me.

But according to research, our dissatisfaction has less to do with money and more to do with our uncanny ability to adapt. As human beings, we adapt to our environment very quickly. And so, when the newness of the laptop wears off, so does the feeling of joy, and we automatically equate the sudden drop of energy to being unhappy.

2) Buying the Experience

So if buying that new laptop or that latest designer bag won't make us happy, what will? And how does money fit into the picture? Well, those are very good questions.

Having a lot of money is a good thing because it allows you access to certain "experiences" that elude other people of lesser means. That's right. The key word here is experience.

With money, you can easily sweep your whole family off to the Alps for some first-class skiing. That experience will live on in your memory. If you have a penchant for music, you can easily get yourself trained in the instrument of your choice. Using your money to acquire experiences will make you happy.

3) Generous Proportions

So how else can money buy happiness? You know that warm feeling you get when you help someone in need? You can also do that with money.

Since you don't have to worry about running out of cash anytime soon, you can selflessly donate some of them to charity. Or buy a homeless man a really good meal or a change of clothes. Whatever your form of charity is, it is easier and more plausible with money involved.

So do you think money can buy happiness? If you ask me, I say, absolutely. The more money you have, the more you can give of yourself to others. The trick here is to know how to use the money correctly.

Yeah people always say that money can't buy happiness, friends & family are your happiness but what are you going to do when you're hanging out with your friends and family with no money? x.X

Organic food and traveling won't make you happy. Up to a certain baseline (comfort living) money is not going to increase your happiness by much. Its your inner peace.

Money certainly helps, it opens doors and experiences that wouldn't otherwise be available. If we were less successful (ie less money) at IM, then we'd all have to find jobs which required commuting etc etc

Doing something that makes you feel better, makes you feel like you're fulfilling your life as you should be, then by all means KEEP IT UP! If that requires money, then so be it! I know some people say that "money can't buy happiness" that might be true in some cases, but I think that those who say it have a lack of motivation!

Do you strive for your happiness? Do you fight for it? Do you want it? THEN GO GET IT!

P.S.: I've never met an ecstatic person with lesser means than others! It depends on what you do with it!!

GOOD LUCK!

I think it changed when we got kicked out of the garden of eden

it doesn't money itself will bring happiness with it but money lead to happiness when you it allows you to take other things in life that can never be obtained without it!

Money doesn't make you ultimately happy but it definitely helps!

Money can definitely add value and experiences to your life.

If you know how to spend it on things you value, it will undoubtedly bring you more happiness.